Posts by Monica Pepe
Three new companies join the Whale SENSE community
I grew up in New Jersey, close enough to the coast that I could look forward to seeing dolphins in the waves during weekend beach days. It was here where my interest in whales and dolphins began. What I didn’t know (until I moved to Massachusetts) is that it wasn’t just dolphins that could often…
Read MoreFrom WDC Intern to Right Whale Aerial Observer
When I became the Intern Coordinator 8 years ago, the very first intern I had the pleasure of supervising was Kate McPherson. Kate was a perfect first intern for me to work with; she was a hard worker who truly dedicated herself to getting the most out of the experience, all while being reliable and…
Read MoreNew North Atlantic Right Whale Names Unveiled for 2020
PHOTO COURTESY: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA Research Permit #20556 BOSTON, MASS. (December 3, 2020) – Researchers have named 18 North Atlantic right whales this year, continuing a tradition that allows scientists in the field to quickly recognize the critically endangered individuals. New England Aquarium researchers who manage the North Atlantic Right Whale…
Read MoreMomma whales, Monica, and mountains, oh my!
As the coordinator of WDC’s At the Helm of Conservation programs, I’m proud to say that our Whale SENSE program is turning 10 years old this year! I was chatting with our Whale SENSE partners in the NOAA offices both in Massachusetts and Alaska and we were brainstorming the best way to celebrate this huge…
Read MoreCollision With A Gray Whale Eliminates Yacht From Sailing Race
My work day today started with an email directing me to an article about a sailboat colliding with a whale in the San Francisco Bay. Ironic, given that tomorrow I am boarding a plane en route to a sailing symposium to talk about just that – safe boating for sailors and whales. Together with our…
Read MoreThe Winding Way of Whales & Wind Farms
I recently attended a two-day workshop on Long Island on offshore wind development projects. You could say I was “blown away” (I’m a sucker for a good pun) by the number of people involved in the workshop-over 180! While we were primarily focusing on the wind farms planned for development off the coast of New…
Read MoreWDC talks about whales with sailors at the Volvo Ocean Race
Last month WDC participated in the Volvo Ocean Race’s One Ocean Exploration Zone in Newport RI. Joined by…
Read MoreWDC meets Volvo Ocean Race
One of the programs I spend a lot of my time working on is our sailing outreach program Sharing the Seas: Safe Boating for Sailors and Whales. The overarching goal of this program is to empower sailors to use safe boating practices to reduce disturbances and injury to whales, as well as to their sailing…
Read MoreEcotourism with whales in New England and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Back in January I made a trip to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for education programming work. In April, it was their turn to come up to us here in Massachusetts! Through a public vote hosted by European Outdoor Conservation Association, we received grant funding to carry out our work on this project, and part…
Read MoreEducation Programs in the Eastern Caribbean Making a Difference
I can recall many profound moments during my time with WDC, but by far some of the most impactful moments happen when you see children’s faces in awe after learning about whales. In New England, I’ve presented conservation messages to thousands of students, and in the past few years we’ve been able to reach students…
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