Dear Mr. President
Dear Mr. President, I am writing to you on behalf of the marine mammals who call our coasts home and are some of the United States’ most precious resources. They don’t have a side of the aisle or an agenda. They simply want to do their jobs as ecosystem engineers, raise their families in a…
Read MoreDid I see my last right whale? Not yet.
For the first time in nearly 30 years, I haven’t seen a right whale this year… not yet anyway. The pandemic and weather didn’t often align for me so I spent little time on the water compared to years past. I just checked the forecast and this week doesn’t look possible either. Even during weeks…
Read MoreHow do you thank someone who has changed your life?
*This is the third part of a three-part blog series. You can read the first part of the blog here and the second part of the blog here.* Ever wondered the best way to thank someone for changing your life? Write a blog about them of course! Flash back to spring of 2019 and the…
Read MoreDipping my toes into the policy pool
*This is the second part of a three-part blog series. You can read the first part of the blog here. * Just a few short months after I packed everything I owned and drove from California to Massachusetts, I found myself completely overwhelmed and completely fascinated by marine mammal policy work. I know that might…
Read MoreFrom the Pacific Coast to the North Atlantic Right Whale
WDC’s internship is designed to give interns a taste of life at a marine mammal non-profit. Interns are exposed to everything from science, policy, outreach and even supporter relations. I think internships are the best way to test the waters and find out if a particularly career path is the right one. There are fewer…
Read MoreFrom One Mother to Another
See the part that is sticking out? It isn’t supposed to look like that. Georgia DNR- NOAA Permit 18786-04 To see the injury, look in the top right portion of the whale in this photo. The part that is lighter in color is a deep injury. As soon as my heart rose with the news…
Read MoreHey Maine- this fluke is for you!
In light of the deaths of six endangered right whales in Canada, Maine’s Congressional Delegation and its Governor are calling for a REDUCTION in protections for right whales in US waters. Keep in mind that what they are now opposing was developed and agreed to by representatives of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association and Maine’s Department…
Read MoreDear North Atlantic right whales… With love and fierce determination, Regina
Dear North Atlantic right whales, You have given me so much… You taught me to be patient – you were the first species I saw when I first started whale watching. Your 20 minute dives taught me to be patient and how to teach passengers about whales they couldn’t see. You literally made me feel…
Read MoreRegina and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Yesterday was not a good day. I was still feeling the burst of motivation and excitement that comes after a day out on the water. On Sunday, I found a perfect little weather window and took my team of staff, interns, and volunteers out for a quick whale watch. We were like kids in a…
Read MoreTeaming up with Fishtek to reduce dolphin deaths in fishing gear
Entanglement in fishing gear (bycatch) is the biggest global threat to dolphins, porpoises and whales. Not only is it the cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths every year, it is an awful way to die. The frustrating thing is, with a joined-up, concerted effort, we could so easily save lives. Our colleagues at Fishtek…
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