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West Coast Humpback Whales Face “Perfect Storm” as Risk of Accidental Entanglements Increase
Accidental entanglement in fishing gear is one of the biggest global threats to whales and dolphins. Off all coasts of the U.S., entanglement is growing issue, especially for endangered populations of whales. In the Pacific Ocean off the West Coast, entanglements have increased significantly since 2013 and reached record levels compared to the historic average. …
Read MoreSouthern Resident orca petition to list them under Oregon Endangered Species Act advanced
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted today to advance a petition seeking to protect southern resident orcas under the state Endangered Species Act (ESA). The petition was brought by the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. In the coming months the commission will conduct a public rulemaking process…
Read MoreFederal Proposal Aims to Protect Endangered Right Whales From Ship Strikes
For Immediate Release, July 29, 2022 WASHINGTON— The National Marine Fisheries Service proposed a rule today to better protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from being run over and killed by vessels in U.S. waters. Vessel strikes are one of the two primary threats to right whales; the other is entanglement in fishing gear.…
Read MoreWest Coast Whale Watching with Maya Higa
“We need someone to go on a whale watch in Monterey.” Well, I’ve never been to California and I love watching whales! As we chatted about an incredible outreach and fundraising opportunity with WDC-UK and the Twitch streamer Maya Higa, it was a simple “yes!” for me! We first partnered with Maya Higa in 2020…
Read MoreResearchers announce 2021 class of named North Atlantic right whales
“Spindle” is named for the long symmetrical mark on her head that resembles a banister post. CREDIT: New England Aquarium, under NOAA Research Permit #655-1652-01 BOSTON, MASS. (Dec. 7, 2021) – Another class of 18 North Atlantic right whales have been named for 2021, helping researchers more easily recognize individual whales spotted by boat and…
Read MoreFive Easy Ways to Make Your Holiday Season Eco-Friendly
‘Tis the season to be eco-friendly! Here are 5 ways to make your holiday season kinder on the environment. 1. Reusable gift wrapping Use gift boxes or bags that can be reused over and over again! This keeps wrapping supplies out of the trash and is a gift to our planet. If you choose to…
Read MoreNew Baby Alert – First Right Whale Calf of the Season Spotted!
One little right whale calf couldn’t wait until the official start date of the North Atlantic right whale calving season to make an appearance! Thanks to the keen eyes of JD and Angie Grafton who were sailing off the coast of South Carolina, the first North Atlantic right whale mother and calf of the season…
Read MoreEnter to win a copy of “We Are All Whalers”
Synopsis of “We Are All Whalers” Relating his experiences caring for endangered whales, a veterinarian and marine scientist shows we can all share in the salvation of these imperiled animals. The image most of us have of whalers includes harpoons and intentional trauma. Yet eating commercially caught seafood leads to whales’ entanglement and slow death…
Read MoreBelugas arrive in US despite objections from WDC and others
Photo courtesy of Mystic Aquarium In late 2019, WDC and our partners learned of a request from Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium to import five belugas from Marineland, one of two facilities in Canada that still hold captive whales and dolphins, to be part of a research program at Mystic’s facility. While conditions at Marineland are notoriously…
Read MoreThe Power of Three North Atlantic Right Whales
Along with my husband and children, right whales are woven into my daily life, my family, and my existence. My brain stays on constant alert as to what the needs of my family are and what are the needs of this species to survive. I kid you not when I say that a normal chain…
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