Emergency Petition Seeks to Shield Right Whale Moms, Calves From Vessel Strikes
For Immediate Release, November 1, 2022 WASHINGTON—Conservation groups filed an emergency rulemaking petition with the National Marine Fisheries Service today to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales from being struck and killed by vessels in their calving grounds off the coast of the southeast United States. The requested rule mirrors a National Marine Fisheries…
Read MoreAnnual Census for Southern Resident Orcas Puts Population at Only 73 Orcas
K21 Cappuccino – Hysazu Photography | Sara Shimazu The Center for Whale Research has released the results of its annual census for the Southern Resident orca population, which sadly has dropped back to an historic low of just 73 orcas remaining. Despite celebrating two new births in the past year, including the first new calf…
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 MoreUpdate on Snow Cone – Critically Endangered Right Whale Who Gave Birth Despite Chronic Entanglement
July 2022 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada has reported that Snow Cone was spotted on Saturday, July 23rd and she is still entangled. She was seen in the Shediac Valley in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and her calf was not seen. She was last seen in April off Cape Cod, MA. North Atlantic #RightWhale…
Read MoreWhales Make Waves Off Manomet Point
Humpback whale lunge feeding off Manomet Point Credit:John Chisholm/MA Sharks Update July 25th, 2022: On Sunday, July 24th, a humpback breached and landed on the front of a small vessel. The operator reported no injuries and no major damage that affected the seaworthiness of the vessel. Plymouth Harbormaster is working with the Massachusetts Environmental Police to…
Read MoreElusive whale seen alive for the first time
Using DNA evidence, scientists have been able to officially confirm the first live sightings of the Sato’s beaked whale. Up to now the only Sato’s whales seen have been the few that have washed up dead and some unconfirmed reports from whale hunters. As a result, we know very little about their lives, habits, where…
Read MorePregnant Southern Resident orcas and an ask for more space.
A mixed bag of news for endangered Southern Resident orcas was announced at the end of Orca Action Month in June. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) declared 13 individuals in the population “vulnerable” ahead of the summer season when the orcas are usually in their core summer habitat around Washington’s San Juan…
Read MoreUkraine invasion may have triggered dolphin deaths
Following reports a few weeks ago that military dolphins were being used by Russia as part of its invasion of Ukraine, it now seems that more dolphins may have been casualties in the ongoing war. Scientists think that the increase in noise pollution caused by Russian naval activity in the northern Black Sea could be…
Read MoreConfirmed! There is a New Southern Resident Orca Calf from K Pod!
CONFIRMED! On July 9th, 2022 the Center for Whale Research confirmed the newest member of the Southern Resident orca community! See photo above ©Center for Whale Research Center for Whale Research designated this newborn as K45 and reports “K45’s sex is unknown at this time. Its size and shape are typical of a calf in…
Read MoreBreaking News Critically Endangered Right Whale Who Gave Birth Despite Chronic Entanglement Spotted Off Cape Cod
Breaking news! On an early morning survey east of Cape Cod on April 23rd, researchers from the Center for Coastal Studies located a North Atlantic right whale named Snow Cone and her calf, who is the first right whale known to give birth while having a chronic entanglement in fishing gear. She continues to defy…
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