Join us in celebrating Whale Week, April 24-28, 2023! Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on Earth. They can be found in every ocean and range in size from the small dwarf sperm whale to the massive blue whale, the largest animal on the planet.
At NOAA Fisheries, we work to ensure the conservation and protection of all marine mammals. This Whale Week, explore whale science and conservation through the features and videos below.
Follow along on our NOAA Fisheries social media channels and stay tuned for more content throughout the week.
Whale Week Features
Deploying Passive Acoustic Recorders for North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season
Scientists from the Southeast Fisheries Science Center have deployed passive acoustic recorders to monitor endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Southeast for the 2023 calving season.
Monitoring North Atlantic right whale calving season with passive acoustic recorders
Meet Héloïse Frouin-Mouy, Bio-acoustician
As a bio-acoustician at the Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Héloïse works for the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies. Her work mainly involves fieldwork preparation, data collection, data analysis, as well as writing manuscripts, reports, and grants. Héloïse's current research aims to better understand beaked whales’ diving and calling behavior in the Gulf of Mexico using passive acoustic tracking, an alternative tool to tagging. This knowledge will be used to obtain more reliable and robust population density estimates from passive acoustics data.
Learn more about Héloïse Frouin-Mouy and her work
Celebrate Whale Week with Us: A Message from Janet Coit, Assistant Administrator of NOAA Fisheries
Join us for a celebration of whales and the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act as we reflect on the past 50 years and look to the future.
Read Janet's leadership message
A Whale’s Perspective: Using Tags to Understand North Atlantic Right Whales
NOAA Fisheries and our partners are always seeking ways to monitor and track endangered North Atlantic right whale movements to better understand whale behavior and mitigate threats impeding their recovery.
Using tags to understand North Atlantic right whales
Video: Wondrous Whales
Love whales like we do? Check out the various species of whales in the United States.
Whales and Climate Change: Big Risks to the Ocean's Biggest Species
Climate change is impacting ocean ecosystems and resulting in many challenges for a variety of marine species, including whales.
How climate change is affecting different whale species
Encountering Giants: Inspiring Moments with Whales
Whales astonish us. Witnessing their behaviors has inspired careers in marine biology and energized action for ocean conservation. Many NOAA Fisheries scientists have had unique opportunities to spend time on and in the ocean, studying marine mammals like whales in their habitats. To celebrate Whale Week, we asked our staff to recall a favorite moment with these incredible and majestic creatures.
Explore our scientists' inspiring moments with whales
Podcast: Checking In On Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales
Learn the latest on endangered Southern Resident killer whales with Dr. Megan Wallen, a marine mammal specialist in NOAA Fisheries West Coast Protected Resources Division.
Go Slow—Whales Below
You can help save endangered North Atlantic right whales by slowing down to 10 knots or less in waters where they are likely present.
Whales: Did You Know?
5 Icebreakers About Bowhead Whales
Conversation starters about an Arctic whale.
11 Facts about Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises
Marine mammals in the cetacean family include whales, dolphins, and porpoises. These animals are often referred to as “sentinels” of ocean health, providing insight into marine ecosystem dynamics.
10 Wonderful Whale Facts
How much do you know about different species of whales? As we celebrate Whale Week, take a look at some interesting tidbits and see if you learn something new about these majestic creatures.
Check out 10 wonderful whale facts
