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Archived Skin Samples Reveal New Insights on Habitat Use of Rare Eastern North Pacific Right Whales

Innovative analysis uncovers a record of habitat use over 24 years to inform recovery strategies for an endangered whale.
February 16, 2025 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
View of whale swimming in the ocean. Collecting a biopsy skin sample from an eastern North Pacific right whale. The yellow dart will be retrieved along with a tiny skin sample. The small bump on the whale’s back is a satellite tag. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Amy Kennedy. MML permit 782-1719

Gray Whales on the Rebound: Signs of Hope Despite Challenges

North Pacific gray whale population increases after declines.
February 13, 2025 - Podcast ,
West Coast
A gray whale and her calft migrate north along the California coast A gray whale and her calf migrate north along the California coast on their way to summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Scientists are using an unmanned aerial vehicle to produce very precise overhead images of gray whales, then analyzing the images to understand how environmental conditions affect the health of adult females and ultimately the reproductive success of the population. Credit: NOAA

Top Must-Read Pacific Islands Stories of 2024

Take a look at some of the Pacific Islands most important and inspiring stories from 2024.
January 23, 2025 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
Healthy coral reef with fishes in the foreground, a diver conducts a survey in the background.

47-Foot Fin Whale Found Washed Ashore Near Anchorage

The Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the Anchorage Community faced frigid temperatures to observe the deceased whale.
December 10, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
A crowd of people surrounds a fin whale carcass on the shore Late afternoon residents walk to investigate the fin whale carcass. Credit: Bridget Crokus, volunteer Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services

Ocean Gliders Listen for Whales off Oregon in Test of New Ways to Count Them

Passive acoustic monitoring by “gliders” may better detect some species.
November 21, 2024 - News ,
Pacific Islands
West Coast
Photograph of two scientists on a small boat preparing glider for deployment. Oregon State University professor David Mellinger and Doug Batson from the Oregon Coast Aquarium prepare the Seagliders for deployment off the coast of Oregon in mid-September. They were aboard the Oregon Coast Aquarium’s vessel, the R/V Gracie Lynn. Photo courtesy Genece Grisby, Oregon Coast Aquarium.

2024 Research for Pacific Protected Species

Inflation Reduction Act funds helped NOAA Fisheries scientists enhance our 2024 data for ice seals in Alaska, Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles in the Pacific Islands, and cetaceans off the West Coast.
November 13, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
Pacific Islands
West Coast
Marylou Staman conducts green sea turtle surveys at Lalo (French Frigate Shoals). Credit: NOAA Fisheries. Marylou Staman conducts green sea turtle surveys at Lalo in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. More than 90 percent of the Hawaiian green sea turtle population nests at Lalo (French Frigate Shoals). Credit: NOAA Fisheries. Taken under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Permit #TE-72088A-3 and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Co-Manager’s Permit.

AI Identifies Mysterious Whale Calls

Hear from the NOAA Fisheries scientist who identified Bryde’s whales as the source of a new whale call—biotwang—in the North Pacific. With Google AI and machine learning, we sorted through thousands of hours of acoustic recordings to identify these calls.
November 07, 2024 - Podcast ,
Pacific Islands
A Bryde's whale swims along the surface of the ocean. A Bryde’s whale photographed in the Mariana Archipelago. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Adam Ü (NOAA Fisheries MMPA-ESA Permit #14097)

Using Drones and Tags to Study Rice’s Whales

NOAA Fisheries and partners got an up-close look at the life of these endangered whales.
November 06, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Southeast
A whale raises its head out of the ocean's surface to breathe as a drone hovers overhead holding a bright orange tag A drone hovers over a Rice’s whale, ready to drop a suction cup tag to collect data. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Ocean Alliance (Permit #21938)

Gray Whale Calf Count Remains Low in 2024 as Population Slowly Emerges from Multi-Year Decline

Even as total gray whale numbers rebound, reproduction lags.
October 31, 2024 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
Photo of two marine mammal observers looking for mother-calf gray whales at Piedras Blancas using binoculars. Marine mammal observers, LTJG Jesse Pierce (left) and Dawn Breese (right), surveying for mother-calf gray whale pairs. All marine mammals sighted are recorded.

Responders Prepare to Help Entangled Cook Inlet Beluga Whale

Agencies, businesses, organizations, and the local community come together to create a response plan.
October 24, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
response team plans and prepares gear The response team gathers to discuss plans and prepare gear to help an entangled Cook Inlet beluga spotted on October 1. Credit: Carrie Goertz, Alaska Sea Life Center, used with permission.