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$4 Million Awarded for Marine Mammal Rescue Efforts through Prescott Grant Program

NOAA Fisheries recommended awarding 37 grants, totaling more than $4 million, through the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue and Assistance Grant Program to our partners in 16 states.
September 30, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Humpback whale carcass lying on beach with two people measuring the pectoral flipper Authorized responders from the Seacoast Science Center take measurements of a dead humpback whale that stranded in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Credit: Seacoast Science Center.

A Substantial Reduction in Seal Entanglement

New analysis confirms Hawaiian monk seals greatly benefit from marine debris cleanup efforts in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
September 27, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
A Hawaiian monk seal lays on a sandy beach while a green net is wrapped around their neck and mouth. A Hawaiian monk seal entangled in a derelict fishing net. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #10137)

Comparing Killer Whale Cuisine

New research aims to understand how two populations of North Pacific resident killer whales find food and what they eat. Southern Resident Connections - Post 38
September 19, 2024 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
Orcas capturing a salmon Southern Resident killer whale preys on salmon in the Salish Sea near Seattle. Credit: Candice Emmons/NOAA Fisheries

Stranding Network Helps Young Killer Whale Stranded on Carmel Beach

NOAA recognizes partners for pulling together in coordinated response.
September 12, 2024 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
Responders pressing a moist cloth on a stranded killer whale A team of responders assists a young male killer whale stranded at Carmel River State Beach on Tuesday, September 10. The 10-foot whale later died during transport to a laboratory in Santa Cruz. Photo by The Marine Mammal Center under NMFS permit 24359.

Why Can’t Killer Whales Find and Capture Food? The Ocean Is too Noisy

New research helps explain how vessel noise reduces foraging efficiency and success in West Coast killer whales. Southern Resident Connections - Post 37
September 11, 2024 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
A killer whale traveling quickly with a cargo vessel in the background A male orca travels quickly near a large cargo ship transiting through the Salish Sea. Image taken under NOAA permit. Credit: Candice Emmons/NOAA Fisheries

Quiet Sound’s Voluntary Ship Slowdown Reduces Underwater Noise Reaching Killer Whales

Last year, most ships slowed down—and cut noise in half. Southern Resident Connections - Post 36
September 04, 2024 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
killer whale breaches in front of commercial vessel A voluntary slowdown of large ships in Puget Sound aims to quiet the waters for endangered Southern Resident killer whales, which use echolocation to hunt. Credit: Kersti E. Muul

18 Years of Eastern North Pacific Right Whale Sightings Shed Light on Important Habitats and Movements

A new study details all sightings since 2006 to fill key knowledge gaps for this mysterious, endangered whale population.
August 16, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
Top of whale seen from a vessel Eastern North Pacific Right whale MML# 84 “Cuatro” (female) in the Bering Sea in August 2017. Credit: K. Matsuoka/International Whaling Commission and NOAA Fisheries

Is It a Seal or a Sea Lion?

Seals and sea lions are both pinnipeds, but they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Learn how to recognize a seal vs. a sea lion.
August 12, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
West Coast
National
Infographic showing illustrated seal and sea lion and describing the differences between the two animals, such as ears, body size, flippers, etc. At first glance, seals (true or “earless seals”) and sea lions look fairly similar. Taking a closer look, these are some of the general differences to tell these animals, such as on the harbor seal (left) and California sea lion (right) pictured above.

A Boater Drove Through a Pod of Killer Whales. Turns Out a Wildlife Videographer Was Filming.

Bellingham man agrees to $1,000 civil penalty for violating protections.
August 07, 2024 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
Recreational vessel approaching a killer whale Still frame from video recording of recreational vessel M/V Cypress Point approaching killer whales near Roche Harbor, Washington, September 1, 2022. Operator of the vessel agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,000 for violating distance rules for approaching killer whales.

Potential Biological Removal Levels: A Tool to Conserve Marine Mammals

The Potential Biological Removal framework is an important tool for monitoring the health of marine mammal populations that are increasingly impacted by human activity.
July 30, 2024 - Feature Story ,
National
dolphins swimming within a tuna purse-seine net Spotted dolphins encircled within a tuna purse-seine net in the eastern tropical Pacific. The dolphins and tuna are both captured in the net. Massive incidental mortality of dolphins in the early years of this fishery led to population declines and designation of this stock as “depleted.” Credit: NOAA Fisheries