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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

Summer News Roundup

A roundup of recent headlines from around the agency—hear about a new oyster hatchery, living shorelines in South Carolina, and more.
July 25, 2024 - Podcast ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
West Coast
National
Hand made coral nurseries to restore coral reefs Coral nurseries are one tool NOAA uses to restore reefs, which are vital habitats for many managed seafood species. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

A Whale of a Story: Necropsy Reveals the Health of Species and the Ocean

An in-depth (and sometimes graphic) look at how a necropsy team pieces together what happened to a humpback whale.
June 28, 2024 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
Necropsy team working on da stranded humpback whale The necropsy team works on different sections of the humpback whale stranded on the Oregon Coast. Credit: NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region/MMHSRP, taken under NOAA Fisheries permit #24359

Dead Dolphin Found with Missing Fins and Tail in Queens, New York

NOAA Office of Law Enforcement is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information.
June 11, 2024 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Dead bottlenose dolphin on the beach. Bottlenose dolphin. Credit: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

NOAA Fisheries Partners with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Support of North Atlantic Right Whales

$6 million will be available through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for vessel strike prevention technology.
May 22, 2024 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
Aerial image of a right whale as it swims along. The top of its back and head are visble above the surface. A single North Atlantic right swims in the Atlantic Ocean. NOAA Fisheries/Peter Duley

Studying Sound in the Ocean to Prepare for Offshore Wind Development

NOAA Fisheries scientists talk about passive acoustic monitoring and where it fits into the country's renewable energy strategy.
May 09, 2024 - Podcast ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
National
Overcast day with mostly gray and silver tones. In the background at left, a line of 8 offshore windmills tower over the horizon. In the foreground, a small boat open-decked boat with a flat roof is silhouetted against a shining sea A small fishing vessel near wind turbines. Credit: Bob Brewer on Unsplash