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New Voluntary Slowdown for Commercial Ships Aims to Quiet the Sound for Endangered Killer Whales

Reduced speed reduces underwater noise that interferes with killer whale foraging. Southern Resident Connections - Post 26
November 28, 2022 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
Orca pod in Puget Sound with large ferry in the background Orca pod swims in the Puget Sound as a ferry transits in the background. Credit: Candice Emmons/NWFSC

Join NOAA Fisheries in Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Marine Mammal Protection Act

NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Janet Coit reflects on 50 years of protecting marine mammals and looks to the future.
October 21, 2022 - Leadership Message ,
National
A humpback mother and calf swimming off the West Coast A humpback mother and calf swimming off the West Coast. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Ed Lyman. NOAA Fisheries Permit #14682.

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Joins Marine Mammal Stranding Network

NOAA is excited to welcome the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to the Greater Atlantic Regional Marine Mammal Stranding Network!
September 13, 2022 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
A view of the cliffs of Aquinnah and Gay Head Light, Martha's Vineyard A view of the cliffs of Aquinnah and Gay Head Light, Martha's Vineyard. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Celebrating 50 Years of the Marine Mammal Protection Act

NOAA Fisheries marks 50 years of marine mammal science, conservation, and recovery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
July 30, 2022 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Gray whales swimming Gray whales were nearly hunted to extinction by commercial whaling. Protections under the MMPA, ESA, and the end of commercial whaling have allowed the species to recover. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit #19091).

Survivor Vaquita Porpoises Escape Extinction Longer Than Expected

At least seven to eight remain but deadly fishing is on the increase.
July 28, 2022 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
International
A pair of vaquita swimming south of the town of San Felipe, Baja California. Note the nick in the dorsal fin of the larger individual in the foreground. This was likely caused by past interactions with gillnets, from which the animal successfully escaped. Photo: Copyright Todd Pusser. A pair of vaquita swimming south of the town of San Felipe, Baja California. Note the nick in the dorsal fin of the larger individual in the foreground. This was likely caused by past interactions with gillnets, from which the animal successfully escaped. Photo: Copyright Todd Pusser.

Bottlenose Dolphins Along the East Coast Proposed to be a Different Species

Scientists propose that the coastal form of common bottlenose dolphins found along the U.S. East Coast is a different species, distinct from the offshore form of common bottlenose dolphins.
May 13, 2022 - Feature Story ,
Southeast
Breaching dolphins along coastal Georgia. Breaching dolphins, proposed to soon be called Tamanend's bottlenose dolphins, along coastal Georgia. Credit: NOAA Fisheries (Permit # 779-1633).

Endangered Vaquita Porpoise Not Doomed to Extinction by Inbreeding Depression

Study finds vaquitas are unlikely to be heavily impacted by inbreeding depression that can often undermine the survival of small populations, and have a high probability to recover if deaths in gillnets are immediately halted.
May 05, 2022 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
International
Photograph of a mother vaquita and her calf surfacing in the waters off San Felipe, Mexico. As recently as Fall 2021 vaquitas were seen with calves. Credit: Paula Olson, 2008. A mother and calf vaquita surface in the waters off San Felipe, Mexico. As recently as Fall 2021 vaquitas were seen with calves. Credit: Paula Olson, 2008

Texas Dolphin Harassed to Death

NOAA offers reward for information about second intentional harm case in as many weeks.
April 26, 2022 - Feature Story ,
Southeast
Texas dolphin death Photo credit: Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network

NOAA Seeks Information About a Live Dolphin Impaled in the Head on Fort Myers Beach

Law enforcement needs tips to solve the case.
April 13, 2022 - Feature Story ,
Southeast
Impaled dolphin Fort Myers

2018 Report of Marine Mammal Strandings in the United States

These national and regional marine mammal stranding overviews detail marine mammal stranding rates, trends, and activities in the United States in a given year. In 2018, there were 7,320 confirmed marine mammal strandings in the United States.
March 31, 2022 - Feature Story ,
National
Photo of responders collecting biological samples from dead common bottlenose dolphin Responders collect biological samples from a dead common bottlenose dolphin that stranded in Florida. Photo: Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute.