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West Coast Gray Whale Estimate Shows Increase, New Count Determines

The reasons for the substantial increase remain an open question.
July 15, 2026 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
An aerial view of four gray whales swimming through clear blue ocean water. Gray whales migrating south past the Granite Station field site recorded via Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) or drone. This photograph will be used to calibrate group size and measure body condition. Photo collected under NMFS research permit 22306 and NMS permit MULTI-2024-003-A1.

NOAA Fisheries Trains for Whale Entanglement Response with New York and New Jersey Partners

Regional collaborators gathered at the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, for a large whale entanglement response workshop. Entanglement in fishing gear and marine debris is a significant threat to recovering whale populations.
June 29, 2026 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Three people in a zodiac throwing a grapple. NOAA Fisheries staff practice throwing a specialized grapple into a mock entanglement, trailing behind the New Jersey Department Of Environmental Protection vessel. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Humpback Whale Successfully Freed from Entanglement in Endicott Arm

A response team successfully removed crab pot lines entangling a humpback whale 50 miles south of Juneau, Alaska.
June 24, 2026 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
Three people on a boat use a long, specialized knife to cut entanglement lines off of a humpback whale in the water. The NOAA Fisheries response team uses poles with specialized knives to cut entangling lines. Credit: Alaska Department of Fish and Game/Jamie Musbach (NOAA Fisheries Permit # 24359)

NOAA Fisheries Awards $3.8 Million for Marine Mammal Rescue Efforts through Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grants

Prescott Grants will provide funding to 41 recipients in 19 states and two tribes for fiscal year 2025.
June 23, 2026 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Grey seal released onto the beach with responders holding barriers behind the seal Gray seal, Louis Armstrong, is released at Assateague Island National Seashore following rehabilitation at National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. Credit: National Aquarium

Mind Your Knots: Watch Your Vessel Speed to Protect Large Whales When You Sail This Summer

Vessels 65 feet and above are required to travel at 10 knots or less while inside the Great South Channel Seasonal Management Area (April 1–July 31).
June 18, 2026 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
A full-body, high-angle shot of the Godspeed, a three-masted replica tall ship, sailing across calm, deep blue water under a bright blue sky with scattered, fluffy white clouds. The historic-style wooden vessel features a tan hull with bold black horizontal stripes and a decorative red-and-white diamond pattern along its upper railing. Tall ship ‘Godspeed’ at sea. Credit: Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

Free Course on Boating Safely Around Whales Expands to West Coast and Hawaiʻi

We have expanded a free boater safety course for New England and the Mid-Atlantic to include the West Coast and Hawaiʻi. See a Spout? Watch Out!’s course offers tips on safely navigating waters shared with protected marine species like whales.
June 10, 2026 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
West Coast
Logo for See a Spout? Watch Out! featuring an orange ship wheel surrounding a blue circle with a white whale fluke and spout emerging from blue water

By the Numbers: 2026 North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season

The 2026 North Atlantic right whale calving season has come to a close in the southeast United States. We are cautiously optimistic for the species, as we saw the highest number of right whale calves born in nearly two decades.
April 30, 2026 - Feature Story ,
Southeast
Right whale Catalog #4617 “Mirror” and calf, seen on March 14, 2026, just beyond the surf in Crescent Beach, Florida. “Mirror” is 10 years old and this is her first calf. Right whale Catalog #4617 “Mirror” and calf, seen on March 14, 2026, just beyond the surf in Crescent Beach, Florida. “Mirror” is 10 years old and this is her first calf. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Aerial survey funded by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and NOAA Fisheries.

Celebrating Earth Day with NOAA Fisheries

Every day is Earth Day at NOAA Fisheries!
April 20, 2026 - Feature Story ,
National
A graphic with the text "Earth Day" showing a globe, fish, corals, a whale, and seagrass. Celebrating Earth Day at NOAA Fisheries. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Endangered Killer Whales Known for Isolation May Depend on Their Interaction with Other Populations

Scientists describe an additional factor affecting the future of Southern Residents.
March 24, 2026 - Feature Story ,
West Coast
Southern Resident killer whale J16 breaches near the San Juan Islands, with J26 nearby. The Southern Residents have spent less time in and around the San Juan Islands during summer in recent years. Southern Resident killer whale J16 breaches near the San Juan Islands, with J26 nearby. The Southern Residents have spent less time in and around the San Juan Islands during summer in recent years. Photo by Katy Foster/NOAA Fisheries, under permit 18786.

The Ocean’s Underwater Ears: Tracking North Atlantic Right Whales Using Sound

Scientists are acoustically monitoring endangered North Atlantic right whales in the Southeast U.S. The data we collect help us understand their presence in their calving habitat.
March 02, 2026 - Feature Story ,
Southeast
Right whale #1515 “Ghost” was sighted with a calf on January 30, 2026, just offshore of Flagler Beach, Florida. Ghost is at least 41 years old, and this is her ninth calf. Right whale #1515 “Ghost” was sighted with a calf on January 30, 2026, just offshore of Flagler Beach, Florida. Ghost is at least 41 years old, and this is her ninth calf. Credit: Marineland Right Whale Project/Jeff Greene (Permit # 26562)