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Cause of Death Determined for 11 Killer Whales Incidentally Caught in Fishing Gear in Alaska in 2023

Majority of whales belong to Eastern North Pacific Alaska Resident stock.
December 01, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
A pod of killer whales swim through the water off the coast of Alaska A pod of killer whales. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.

Large Whale Entanglement Response a Success Thanks to Metlakatla Indian Community Team

NOAA Fisheries highlights one of our tribal partners for November’s National Native American Heritage Month
November 29, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
The humpback whale was entangled in line. The humpback whale was entangled in line. Credit: Metlakatla Indian Community Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA MMHSRP Permit No. 24359

Study Finds Offshore Wind Areas a Biologically Important Habitat for Whales and Dolphins

Scientists use passive acoustic monitoring to create a baseline soundscape off the southern New England coast to help evaluate the potential impacts of offshore wind development on cetacean species.
November 17, 2023 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Two North Atlantic right whales from above, exhaling.

Recent Sightings of Highly Endangered Eastern North Pacific Right Whales Raise Hope for Recovery

Four whales were spotted from the critically endangered population—at least one is new to researchers.
November 14, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
Whale swimming in the ocean. A previously unidentified eastern North Pacific right whale spotted in September 2023. Credit: NOAA Fisheries and International Whaling Commission/ Bernardo Alps, WildSea Inc.

Party Balloon Leads to Whale Death

A mylar balloon caused the death of a Gervais’ beaked whale calf that stranded off the coast of North Carolina.
November 13, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Southeast
A small dead whale lays on its side on the water's edge at a beach. Gervais’ beaked whale on the beach at Emerald Isle in North Carolina. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

NOAA Announces Confirmed Large Whale Entanglement Numbers in 2021

There were 70 large whale entanglement cases in 2021—an increase from 2020, but below the historical average.
November 03, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
An entangled North Atlantic right whale, Snowcone (known individual #3560), and her calf An entangled North Atlantic right whale, Snowcone (known individual #3560), and her calf. Snowcone was first documented as entangled in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts in March 2021. Snowcone was then documented with a calf during an aerial survey on December 2, 2021 near Cumberland Island, Georgia. Credit: Georgia Department of Natural Resources; NOAA Permit No. 20556

Successful Effort to Rescue an Entangled Humpback Whale in Alaska

Trained responders freed the whale from a life-threatening entanglement near Gustavus, Alaska.
October 26, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
This aerial drone image shows the complexity of the entanglement through the mouth and wrapped around the flukes. The team approaches the whale with specialized tools to remove the gear. This aerial drone image shows the complexity of the entanglement through the mouth and wrapped around the flukes. Credit: Sean Neilson, used with permission. Taken under NOAA MMHSRP Permit No. 24359

Reducing Entanglements and Vessel Strikes Makes Extinction Less Likely for North Atlantic Right Whales

A new analytical tool helps users understand how the population will change over 100 years if threats are mitigated.
October 17, 2023 - Feature Story ,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
A right whale in clear blue water, skimming just below the surface, mouth open to catch plankton North Atlantic right whale feeding. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Christin Khan

Coffman Cove Residents Help Free Two Killer Whales From Barnes Lake

Citizens, fishing outfitters, sports and commercial fishermen, and local businesses volunteered time, boats, local knowledge, and hospitality.
October 05, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
A killer whale breaches One of the killer whales stuck in Barnes Lake on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska breaches, showing scientists that the whales were in good body condition. Credit: Kathy Peavey, Craig resident.

NOAA Fisheries to Revise Critical Habitat for Right Whales in Alaska

Agency announces a finding on a petition requesting expansion of North Pacific right whale critical habitat.
September 26, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
North Pacific Right Whale North Pacific Right Whale