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A Winter at Sea Reveals Seasonal Habits of Whales, Dolphins, and Seabirds in Hawaiʻi

Results are in from our survey mission to study the winter populations of whales, dolphins, and seabirds in the main Hawaiian Islands. It’s only the second expedition of its kind. Take a look behind the scenes aboard the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette.
August 20, 2026 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
Three melon-headed whales swim together in bright blue ocean water. Their heads and dorsal fins emerge from the water. A group of melon-headed whales swimming together on February 1, 2026, seen during the Winter Hawaiian Islands Cetacean and Ecosystem Assessment Survey. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Mary Applegate, taken under NOAA permit #25754.

2025 Species Recovery Grant Awardees Announced

NOAA awards $4.2 million to support 19 state and tribal projects advancing recovery of threatened and endangered species.
July 07, 2026 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Slightly overhead photo of two white abalone with pink and red buildup on their shells. The abalone are on top of a rock sitting on sandy floor. White abalone. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

The Endangered Population of False Killer Whales in the Main Hawaiian Islands is Declining

A new analytical method accounting for animal movement improves population size estimates of endangered false killer whales in Hawaiʻi and reveals the population has been declining for more than a decade.
August 14, 2025 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
From nose to dorsal fin, the body of a false killer whale surfaces above the water. Behold the rounded head, dark coloration, and torpedo-like body of the false killer whale. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Marie Hill (Permit #25754)

Recommended 2024 Species Recovery Grants Projects

NOAA Fisheries has recommended roughly $5.5 million in funding for six new projects and 16 ongoing projects.
May 07, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
An adult orca is swimming underwater, and a calf is next to its dorsal fin. The calf is surfacing from the water. Southern Resident killer whale swimming with calf. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Scoping it Out: A First-of-its-Kind Survey for False Killer Whales

Scientists are on a month-long survey at sea to look for Hawai‘i pelagic false killer whales far outside of their known range. What will they find?
May 06, 2024 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
Feeding time A false killer whale grabs a mahimahi hiding under a bucket lid, looking very much like an Avenger in the process! Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Ernesto Vazquez (Permit #25754)

The Endangered Species Act: 50 Years of Conserving Species

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act by learning more about NOAA's work to conserve endangered species and their habitats.
May 19, 2023 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act with smalltooth sawfish, green turtle, Atlantic salmon, staghorn, North Atlantic right whale, and Tubastraea floreana

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).

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).

What Satellite Tags Are Telling Us About False Killer Whales

Satellite tagging efforts under a NOAA Fisheries recovery grant are making a difference for an endangered population of false killer whales in Hawai‘i.
February 18, 2022 - Feature Story ,
Pacific Islands
Satellite map of raw location data for false killer whale HIPc808 in 2021. HIPc808, a false killer whale identified in Cascadia Research Collective’s identification catalog, took a 10-day journey across the entire main Hawaiian Islands in 2021. Satellite tags are helping Cascadia Research Collective, the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, and NOAA Fisheries better understand the endangered main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whale population. Credit: Cascadia Research Collective.

11 Cool Facts About Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises

Did you know these marine mammals are part of the cetacean family? Check out these facts to learn more.
February 16, 2021 - Feature Story ,
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
finback image for 2020 whale week Finback whales. Credit: NOAA Fisheries