A Northeast Fisheries Science Center biologist collecting data during buoyless lobster trap tests.
Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on Earth. They can be found in every ocean and range in size from the small dwarf sperm whale to the massive blue whale, the largest animal on the planet. Whales belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans. Marine mammals in the cetacean family include whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
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There are two types of cetaceans: baleen and toothed. Baleen whales, or Mysticetes, have baleen plates which sieve prey, like krill, from the water. Toothed whales, or Odontocetes, have teeth and feed on fish, squid, and other marine mammals such as seals and sea lions.
Together with our partners, we work to ensure the conservation of whales which are all protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and protect and recover those that are listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Species News
Members of the Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program use binoculars to look for beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC),
Photo taken under MMPA/ESA permit no. 18786
North Atlantic right whale Catalog #3560 ‘Snow Cone’ sighted December 2, 2021 entangled and with a new calf. Photo credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taken under NOAA permit 20556.
Four North Atllantic right whales.
Multimedia
A Northeast Fisheries Science Center biologist collecting data during buoyless lobster trap tests.
Research
5 Facts About How Belugas Use Sound
Beluga whales are very social marine mammals of our arctic seas, and we’ve only recently begun to understand how they communicate with each other. It turns out that they have quite a bit to say! 1. Beluga Whales Have Three Types Of Sounds Belugas…
5 Facts Learned From Beluga Whale Research
1) Belugas Can Travel Thousands of Miles from Their Arctic Habitats Beluga whales can travel thousands of miles from the icy waters where we expect to see them. While we expect to find them in arctic and subarctic waters, they’ve been found as far…
5 Icebreakers About Bowhead Whales
1) Bowhead Whales Are Highly Adapted to the Arctic They have thick blubber to insulate their bodies from the cold temperatures. They have no difficulties with thermoregulation and their skulls are so tough that they break through 2 feet of solid ice…
Trophic Interactions and Habitat Requirements of Gulf of Mexico Rice’s Whales
Developing a comprehensive ecological understanding of the endangered Rice’s whale, formerly known as Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale.
Insight
Understanding Marine Mammal Protections
Learn how NOAA Fisheries protects all marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
