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
Team members attach a solar-powered satellite tag to the dead sperm whale, while lines secure it onshore for examination. Credit: Marine Mammal Alliance Nantucket. NOAA Permit #24359
A young humpback whale stranded on the Oregon Coast north of Yachats on November 15, prompting a response of trained teams from across the West Coast through the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. The whale was entangled when it first came ashore, but many of the lines were later cut away, leaving a short length jutting from the animal's mouth. Credit: West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Feature Story
Experts Euthanize Oregon Humpback Whale After Unsuccessful Attempt to Free it from Beach
West Coast
Credit: NOAA/Maria Harvey
Feature Story
NOAA Announces Confirmed U.S. Large Whale Entanglement Numbers for 2024
Alaska
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
National
Multimedia
A gray whale and her calf migrate north along the California coast on their way to summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Scientists are using an unmanned aerial vehicle to produce very precise overhead images of gray whales, then analyzing the images to understand how environmental conditions affect the health of adult females and ultimately the reproductive success of the population. Credit: NOAA
Researchers retrieve a passive acoustic recorder. Courtesy: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Video
Listening for Whales: Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring to Track North Atlantic Right Whales
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
Research
Surveys in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
We conduct research and monitoring surveys to better understand the physical, biological, economic, and social components of marine ecosystems found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from the Canadian Scotian Shelf to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
Peer-Reviewed Research
Population Size Estimate for North Atlantic Right Whales
Population size estimation of North Atlantic right whales from 1990-2024.
Developing Viable On-Demand Gear Systems
On-demand gear development continues to evolve with the help of industry.
2024 Northeast Experimental On-Demand Gear System Testing Completed
We tested on-demand (also called ropeless) fishing gear in state and federal waters that are closed to lobster and Jonah crab fishing that use static vertical lines.
Understanding Marine Mammal Protections
Learn how NOAA Fisheries protects all marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
