Scientists with NOAA Fisheries spotted two highly #endangered Rice’s #whales in the western Gulf of Mexico. The event occurred within the proposed critical habitat for Rice’s whales in the Gulf, reaffirming the importance of conservation efforts.
fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/…

Scientists have begun understanding the biological techniques that allow fish to swim quietly in schools, which could be replicated in autonomous underwater vessels design to reduce underwater noise pollution.
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.108…

As our understanding of sound travel and amplification grows, so does scientists’ concern that noise pollution impacts whale migration. Researchers modeled impacts of noise to learn more about the possible effects on #whale migration.
…ementecologyjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.11…

Our Office of Law Enforcement is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information about a dead bottlenose dolphin that had injuries consistent with being shot with a firearm. The dolphin was found on West Mae’s Beach in Cameron Parish, Louisiana: bit.ly/3QfcNyK

Recent research has concluded that two well-known types of #killerwhales in the North Pacific Ocean should be considered as separate species. Read more on resident and Bigg's killer #whales :
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rs…

Researchers at University of Rhode Island have identified five distinct shapes displayed by beluga #whale melons. Their behavior was recorded during social interactions, and the researchers categorized five shapes: shake, push, press, lift, and flat.
link.springer.com/article/10.100…

Plans are in place to airlift a stranded orca calf in British Columbia back to its pod. With support from the Ehattesaht First Nation and Canadian authorities, a helicopter will be used to transfer the calf from a lagoon to the ocean.
phys.org/news/2024-04-o…

Researchers have identified a distinct subpopulation of killer #whales off California's coast. These #killerwhales specialize in hunting sea lions, gray whale calves, and elephant seals using unique techniques, primarily in Monterey Submarine Canyon.
phys.org/news/2024-03-k…

Recently, an ancient freshwater #dolphin fossil was found in the Peruvian Amazon. The breakthrough shows that around the time dolphins ventured into the freshwater of South Asia, they also moved into habitats of South American freshwater.
science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

Upon revisiting Bogoslof Island, an active volcano, for the first time in four years, researchers saw a remarkable increase in the population of fur seals. Despite eruption changing the ladscape, seals have continued to thrive on this island since 1980.
fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/…

New research shows that certain #whale species undergo menopause, leading to notably longer female lifespans. In the 5 species studied, this allowed whales to care for offspring and grandchildren without overlapping breeding periods with their daughters.
phys.org/news/2024-03-m…

A recent study explores beluga whales' caloric needs and metabolism, providing insights into metabolic rates and aiding predictive models of human disturbance. Such research is crucial to management of #endangered Cook Inlet #Beluga populations. #ESA .
phys.org/news/2024-03-m…

New research found Otariid gammaherpesvirus 1 in South American pinnipeds for the first time, along with a new herpesvirus, in South American sea lions. Scientists emphasize the need for more research to understand the impacts on Peru’s marine ecosystems.
journals.plos.org/plosone/articl…

Three #whales stranded on Hampton Roads beaches in three days, reflecting a broader trend of humpback whale deaths along the East Coast. Investigating the larger pattern revealed vessel strikes, and entanglement in fishing gear in many cases.
phys.org/news/2024-03-c…

A recent study reveals a large decline in harbor porpoise populations in Danish coastal waters and the western Baltic Sea. Bycatch and pollution contribute to this decline, and researchers recommend multiple measures to mitigate threats to the population.
frontiersin.org/articles/10.33…

New research reveals that 'dark' fishing vessels, which turn off their location devices, pose a great threat to #marinemammals in the NE Pacific. These vessels increase the known risk to marine predators by nearly 25%, according to satellite data.
science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

The Atlantic humpback #dolphin has recently been listed under the Endangered Species Act #ESA . Found along the western African coastal shallows, they are threatened by fisheries bycatch, deliberate capture, coastal development, and noise pollution.
fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlant…

#ICYMI Last month, a stranded gray whale was found and secured in San Diego, with assistance from local lifeguards and park staff. The NOAA Fisheries team conducted a necropsy, revealing poor health but no apparent human impact.
fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/…

North Pacific humpback populations have rebounded from whaling, yet food availability shifts have lowered the carrying capacity. A recent study analyzed thousands of whale photos spanning 20 years and revealed a decline of ≈7000 in humpback numbers.
royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rs…

Great white sharks are being hunted by killer whales in South Africa. Citizen science and reporting is crucial in understanding the rapidly changing diets of marine mammals, and aiding in conservation efforts.
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.298…