So far, the cause of the die-offs remains a mystery, though theories include starvation from lack of food, or a disease that mimics chronic wasting disease. Teams of scientists are investigating what the casualties mean for the gray whale population as a whole. But some also fear that the deaths could be part of a larger trend as animals struggle to adapt to climate change. Said Ferguson: The “gray whales are just one piece” to the environmental puzzle.
Editor’s note: The consistently disturbing news of marine mammals dying off or stranding in mass appears to be a global event. Gray whales are an iconic species that have survived throughout the centuries, including the great whale hunts of the… Read More ›
Crab fishermen have taken the lead on this issue and many are already taking part in a limited basis pilot project that was initiated two years ago. Approximately 1,500 lost crab pots have been collected in that program. SB 1287 will build upon the successful pilot project by advancing a statewide solution to the growing problem.
Meet Gallon of Milk, one of the most beautiful whales on Earth. Named for her bright, milky hue, the incredibly rare albino grey whale was spotted by marine biologists off Mexico’s Pacific coast over the weekend, flanked by her… Read More ›
the American company Odyssey Marine Explorations intends to start the Don Diego phosphate mine. The proposed mine would include five work sites in an area of more than 225,000 acres. Each site would be exploited for 10 years, resulting in a 50-year-long project. The goal is to extract 350 million tons of phosphate sand from the marine floor—a quantity that would fill Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium 264 times.
Twelve dead whales, including grays, a humpback and a sperm whale, have been documented in Northern California since March. That includes a badly decomposed and headless whale found Tuesday on South Beach along the Point Reyes National Seashore, officials with the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary confirmed.
By Sue Arnold CEO California Gray Whale Coalition Gray whales intrigue researchers and captivate the public in ways that few species enjoy. Their willingness to engage with humanity is unique. The whales are also highly controversial. Population estimates have been… Read More ›
Staff Report FRISCO — Whales may play a much bigger role in ocean ecosystems than previously thought, according to a University of Vermont researcher who studied how the great cetaceans recycle and move nutrients from one region to another. “For… Read More ›
From the Environment Blog, May 14, 2013 Astonishing news from Walvis Bay, Namibia, where scientists from the Namibian Dolphin project on Tuesday confirmed the sighting of a grey whale. Not only has this north Pacific species been extinct in… Read More ›
A Santa Barbara whale watching business, Condor Express, recently reported that they observed, “…a cow-calf pair not too far from SB Harbor. Upon arriving in the area near the two whales, it became apparent that one of them (we still… Read More ›
Neptune 911! 