NOAA-trained team hopeful strategic cut freed an entangled humpback near Tracy Arm

From a NOAA Press release: NOAA-trained team hopeful strategic cut freed an entangled humpback near Tracy Arm NOAA Fisheries marine mammal entanglement experts are hopeful that a humpback whale is free, after a successful operation to cut the anchor line it was stuck in Sunday afternoon near the mouth of Tracy Arm. The humpback had [...]

NOAA releases new population estimate for endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales

From a NOAA Press Release: June 22, 2017 Marjorie Mooney-Seus Julie Speegle Beluga whales in Cook Inlet. Credit: Chris Garner, U.S. Army JBER NOAA Fisheries released today its biennial population estimate for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. Scientists determined that the population size is between 279 and 386 animals, with a most likely estimate [...]

Harmful Toxins Detected in Alaska Marine Mammals

Harmful Toxins Detected in Alaska Marine Mammals From a NOAA Press Release: [fusion_dropcap]T[/fusion_dropcap]oxins from harmful algae are present in Alaskan marine food webs in high enough concentrations to be detected in marine mammals from Southeast Alaska to the Arctic Ocean, including whales, walruses, sea lions, seals, porpoises and sea otters, according to The next link/button [...]

Scientists conduct full necropsy in quest to determine what killed killer whale

Scientists conduct full necropsy in quest to determine what killed killer whale From a NOAA press release: [fusion_dropcap]A[/fusion_dropcap] collaborative team of scientists is investigating what caused the death of a female killer whale found on a beach in Portage Bay, Kupreanof Island, northwest of Petersburg. The team was able to reach the 17.4 foot long [...]

Ancient whalers leave their mark on the north

Ancient whalers leave their mark on the north By Ned Rozell [fusion_dropcap]T[/fusion_dropcap]he high arctic is one of the farthest places from most of the 6 billion people on Earth, but Canadian researchers have found that the far north holds some of the oldest evidence of human impact on a lake’s ecosystem. John Smol, of Queen’s [...]

Resurrecting Leviathan: Reconstructing Sperm Whale Catches in the North Pacific

Resurrecting Leviathan: Reconstructing Sperm Whale Catches in the North Pacific By Phillip J. Clapham and Yulia V. Ivashchenko [fusion_dropcap]T[/fusion_dropcap]o anyone who has ever seen one, the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is among the more bizarre-looking animals on our planet. With its wrinkled skin, giant head, and large teeth arrayed in an oddly underslung jaw, it [...]