Marine Mammals

Russell F. Smith III, is the NOAA Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Fisheries, and U.S. commissioner to the International Whaling Commission.  He published the following statement:

“The United States is disappointed with the Japanese government’s decision to restart lethal research whaling in the Southern Ocean early next year. We continue to believe that it is unnecessary to kill whales in order to conduct scientific research necessary to promote the management objectives of the IWC. We note that while Japan submitted its research proposal to the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC’s) Expert Panel and Scientific Committee (SC) for review and comment, Japan has decided to proceed with the hunt without addressing several significant issues raised in their reports. One of the key issues raised during both the Expert Panel and SC meetings was that Japan had not justified the need for lethal whaling to carry out its research. Unfortunately, rather than giving itself time to modify its research program to fully address these issues, Japan has decided to restart its program now.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has issued the following warning:

“NOAA Fisheries alerts boaters that right whales are migrating near the coast. Be on the lookout as this endangered species travels south for the winter.

North Atlantic right whales are on the move, making their way south along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. for the winter, and NOAA is cautioning boaters to give them plenty of room.

Marine biologists with NOAA Fisheries, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission remind boaters, anglers, and coastal residents that North Atlantic right whale calving season begins in mid-November and runs through mid-April and boaters should stay alert and keep their distance.

The U.S. Department of the Navy has published its Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Navy Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing.

The goal of this EIS/OIS is to evaluate the potential environmental effects associated with continuing to conduct military readiness activities, which consist of training activities and research, development, testing, and evaluation  activities in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing Study Area. The Study Area consists of sea space in and airspace over the Atlantic Ocean along the eastern coast of North America, portions of the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

A natural toxin that has spread throughout the marine ecosystem off the West Coast, killing sea mammals and poisoning various other species.

Kathi Lefebvre, the lead research biologist at the Wildlife Algal Toxin Research and Response Network, said Wednesday that her organization had examined about 250 animals stranded on the West Coast and had found domoic acid, a toxic chemical produced by a species of algae, in 36 animals of several species.

“We’re seeing much higher contamination in the marine food web this year in this huge geographic expanse than in the past,” Lefebvre said.

The international Workshop “Bottlenose dolphin conservation and monitoring in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea”, organized by the GIS3M in partnership with the French Marine Protected Area Agency, WWF France, ACCOBAMS and the Pelagos Sanctuary, will take place on the 1st & 2nd December at the Villa Mediterranean in Marseille (France). This workshop will gather scientists and international experts in order to share knowledge and discuss about ecology and monitoring on the Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin, strategies of conservation, measures of conservation and networking.

Everyone interested is welcomed; participation fees for the two-day workshop are 50 Euros, which include coffee break and icebreaker.

If you are interested in participating to the workshop, registration is still possible on http://www.gdegem.org/international-workshop

Deaths of the endangered right whales, mostly young calves, leapt 10-fold from 2005 to 2014. No one knew why until possibly now. Scientists have identified blooms of toxic algae as a probable cause if these deaths.  Click here to read an article on these recent findings.

The J, K, and L pods of southern-resident killer whales appear to be in robust health, new photographs show, and several appear to be pregnant, scientists say.

The 82 endangered whales are fat and sleek, and several appear to be pregnant. The news was revealed by photogrammetry: measurements made from photographs that help scientists understand the health of whales and other wildlife.

Click here for an article on these Puget Sound whales

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published its intention to conduct a 5-year status review under the Endangered Species Act for the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). A 5-year status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, FWS requests submission of information that has become available since the last review of the species in 2008.

To ensure consideration comments in FWS’ preparation of this 5- year status review, FWS must receive comments and information by December 14, 2015. However, FWS will accept information about any species at any time.

A recent article in The Hill states that

“The Obama administration still plans to issue regulations for oil and natural gas drilling in the Arctic Ocean despite Royal Dutch Shell’s decision to abandon its drilling efforts ‘for the foreseeable future.’

Brian Salerno, director of the Interior Department’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), said regulators are moving forward with their rules, even though drilling is not likely to return to the Arctic for years, or even decades.

‘It still matters,’ Salerno told Platts in an interview released Monday. It’s not pushed to the back burner. We’re committed to going forward and finalizing the rule.’

The following article has been published in Mammal Review:

Edwards EF, Hall C, Moore TJ, Sheredy C and Redfern JV (2015). Global distribution of fin whales *B**alaenoptera physalus* in the post-whaling era (1980?2012). Mammal Review Volume 45, Issue 4, pages 197-214.

This articles includes the following abstract:

“Abstract:

1. The global distribution of fin whales *B**alaenoptera physalus* is not fully understood. Existing maps can be divided into two conflicting categories: one showing a continuous global distribution and another showing an equatorial hiatus (gap in the global distribution) between approximately 20?N and 20?S. Questions also remain about the seasonal distribution of fin whales.