Marine Mammals

NBC News republished the following article by Kacey Demer, which is entitled “How Satellites Might help save the Whales” and which was originally published on Live Science:

“First drones, and now satellites are allowing scientists to spy on whales — for research, that is.

Though they are massive animals, whale populations are difficult to monitor, according to researchers. Drones have been used to capture footage of whales, and now scientists are turning to even higher-flying help. Researchers in Australia are using satellite imagery to track local humpback whale populations, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC).

VIVA Vaquita Recently distributed the following message:

“MARINE MAMMAL BOOKS AND REPRINTS SOUGHT

VIVA Vaquita! (a non-profit organization) is seeking marine mammal books, reprints, monographs, and journals.  Literature can be donated or we can purchase sets of books, reprints, and journals. We compile and then make the literature available to colleagues working on marine mammals, getting it into hands where it will be actively used, and in the process help to raise funds for research and conservation work on the vaquita (Phocoena sinus), the World’s most endangered marine mammal species. Donations are tax-deductible, and we maybe able to arrange pick-up of large libraries (and possibly even to provide some payment for more valuable items). We are interested in issues of Marine Mammal Science only from vol. 27 (2011)onwards.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has published NMFS’ aboriginal subsistence whaling quota for bowhead whales that NMFS has assigned to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, and the limitations on the use of the quota deriving from regulations of the International Whaling Commission. For 2017, the quota is 75 bowhead whales struck. This quota and other applicable limitations govern the harvest of bowhead whales by members of the AEWC.

Click here to read more and for relevant links.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received a petition for rulemaking to establish a whale protection zone in the San Juan Islands, Washington, to support recovery of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. NMFS requests comments on the petition and will consider all comments and available information when determining whether to accept the petition and proceed with the suggested rulemaking. The closing date for comments on the petition is April 13, 2017. Click here for more details.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the availability of FWS’ Polar Bear Conservation Management Plan. The polar bear is listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, and is also considered ‘‘depleted’’ under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Polar Bear Plan identifies objective, measurable ESA recovery criteria, site-specific recovery actions, as well as time and cost estimates. It also serves as an MMPA conservation plan. Click here for more information about this Polar Bear Plan.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has announced the adoption and availability of an Endangered Species Act Recovery Plan for the Cook Inlet beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) distinct population segment (DPS) found in Cook Inlet, AK. The Recovery Plan is available on the NMFS Alaska Region website here.

The International Association of Geophysical Contractors posted the following article about NOAA/NMFS’ proposed listing of the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale as endangered under the Endangered Species Act:

“Rare Gulf of Mexico whale could be listed as endangered
A Bryde’s whale in the Gulf of Mexico NOAA Fisheries

BY HANNAH MORSE
hemorse@bradenton.com

A year-round resident of Gulf of Mexico waters may be listed as threatened or endangered early next year pending public comment and review after a 12-month study of the whale was published by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service published in the December 8, 2016, Federal Register a document proposing to list the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. On December 19, 2016, NMFS published a Federal Register notice that corrects an error in NMFS’ December 8th notice. The correct deadline for comments on NMFS’ proposed listing of the Bryde’s whale is February 6, 2017. Click here for NMFS’ Federal Register notice correcting the comment deadline.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has published an article discussing the increasing numbers of Humpback whales off the coast of New York and New Jersey. NMFS believes that this increase is due to NMFS’ actions that  “modified and reduced the number of entangling fishing lines in northeast U.S. waters, shifted shipping lanes, implemented vessels speed restrictions, and protected habitats for whales and the fish they eat. Thanks in part to these conservation efforts, the humpback whale population in Northeast U.S. waters has successfully rebounded, and we removed them from the list of endangered species in September 2016.”

Danish Marine Mammal Society and Aarhus University is holding the 31st Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society at Hindsgavl Castle, Middelfart, Denmark The Main conference will be on 1-3 May, 2017. Workshops will take place on 29-30 April, 2017.

This year’s theme is: CONSERVATION IN THE LIGHT OF MARINE SPATIAL USE.

Invited Keynote Speakers are Professor Lars Bejder, Murdoch University, Cetacean Research Unit, Australia; Dr. Asha De Vos, Post-doctoral scholar, University of California, Santa Cruz; Dr. Len Thomas, University of St. Andrews, Scotland.

IMPORTANT DATES:
Abstract and workshop submission deadline: 13 January 2017 (23:45 CET)
Early registration deadline: 15 March 2017 (23:45 CET)
Video abstract submission deadline: 1 March 2017 (23:45 CET)
Late registration deadline: 1 April 2017 (23.45 CET)