Spotlight on the North Pacific right whale: An interview with marine mammal scientist Jessica Crance
by NOAA Fisheries 25 Feb 2018 13:30 UTC
North Pacific right whale © NOAA Fisheries
The North Pacific right whale is split into two populations, the western and eastern. The Eastern North Pacific right whale is one of the most critically endangered large whales in the world.
With only 30 individuals left, if this population goes extinct, it is highly likely that we would never see any more right whales in the Eastern Bering Sea or along the west coast of the United States. Before whaling they used to cover the entire Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, but now their distribution range is quite small.
Threats
- Ship strikes
- Entanglements
Monitoring the Whales
Unfortunately, scientists know little about these whales. We need to learn more about where they migrate and breed so we can help conserve and protect them. NOAA scientists monitor and study North Pacific right whales with:
- Passive acoustic recorders
- Sonobuoys, which help to find the whales in real-time in order to get photo identification, photographs, biopsy samples, behavioral data.
Spotting a juvenile
In summer 2017, NOAA Fisheries marine mammal scientist Jessica Crance joined the International Whaling Commission's Power Cruise, which surveys the eastern Bering Sea. During the survey, twelve whales were photographed, and one juvenile was discovered. Seeing a juvenile is exciting news—it's the first non-adult we've seen since 2004. It means there's at least one reproductive female, and this evidence of breeding provides some hope for the population.
Future conservation actions
We have already established a critical habitat on their known feeding grounds. If we can learn more about their migration routes or their possible breeding grounds, then we can start to really focus our research efforts and our conservation efforts to help better protect the species.
As long as we continue to hear and see eastern North Pacific right whales, there will be hope that this population can recover and—hopefully—begin to reoccupy its former habitat and range.