Right Whales Break Historical Record in Cape Cod

NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center North Atlantic right whale (#1612) with calf

Over 80 Endangered Right Whales left Cape Cod Bay US after reaching a historical record high for the season. The increased number of individuals brings forward several questions. Are Right Whales on a rapid recovery? Are global protection measures effective? Are there ecological reasons for the increased presence of Right Whales? These and many other questions remain unanswered.

On May 24th local press of Cape Cod reported that the large gathering of the highly endangered right whales had left the local waters. The group which followed plankton to the coastline was protected by authorities who issued controls and advisories.

The State Division of Marine Fisheries announced that the advisory for boaters was lifted after an “an aerial survey spotted no right whales in the bay”, press reported.

Researchers and scientists took to the season with great marvel as the number of Right Whales this year rose first from 17 to 50 to 60 to finally 82 documented individuals.

Cape Cod Today reported on the feeding activities which the group of Right Whales took on near the shores of the areas. The DMF Division of Marine Fisheries described the group of whales as “large and stable”.

Right Whales were observed breaking surface water and sub-surfacing to feed. It is estimated that today there are only 500 living Right Whales. The sightings of the North Atlantic Season could call for a revision of estimations. Oceanographers question whether the increased number of individuals spotted at Cape Cod could signal to a rapid recovery of the specie which after centuries of brutal hunt finds itself protected for several years and finds new opportunities to grow in numbers. NOAA is looking closely at the population relationship “mother-calf”.

“Over the past two weeks, more than 70 of the 500 remaining North Atlantic right whales have been within meters of the shores of Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA,” UK Whales reported

The millenary specie -which like ghosts of the past took once again to Cape Cod Bay fed on tiny-zooplankton and plankton pastures which were found closer to the coast this year. The proximity of the specie to the coast presented both an incredible opportunity for sighting as well as a challenge to protect Right Whales from boat traffic.

”A federal regulation requires all vessels to actively maintain a 500 yard distance from right whales to reduce the risk of striking or disturbing these whales. That includes paddleboards, kayaks, ships and everything in between. The only exceptions are for federally-permitted research vessels or fishing vessels hauling gear -which also must depart once they have finished hauling,” press reported.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation WDC -with local offices on the ground told the press that their phones rang non-stop. The interest of people who wanted to take a look into the majestic creatures grew.

WDC reached out to the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries to request a strong enforcement and monitor activity while the Whales remained in the area.

While protection measures were installed scientists took to whale sightings, identification, cataloguing, aerial registers and other scientific activities.

Listen for Whales -with active programs on installing listening buoys explained that “the world's last 350 North Atlantic right whales live along the East Coast”. The group assures that listening in on the Ocean Giants is a way of helping them.

NOAA Teacher at Sea, Kelly Dilliard onboard NOAA Ship Gordon Gunter blogged on the Right Whale Survey Mission set for May 15 - June 5 2015. The ship will take to the Northeast Atlantic Ocean area. On May 24th Teacher Dillard reported on photo-identification.

“It really is amazing how much information has been gathered about the right whale population off the New England coast. They have been collecting data on these whales for the past 25 years. It goes to show that persistence pays off,” NOAA Teacher stated.

NOAA Teacher Dillard also spoke about DNA genetic identification which serves the development of family trees. DNA studies could help determine if the population which navigated Cape Cod waters is a “growing family” and how they related.

“DNA data is stored in the North Atlantic Right Whale DNA Bank at Trent University and made available as an online database. The database contains information on over 500 individuals and provides a means of studying the right whale population, keeping track of deceased individuals and paternity,” Dillard added.

Dillard from NOAA continues to cruise until the mission sees its final days and objectives are met. Photo Identification, DNA sampling, callosity patterns and mother-calf relationships are a way into measuring the effectivity of protective measures and whether the specie is recovering from centuries of abuse.

The Ocean Giants which were once hunted to near extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries in May 2015 reached a historical record high presence in Cape Cod US.

Ocean Life News in Brief

Ocean Level Increase Dropping Oceans Floor: International Press reported on December 5 on the findings of new research which assures that due to ocean level increase the ocean floor is sinking. The study published online in Geophysical Research Levels used mathematical equations to accurately measure the Ocean's floor impact driven by the increased of water volume weight. Using data from 1993 to 2014 researchers found that ocean level increase is causing the Ocean floor to drop globally by the milimeters. Ocean Dead Zones Up By Four: On January 8 New York Daily reported that Ocean Dead Zones have quadrupled.Researchers warned in a new study that oxygen-starved ocean dead zones, where animals and plants are struggling to survive, have increased fourfold and it may not be reversible. The new study was published in the Journal Science. The increase of Dead Zones was linked to climate change. La Niña´s Polar Wave Hitting Hard the US -Freezing Oceans: International Press reported on the Polar Wave hitting hard the US. The event is linked by experts to the influence of La Niña. “For the past couple of weeks, parts of North America have been chilling down to record temperatures, with massive snowfall and icy cold conditions putting life at a standstill for many,” media reported. The US East Coast has been particularly badly hit with the likes of Boston down to Philadelphia reaching bone-chilling lows of near 0°F , with icy winds making it feel closer to around -10°F to -20°F. Officially 18 were dead and 100 million affected. Government of Bali Declares a Garbage Emergency: On January 5 Ocean Conservancy reported on a New Waste Management Emergency in Bali. Massive amounts of ocean debri are affecting the island. The situation has reached its peak as the Government of Bali declared a “Garbage Emergency”. Clean up works have began. “Ivory Coast Village Swallowed by Ocean Increase,” Aljazeera Reports: On January 8 Al Jazeera reported that ocean increase levels are affecting infrastructure in the Ivory Coast. “Rising tides and more frequent, devastating storms are slowly destroying what is left of Lahou-Kpanda, the offshoot of what was once a major colonial town near the mouth of the Bandama River, the longest river in Ivory Coast,” Al Jazeera reported. Arctic Ocean Radioactive Levels on the Rise: IFL Science reported on January 3 on the findings of new report which assures that radioactive levels in the Arctic Ocean are on the rise. “Concentrations of radioactive radium-228 in the Arctic Ocean increased between 2007 and 2015,” the report reads. While levels have not yet reached a mark of concern the trend is worries experts. Lauren Kipp of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution addressed the issue. New World Wide Ocean Turtle Study Says 90% of Plastic Pollution Cases Result in Death: Earth Sky Org reported on January 7 that hundreds of marine turtles die every year after getting tangled in trash in oceans and on beaches. A research published in the journal Endangered Species Research took on a World-Wide Survey covering the major oceans where turtles live. They discovered that 91 % of the entangled turtles were found dead. They also suffered serious wounds from entanglement, leading to maiming, amputation or choking. Double Whirlpools Discovered for First Time: December 4 Press reported that Double Eddies have been registered for the first time in History. Tangled up Double Eddies can travel great distances affecting ecology significantly. Eddies are a natural part of the ocean environment but double whirlpools had only been theorized by mathematicians.