Albino Whales In The News (Whale Shark and Southern Right Whales)
August 30, 2008
There were two interesting albino whale sightings in the news this week. Actually, we should correct that statement and set it straight as the whale shark is not actually a whale, but a fish - the world’s largest fish. The other creature was indeed a whale - an albino Southern Right Whale.
Both creatures are believed to be white because of a lack of pigmentation in their skin but they are expected to gradually turn to a darker colour as the years go by.
Whale Sharks, according to the Whale Shark Project website, have a circumglobal distribution in tropical and warm temperate seas and are typically found in areas of high plankton productivity. They are present mainly between latitudes 30° N and 35° S, but have been sighted as far North as New York on the US East coast and as far South as Tasmania. (Note: I couldn’t document or verify any whale shark sightings in New England waters ~ Mark Bransfield)
Do you know the name of the second largest fish in the world? It is the basking shark, a plankton eating, filter-feeding shark that is often seen in the coastal waters of New England.
Some Large Whale Species Showing Signs Of Recovery
August 13, 2008
On Tuesday, August 13, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest conservation network, released its most recent assessment on the state of the world’s whales, dolphins and porpoises- cetaceans.
The assessment reports that some of the larger whales including the humpback, minke and southern right whale are recovering from a threat of extinction, helped in large part by the ban on whaling that was implemented during a worldwide moratorium on whaling in the 1980s.
The IUCN said that almost 25% of the cetaceans were still in danger, mostly the smaller species of cetaceans. Fishing gear entanglements are currently the main threats to cetaceans.
The blue whale, the largest creature ever to have lived on earth, remained on the IUCN’s ”endangered” list along with the fin whale and sei whale.
For more information about the IUCN’s cetacean assessment, visit Alister Doyle’s online report for Reuters.
Killer Whale Sightings Off East Coast of Nova Scotia
August 10, 2008
An article by Chris Lambie in the Chronicle Herald Metro, a Halifax, Nova Scotia newspaper, reported that the rare glimpse of two killer whales, a male and a female, close to the Nova Scotian shore was seen by Eastern Passage fishing charter captain, Art Gaetan of Blue Shark Fishing Charters.
The article reports that Mr. Gaetan said that he hasn’t seen killer whales out there in 28 years.
“We tracked them for about 45 minutes to an hour,” he said. “It was pretty cool.” The orcas were swimming near two fin whales, Mr. Gaetan said.
Newfoundland Sail Boat’s Encounter With A Whale
July 16, 2008
It’s been an active summer for whale and shark sightings in the waters off the coast of New England and the Canadian Maritimes.
The captain and crew of a Newfoundland sail boat had a close encounter with a large marine animal — possibly a killer whale, a humpback whale or a great white shark while sailing earlier this week off the coast of St. John’s, New Brunswick.
An article by Richard Dooley in the Star Phoenix, reports that the 8.5-meter sailboat, Turanga, collided with something big and stopped dead in the water.
“We saw this huge dorsal fin come out of the water and head straight for the boat,” Drodge, the captain of the sailboat said. The fin got momentarily caught in the forward sail, or jib, of the sailboat.”
Drodge and his companions are convinced the animal that struck their boat on Sunday was a killer whale, or orca. Whale expert Wayne Ledwell, in Mr. Dooley’s article, said he’s never heard of an orca attacking a boat in Newfoundland waters. He thinks it might have been a humpback or perhaps a great white shark.
For more information, click on the following link to read Mr. Dooley’s article online.
Whale attack leaves N.L. skipper quaking, by Richard Dooley, Star Phoenix
Fin Whale Carcass Washes Ashore on New Jersey Beach
July 6, 2008
Fin whales are listed as endangered in the United States and are the second largest of the whales. Only the blue whale is larger in size only to blue whales.
For more information, visit the following link:
Remains of Rare Giant Squid Found in Monterey Bay
June 26, 2008
According to John Field, a fishery biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Santa Cruz, only four or five carcasses have ever been found in California waters.
An article by Kurtis Alexander of the Santa Cruz Sentinel reports that Santa Cruz researcher Sean Van Sommeran and his crew with the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation found the giant squid, or Architeuthis, Wednesday morning, floating roughly 20 miles off the coast of Santa Cruz.
Giant squid can grow upward of 50 and 60 feet and weigh up to a ton, according to researchers. The tentacles of the squid that was recovered by the team, which were as thick as a human leg, were mostly gone and its eyes and several body parts were missing. Researchers estimated that the squid was probably close to 25-feet long and weighed hundreds of pounds.
For more information, read Mr. Alexander’s article on the following website:
Whale Watching Is A Growth Industry
June 14, 2008
A recent report released by an Australian Environmental official states that the whale watching industry has grown significantly in Australia over the past several years. It also states that in high-income countries, 100 million people a year go whale watching, a figure the report predicts will grow by around 10 million a year.
The report also argues that a moratorium on commercial whaling must be maintained to save the 14 known species of whales that are threatened.
For more information, visit the following website:
‘Whale of a Time’ Summer Kickoff Whale Watch
May 15, 2008
Where: Lady Audrey at Eastman’s Docks in Seabrook, NH
Cost: $40 per person
The Hampton Area Chamber Of Commerce invites you to celebrate the beginning of the summer season aboard the Lady Audrey at Eastman’s Docks in Seabrook on June 12 from 1:30 to 6 p.m.
The Whale Watch includes a lunch provided by O’Brien’s General Store Deli, lots of treats provided by Hostess Cupcakes, variety of soft drinks provided by Seacoast Coca Cola, cool tunes and excitement with Party Time DJ’s Johnny B & Laurie and lots of raffle prizes.
A cash bar with cold beer and wine will also be available.
Tickets are $40 per person. Only 125 tickets will be sold.
For sponsor information and to order tickets call 603-926-8718. Tickets are also available at the Hampton Area Chamber Of Commerce website.
Related Websites:
Speeding Whale Watching Boats Present Risks to Whales
April 28, 2008
Ms. Daley’s article describes the results of a study published this month in the journal Conservation Biology. Dave Wiley, lead author of the report, funded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, an advocacy group, is a research coordinator for the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
According to the latest available statistics, the whale watching industry in New England generates about $30 million a year in revenue.
It is an interesting article with comments by whale watching boat operators and researchers. It also illustrates how difficult it is to interpret and enforce compliance with voluntary guidelines.
Here is the link to Beth Daley’s article that appeared in the Boston Globe:
Please Don’t Feed The Whales
April 19, 2008
Even whales know when there is a free lunch!
If you don’t think whales are intelligent creatures, read the article by Wendy Stueck in the
The depredation problem, which is when whales snatch fish from commercial fishing lines, is so serious that Canadian fisheries officials are issuing bulletins to commercial fisherman about the impact that this learned behavior by whales can have on commercial fishing activities.
The article states that researchers are studying how the whales home in on fishing boats and what methods could be used to deter them. Some of the ongoing research into the whale depredation problem being conducted by scientists at the North Pacific Research Board in Anchorage, Alaska suggest that distinctive sounds made by long-line vessels hauling in their catch can attract whales from up to 19 kilometres away.
Ms. Stueck’s article provides another fascinating view at how responsive whales are to conditions in their environment.
Website Link: Fishermen Urged To Avoid Snack-Happy Whales by Wendy Stueck
Situated on the ocean, Newburyport holds a host of opportunity for the visitor. But instead of traditional hotels, consider Massachusetts timeshares. Resorts offer sumptuous ensuite appointments and amenities not available in hotels. Rent timeshare for an unforgettable vacation experience.
Advertisements
Advertisement
Community Support
