Gray Whales on the Rebound: Signs of Hope Despite Challenges
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North Pacific gray whale population increases after declines.
California’s gray whales are an iconic and beloved species, visible to spectators even from shore during their migrations. The whales feed up in the Arctic and sub-Arctic waters in the North Pacific, then migrate all the way down the coast of North America. Their wintering grounds are located in the lagoons and coastal waters of Baja, Mexico. But one population, the eastern North Pacific gray whale, has been of particular concern to NOAA scientists due to a recent unusual mortality event.
On this episode, we talk with Dr. Aimée Lang, a research biologist at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center and the lead author of a recent report on the annual calf count. She provides an update on the status of these gray whales. And hey, guess what? There is some good news.
Dr. Lang explains more about this most recent estimate from last winter, and how it actually represents an increase in the numbers compared to what we saw during the unusual mortality event. Listen in to glean more about this positive sign for the population.
One of the primary focus areas of NOAA Fisheries gray whale research is monitoring gray whale population abundance. Find out more about gray whales and learn how NOAA scientists are monitoring them now using advanced technologies such as infrared and unmanned systems in addition to visual observers.
read more at fisheries.noaa.gov.
