Issue 98 - July 2023

Aquarium Scientists See One Third of North Atlantic Right Whale Population During Winter/Spring Aerial Survey Season

Southern New England an increasingly important habitat for the critically endangered species

Female right whale “Bocce” (Catalog #3860) belly up in a surface active group on Feb. 12, 2023. CREDIT: New England Aquarium, taken on surveys of southern New England wind energy areas and surrounding waters under NOAA research permit #25739

BOSTON, MA ⎯ Over the course of four months, New England Aquarium scientists sighted 102 individual North Atlantic right whales during aerial survey flights, about one-third of the critically endangered species population.

The winter/spring season marks the peak time of year for right whale sightings in southern New England waters. The Aquarium’s aerial survey team flew 11 surveys this past season covering nearly 6,000 nautical miles and collecting data about the species, which has an estimated population of less than 350.

“The whales tended to be in groups and would surface quickly between dives, indicating they were feeding below the surface. In recent years, the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket have become an increasingly important habitat for right whales,” said Orla O’Brien, Associate Research Scientist in the Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.

While scientists think right whales primarily come to southern New England to feed, aerial survey observers often see social behaviors such as surface active groups, which consist of two or more whales closely interacting at the surface. These groups can also exhibit mating behaviors. One of the largest surface active groups witnessed this season included a 15-year-old female right whale, “Bocce” (Catalog #3860), who has birthed two calves previously. Bocce’s status as a calving female makes her particularly important to the recovery of the species.

For more than a decade, the New England Aquarium has conducted aerial surveys over the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, collecting data on all marine animals with a focus on protected species of whales and sea turtles. These surveys have been funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NOAA, wind energy developers, and private foundations. The flights help monitor changes in animal populations, identify various animal species, and recognize trends using standardized data that has been collected over many years. Determining where right whales occur and how they are using habitats provides crucial information that can be used to better protect the critically endangered species.

While many right whales utilize southern New England waters only in the winter and spring months, in the last six years, small numbers of right whales have also been documented in that area in the summer and fall as well, as detailed in a recent studyauthored by New England Aquarium scientists.

“The movement of right whales in our survey area over the past four months underscores how dynamic right whales can be as they follow their prey. It is hard to predict their movements in and out of these waters,” said Katherine McKenna, an Assistant Research Scientist at the Aquarium.

Several Dynamic Management Areas (yellow) triggered by right whale sightings between January and April 2023. Seasonal Management Area shown in red. CREDIT: New England Aquarium

Among the 102 whales the Aquarium team photographed was “Musketeer” (Catalog #4360), who is spotted regularly during the aerial surveys. Since 2019, Musketeer has almost exclusively been documented in southern New England, including during the late summer and fall when right whales are less common in this area. Whales like Musketeer underscore the importance of conducting long-term, systematic surveys to understand species location and occurrence in a rapidly changing climate.

The sightings not only lead to a better understanding of whale behavior but also help protect them. Vessel strikes are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for North Atlantic right whales. A sighting of three or more right whales requires NOAA to issue voluntary slow speed zones, called dynamic management areas or DMAs, for mariners that stay in effect for at least 15 days. This season, the Aquarium’s surveys triggered warnings to mariners to avoid the area or slow down to 10 knots or less, to prevent collisions with whales in the area.

Right whales have been on the move in recent weeks as they travel to their primary summer feeding grounds off New England and Canada. The whales travel hundreds of miles while searching for tiny crustaceans, called copepods, which they feed on in large volumes. Warming waters in the northern Atlantic Ocean have led to shifts in right whale habitat use, with the animals adjusting where they feed off the northeast U.S. and Canada.

Anout New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium is a global leader in ocean exploration and marine conservation. With more than 1.3 million visitors a year, the Aquarium is one of the premier visitor attractions in Boston and a major public education resource for the region.

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Issue 98 - July 2023

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine – July 2023 – Issue 98

Feature Destination

Coastal Charm: How You Can Make the Most of a Presque Isle Summer

Nestled on the scenic shores of Lake Erie and flanked by the City of Erie, Presque Isle State Park is a year-round outdoor oasis and a national natural landmark that welcomes more than four million visitors annually, and with good reason. Read more…

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Applauds New Proposed Sanctuary Designation in Lake Erie

The Pennsylvania waters of Lake Erie were one of the mid-19th century’s busiest waterways, supporting goods and resources flowing in and out of the interior of North America, a large commercial fishing fleet, and some of the earliest shipbuilding on the Great Lakes. Read more…

Feature Destination: Great Ways to Get Out on the Water in Erie PA

Great Lakes Hope Spot

The Great Lakes span more than 750 miles (1,207 kilometres) and are straddled across the United States’ north-central border and Canada’s south-central border. The five bodies of water that make up the Great Lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and their connecting channels, including the St. Lawrence River. Read more…

NEWSROOM

Aquarium Scientists See One Third of North Atlantic Right Whale Population During Winter/Spring Aerial Survey Season

Over the course of four months, New England Aquarium scientists sighted 102 individual North Atlantic right whales during aerial survey flights, about one-third of the critically endangered species population. Read more…

ASU Establishes ʻĀkoʻakoʻa, a New Collaborative Effort to Seed Renewed Connection Between Human, Coral Communities in Hawaii

With a group of core partners, Arizona State University is creating a new $25 million collaboration to preserve and restore vitality to Hawaii’s coral reefs and the health of its coastlines. Read more…

Introducing Blue Frontier’s Blue Movement Directory: A New, Updated, Geo-Map-Based Guide Empowering Ocean Action Worldwide

Blue Frontier, the nationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 2003 and known as “The Voice for Ocean Action,” is proud to announce the launch of its newly updated, revised and geo-map-based Blue Movement Directory. Read more…

Great Barrier Reef: Australia to put in place urgent safeguarding measures requested by UNESCO

UNESCO welcomes Australia’s decision to implement urgent new protection measures to safeguard the Great Barrier Reef recommended by UNESCO. The measures include a ban on fishing with gillnets. Read more…

Scientists Propose New Sector-Based Framework to Address The Plastic Pollution Crisis

a school of tiny fish swimming in the ocean with plastic waste

A research paper published today in Marine Pollution Bulletin presents a framework to better solve plastic pollution by framing strategies and solutions in the context of specific sectors of plastic use in society. Read more…

Green Fins Launched in Aqaba, Jordan to Implement Green Fins Environmental Standards

The Reef-World Foundation is delighted to announce that Jordan is now the 15th country globally to implement the Green Fins programme — a UN Environment Programme initiative. Read more…

Scientists Discover New Deep-sea Octopus Nursery in Costa Rica

This unidentified octopus is thought to be a new species (verification pending) and was seen at a depth of 3004 meters on an unnamed outcrop southwest of Fuente Seamount in Costa Rican waters as the research team was exploring the area for the first time.

A team of international scientists have discovered a new deep-sea octopus nursery at a low-temperature hydrothermal vent offshore of Costa Rica. The discovery of the brooding site brings the world’s known octopus nurseries to three. Read more…

Plastic Pollution in European Waters Doubles in a Decade, Reveals SEAwise Research

The amount of plastic in European waters has almost doubled in the past decade, according to research carried out as part of the SEAwise project – an international project working towards effective implementation of Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management in Europe. Read more…

Chesapeake Bay’s Dead Zone Predicted to be 33% Smaller Than Long-Term Average

This summer’s Chesapeake Bay “dead zone” is expected to be significantly smaller than the long-term average, according to a forecast released today by researchers from the University of Michigan, Chesapeake Bay Program, University of Maryland and U.S. Geological Survey. Read more…

Whale Wise Eco Tours Becomes Part of The WeWhale Family

Over the past few months, the two companies have worked together to remodel the WWET boat ‘Esiel’, a 37 feet motorboat made specifically for whale and dolphin watching, including taking on WeWhale branding and updating its hybrid-electric drive technology to reduce noise and environmental pollution. Read more…

Cliff Divers Heslop and Iffland Conquer The Adriatic in Italy

Great Britain’s Aidan Heslop leapt to victory at the third stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Polignano a Mare on Sunday, posting one of the highest-scoring single dives ever to claim his third career win. In the women’s competition, Australia’s dominant Rhiannan Iffland picked up her third straight victory. Read more…

Mapping from Source to Sea to Stem the Flow of Marine Plastic

OpenOceans Global today announced the publication of a white paper designed to be a useful resource to the United Nations International Plastic Treaty negotiations currently underway in Paris, France. The white paper recognizes the need to address the ocean plastic crisis geographically by determining and mapping the pathways. Read more…

Indonesia’s First Ever Ocean Conservation-Themed Exhibition Hall Opens in Bali

The exhibition hall delves into the intersection of art, science, culture, and marine conservation. It features large-scale art installations that showcase the creativity of Indonesian and foreign artists in presenting the beauty of our oceans. Read more…

Researchers Tag Three Endangered Smalltooth Sawfish inside Tampa Bay

Sightings of endangered sawfish on the Florida Gulf Coast north of Charlotte Harbor are rare, especially those of small ones. But thanks to several reports from the public, scientists responded to the area around Rattlesnake Key in lower Tampa Bay and successfully caught, tagged, and released three sawfish* in May and June. Read more…

11th Hour Racing Team Wins The Ocean Race With a Focus on Restoring Ocean Health

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Caribbean Seagrasses Provide Services Worth $255B Annually, Including Vast Carbon Storage, Study Shows

Discussions of valuable but threatened ocean ecosystems often focus on coral reefs or coastal mangrove forests. Seagrass meadows get a lot less attention, even though they provide wide-ranging services to society and store lots of climate-warming carbon. Read more…

SEVENSEAS Beach Cleanup & Coral Restoration Events in Marine Protected Areas

In August 2022 CleanUp, we picked up over 80 kilogram of plastic, pieces of glasses, tractor tyre, and fishing nets from the beach in Krabi, Long Beach or Pan Beach. Of course, we would not be able to do it without your support. You can make a tax-deductible donation here to keep our publications and Thailand Cleanup Project afloat.

You can either make a direct financial contribution to SEVENSEAS Media through The Ocean Foundation website or connect us with potential donors by sending an email to Giacomo Abrusci, our Editor-in-Chief.

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Signing up for the free Weekly Newsletter & Jobs List will get you a round-up of upcoming events, webinars, meetings, reports, funding opportunities, photos of the week, and recent postings to the jobs list.

To sign up for our free subscription, please Click Here or email us Here.

Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.

Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.

If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, email us Here.

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Feature Destination

Feature Destination: Great Ways to Get Out on the Water in Erie PA

The U.S. Brig Niagara, home-ported in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a reconstruction of Oliver Hazard Perry’s relief flagship during the Battle of Lake Erie. Credit: VisitErie

The Erie area provides the perfect setting for a host of water-based activities. Regardless of whether you own a boat or not, there are numerous ways to immerse yourself in some outdoor fun. From leisurely sunset cruises on a historic vessel to thrilling pirate-themed adventures, fishing expeditions, or basking in the sheer joy of being out on the water, the Erie region has something for everyone. Main photo by Your Sailing Adventure

Step back in time on a Tall Ship

Sail aboard the Lettie G. Howard and the U.S. Brig Niagara for an unforgettable, step-back-in-time experience. A designated historical landmark, the Lettie G. Howard is a wooden Fredonia schooner built in 1893 and is the sole surviving example of a George Banks fishing schooner. The U.S. Brig Niagara is a replica of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s ship from the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. As part of your journey, you’ll experience the art of seamanship and have the chance to participate in hands-on sailing exercises. The Lettie G. sets sail from the foot of State Street and the Niagara is docked in the harbour behind the Erie Maritime Museum.

Pontoon Lagoon Tours at Presque Isle State Park

Enjoy a free, one-hour interpretive pontoon boat ride through Misery Bay and Presque Isle’s lagoons. See the plants and animals that live in this wetland habitat and learn its history. Rides are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 26 through September 10 at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. In-person sign-ups begin 15 minutes prior to the start time at the pontoon boat station and are first-come, first-served. Each ride can seat up to 16 people.

Learn Erie’s maritime history on The Lady Kate

Docked near the Perry Monument at Presque Isle State Park, the Lady Kate takes its passengers on a 90-minute fully narrated educational tour around Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie (weather permitting). The fact-filled 14-mile excursion highlights Erie’s rich maritime history including the Battle of Lake Erie, the War of 1812, Misery Bay, Gull Point, and Erie’s lighthouses.

Become an official buccaneer on Scallywags Pirate Adventures

Whether you opt for a family-friendly adventure or an adults-only wobbly pirate cruise, spending time aboard the Scallywags promises a swashbuckling good time! The family voyage includes an interactive voyage complete with water cannons and sword fights and the adult happy hour cruise is filled with drinks, dancing, and the beautiful scenery of Presque Isle Bay. Tours depart from the foot of State Street near the Sheraton Hotel parking garage.

Victorian Princess-provided by Vict Princess

Cruise onboard the Victorian Princess paddlewheel boat

Reserve your spot aboard the Victorian Princess, an authentic multi-level paddlewheel boat, for a leisurely one or two-hour tour on Presque Isle Bay. Throughout its sailing season, the Victorian Princess offers a variety of cruises including Sunday brunch, sunset and moonlight cruises, sightseeing tours, and themed parties. Tours depart from the foot of State Street.

Sunset sailing with Your Sailing Adventure

Make great memories while watching one of Erie’s world-class sunsets from the deck of a luxurious 33’ sailboat, the Sotto Voce. Enjoy a relaxing evening of pleasant conversations, light snacks, and spectacular views. The Sotto Voce is docked in Wolverine Marina near the foot of State Street.

Hook the Catch of the Day

Erie’s fishing charters provide great opportunities to not only see the city and Presque Isle from the water but also to experience some of the best fishing in Pennsylvania. Tight Lines Sport Fishing and GypsyLyn Fishing Charters offer fishing charter trips for perch, walleye, trout, and steelhead. They can accommodate various-sized groups as well as fishing gear, bait, and coolers. Pennsylvania fishing licenses with a Lake Erie stamp are required.

Rent your own fun!

The Erie area has options to rent your own watercraft for a few hours or the entire day. Port Erie Sports offers a wide selection of boats, jet skis, pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboard rentals. Hidden Harbor Water Rentals features 22’ or 24’ pontoon boats for rent with optional towable water tubes. Presque Isle Canoe & Boat Livery at Presque Isle State Park has an extensive list of rentals including canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, row boats, motor boats, and pontoons. Relax on the tranquil waters of Edinboro Lake in Edinboro PA aboard a 24’ double-deck pontoon available at Edinboro Lake Resort. They also rent single or double canoes or kayaks for exploring the surrounding waters on a more intimate level.

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Feature Destination

Feature Destination: Great Lakes Hope Spot

The Great Lakes span more than 750 miles (1,207 kilometers) and are straddled across the United States’ north-central border and Canada’s south-central border. The five bodies of water that make up the Great Lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and their connecting channels, including the St. Lawrence River.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue, posed a challenge to Shedd Aquarium in April 2022 to consider the Great Lakes for Hope Spot designation, in part, due to the unique connectivity they share with marine environments and human health.

“The Great Lakes represent both the figurative and the literal heart of the North American water system,” Dr. Earle stated. “A source of water for over 40 million people and more than 3,500 plant and animal species, many of which are unique to the Great Lakes, the inclusion of this critically important natural area as a Hope Spot will highlight the connection and significance of protecting inland habitats, as we really understand that the whole aquatic world; inland waters and the ocean beyond are one interconnected system.”

In May 2023, Mission Blue declared the Great Lakes a Hope Spot, Championed by Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium with support from more than 24 Great Lakes organizations across the region.

Dr. Sylvia Earle Introduces the Great Lakes Hope Spot

“The Great Lakes serve as a vital economic driver, natural resource and place of respite for millions of people across two countries”, said Bridget Coughlin, PhD, president and CEO of Shedd Aquarium. “By size alone, we know that conserving such a great and important source of sustainability and sustenance cannot be done alone. Hope Spot designations not only bring awareness and focus to areas in need of environmental protection and recovery, but also critical collaboration that can help influence policy change, motivate economic shifts and generate a global wave of community support for aquatic conservation.”

The massive lakes hold approximately 90% of the freshwater in the United States and 21% of the world’s surface freshwater supply. Unfortunately, freshwater habitats are experiencing declines in biodiversity far greater than those in the most affected terrestrial ecosystems (Dudgeon et al. 2006).

Life Within the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are home to a variety of endemic species such as fish, mollusks, invertebrates, birds, and mammals as well as oceanic species that either permanently or temporarily reside in the lakes, primarily birds and certain species of fish, including the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).

Endemic species include lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), as well as critically endangered and possibly extinct species such as certain varieties of cisco .

A seagull flies over Lake Superior © Shedd Aquarium

Great Conservation Concerns

The conservation and accessibility of freshwater is an ever-growing issue. Threats to the Great Lakes are consistent with those historically faced by most aquatic ecosystems worldwide: habitat loss and degradation, pollution, invasive species, overexploitation and flow modification (Dudgeon et al. 2006). Modern threats have emerged, including pesticides that cause harmful algal blooms, microplastics and a rapidly changing global climate (Ried et al. 2018). Additionally, urbanization and a lack of connectedness to nature can exacerbate the threats to these natural resources, as many people do not regard the Great Lakes as a habitat for diverse aquatic life (Murchie et al. 2018).

Families enjoying the shores of Lake Michigan © Shedd Aquarium

Despite environmental challenges, the Great Lakes are also a fantastic example of what can be accomplished through both local and binational collaboration, but the work must continue to ensure an equitable, sustainable and thriving future for both people and aquatic life. 

About Shedd Aquarium

The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago sparks compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world. Home to 32,000 aquatic animals representing 1,500 species of fishes, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds and mammals from waters around the globe, Shedd is a recognized leader in animal care, conservation education and research. An accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the organization is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and supported by the people of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the Chicago Park District.

Several local, regional, national and international partners supported the bid from Shedd Aquarium to make the Great Lakes a Hope Spot. These partners include: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Aquarium of Niagara, Audubon Great Lakes, Buffalo Zoo, Chicago Park District, Cleveland MetroParks Zoo, Cook County Commissioner Kevin B. Morrison, Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability, The Detroit Zoological Society, Discovery World Science + Technology Center, Friends of the Chicago River, The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Haerther Scholars, Healing Our Waters: Great Lakes Coalition, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, National Wildlife Federation – Great Lakes Regional Center, Openlands, Rep. Danny Davis – U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Robyn Gabel – Illinois State House of Representatives, Sen. Robert Peters – Illinois State Senate, SC Johnson, Timothy Hoellein – Loyola University Department of Biology, Toronto Zoo and the UIC Freshwater Lab.