The ocean is under constant threat from pollution, overfishing, climate change, and development. We can harness the incredible power of the ocean to help it restore itself. In a world beset with bad news, it’s inspiring to see the ocean not just as a victim, but also as a powerful ally. One of the most […]
Tag: humpback whales
Fran the Beloved 50-Foot Humpback Whale Found Washed Up Dead on Beach in California After Being Struck by Ship
A famous and beloved 50-foot humpback whale washed up dead on a beach in California after she was hit and killed by a ship strike. The whale named Fran washed up on Halfmoon Bay on August 29, according to Whales of Guerrero. Fran was known to locals and research groups and was seen swimming off […]
Humpback Whales Are No Longer Endangered in Australia
Let us celebrate one of the most successful conservation stories in the world! Humpback whales have now been removed from Australia’s list of endangered species! Whale-watchers are getting an early fill of joy and excitement as some of these ocean giants start to make their spectacular show in Sydney, the Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Merimbula, […]
Calls for more “humane” shark confinement techniques after entanglement of humpback whale in shark nets off the coast of Queensland
New appeals for more “humane” shark confinement techniques have been made in response to the capture of another whale in shark netting off the coast of Queensland. Following reports to the 24-hour Shark hotline at 6.30am on Friday, the whale was freed at 9am by personnel from Sea World and the Queensland Boating and Fisheries […]
Deep-sea mining could cause noise pollution radiating 500 kilometers across the ocean and harmful to marine mammals
According to scientists, projected deep-sea mining might cause noise pollution that would radiate through the ocean for hundreds of kilometers, generating a “cylinder of sound” that would go from the surface to the sea bed. One mine’s noise alone could travel 500km (more than 300 miles) in calm weather, according to research by scientists from […]
Seeing humpback whales breach off Australia’s east coast is a once-in-a-lifetime experience
Humpback whales may grow up to 55 feet long, with pectoral flippers covering roughly a third of their bodies, according to Whale and Dolphin Conservation. They are known for their outstanding acrobatic talents and lyrical whale songs. These massive yet agile whales smack the water with their flippers and tails, creating stunning splashes that captivate […]
Where is the threshold of environmental change that biodiversity can withstand before it is destabilized and collapses planetwide?
Biodiversity. When you hear this word, what do you picture? Iconic animals like African elephants, gray wolves and humpback whales? Or multicolored coral species that make up a reef system? Or bacteria and microbes that regulate nutrients in the soil, or oxygen-releasing phytoplankton that live in the ocean’s sunlit zones? While biodiversity does embrace all […]
Humpback whales entangled in fishing nets are rescued by Australians using cutters
Wayne Phillips has both feet firmly on dry land as he acts out cutting a whale loose from fishing gear. The 51-year-old head of marine sciences at SeaWorld in Queensland oversees the park’s marine rescue team – four cutters, a coordinator, a captain and a videographer – who untangle humpback whales that have become bound […]