Posts by Regina Asmutis-silvia
In Loving Memory – Spinnaker
R.I.P. Spinnaker, 2004 – 2015 Born in the warm waters of the West Indies during the winter of 2004, Spinnaker spent her first year of life by her mother’s side. Having survived the 1500 mile swim to her summer home in the Gulf of Maine, Spinnaker quickly learned how and where to find food…
Read MoreSize does matter for entangled whales but study finds that bigger is not necessarily stronger
Entanglements in fishing gear may be one of the single largest threats faced by whales and dolphins globally. Referred to as “bycatch” because these interactions are incidental, not intentional, these interactions number in the hundreds of thousands each year. While some whales and dolphins escape with only scars as evidence, including all nine of WDC’s…
Read MoreRecord number of endangered whales close to shore – a mixed blessing
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, home to WDC’s North American office. This unique opportunity for residents and visitors to see one of the world’s most endangered whales is cause for both celebration and concern. …
Read MoreAre humpback whales still endangered?
Saturday, April 18th was the perfect weather day to venture out to see some of the Gulf of Maine’s most majestic seasonal residents. Recently back from the warm, tropical waters of the West Indies and Caribbean, these humpback whales are part of our Whale Adoption Project family. We look forward to greeting them each spring…
Read MoreLongest migration – gray or humpback whales?
The news has embraced gray whales as the new winner for the longest mammal migration title, a superlative long thought to belong humpback whales. However, does the recently-released research really give the edge to gray whales? In the case of the gray whale, tagging data provided the distance calculation, however, migration distances are typically…
Read MoreWhat do whales do when a storm of historic proportion hits their coast?
WDC’s North American office is located in Plymouth, MA, one of the communities hard hit by this week’s blizzard-hurricane, named Juno. With nearly three feet (1M) of snow falling within 24 hours and accompanied by hurricane force winds, Massachusetts issued a travel ban to reduce the risk of human casualties and enable the state’s cleaning…
Read MoreEntangled Whale Watch Boat Makes National News – Entangled Whales Rarely Do
An “entangled” whale watching boat with 157 passengers on board remained at sea overnight and made national news. While the news originally reported that the vessel was likely snagged in lobster gear, we knew that was doubtful. We know that large whales who get entangled in lobster gear rarely become anchored. Unfortunately, we have plenty…
Read MoreOcean Planning or Pandering- Obama Administration OK’s seismic testing along US east coast
Friday’s announcement that the Obama Administration will allow seismic testing for oil exploration along the East coast of the US is just the latest in a series of “ocean pandering” disguised as planning. Just last month, the Obama administration hosted “Our Ocean”, an international conference said to focus on tackling issues of overfishing, marine pollution, and…
Read MoreYou are Whale-Come for this "Pootiful" Day!
Saving whales may save us all You are Whale-Come for this Poo-tiful Day! See what I did there? I was able to craft an appreciation for whales and their feces in what some would say was an incredibly clever and punny (there, I did it again) title. Perhaps the “some” would only be me, but you…
Read MoreHey UK, Turks and Caicos Humpbacks Need You too!
A recent BBC report highlights the need for better wildlife protection in UK overseas territories including the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Along with the issues covered in the article, endangered humpback whales are also facing threats in this region. Historically considered as a migratory corridor to the breeding and calving grounds off the Dominican…
Read More