Thank you for your continued support!

We are committed to our mission under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and continue to work tirelessly on the responsible management of our shared marine resources. In the Federal Budget for fiscal year 2018, passed by Congress on March 23, the Marine Mammal Commission was funded at the levels of FY16 and FY17. The Commission appreciates the support received for the work that we have carried out over the past four decades. See our Chairman’s message for more details about the Commission’s status in the proposed budget for FY2019.

Alaska Marine Mammal Co-Management Review Moves Forward

In mid-March, the Steering Committee for the Commission’s co-management review met in Anchorage, AK, led by Dr. Jenna Malek and Vicki Cornish. During the two-day meeting, the Committee mapped out the elements of the review, including drafting a working definition of co-management (within the scope of MMPA Sec. 119), selecting co-management organizations for in-depth case studies, and identifying communities to visit to conduct focus groups and interviews in support of those case studies. The selected case studies include: the Eskimo Walrus Commission (EWC), the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island , and the Aleut Marine Mammal Commission (AMMC). The review will also look more broadly at the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC), and incorporate lessons learned from other co-management agreements. Jenna will be traveling to Utqiaġvik (Barrow), Nome, Gambell, Savoonga, St. Paul, Atka, and Akutan between May and September to meet with hunters and Alaska Native Organization members. She will also meet with Federal agency representatives in Anchorage and Seattle, WA. Updates on meeting agendas, trip schedules, and more will be posted on the project web page.

Steering Committee members, from left to right: Jon Kurland (NMFS Alaska Regional Office), Vera Metcalf (EWC), Billy Adams (North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management; Ice Seal Committee Chairman), Lauren Divine (Ecosystem Conservation Office, Aleut Community of St. Paul Island), Jenna Malek (Marine Mammal Commission), Vicki Cornish (Marine Mammal Commission), Taqulik Hepa (North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management; IPCoMM Vice-Chair), and Patrick Lemons (FWS Alaska Region). Not pictured: Peggy Osterback (AMMC; IPCoMM Secretary/Treasurer).

The Marine Mammal Commission’s 2018

Annual Meeting: Seattle, Washington

Each year, the Marine Mammal Commission holds its annual meeting in a different region of the country to examine regional issues, as well as priority topics at the national and global levels. Mark your calendars and save the date to attend the Marine Mammal Commission’s Annual Meeting of 2018 from May 29-31 in Seattle, Washington. At our annual meeting, which is open to the public, we will engage with other federal agencies, stakeholders, and interested members of the public on the science, policy, and management issues related to the Pacific Northwest. Some topics on the draft agenda include management issues facing Southern Resident Killer Whales, West Coast large whale entanglements, and recovering marine mammal populations. The official agenda of the meeting and details on the meeting venue will be available soon on our website.  

North Atlantic right whale. Photo Credit: New England Aquarium. Photo taken under a Scientific Research Permit issued by NOAA.

Bycatch in fishing gear remains the number one direct cause of marine mammal injury and death, and continues to be a major focus of the Commission’s activities. Entanglement in fishing gear is the leading cause of injury and mortality for the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Even if entanglement does not result in death, it has been found to lead to long-term health declines. Only about 100 breeding females remain in this population of nearly 450 whales and there has been a decline in their calving rates. Failure of annual survey efforts to find any right whale mothers with calves in their traditional calving areas off Georgia and Florida in winter 2018 has heightened concerns over the status of the species. In February, several representatives from the Commission joined over 90 participants in a workshop entitled “Overcoming Development, Regulatory and Funding Challenges for Ropeless Fishing to Reduce Whale Entanglement in the U.S. and Canada” hosted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the New England Aquarium. Information on the workshop and the newly established Ropeless Consortium can be found here. The Commission’s research grant program provided seed funding in 2016 for some of the ropeless fishing gear innovations discussed at the workshop. These and other gear innovations were discussed in April 2017 at the Commission’s Annual Meeting. Since that meeting, the Commission has called for NMFS to explore all avenues to reduce or eliminate entangling vertical lines in the water column. 

Marine Mammal Commission scientific advisors, staff, and science in the news

In addition to its three Commissioners, our nine-member Committee of Scientific Advisors (CSA) on Marine Mammals “knowledgeable in marine ecology and marine mammal affairs” and a Special Advisor on Native Affairs assist the Commission in its scientific and policy work and assist in reviews of proposals received for funding by our research program. A few recent media highlights reflect some of the ongoing scientific accomplishments of these world-renowned marine mammal scientists.

Behind the Scenes: Dolphins and Plastic

MMC Staff plays pivotal role in Smithsonian researcher mystery

Hawaiian Cetacean Studies

Dolphins need to eat up to 25 kilograms of fish every day

Gervais’ beaked whales filmed professionally for the first time

Call to help whale research

Photo from BBC Blue Planet II Video Extra - "Behind the Scenes: Dolphins and Plastic"

Smithsonian Mystery: International Conference on the Biology of Whales in Virginia in 1971 (NOAA)