marine mammals Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Lots of whales spotted around offshore wind farm zones along West Coast

By Tom Banse December 20, 2022

Northwest scientists are looking into the possible impacts that offshore wind farms might have on marine wildlife.

The federal government has commissioned Oregon State University to look into the possible impacts of offshore wind farms on marine wildlife. In the first year of this four-year project, the researchers spotted sizable numbers of seabirds and whales — including the largest animal on Earth — in the Oregon and Northern California areas that could one day host floating wind farms.Read More

Pandemic Gives Pacific Northwest Whales A Respite From Din Of Underwater Noise

By Tom Banse May 13, 2020

Underwater noise impacts on endangered orcas were already under study before the coronavirus pandemic opened the door for a natural experiment.

American and Canadian marine scientists -- and one talented dog -- are seizing an unexpected opportunity presented by the coronavirus pandemic. They are trying to establish whether Pacifc Northwest whales benefit from the current drop in boat traffic and underwater noise.Read More

Otter Fans Float Plan To Bring Sea Otters Back To Oregon Coast

By Tom Banse November 14, 2018

Presently, the only places to see sea otters in Oregon are at the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where this guy lives. CREDIT: TOM BANSE

It's been more than a century since sea otters were hunted to near extinction along the U.S. West Coast. The cute animals were successfully reintroduced along the Washington, British Columbia and California coasts, but an attempt to bring them back to Oregon in the early 1970s failed. Now a new nonprofit has formed to try again.Read More

U.S. Coast Guard Will Help Researchers Track Whales Along The West Coast

By Tom Banse October 25, 2018

Responders cut Dungeness crab fishing gear off this humpback whale in Monterey Bay in 2016. SCOTT BENSON / NOAA FISHERIES

The Oregon crab industry is putting up money to launch a new research study on where whales swim and feed along the Pacific Coast. The study stems from growing concern West Coast-wide about whales getting tangled in fishing gear.Read More

Study: In Warming Arctic, Increased Sea Vessel Traffic Puts Many Marine Mammals At Risk

By Bellamy Pailthorp July 5, 2018

Melting sea ice frames migrating beluga whales in the Arctic CREDIT: KRISTIN LAIDRE / VIA PNAS

New trade routes have opened up in the Arctic as melting sea ice makes those waters passable. Because it’s just starting, relatively little data exists about the impacts of the increased shipping traffic on marine mammals.Read More