Commission Engages on North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation

The 2017-2019 North Atlantic Right Whale Unusual Mortality Event persisted through summer after ten whales were confirmed to have died, nine in Canada and one in the United States. The Commission remains committed to protecting and conserving this iconic species. In addition to serving as a member of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team, the Commission engaged on this issue on multiple occasions in the past few months including:

Highlighting Indigenous & Scientific Knowledge

at Arctic Futures 2050

Commissioner Michael Tillman was invited to participate in the Arctic Futures 2050 Conference, convened September 4-6, 2019, at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC. Organized by the University of Alaska’s Study of Environmental Arctic Change ( SEARCH). The conference was intended to expand upon existing collaborations between scientists, policy makers, and indigenous peoples and to build new ones in order to address the challenges of a rapidly changing Arctic. Dr. Tillman served on the panel entitled "Subsistence Whaling: Indigenous & Scientific Knowledge" along with the Honorable Harry Brower, North Slope Borough Mayor, and Craig George of the Borough's Department of Wildlife Management, to present and discuss a case study of the origins and evolution of co-management for the aboriginal subsistence hunt for bowhead whales. This successful cooperative effort between the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) and the U.S. Government serves as a guide on how co-management could assist both sides in the future management of other subsistence hunts in the face of dramatic Arctic change.  

Commissioner Dr. Michael Tillman and George NoongWook, former Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission Chair, at Arctic Futures 2050 (courtesy of Vera Metcalf).

Decade of Progress and the Path Ahead:

OceanObs'19

Sam Simmons, Commission Scientific Program Director, and Roxanne Carini, Commission 2019 Knauss Sea Grant Fellow, attended the OceanObs’19 conference September 16-20, 2019, in Honolulu, HI. The goal of OceanObs’19 was to build consensus for the objectives of the Ocean Action Plan, a living document that recommends priorities for ocean research in the next decade in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Marine mammal issues were intertwined with conversations about capacity building, observing system governance, Best Practice Standards, ecosystem health, and other topics. The conference was organized around themes of Inspiration, Information, Innovation, and Integration. Inspiration sessions renewed our sense of awe for the ocean and celebrated past accomplishments of the community, such as the Argo float program. Information sessions wrestled with critical aspects of collecting, disseminating, and utilizing data, while Innovation sessions looked to new technologies and observation platforms, like the Saildrone. Finally, Integration sessions made space at the table for industry, end-users, and most prominently, holders of traditional ecological knowledge. For more detail, explore the OceanObs’19 website. 

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

Below are a few recent media highlights that reflect some of the ongoing scientific research, collaborations, and accomplishments of our world-renowned marine mammal scientists. For a reminder about our Commissioners, Committee of Scientific Advisors, and Staff, visit our website. 

Commission Scientist Receives Prestigious Award – Dr. Randall Reeves, Chair of the Commission’s Committee of Scientific Advisors, received the Sir Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit for his contributions to both the International Union for Conservation of Nature Cetacean Specialist Group and the International Whaling Commission. Congratulations, Randy!

Alaskan Inuit Food Sovereignty and Self-Governance – Vera Metcalf

Freshwater Concerns for Bottlenose Dolphins – Vicki Cornish

The Commission Responds to Calls to Amend the MMPA – Daryl Boness

Dolphin Calf with Bullet Wound Lives – Robin Baird and Frances Gulland

Consequences of Feeding Dolphins – Randall Wells

Arctic Insights from Scientific and Indigenous Knowledge – Sue Moore

Hawaii Dolphin and Whale Populations – Robin Baird

A group of bottlenose dolphins (credit NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC via NOLA.com)