For about 1 penny per American per year, the Marine Mammal Commission has met its Congressional mandate to conserve marine mammals for almost 50 years.
We work to ensure that marine mammal populations are restored and maintained as functioning elements of healthy marine ecosystems in the world's oceans.
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The Commission Surveys Federal Agency Research Funding |
In 2019, the Commission launched its new and improved Survey of Federally Funded Marine Mammal Research. This online survey and data repository aids the Commission in fulfilling its duties under the Marine Mammal Protection Act by helping to identify gaps or overlaps in marine mammal research efforts or funding, to illuminate areas of strength in federal research investment, and to inform recommendations on needed agency actions and budget priorities.
The fiscal year (FY) 2021 preliminary results summary is now available on our website, and the Commission thanks all participating federal agencies for providing their information. Requests for additional information or details about federal marine mammal research and funding reported in FY 2021 can be made by contacting the Commission at surveyffr@mmc.gov. The fiscal year 2022 data call will begin in mid to late October 2022.
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Commission Scientists Review Effects of Climate Change
on U.S. Marine Mammals
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Scientists at the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission have published a review of the evidence for effects of climate change on marine mammals that occur in U.S. waters. Climate change impacts on Arctic marine mammals are best known, but have also been documented throughout U.S. waters, including temperate and sub-tropical regions. While many of the observed effects had been predicted, some unforeseen effects have also been documented, such as the dramatic loss of pupping/nursing habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals due to sea level rise and severe storms. Commission scientists concluded that detecting and mitigating the threats to marine mammals from climate change will require some realignment of research and monitoring priorities, coupled with rapid and flexible management that includes both conventional and novel conservation interventions.
The review’s full citation is Gulland, F. M. D., J. D. Baker, M. Howe, E. LaBrecque, L. Leach, S. E. Moore, R. R. Reeves, and P. O. Thomas. 2022. A review of climate change effects on marine mammals in United States waters: Past predictions, observed impacts, current research and conservation imperatives. Climate Change Ecology 3:100054.
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Commission Meeting on Federal Approaches to
Reducing Vessel Strike of Cetaceans
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North Atlantic right whale in the vicinity of a large vessel (New England Aquarium). |
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The Marine Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors on Marine Mammals met virtually on April 12, 2022 to consider actions for reducing vessel strike of large cetaceans. Speakers from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Park Service shared information on vessel-routing and speed-reduction programs and their effectiveness. Discussion after the presentations grappled with the issues of federal coordination, outreach and incentive programs, and areas for improved management. The Commission is assessing potential follow-up actions, which may include additional meetings to broaden future discussions. The meeting was recorded and is available on the Commission’s event webpage. Thank you to all who attended and especially to those who presented.
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Hot Topics in Marine Mammal Conservation:
Exciting Developments for Ropeless Fishing Gear
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One solution to mitigating entanglement risk is reducing the number of buoy lines in the ocean by using “ropeless” fishing gear (also known as “buoyless” or “pop-up” gear). The Commission has supported a range of projects on ropeless gear development since 2016. We provided grant funds, in fiscal year 2021, to support the development of virtual gear-marking to replace traditional marker buoys on the sea surface. Such a system will allow fishermen to locate their “ropeless” gear and share location information with enforcement entities, an essential step in enabling ”ropeless” gear adoption and improving the protection of large whales. The grantee, Sustainable Seas Technology, is working with fishermen in the U.S., Canada, and Scotland. They recently partnered with fishermen in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas to secure a NMFS Exempted Fishing Permit for “ropeless” fishing for black sea bass, during a season that had been closed for ten years to eliminate the risk of entanglement to North Atlantic right whales on their calving grounds.
This exciting development shows the potential “ropeless” gear holds in mitigating risks to marine mammals while supporting fishermen and coastal economies. The Commission will continue to look for ways to support the development of a range of “ropeless” gear technologies to suit different fisheries and conditions in the range of the North Atlantic right whale and other large whale species.
Look for future updates as the project progresses!
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Kim Sawicki, founder of Sustainable Seas Technology, works with deckhands on the F/V Capt Lynn out of Townsend, Ga., to test a new pot configuration for black sea bass (Sustainable Seas Technology)
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50th Anniversary Congressional Briefings on the
Marine Mammal Protection Act
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In February, the Commission participated in a briefing for interested congressional staff on the Overview and Successes of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). This informative presentation celebrated the Act’s 50th anniversary and provided an overview of the MMPA and the three federal entities that share responsibility for its implementation. The Commission is grateful to NMFS for organizing this briefing and looks forward to additional briefings this year! View the Commission’s talk and view the briefing presentation on our website. |
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Updates at the Commission!
This year the Commission has welcomed changes to our team and focused on its policies and Administration priorities. Below are some updates on official Commission business underway as we continue work toward our mission of furthering the conservation of marine mammals and their ecosystems:
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- The Commission would like to thank Dr. Robin Baird of Cascadia Research Collective for his service on the Committee of Scientific Advisors (CSA) since 2011. In his research, Dr. Baird focuses primarily on odontocete population assessment, stock structure, habitat use, and behavior. He is rotating off of the CSA soon and he will be missed.
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We are very pleased to announce that another cetacean specialist, Dr. Daniel Palacios of Oregon State University, will be joining the CSA. The Commission is in the process of finalizing this appointment. For more on Dr. Palacios, visit the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute webpage.
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The Commission would also like to thank Dr. Samantha Simmons, outgoing Scientific Program Director, for her excellent service to the Commission since 2009. Dr. Simmons oversaw the Commission’s review of marine mammal stock assessment reports, the research grant program, and the Survey of Federally Funded Research. While at the Commission, Dr. Simmons was engaged with several efforts to improve the standardization and availability of biological data, including developing an Animal Telemetry Network, developing a marine mammal health monitoring and analysis platform, and engaging with the global community on the Global Ocean Observing System’s Biology and Ecosystems Panel. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
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On his first day in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. All federal agencies released their Equity Action Plans, on April 14, 2022, as a part of the E.O. 13985 initiative. View the Commission’s Equity Action Plan.
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Marine Mammal Commission Scientific Advisors,
Staff, and Science in the News
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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.
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A stranded gray whale (NOAA) |
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