Known as #3593, an endangered North Atlantic right whale, has done something few researchers would expect from one of the world’s most closely monitored marine mammals. She vanishes for long periods, then suddenly returns.
However, after that initial sighting, the whale was documented only a handful of times.
Yet despite years of monitoring, much of this whale’s life remains unknown.
Last winter, the whale returned with a newborn calf. She was one of 23 documented mother-calf pairs recorded during the North Atlantic right whale calving season.
Because there are fewer than 400 North Atlantic right whales alive today, each successful birth counts for the future of the species.
So where does #3593 go when researchers are unable to locate her?
One whale’s disappearance points to a larger problem
One of the primary goals of tracking endangered whales like the North Atlantic right whale is to better understand their movements and habitat use.
To date, the species is among the most intensively studied marine mammals on Earth.
But even with ongoing research studies and dedicated survey teams, scientists are still unable to document all of the locations these whales visit.
While researchers know that certain locations provide important feeding grounds for North Atlantic right whales, they still do not fully understand all of the areas the animals use throughout the year. Without knowing where these marine animals travel and which areas they use for feeding and reproduction, researchers have a harder time protecting them from threats.
Since there are relatively few breeding female North Atlantic right whales remaining, each individual is valuable.
Seeing whales is not always possible
Determining the migration patterns of whales over thousands of kilometers of open water is no simple task.
Weather and limited visibility due to darkness can prevent or significantly hinder survey efforts. Animals may spend prolonged periods in areas where monitoring is difficult.
Therefore, researchers are now combining traditional surveys with alternative technologies in order to document whales that are traveling through large expanses of open ocean.
NOAA Fisheries and its partners monitor right whales throughout the year using tools designed to gather information even when the animals cannot be seen.
These efforts span significant portions of the East Coast and involve collaborative efforts between research institutions, private companies, non-profit organizations, universities, and government agencies.
Data collected through these monitoring efforts helps researchers understand where right whales spend their time. The information also supports conservation efforts aimed at reducing human-related risks and allows scientists to gather data even when the animals cannot be seen directly.
Scientists needed another way to track whales
Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) is one of the tools researchers use to better understand right whale movements. While airplanes and ships have long been used to search for whales, PAM allows scientists to “listen” for whales.
Specialized acoustic equipment deployed in the ocean can detect North Atlantic right-whale vocalizations to indicate the species’ presence in an area.
As mentioned earlier, the NOAA Fisheries PAM system consists of three main categories: surface buoys, autonomous gliders, and underwater microphones.
Each category has varying capabilities, including recognizing whale calls in almost real-time, allowing researchers to potentially map the presence of the animals in areas not visible above the surface.
Could whale #3593 be hiding in an unknown habitat?
Researchers think whale #3593 may be spending time in a habitat that has not yet been identified by survey teams.
Acoustic detections can be useful for directing airplane- and boat-based survey efforts to areas where recent whale vocalizations were detected.
Collectively, both airborne and boat-based surveys and acoustic detectors provide a more comprehensive picture of where whales roam and what habitats they utilize.
The return of whale #3593 with a calf is another reminder of how much remains unknown about one of the world’s rarest whales. With continued efforts to listen below the waves, researchers hope to identify habitats used by endangered whale populations and reduce the threats they face.
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