Latest news with #NoraIves
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Rare whale spotted in mouth of Boston Harbor
A rare whale has been spotted close to the shoreline of Boston, directly by the entrance to the harbor. The North Atlantic right whale — an endangered species with just about 370 whales left in the population — was first spotted closer to the shore of Massachusetts on May 7 by researchers from the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries. It was seen again by NOAA scientists on Thursday. By Friday, the NOAA researchers tracked the whale in waters less than 2,000 miles from Castle Island in South Boston. It was right by the entrance to the Boston Harbor, according to The massive animal is so close that the public may be able to see it from land — but any boaters on the water should keep a very wide berth, said Nora Ives, a marine scientist studying North Atlantic right whales at Oceana. 'Because they're critically endangered, every whale counts,' Ives said. 'It's very exciting to have them close to shore, but also a little scary.... If you're on the water, go slow for those below‚' Ives said. There's also the possibility this right whale is not traveling alone, she added. As the two main threats to North Atlantic right whales are vessel strikes and rope entanglements, Ives reminded the public and boaters of laws mandating to stay at least 500 yards away from the whales. 'The issue with them being so close to Boston Harbor is that there's lots of people, lots of boats and lots of traffic,' Ives said. 'These are slow whales, they don't have a dorsal fin and they like to hang out at the surface of the ocean, so they're really hard to see. They can't get out of your way.' Ives said. But at a 500-yard distance, Ives encouraged the public to take pictures and share them with Whale Alert, an app designed to share public whale sightings. While it's not rare to see right whales near the Massachusetts shorelines, Ives said it's been a 'really unusual season all around' for where right whale populations have been traveling. Two female whales traveled all the way to calving grounds by Florida, but then went around the Florida panhandle and ended up in the Gulf of Mexico near Alabama, Ives said — something that's only happened 'five times this century.' Another mother and calf pair last seen in the Cape Cod Bay were able to evade researchers on their way back to New England after they'd went to the calving grounds. Boston Red Sox injuries: Starter signed in December throws first bullpen Woman sexually assaulted in North End home, Boston police seek suspect Boston mayoral candidates clash over city budget, housing and transit in first forum Why are Boston Red Sox wearing green uniforms, called 'Fenway Greens'? How Red Sox will line up in Chris Sale's return to Fenway Park on Friday Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers baffled by rare animal behavior spotted along popular coast: 'Super unusual'
An exciting but concerning wildlife sighting off the Jersey Shore has puzzled experts. A mother North Atlantic right whale and her calf were spotted February 3 near the northernmost coast of New Jersey, TAPinto Neptune reported. The animals feed in northeast New England and Canada but travel to Florida every winter to calve. "Scientists are perplexed as to why this pair of whales are away from their normal swimming grounds," the outlet stated. Nora Ives, a marine scientist with the Oceana North Atlantic right whale campaign, called it "super unusual." The mammals were nearly extinct in the 1890s, and there are only about 70 reproductive females. North Atlantic right whales are giving birth later in life, and as many as 10 years are elapsing between births by one female, Ives said. They're dying off even though they can live 130 years. The adult right whale in question is known as Accordion because of the propeller scars on her back. She is a first-time mother and is 14 to 17 years old. The calf was 3 to 4 weeks old at the time, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries report about the sighting. There are only a few hundred right whales remaining. In 2012, for the first time in over a decade, estimated deaths of the animal exceeded documented births, according to a NOAA Fisheries graphic shared by TAPinto Neptune. Since 2017, there has been an "unusual mortality event," with deaths far exceeding births from 2014 to 2019. The figures seemingly rebalanced in 2020, perhaps because the COVID-19 pandemic helped reduce vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglements, the primary threats to the magnificent creatures, which have lost about one-fifth of their population over the last decade. "They're really hard to see because they are dark and they don't have a dorsal fin," Ives told TAPinto Neptune. "And they swim slowly, close to the surface of the ocean. So, that's a big part of the reason they're critically endangered, because the two main threats are vessel strikes, again because we can't see them, and they can't move fast enough to get away, and fishing gear." It is illegal to approach the species, but Ives said people should take a photograph if they think they see one. Even if it's far away or blurry, it can help scientists understand the whales better. Because the whales remain close to the coast and must traverse busy shipping lanes, mariners are encouraged to slow down. This doesn't always make a difference, however, especially to mothers and calves, as they stay near the surface. Should taxpayers help pay to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? We should pay for all of it We should pay some but not all Corporations should foot the bill Charities should pay for it Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Off the coast of Massachusetts, vertical buoy lines have been banned to protect right whales. You can help by donating money to conservation efforts and talking about the animals' circumstances with family and friends. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
