Whales | Ocean Doctor | Ocean Conservation in Action

NOAA and France Partner to Protect Whales

November 12, 2011 By Newswire

NOAA and France’s Protected Areas Agency have signed a “sister sanctuary” agreement to support the protection of endangered humpback whales that migrate annually more than 3,000 miles between NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the Massachusetts coast and Agoa Marine Mammal Sanctuary in the Caribbean’s French Antilles.

NOAA National Marine Sanctuary News

Note: Newswire stories are provided as a courtesy of OceanDoctor.org. Content of these articles is provided by external sources.

Filed Under: Ocean Newswire Tagged With: France, NOAA, Partner, Protect, whales

Have We Saved the Whales?

September 25, 2011 By Ocean Doctor

September 26, 2011: It was a battle cry in the ‘60s and ‘70s — “Save the Whales” bumper stickers reflected a burgeoning green movement and deep concern about the decimation of the world’s whale populations. But decades later, do the whales still need saving? The important answer and much more about whales – including his dramatic rescue of humpback whale, “Valentina” – from Michael Fishbach, co-founder and co-director of The Great Whale Conservancy. Also: The planet’s missing heat may be found; why you should NOT eat a ray to save the bay; and Happy Birthday, Greenpeace!

The Ocean Doctor airs weekly on WebTalkRadio.net. Want to listen on your iPod, iPhone or mp3 player? Download the mp3 file or subscribe on iTunes and don’t miss a single episode. Or listen to us on your iPhone, Android phone, WebOS phone, BlackBerry or tablet, including the iPad, with the free Stitcher SmartRadio app. See the complete list of episodes. Follow The Ocean Doctor on Twitter — Become a Fan on Facebook! Submit a question and I’ll try to answer it on the air. Even better, record your question or comment on our special message line and I might play it on the air. Call: (805) 619-9194. You can also leave questions and comments for this episode below. Like the show? Learn how to become a sponsor. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: blue whales, Earth Island Institute, Gershon Cohen, greenpeace, humpback whales, Michael Fishbach, Save the Whales, The Great Whale Conservancy, Valentina, whales

Eating Our Way Out of the Ocean’s Problems — A Chef’s Perspective

August 14, 2011 By Ocean Doctor

August 15, 2011: Our special guest is National Geographic Fellow and acclaimed chef, author, and speaker Barton Seaver, who seeks to restore our relationship with the ocean, the land, and with each other through dinner. His new book is For Cod and Country: Simple, Delicious, Sustainable Cooking. If you’re not hungry, you will be by the end of this show! Also: A giant sea monster discovered in the UK and a close encounter with the largest animal that’s ever lived.

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Filed Under: Podcast, Sustainable Aquaculture, Washington, DC Tagged With: aquaculture, Barton Seaver, blue whales, bp, bp deepwater horizon, bp oil spill, Gulf of Mexico, Mote Marine Laboratory, national geographic, National Geographic Society, oil spill, Sustainable Aquaculture, sustainable seafood, whales

VIDEO: A Whale’s Unforgettable “Thank You”

August 2, 2011 By Ocean Doctor

As featured in The Ocean Doctor Radio Show, we’re pleased to present an amazing, inspirational video documenting the rescue of a nearly-dead humpback whale, hopelessly entangled in fishing gear in the Sea of Cortez. Michael Fishbach, co-founder of Earth Island Institute’s, Great Whale Conservancy, and his family and friends came to the whale’s rescue and were awestruck by what the whale had to give them in return. A hearty Ocean Doctor salute to Michael and the Great Whale Conservancy!

Filed Under: Featured, Flotsam Tagged With: Earth Island Institute, entanglement, Great Whale Conservancy, humpback whale, Michael Fishbach, sea of cortez, whales

National Geographic’s Newest Explorer

August 2, 2011 By Ocean Doctor

August 1, 2011: We visit National Geographic Headquarters in Washington, DC to meet the newest National Geographic “Explorer in Residence,” Dr. Enric Sala and his important work on the “Pristine Seas” program with expeditions to the last remaining pristine areas in the ocean. We also hear the incredible story of a humpback whale, rescued at the brink of death, that said “thank you” to its human rescuers. And we hear the tragic story of the loss of one of our colleagues in Cuba.

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Filed Under: Cuba, Podcast, Washington, DC Tagged With: Alonso Ramos, Cuba, Earth Island Institute, Enric Sala, entanglement, environmental education, Great Whale Conservancy, humpback whale, Jardines de la Reina, Michael Fishbach, national geographic, National Geographic Society, pristine seas, sea of cortez, whales

A Sea Turtle is Born in Alaska

August 24, 2007 By Ocean Doctor

Esperanza Returns to a Tranquil Unalaska I awakened at 4am in my bunk to something strange. The ship was still. After enduring two days of pounding seas and gale-force winds, we had at last arrived at the island of Unalaska and were nearing the port of Dutch Harbor. A few hours later, juggling my cameras, I tried in vain to capture the profound tranquility of that early Alaskan morning as dawn’s gentle glow painted small swaths of green across the surrounding mountains atop a canvas of deep blues and grays. An incredible journey was nearing its end, and I was reluctant to let go. So was the wildlife. In a moment, the morning silence was replaced by shrieks from the deck below. They were shrieks of joy as once again we were surrounded by whales as a pod of humpbacks divided itself evenly and passed closely along both sides of us, filling the morning air with their spouts and flukes. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bering Sea Expedition, Bering Sea, Alaska, Conservation, Featured, Ocean Doctor's Reflections Tagged With: alaska, dutch harbor, gale force winds, incredible journey, OceanDoctor, sea turtle, tranquility, Turtle, Unalaska, whales

Whales Everywhere!

July 28, 2007 By Ocean Doctor

Humpback Whale Sounding on the Way to Pribolof Canyon

We departed Dutch Harbor at 4pm Alaska Time today. It’s after 11pm now, still plenty of daylight, as we head north to Pribolof Canyon for our first dive in the morning. I’ll be one of the pilots, so I hope to get some sleep soon. As we headed north away from the Aleutians, there was a steady stream of announcements from the bridge over the intercom: “Whales, port side. Whales, starboard side. Whales, off the bow.” Humpback whales in groups of ten. We also saw fin whales. [Read more...]