
A Project of the Hawaii
Whale Research Foundation in Monterey, California |
You
can help eliminate marine debris!
The
holiday gift season is upon us – instead of wrapping paper, give
gifts in a Cloth Shopping
Bag.
During our 2007 field season we had more sightings of marine debris than
marine mammals.
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Wisdom...
To Study is to Learn...
To Learn is to Understand...
To Understand is to Appreciate...
To Appreciate is to Value...
To Value is to Save.
See our Mission Statement
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Stop Balloon Releases

Balloons
and other plastics mean death for marine mammals. Balloons are ingested
by whales, dolphins, turtles, seals, fish and waterfowl, who innocently
mistake them for food such as jellyfish or squid.

These
shredded balloons resemble Black
sea nettle.
Learn
more here...
Spread the Word. |
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Americans
use 380 billion plastic bags a year!
Over
1 Billion single-use "free" plastic bags are given out each
day in the U.S. The hidden costs to consumers include: destruction of
fragile habitats
and ecosystems from drilling and prospecting for petroleum used to make
the bags; death to hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other
marine mammals
every year
from eating
discarded plastic bags mistaken for food.
Using a cloth shopping bag twice a week for
a year will save: 832 plastic bags, 11 pounds of garbage, $140 city dollars
spent on disposal, and enough petroleum to drive 60 miles. Check out
Chico Bags. |
Upcoming
& Recent Events, Education, Outreach
February 15 - 17, 2008: Whale
Quest – Maui
Battle
Creek Enquirer article (07/10/07)
January
2007 National Geographic features Hawaii Whale Research Foundation
Humpback research.
Peggy Stap has spoken to elementary school students on marine mammals in Monterey
Bay both in Michigan and in Monterey. She has also lectured on marine mammals
in Monterey Bay to volunteers at the Monterey
Bay Aquarium and to staff members at major hotels in the area, as well
as at the Monterey County
Convention and Visitors Bureau.
February
2007 Whale
Quest School Outreach Programs: Peggy Stap, along with Jason
Sturgis of Whale Trust, presented the Science and Technology
Workshop. Jason and Peggy did the same workshop last year and it was
great fun.
Dan R. Salden, Ph.D., President and Founder of the Hawaii Whale Research
Foundation, presented at Whale Quest. Hawaii Whale
Research Foundation participates in Whale
Quest – an annual free event for the public.
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Identification photo of killer whales shows
difference in size of fins of the male (rear - tall fin) and female types.
Also note the variation in their "saddle patches" below and
behind fins.
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Download
Brochure:
Marine Life Studies
brochure - pdf 
Peggy and Sarah aboard
Sweet Pea in Monterey.
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Researchers' Blog:
Well, in 2007 we had some more boat problems,
which limited our days on the water. There were a couple times we got back
to the harbor safely on a wing n’ a prayer. But the main thing is
we got some more water days out on beautiful Monterey Bay. Nothing makes
me happier. While working on the boat hoping to get it running while floating
dead in the water (luckily it was a calm, beautiful day), I kept dreaming
of the day that we can get our dream "Green Research" boat that
runs on renewable fuels. See our "Wish
List".
See full researchers' blog
here...
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MLS Research
Mission
The overall research mission of Marine Life
Studies is to study the foraging strategies of transient and offshore
killer whales as well as investigate the abundance, distribution, movement
and frequency of occurrence of
other whale and dolphin species in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
These activities take place under the General Authorization for Scientific
Research, a permit issued by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service.
Research results and data will be disseminated in formal research reports
and peer-reviewed publications. Good research is a collaborative process.
Marine Life Studies (MLS) is committed to sharing data with other researchers.
Whenever possible, we also stand ready to assist other researchers in
conducting their research by making platforms available, providing information
leads on cetacean activities, etc. MLS Education
Mission Data collection is meaningless unless it is
made available not only to the scientific community but also to the general
public. This is particularly true in regard to information about whale
and dolphin activity within
a National Sanctuary. MLS researchers develop and present public presentations
concerning the status of their research on the whales and dolphins in
the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
MLS Conservation
Mission Species cannot survive unless they have a safe
place in which to live. A major threat to whales and dolphins throughout
the world is the contamination of their habitats and other damaging effects
of human's invasion into marine habitats. The Sanctuary and MLS are committed
to actively reducing contamination
and dedicated to fostering a respect for the environment.
Other MLS conservation activities of interest include marine mammal entanglement
and stranding programs, public education concerning the health of the marine
environment and actions necessary to enhance it's good health,
and in assisting other dedicated environmental groups in meeting their
conservation objectives.
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| Some photos
taken under National Marine Fisheries Service Research Permits #1094 & #782. |
content © www.marinelifestudies.org
“Sweet
Pea” © Gina Thomas ~ all other photos © Peggy Stap
Site Design: lagranddesign
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