Our Research

 

There has never been any "on-the-water" research involving the gray whales, and specifically no one has studied a whale through a specific geographic point.  

NOAA advised that the “on-the-water” based research allows for the ability to follow a specific whale and record all the characteristics along the way, i.e. boat traffic, fluking, sounding, breaching, average speeds, feeding habits, and feeding diet.  One of NOAA’s main concerns is where pregnant female gray whales go to feed and their rate of reproduction. They want to know how often the gray whale is going to have a calf and what distractions would alter their behavior.

NOAA was so impressed with our research project, that they hoped we could expand our project to include blue whales, humpbacks, fin whales, minkies, and all dolphins.  NOAA also recognizes we are willing to work very closely with universities and their departments specializing in this field, and has offered to come out and do a special observer training.  They do not have the budget to do anything like this, but at the same time reiterated how desperately they need this data collection and research.  The Gray Whale Foundation looks forward to this partnership in the future, and connecting our students to this expanded research project.