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science10h ago
The lobstermen teaming up with scientists to save endangered whales
Popsci.com and 1 more
- Lobstermen and scientists intensified collaboration after a notable whale aggregation at Jeffrey's Ledge, adopting proactive, voluntary actions to lower entanglement risk while preserving livelihoods.
- Fishermen reduced gear in the water by dropping northeast endlines to minimize ropes, a voluntary step that protected whales and kept fishing in balance.
- Researchers integrated prey data into right whale habitat models, improving predictions of where whales may appear as ocean conditions shift.
- Calanus zooplankton, a krill-like prey, was identified as a key driver of whale locations, linking prey dynamics to whale presence amid warming waters.
- NOAA’s Cooperative Research in the Northeast facilitates ongoing scientist-fisherman data sharing, strengthening practical conservation.
- Incorporating recent data into predictive models allows better anticipation of whale presence, aiding timely decision-making for fishermen and researchers.
- Mutual learning and communication underpin coexistence, with fishermen actively sharing sightings to inform safety measures and research.
- January 2025 saw zero entanglements on Jeffrey’s Ledge due to coordinated efforts, signaling a successful application of collaborative risk reduction.
- Researchers demonstrated that including prey dynamics in models can shift predicted whale densities in surprising areas, guiding proactive management.
- The study emphasizes adaptive, data-driven approaches as ocean warming alters whale distribution and makes monitoring more complex.
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