Lecture: Humpback and Blue Whales: Recent Discoveries

The Oceanic Society in San Francisco is hosting a lecture on Friday 11/14. While this is not San Mateo chapter's general meeting, we thought you may be interested in attending. These whales are often sighted by surfers and other beach-goers in San Mateo county. For more information, please contact the Oceanic Society via their web page at http://www.oceanicsociety.org/home

“Humpback and Blue Whales: Recent Discoveries”

Friday, November 14, 2008
7pm-8pm
Fort Mason Center, Room C-205
San Francisco, CA

For decades after blue and humpback whales were commercially hunted, many biologists grew concerned that their numbers had been reduced to the point that made extinction possible or even inevitable. However, the North Pacific humpback whale population, which numbered less than 1,500 in 1966 when international whaling for this species was banned, has rebounded to approximately 18,000 to 20,000 animals according to a recent study. In addition, off the California coast, new research has revealed a surprisingly large blue whale population.

Join John Calambokidis, who began recording information on these populations in the 1980s, as he shares exciting recent discoveries on blue and humpback whales. Calombokidis will cover the results of a recent report from SPLASH (Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpbacks), an international effort involving more than 50 organizations. Cascadia Research in Olympia, Washington, that helped to coordinate the SPLASH project, matched photographs from six different feeding and breeding areas. In addition to whale fluke photographs, SPLASH researchers collected more than 6,000 biopsy samples for studies of genetics and pollutants. Calombokidis will also provide information on isolated populations of humpbacks who still suffer low numbers, and provide insights on current threats to further recovery of whale populations. He will also present some of the changes that have occurred with blue whale distribution and the new threats they face from ship strikes that appear to have killed at least five blue whales off Southern California last fall.

Since 1989, the Oceanic Society has assisted Cascadia Research Collective with collecting data on humpback and blue whale distribution and relative abundance off the Pacific West Coast. The two organization recently initiated a citizen science project where members of the public can become involved in whale research.

We invite you to come and hear the latest updates on the population, as well as the conservation strategies to help protect these majestic creatures.