SC/69B/NH/05  

Document Number

SC/69B/NH/05

Full Title

Update on Rice?s Whale Research and Conservation: 2023-2024

Author

Lance P. Garrison, Melissa S. Soldevilla, Clay George, Laura Engleby

Authors Summary

The NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) continues to conduct assessment surveys, passive acoustic monitoring, and other research to improve our understanding of the population status, spatial distribution, and ecology of the endangered Rice?s Whale (Balaenoptera ricei) in the Gulf of Mexico (GoMex). The Rice?s whale is the only resident baleen whale in the GoMex, and represents a distinct genetic lineage from other Bryde?s-like whales in the Atlantic ocean including the wider Caribbean. The most recent population estimate is 51 animals (95% CI 20-130; Garrison et al. 2020), and the species is exposed to a range of anthropogenic threats associated with industrial activities in the GoMex including shipping, oil and gas exploration and extraction, chronic noise, ingestion of plastics and other pollution effects, and commercial fishing (discussed in Rosel et al. 2021, Rosel et al. 2016). The primary focus of our recent research has been to better understand Rice?s whale spatial distribution and habitat use in U.S. waters of the northern GoMex to allow better assessment of the exposure to these risks, particularly in the central and western GoMex where many of these activities occur. This document summarizes the most recent work conducted by SEFSC and associated publications.

Keywords

Publisher

IWC

Publication Year

2024

Abstract

NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Miami, FL, USA
2 NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Marine Mammal Branch, St. Petersburg, FL, USA