I had the opportunity to spend time with and speak in depth to scientists Barbara Taylor and Tim Gerrodette of the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California.

Today, I had the opportunity to join the “Corsair”, a tri-maran sailing out of San Felipe everyday to search for vaquita. Rather than posting visual observers to find the animals, researchers are listening for the vocalizations underwater.

Vaquita Porpoise – Phocoena sinus Class – Mammalia Order – Cetacea Suborder – Odontoceti Family – Phocoenidae Genus -Phocoena Species – Phocoena sinus Introduction: The vaquita is one of six species of porpoise. The term ‘porpoise’ is derived from the Latin porcus for ‘pig’ and piscus for ‘fish’. Porpoises are quite distinct from other species [...]

WHALE TRACKERS is a series of documentary programs that journey across the world’s oceans to explore the lives of whales, dolphins and porpoises. We join international scientists on expedition investigating and shedding new light on the mysteries of these animals and their struggles for survival in a rapidly changing world. WHALE TRACKERS examines how we [...]

gallery 2 gallery 3 gallery 4 gallery 5 gallery 7 GALLERY Whales of the Mediterranean Sea is a five-part documentary series about the scientists exploring the Mediterranean, and the cetaceans that inhabit this ancient sea. Whales of the Mediterranean Sea ventures into deep seas and coastal waters with a range of international scientists. It examines [...]

gallery 2 gallery 3 gallery 4 gallery 5 gallery 6 gallery 7 gallery 8 gallery 9 gallery 10 gallery 11 gallery 12 gallery 13 gallery 14 gallery 15 gallery 16 gallery 17 GALLERY Synopsis: “Southern Right Whales of Argentina” is an educational documentary film by Chris and Genevieve Johnson. It explores the natural history and [...]

gallery 2 gallery 3 gallery 4 gallery 5 gallery 6 GALLERY What does it mean to save whales, dolphins and porpoises if their habitat is left unprotected? Marine Protected Areas, also known as MPAs or Marine Sanctuaries, are the equivalent of national parks and protected areas on land. Erich Hoyt is an author and senior [...]

gallery 2 gallery 3 gallery 4 gallery 5 gallery 6 gallery 7 gallery 8 gallery 10 GALLERY Despite a world-wide ban by the United Nations in 1992 and by the European Union in 2002, the driftnet fishery continues illegally throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Driftnets are banned because they take large quantities of unwanted catch, called [...]

Each short documentary can be downloaded for use in the classroom along with a fact sheet that may be implemented across learning areas and age groups. Fact sheets include additional in depth information, behind the scenes photographs and interactive maps to compliment the documentary. Fact sheets establish the relevance of the science and its connection [...]