Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program

1979-2021 Aerial Surveys Of Arctic Marine Mammals Historical Database

Access and availability of data collected from the Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals (ASAMM) project.

November 02, 2022 - Database ,

Alaska

Signs of Hope For The World’s Most Endangered Great Whale Population

Discovery of a juvenile—named “Phoenix”—renews hope for survival of the endangered eastern North Pacific right whale population, currently at extremely high risk of extinction.

November 29, 2021 - Feature Story ,

Alaska

Photo of a North Pacific right whale at the surface.

North Pacific right whale. Credit: International Whaling Commission.

Four Endangered North Pacific Right Whales Spotted in the Gulf of Alaska

Biologists were able to collect valuable data on these rare animals during a special whale survey in August.

September 09, 2021 - Feature Story ,

Alaska

Tail of one north Pacific right whale shown as it dives next to second whale with head above water.

Genetic Study Makes It Possible To Accurately Estimate Age Of Endangered Whale While It Is Alive

Results raise questions about whether Cook Inlet beluga whales are reproducing much later than initially thought.

February 04, 2021 - Feature Story ,

Alaska

Aerial photo of two Cook Inlet Beluga Whales swimming at the surface.

North Slope Borough, NOAA, University of Washington and Cooperative Institute for Climate Ocean and Ecosystem Studies Scientists Collaborate to Monitor Whales in 2020 in Northern Alaska

When it comes to observing bowhead whales in Arctic waters, scientists and Indigenous communities are learning to “expect the unexpected.”

November 09, 2020 - Feature Story ,

Alaska

Photo of a bowhead whale in the Beaufort Sea.

One bowhead whale sighted in a feeding aggregation approximately 15 km north of the mouth of Smith Bay, Alaska (event 116), North Slope Borough Autumn Aerial Surveys Flight 1, 17 September 2020. Photo: NOAA Fisheries.

First Direct Evidence of Killer Whale Predation on Bowhead Whales in the U.S. Pacific Arctic Documented by Scientists

A new study provides essential information to conserve an endangered species and supports subsistence communities own observations.

September 14, 2020 - Feature Story ,

Alaska

Photo of five bowhead whales at waters surface.

Bowhead whales. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries. Funded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

2019 Aerial Surveys Of Arctic Marine Mammals - Post 8

2019 Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals

Beautiful Beaufort Polar Bears

November 07, 2019 - Survey ,

Alaska

Aerial view of bears rolling around in the dirt

2019 Aerial Surveys Of Arctic Marine Mammals - Post 7

2019 Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals

Aerial surveys for whales offer a vastly different view compared to boat-based surveys.

October 25, 2019 - Survey ,

Alaska

2019 Aerial Surveys Of Arctic Marine Mammals - Post 6

2019 Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals

How many bowhead whales are in the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) stock? This year the ASAMM team got the very special chance to help answer this question!

October 11, 2019 - Survey ,

Alaska

2019 Aerial Surveys Of Arctic Marine Mammals - Post 5

2019 Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals

A tale of wayward whales.

September 10, 2019 - Survey ,

Alaska

"Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program"

Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program Results