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A Eurasian Otter who freshly climbed out of the water, resting on a rock. Credit to Animal Spot. This month’s article series is going to be discussing the gorgeous & serene island of Mainland, also known as Hrossey or Pomona, located in the Orkney Archipelago of Scotland. Mainland is an island located in the Orkney Islands Archipelago approximately 6 miles off the coast of Scotland. It is the largest island in the Orkney Archipelago, & the tenth largest island in the British Isles, at approximately 202 square miles. It holds the bulk of Orkney's population in its main settlement, Kirkwall, with a population of 10,020. Known for its vast biodiversity of both terrestrial & marine life, peaceful coastal communities, & rolling green hills, Mainland is a picturesque island. One of the wonderful creatures that calls Mainland home, is the elusive Eurasian Otter. The Eurasian Otter, also known as the European or Common Otter, is a species of otter distributed throughout Europe, Asia, & Northern Africa. It is the only otter distributed throughout Europe, making it rather distinctive. Individuals are often found near sources of water, such as estuaries, coastlines, creeks, & lakes. Fierce as they are, they are frequently seen catching fish & other underwater animals to consume, or occasionally birds, birds' eggs, other small mammals, & insects. In today's article, we are going to be discussing the discovery & life of the Eurasian Otter, the mating strategies of the Eurasian Otter, the distribution of the Eurasian Otter, & the scientific details of the Eurasian Otter. With that being said, let us delve into this fascinating creature. The Discovery & Life Of The Eurasian Otter The Eurasian Otter was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in his book Systema Naturae. It is unclear how long this species has existed. With a total length of 40.2 to 54.2 inches (102 to 138 centimeters), a tail length of 12.6 to 22 inches (32 to 56 centimeters), & a weight of 8.1 to 24.3 pounds (4 to 11 kilograms), they are roughly comparable in size to a Borzoi puppy in weight. Their lifespan ranges from 3 to 10 years in the wild, to up to 22 years in captivity. Eurasian Otters are rather intelligent, cunning, & nimble creatures. Unfortunately, there are no studies on the subject of Eurasian otter intelligence, in the wild, they are known to exhibit curiosity, inventiveness, & even use tools such as rocks to bash open shellfish. Their paws are surprisingly dexterous, & able to somewhat grip things. As with most otter species, the Eurasian otter has a mild temperament, as they can be playful, as well as curious, yet also aggressive, & fiercely territorial. Individuals tend to be solitary, & prefer hunting alone as opposed to hunting in groups. When attempting to communicate with one another, they will use a wide range of clicks, chirps, squeaking, & whistling sounds. They will operate in 18 to 40 square kilometer areas (6.95 to 15.44 square miles), & will be fiercely protective of these lands. In these lands, they are known to build dens known as “holts”, in small cavities around riverbanks such as caves, rock spaces, tree roots, & similar locations. These holts often extend underground, & are lined with plant matter such as leaves. There may be one, or more in a single otter territory. In order to differentiate whose property is whose, they will mark their territory with the scent gland at the base of their tail, as well as their feces. In the wild, they tend to be rather skittish, & not interact with people unless necessary. If humans are kayaking, swimming, boating, or otherwise occupying an area of water, they tend to stay away from said area. The fur industry values the Eurasian Otter for its pelt, showing they are of economic importance to humans. Unfortunately, as Eurasian otters will compete with fishermen, the Swiss Government historically put a bounty on them, with money distributed per individual killed. These bounties have since been lifted. Eurasian otters are powerful swimmers, & have a swimming speed of approximately 6 to 7.5 miles per hour (10 to 12 kilometers per hour)! They swim by undulating their strong tail underwater, & using their hind legs as rudders, allowing them to propel themselves forward. They are very agile. As they are semiaquatic, & spend a fair amount of time on land, their running speed is up to 12 miles per hour. During the day, or in some cases during the night, the Eurasian otters will sleep by curling up in their land-based holts, similar to a cat. It is not clear how they sleep on a biological level, or how long they sleep for each sleep cycle. Eurasian otters are piscivores, meaning they primarily consume fish. Their diet consists of 80% fish, molluscs, crustaceans, amphibians, birds, & small mammals. They are usually nocturnal or crepuscular, though some populations in Scotland are known to be active during the day. To maintain their weight, they must consume an average of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds), of food per day. They utilize their whiskers, also known as vibrissae, as sensing organs to monitor the movements of their prey, before striking. They are formidable predators. Natural predators include wolves, birds of prey, lynx, crocodiles, & sea eagles. Individuals have dark brown fur covering their backs, legs, & head, & cream coloured stomachs. They have 2 layers of fur, one being a thick waterproof outer layer, which enables them to swim, & a second layer of warm inner fur. They are recognizable through their characteristic small eyes, rounded ears, dark snouts, webbed feet, & thick, strong tails. Their last assessment by the IUCN Red List was on January 31st, 2020. Their status is currently listed as Near Threatened, with their population trend listed as decreasing. As of 2026, their number of mature individuals is estimated between 57,880, & 361,140. The Reproductive Strategies Of The Eurasian Otter The reproductive system of the Eurasian otter is polygamous. Individuals engage in sexual reproduction, & are not capable of asexual reproduction. They are not hermaphroditic, & exhibit gonochorism. The average age of sexual maturity is 1.5 to 2 years, however, most Eurasian Otters will hold off mating until 2.5 to 3 years of age. Upon reaching the age of maturity, individuals will leave their parents’ territories to find their own. Males & females will communicate with one another via scent, through a communication center known as a latrine. Once a female & male have found one another, they will have an extended courtship. Once the time is right, they will copulate in the water, or occasionally on land. Mating seems to occur throughout the year. After copulation, males will cease to have any involvement in the pups' lives. The female will gestate her young for 60 days, & give birth to a litter of 1 to 5 pups. The children are fluffy cream coloured, lack the ability to swim, & weigh approximately 100 grams. She will give birth in her holt, & will not allow her children to leave for 8 weeks. Her children will be nursed for these first few weeks, & at 8 weeks, she will begin weaning them on Upon their first venture outside of the holt, they will begin to acclimate themselves to the world around them. Eurasian otter pups tend not enjoy water on their first swimming attempt, which is likely due to their fluffy fur not being the best suited for swimming, & not being waterproof. Their waterproof coat begins growing in at 12 weeks, at which point they will become more comfortable with water. The mother will lovingly tend to her pups for approximately 1 year, teaching them valuable skills in the process such as hunting, swimming, fishing, & bashing open shellfish. At this point, the pup will go off into the world to find its own territory, & become independent. A lovely photograph of a set of 4 otter pups resting their heads on a log. Credit to Wild Ideas. The Distribution Of The Eurasian Otter The Eurasian Otter is a widely distributed species of Otter, from the Scottish Highlands to South Korea. They are commonly found in Europe, North Africa, & North Asia. Areas with streams, rivers, lakes, or coastlines, are appealing to them. In Europe, they are commonly found in Norway, western Spain, Portugal, southern Italy, Great Britain, & Ireland. In Asia, they are commonly found in the mountains of Syria, western India, the Himalayas, & western Nepal. Unfortunately, due to their competition with fishermen, many viewed them as a nuisance, & they were driven extinct in Belgium, Switzerland, & the Netherlands. Thankfully, due to conservation efforts, populations have been expanding, & they are no longer extinct in these locations. The Scientific Details Of The Eurasian Otter Of all otter species, Eurasian otters are associated with having the most parasites, being associated with 184 species. One of the most common parasites is helminth worms. Their phylum is Chordata, meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either in adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal slits, & a post-anal tail. Their class is Mammalia. Mammalia is classified by the production of milk by the mother for their child to nurse, a neocortex which is a region of the brain, some capacity of fur or hair, & three middle ear bones. There are currently 6,400 species categorized under the class of Mammalia. Their order is Carnivora, an order of mammals dedicated to carnivores. It is the sixth largest order for mammals at the time of publishing, with approximately 279 species. They are distributed across every major land mass. Their family is Mustelidae, a family containing weasels, polecats, stoats, ferrets, ermines, martens, minks, wolverines, grisons, badgers, & otters. Their genus, Lutra, is a genus of otters. Their binomial name is Lutra lutra. A pair of adult Eurasian otters sitting on a piece of wood together. Credit to Alchetron. Directories / Credits Citation 1: “Lutra lutra”, Written by Susan Kennedy, & Published in 2003. Published by the Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lutra_lutra/ Citation 2: “Lutra lutra”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an unknown date. Published by the Otter Specialist Group. https://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/otter-species/lutra-lutra/ Citation 3: “European otter”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an unknown date. Published by The Wildlife Trusts. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/mammals/european-otter Citation 4: “Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an unknown date. Published by the International Otter Survival Fund. https://www.otter.org/eurasian-otter Citation 5: “Eurasian Otter Overview”, Written by Unknown & published at an unknown date. Published by the South Wales Otter Trust. https://southwalesottertrust.org.uk/otter-info/ Citation 6: “European otter”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an unknown date. Published by Wildlife Online. https://www.wildlifeonline.me.uk/animals/species/european-otter Citation 7: “Eurasian otter”, Written by Unknown & Published at an unknown date. Published by Animal Spot. https://www.animalspot.net/eurasian-otter.html Citation 8: “Eurasian Otter”, Written by Loy, A., Kranz, A., Oleynikov, A., Roos, A., Savage, M. & Duplaix, N., & Last Updated on January 31st, 2026. Published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12419/218069689 Citation 9: “Reproduction”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an unknown date. Published by Otter Spotter. https://www.otterspotter.de/en/fortpflanzung Citation 10: “A systematic review of parasitic diseases of otters”, Written by Stacy R. Cotey, & Mason V. Reichard. Published by Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/mammal-science/articles/10.3389/fmamm.2025.1673488/full Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photographs of Little Diomede Island. Credit to Atlas Obscura. In today’s article, we are going to delve into the history of Little Diomede Island, Alaska. Little Diomede Island, colloquially known as Yesterday Island, is a small island far off the coast of Alaska. It is a part of the Diomede Archipelago. Despite being a mere 2.3 miles from Big Diomede, the islands are 23 hours apart in time. For this reason, Big Diomede is known as Tomorrow Island, while Little Diomede is known as Yesterday Island. Little Diomede is incredibly isolated, as it is only 16 miles from mainland Alaska, & doesn’t have any roads leading to it. Usually, the only way to get to the island is by helicopter, & in the summer, by boat. Despite the harsh conditions, the island still currently has a population of 87. The majority of these people are indigenous Inupiat people. Little Diomede has an incredibly interesting history, with the Indigenous people inhabiting it long before Russia or the United States. The island, along with Big Diomede, once belonged to Russia. However, during the Alaska Purchase, Little Diomede was acquired by the United States, while Big Diomede remained property of Russia. The border between these 2 nations was drawn between the isles, thus making crossing illegal & a punishable offence. The island was also been home to numerous prehistoric megafauna, such as the wooly mammoth, wooly rhino, mastodon, & the feared short-faced bear. In this article, we shall examine the documented history of Little Diomede Island, the Indigenous Aboriginals of Little Diomede Island, the most destructive disasters to affect the island, & the economy of Little Diomede Island. With that being said, let us delve into the history of this frigid arctic island. The Documented History Of Little Diomede Island Prehistoric Diomede Humans have inhabited Little Diomede Island as long as they have inhabited Alaska, which they began inhabiting approximately 15,000 years ago when humans crossed the frozen bering strait on foot. While the population of the island was never massive, it has had a sustained populous. Russian Diomede 1700’s Little Diomede as well as Big Diomede were officially discovered on August 16th, 1728, by esteemed Russian Explorer, Vitus Bering. He named it after Saint Diomede of Tarsus, as the island was discovered on Saint Diomede’s Day. Very little was done with the island until approximately 1880, after the Alaska Purchase. 1800 to 1867 In 1867, Russia sold the entirety of Alaska to the United States. As a result, a new boarder needed to be defined between the two nations. It was decided that Big Diomede would remain Russian, while Little Diomede would become American, & the new boarder would be divided between the two. The natives on both islands would however, not be affected by this. American Diomede 1867 to 1899 The first census on the island was conducted in 1880, which recorded approximately 40 Inupiat individuals living on the island. The main town on the island was also referred to as “Inalet”, instead of the modern day title of “Diomede”. Father of Modern day National Parks, ecologist, & naturalist John Muir visited the island in 1881, & noted how gloomy the island was, calling it one of the quote“..Dreariest towns I ever beheld!”. He also noted how many marine animals inhabited the coastline around the island with large seal & seabird colonies along every rock. 1900s Little Diomede would not have very many historical events occur in relation to it, until the Second World War. In World War 2, the Soviets developed a small military base on Big Diomede, which likely would have been used to assist in the Pacific Theatre. All remaining Inupiat on the island were relocated to Russia, & a strict no-crossing policy was instituted. Ever since then, attempting to cross between the 2 islands by foot was strictly prohibited unless authorized, & resulted in detainment, questioning, fines, & potential imprisonment. The two cultures became separated, & though they maintained the same Inupiat culture, were now separated by the two nations politics. The Aboriginals Of Little Diomede Island The Indigenous Inupiat People The Indigenous Inupiat People have lived on Little Diomede since people have occupied Alaska. They are the native peoples of North & West Alaska, as well as Eastern Russia. They are considered to be members of the larger Inuit Culture. Inupiat people primarily speak English, however they are also known to speak Inupiaq. Their population is incredibly small, with an estimated population of 20,000. The Inupiat have generally been peaceful, & rarely have initiated violent conflict without reason. Their traditional diet primarily consists of seal meat, whale meat, certain kinds of fish, caribou, grasses, & seaweed. To hunt, they often use traps, or snares. Very little of the animals they hunt goes to waste, with fur going to roofing, furniture, or clothing, & bones going to a traditional form of sunglasses or sewing needles. Their traditional clothing is well known for its beautiful & intricate embellishments, which often have a naturalistic meaning. Due to the harsh arctic conditions, their traditional jackets are typically made from seal skin to insulate warmth. Traditional houses typically have a frame made of animal bones as well as stones, & are covered with sod & moss. The roofs are usually made of animal skin, such as seal skin. Apart from using sled animals, Inupiat people have 2 primary kinds of boats, those being the Umiak & the Kayak. The Umiak is a large kind of boat used for hunting, travelling, & trading. They are typically 15 to 50 feet long, depending on what they were made for. They are made from animal skin, typically whale or seal skin, being put over a piece of shaped driftwood or bone. They are propelled by oars, though they occasionally have sails made of animal intestines. The Kayak is a a smaller boat, designed to hold only 1 to 3 people. These boats are closed, & are designed for a person to sit in rather then on. They are often used for hunting, or fishing, & are propelled by oars. A pair of children happily playing on sea ice on Little Diomede. Credit to Loren Holmes. The Most Destructive Disasters To Affect Little Diomede Island Disaster No. 1: The Impending Collapse Induced By Climate Change Unfortunately, Little Diomede is highly susceptible to Climate Change. Much of the ground on the isle is made of Permafrost, & structures are built on stilts as a result. Due to global warming, the permafrost is gradually disappearing or shrinking, causing ground instability. In December of 2023, the local school collapsed into the local government office, causing severe issues for the people of Diomede. If this continues, infrastructure will continue collapsing, & if not replaced, will drive people off the island. Additionally, the shifting permafrost has caused issues in having a run way, & without a run way, planes cannot land. This severely limits the amount of resources that can be brought to the island, as well as the methods of transportation. Without planes, people & supplies can only reach the island by helicopter or in the summer months, boat. The Economy Of Little Diomede Island Little Diomede Island has an incredibly small population of approximately 87, making the economy also very small. Much of the economy comes from indigenous fishing of whales & seals, or tourism. Many tourists visit the island to see the scenic views, & learn more about the history as well as the culture. A photograph of Ernest Iyapana with Blue King Crab that he has caught for his family near the village of Little Diomede on March 13th, 2013. Credit to Loren Holmes. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Climate Change Brings Collapsing Stilts and Hungry Bears to Little Diomede Island” Written by Cecily Hillaery, Published on December 23rd, 2023. Published by the Voice of America. https://www.voanews.com/amp/climate-change-brings-collapsing-stilts-and-hungry-bears-to-little-diomede-island-/7405709.html Citation No. 2: “Community Profile: Lirtle Diomede”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Harriman Retraced. https://www.pbs.org/harriman/current/profiles/diomede.html Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow Olivenbaum Music The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

California’s Pacific coast is one of the most biodiverse and abundant ecosystems worldwide, teaming with almost 2000 species of microorganisms, plants, fish, marine mammals, turtles, invertebrates, and seabirds supported by a Mediterranean climate. Its famous offshore, underwater, and coastal rock formations date back to the Cretaceous period and help subsidize this special bionetwork, making the state’s ocean waters and sea life sacred and unique. Unfortunately, California’s precious coastal ecosystem also faces massive threats in the vein of climate change/global warming, the devastation of kelp forests, ocean acidification, algal blooms, and habitat destruction; sounding the alarm for the time-sensitive need for human intervention, conservation management, and awareness. The Pacific Tide series highlights monthly oceanic events occurring on the California coast and/or portrait important species who call the Pacific coastline waters home emphasizing the importance of conserving this critical ecosystem. In this month’s installment of The Pacific Tide, we announce the desperate call to save Eastern Northern Pacific (ENP) gray whales off the coast of California experiencing the lowest population numbers since the 1970s while exploring the causalities for this population mortality, including climate change and California’s contribution: freight vessel noise and ship strikes. We also highlight California’s efforts to save the whales with new laws and initiatives geared toward the decrease of vessel noise and lower ship speeds; and the use of technology and AI to create a safer Pacific Blue Corridor, hoping to promote an ENP gray whale population boost. Save the Whales 2.0 'Nostalgia' is at a cultural boom in the 2020s with everything from food, fashion, music, television, and films turning back the clock, creating déja vu moments for the generation hitting middle age. However, history shouldn’t always be repeated and recycled. The 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s all saw movements to “Save the Whales!” highlighting the atrocities of whale hunting, overfishing and the rapid onset of climate change/global warming. Conservationists, advocates, and protestors held rallies, donned buttons, posted banners, sold whale-sound compact discs, and pleaded to the United States Congress; resulting in monumental laws and widespread protections to rehabilitatedeclining whale population numbers. Although some saw these movements as ‘hippie’ and ‘granola’; the fallout was profound. 2026, the year of nostalgia, is raising the alarm to dust off the protest buttons because it is time to save the whales… again. The Eastern North Pacific gray whale (ENP) is the gentle giant calling the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Canada, North America, and Mexico home, often extolled for their ‘friendly’ disposition and habit of venturing in close proximity to shores and whale-spotting tourist boats. Measuring at 45-50 feet and tipping the scales at an average of 36-45 tons; ENP gray whales have inhabited the oceans for over 200,000 years, being the ultimate survivor in the ever-changing death game of planet Earth and its inhabitants. This hasn’t come easily, as ENP gray whales partake in the longest migration trek of all animals at over 10,000 mile’s feeding in the cold Arctic waters off the coast of Alaska before traveling down the coastline of Canada and most famously the Pacific Northwest and California in order to reach the tropical Mexican lagoons that serve as nurseries to ENP females birthing calves. The months from January to June experience a spring migration reversal, returning to the ice-cold Arctic waters. An informational graphic depicting population & distribution information for the Pacific Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus). Credit to NOAA Fisheries. There is more to ENP gray whales than just being the centerfold model to a tourist’s camera; as they are absolutely critical to oceanic ecosystems. ENP gray whales are predominantly bottom-feeders, rotating onto their sides and inhaling the seabed, dining on planktonic amphipods before exhaling the silt, acting as the plow farmers of the sea minus the fashionable overalls and John Deere tractors. This feeding cycle releases bottom nutrients that rise during ocean upwellings, feeding upper- water marine mammals and fish. Whale feces also contain key nutrients that are consumed by plankton and algae, which in themselves form the building blocks of the ocean by converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, ultimately making whales the biggest endorsers of biodiversity in the oceans. The light on these usually resilient ocean ally kings is beginning to dim (again) with experts removing rose-colored glasses and becoming skeptical that ENP gray whales will survive even in the short term, “I don’t think we’re ever going to see an Arctic that can support 25,000 gray whales again, at least not in my lifetime”, Josh Stewart, an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute dejectedly confirmed. ENP gray whale populations are declining at rates that are impossible to adapt to, being at the lowest since the 1970s. Since 2016, ENP gray whales have declined by half from approximately 27,000 to 12,900 by current estimates, with most recent mother-calf pairs off the coast of California at a low-end dire count of 85, which, if it persists, unequivocally cannot sustain the species. 690 ENP gray whales were found dead off the Pacific coast between 2019-2023, with 2026 figures for ENP gray whale strandings already troubling scientists only midway through the year. 33 dead whales have washed off the Puget Sound, with an additional 13 in the San Francisco Bay by June, totaling 51 by early summer; making researchers fear that 2026 will be the worst year on record for ENP gray whale deaths. What is causing this downshift in ENP gray whale populations sparking a 2020s save the whales movement? Two key factors prevail; both putting the guilt on mankind: (1) global warming/climate change and (2) freight vessel noise and ship strikes. Although ENP gray whales have survived climate disasters thus far; current conditions are declining far faster than the whales can adapt with the biggest losses occurring in the Arctic feeding waters where glaciers are melting at Olympic runner speeds, resulting in lesser amphipods to feed ENP gray whales. Without a proper diet, ENP gray whale females can’t produce enough blubber needed to migrate, give birth or to feed calves that require 50 gallons of milk a day during the 8 months of nursing after a 12-month pregnancy. ENP gray whales have amended to this climate change by restricting or eliminating births entirely being detrimental to the species and are often found emaciated and malnourished when stranded on shores. “We thought we were seeing a bit of rebound, but it was so short-lived,” Josh Calambokidis, a marine biologist studying gray whales, reported, “Rather than alternating between boom and bust, a more accurate description of the whales’ trajectory is ‘boom, bust, bust, bust’. Climate change is a borderless, global issue with California not necessarily holding the reins; but the state is the primary leader in ENP gray whale ship strikes and vessel noise declining the populations…and this is a crown California is likely not proud to wear. California: The Worst Traffic on Land and in the Sea Navigating Californian streets means hurdling a cluster of multiple lanes, bumper-to-bumper traffic, horns blasting, music filling the air, traffic lights causing complication and cars zipping in-and-out with no respect for motorist laws. Imagine a truck nearing contact with your car but being unable to hear your passenger’s warning; or becoming utterly lost because the GPS directions blend into the noise pollution. Transfer this hectic disorder to the Pacific Blue Corridor: the ancient migratory route of the ENP gray whales off the California coast. ENP gray whales have traveled these once calm waters for several Millenia but now face modern-day traffic of cargo ships, tankers, and even yachts. California’s waters hold one of the busiest cargo vessel traffic routes and is the home to the world’s largest container port and center of US economical trade located in San Pedro near Los Angeles. Northern California also makes the list with the Port of Oakland in the San Francisco Bay earning the title of fourth busiest port. This means the Pacific waterways traveled by ENP gray whales is now congested with ship traffic and noise stress. An informational graphic on noise pollution in the Pacific Ocean. Credit to Maritime Cyprus. While migrating on the Pacific Blue Corridor, ENP gray whales rely on their sense of hearing other whales to circumnavigate distance and pinpoint their current location, receive warnings of threats, and evaluate other critical information akin to a whale traffic news report. ENP gray whales emit six low-frequency calls (between 100 Hz and 2000 Hz) to maintain communications with other whales, but when these are acoustically masked by ship vessel noise in the marinescape; whales cannot hear their calves, pods, or environment, resulting in elevated stress, directional distraction on the migratory route, and in worst cases: ship strikes. A photograph of a tropical whale on the bow bulb of cargo vessel Nedlloyd Pantanal. Credit to ifaw.org. ENP gray whales off the coast of California are struggling to coexist with the vessel noise but with unfavorable penalties to the species. Whales have been recorded vocalizing at higher frequencies virtually ‘shouting’ to be heard by other whales or often remaining silent as they ‘freeze’ documenting the vessels as threats. Fecal matter gathered from whales coming into close contact with ships and the freight noise traffic show elevated levels of cortisol: the stress hormone. Data congregated in the Pacific Blue Corridor found unhealthy high levels of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGC) directly proportionate to the vessel traffic and marinescape noise at the time of collection. Vessel noise and traffic also distract whale migrations creating an element of fear with ENP gray whales responding by discarding the usual corridor and becoming lost. This fear response has proven to cause metabolic changes and breathing irregularities comparable to a panic attack in a human. Returning to climate change, the absence of abundant feeding in the Arctic has forced starving and vulnerable ENP gray whales to go off-course in a desperate search for a meal, swimming closer to the Californian shores or directly in the path of oncoming cargo vessels resulting in an alarming rise in ship strikes. By May 2026, 11 ENP gray whales were found dead in the San Francisco Bay with two being from ship strikes averaging a 40% strike rate echoing 2025 with nine out of 26 whales being ship fatalities. The Bay Area is especially high-risk for whales with a minimum of 18% mortality rate. Environmental hearing loss resulting from California’s ship freight traffic is directly diminishing the ENP gray whale population signaling the call to save the whales. A whale’s sense of hearing assists in finding mates, migration orientation and avoiding predators. Marinescape noise is elevating stress hormones, deteriorating immune systems and overall health and ultimately: leading to the death of the species. California Steps Up to Save the Whales Against Marinescape Noise and Vessel Strikes California is the poster child state leading all things tech and promoting anything and everything ‘green’ in support of wildlife. It is no surprise that the Golden State would mesh the two and be on the leading edge of innovation and initiatives to help save the ENP gray whales. The simplest and most logical solution to help save the whales is for cargo vessels to reduce speeds or even re-route during the migratory season in the Pacific Blue Corridor. Vessels dipping traveling speeds to 10 knots (only a 10% speed decline) can reduce ship strikes by 50% and cloak the marinescape noise by 38% which significantly allows whales to hear other whales and no longer have to call at higher frequencies. Reducing speeds benefits both sea and air as less fuel usage means lower CO2 emissions and fuel savings for freight companies. California has turned to the legal system to promote this idea; suing the current presidential administration for failing to adequately protect marine life in the Pacific shipping lanes. 2025 saw Governor Gavin Newsom passing Assembly Bill 14 which provides state governmental aid to programs working with vessel shipping freight companies to reduce speeds and created the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to help save the whales. This bill was expanded in 2026 covering not only the entire California coast; but northwards to Oregon and south to the Mexico. Government officials have also raised the idea of shifting cargo shipping lanes away from the Pacific Blue Corridor but this was rejected by the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center as such a move would bring vessels close to the Navy’s largest missile testing site. The headlining program promoting reduction of vessel speeds is California’s Blue Whales and Blue Skies: a state-funded, financial-incentive program encouraging the shipping lane slow-down to 10 knots or re-navigation. Blue Whales and Blue Skies accepts both freight vessel companies and auxiliary businesses using vessels for trade promising to only utilize participating freight vessel lines. Although voluntary (advocates are fighting to make Blue Whales and Blue Skies mandatory), by 2025, 76 companies clocked into the Blue Whales and Blue Skies program with 700 individual vessels following the new ‘speed limit’. In July 2026, the program has peaked at 60 participating shipping lanes and with increased vessel collaboration hitting 80%. 2026 also announced new partner ambassadors like California’s Santa Barbara Zoo and the Oakland Bay Port joining the Blue Whales and Blue Skies initiative. Maersk, the primary shipping vessel freightliner in California’s waters, is a leading member of Blue Whales and Blue Skiesgoing above-and-beyond the program not only reducing speed but using digital route-planning tools to find new corridors that avoid whales. Maersk also donates any monetary compensation received from participating in the program back to Blue Whales and Blue Skies and the state of California. Crews on Maersk’s vessels contribute by reporting any whale sightings to conservation databases using the “Whale Alert” app strengthening California’s understanding of the whale migrations. California’s residents are also encouraged to help save ENP gray whales with the “Whale Spotter” app available on iPhone and Android, where a once-in-a-lifetime whale encounter can feed data in real time to scientists and ship operators helping to save the whales versus just being a clout post on social media for ‘likes’. California + AI = Saving the Whales Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a polarizing topic with arguments sizzling on both sides, showing support or being adamantly against its rapid rise. California is using AI for good and harnessing its technology to save the whales. San Franscisco, the home of techies and the highest whale ship strike morality numbers; is leading the helm with 2026’s pilot program, Whale Spotter which uses thermal infrared cameras to scan the San Francisco Bay capturing any water changes resultant of whale spouting, whale body temperatures or whale sightings; then signaling a horn heard by vessel captains up to two nautical miles (7 kilometers) warning them to decrease speeds or change course. AI analyzes this captured camera data, comparing it to 15 years’ worth of images and research, and distinguishes whales from any other marinescape occurrence. False negatives are eliminated within 30 seconds by scientists serving behind the cameras. These data sets are forwarded to the US Coast Guard’s Vessel Traffic Report and instantly posted on the Whale Safe platform used by vessel ship captains, mariners and ferry operators. Whale Spotter’s cameras run 24/7 through the most trepid weather conditions and are already monitoring on an Angel Island Coast Guard tower and a ferry that travels between San Francisco and Vallejo; with plans to expand cameras to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. California’s Whale Spotter has garnered attention in the US Congress, with California Representative Sam Liccardo hoping policymakers create a “whale desk [that] will protect these magnificent creatures and help mariners avoid costly, harrowing collisions.” Buoys gently floating in white-capped ocean waters is not anunusual sight; but there has been an upgrade to the old standard with new state-of-the-art acoustic buoys specifically for the Save the Whales movement. At the forefront of this new oceanic technological marvel is Whale Safe, a program created by the cooperative work by UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Texas A&M University at Galveston, University of Washington, and the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Whale Safe - which is already up-and-running in both the San Francisco Bay and Santa Barbara Channel - employs acoustic monitoring buoys that instantaneously capture whale sounds and calls, downloads this marinescape information to an AI-supported program that compares new data to previously collected sets and aligns the whale sounds to oceanic outliers such as changes in water temperatures or even water PH. Whale Safe is then able to create simulations that can predict the migrations and movements of ENP gray whales, forwarding this information to mariners using a ‘Whale Presence Rating’ with real-time alerts from changes in whale concentrations. An acoustic monitoring buoy in a Santa Barbara Channel shipping lane. This buoy provides real-time data to the Whale-Safe system. Credit to the Benioff Ocean Initiative. Whale Safe is still in its infancy, with some kinks to smooth only ‘hearing’ generalized whale calls; but depending on conditions, whale sex, etc.; one whale can make a variety of calls or a pod can make none at all. Plus, this detection doesn’t echolocate the exact location of the whale(s), making it unconfirmable if whales are indeed swimming in a vessel shipping lane. Whale Safe continues to work hand-in-hand with shipping companies in respect to their bottom line but also aims to save the whales. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has also discharged a system of free-floating acoustic buoys that are more easily gathered and relocated up-and-down the coast of California to gather whale data in a vastly larger spatial coverage area at one time. These acoustic buoys drift for several weeks before being collected and data is distributed in a maritime traffic report to both vessel crews and ocean conservationists. Shipping in California’s Pacific Blue Corridor is not slowing down and is expected to increase by 245% by 2050, which is an especially injurious outlook for the fate of the ENP gray whales. “Shipping is not going to disappear”, notes Daniel Zitterbart a chief scientist at Whale Spotter. “We need to have tech that allows us to use the ocean, but also allows the whales to go about their lives”. It is imperative that California continues to use its resources to make the Pacific waters safer for ENP gray whales and avoid oceanic roadkill. “Every day is a nail-biter…This new system will save lives”, David McCauley, a marine ecologist with UC Santa Barbara, adds. We must all work together to save the whales…again. Directories/Credits 1: “Eastern North Pacific Gray Whales Continue Decline After Downturn During Unusual Mortality Event”, Written by Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Published on June 18, 2025 Updated on June 25, 2025 by NOAA Fisheries https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/eastern-north-pacific-gray-whales-continue-decline-after-downturn-during-unusual 2: “Gray Whale Strandings Up to 30 After Additional Whales Found Along Coast”, Written by Elizabeth Wiley. Published on June 17, 2026 by King5 Seattle News https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/pets-and-animals/gray-whale-strandings-30-washington-coast-puget-sound/281-414233bf-5c62-4087-ab01-4e86dbc2b01e 3: “3 Months, 21 Dead Gray Whales: Why So Many Carcasses are Washing up on Pacific Shores”, Written by Evan Bush. Published on May 25, 2026 by NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/dead-gray-whales-pacific-rcna345675 4: “What Gray Whales are Telling Us About Ecosystem Change in the Pacific Arctic”, Written by Joshua D Stewart, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, M Tim Tinker, John Calambokidis and Sue E Moore. Published on November 11, 2025 by Oxford Academic in Ices Journal of Marine Science https://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article/82/11/fsaf196/8316409 5: “Whale Deaths on Track to Make 2026 Among Deadliest Years on West Coast”, Written by Miyoko Sakashita. Published on May 28, 2026 by the Center for Biological Diversity https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/whale-deaths-on-track-to-make-2026-among-deadliest-years-on-west-coast-2026-05-28/ 6: “Squeak Up! I Can’t Hear You: Pilot Whales are Shouting to Hear Themselves Over Ship Noise”, Written by Vanessa Pirrota. Published on May 7, 2026 by The Conversation https://theconversation.com/squeak-up-i-cant-hear-you-pilot-whales-are-shouting-to-hear-themselves-over-ship-noise-282394?utm_medium=article_native_share&utm_source=theconversation.com 7: “Artificially Increased Noise Has Profound Effect on Gray Whale Calling Behavior”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on November 2, 2016 by NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/artificially-increased-noise-has-profound-effect-gray-whale-calling-behavior 8: “Effects of Vessel Traffic and Ocean Noise on Gray Whale Stress Hormones”, Written by Leila S. Lemos, Joseph H. Haxel, Amy Olsen, Jonathan D. Burnett, Angela Smith, Todd E. Chandler, Sharon L. Nieukirk, Shawn E. Larson, Kathleen E. Hunt & Leigh G. Torres. Published on November 3, 2022 by Scientific Reports https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-14510-5 9: “Slowing Down for Whales: How California Is Making Its Busiest Shipping Lanes Safer”, Written by Unknown Author. Published on May 20, 2026 by the California Ocean Protection Council https://opc.ca.gov/2026/05/protecting-whales-from-ship-strikes/ 10: “A New Whale Detection Network Launches in San Francisco Bay, Alerting Ships in Real Time”. Written by The Associated Press. Published on May 20, 2026 by NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/news/animal-news/new-whale-detection-network-launches-san-francisco-bay-alerting-ships-rcna346046 11: “Lawsuit Aims to Protect Whales in California from Deadly Ship Strikes”, Written by David Derrick. Published on October 23, 2025 by the Center for Biological Diversity https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/lawsuit-aims-to-protect-whales-in-california-from-deadly-ship-strikes-2025-10-23/ 12: “Pilot Project in San Francisco Bay Aims to Help Ships Avoid Gray Whales”, Written by David Brown. Published on June 4, 2026 by Mongabay News https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/06/pilot-project-in-san-francisco-bay-aims-to-help-ships-avoid-gray-whales/ 13: “Partnerships for Common Goals: Acoustic Buoy to Study Marine Mammals in the California Current”, Written by Shannon Rankin. Published on October 3, 2019 by NOAA https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/19express-logs-oct3/ 14: “New Tool Alerts Ships When Whales are Near. But Will They Slow Down?”, Written by Claudia Geib. Published on September 23, 2020 by Mongabay News https://news.mongabay.com/2020/09/new-tool-alerts-ships-when-whales-are-near-but-will-they-slow-down/ 15: “One Simple Way Ships Can Protect Endangered Whales”, Written by Sharon Livermore. Published on July 3, 2024 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare https://www.ifaw.org/journal/protection-whales-climate-change-ship-speed-reduction 16: “Gentle and Strong – The Pacific Gray Whale”, Written by Samantha Wynns. Published on February 28, 2019 by the National Park Service https://www.nps.gov/cabr/blogs/gentle-and-strong-the-pacific-gray-whale.htm 17: “AI-Powered Whale-Spotting Tech May Help Save San Francisco Bay’s Gray Whales”, Written by Carolyn Gramling. Published on May 19, 2026 by Science News https://www.sciencenews.org/article/ai-tech-save-gray-whales Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J's Kitchen Presence News Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

We are a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. What exactly does your organization do & what is it's mission? We are The Persaud Foundation, dedicated to raising ocean literacy, protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. As of 2024, we run our marine biological science communication newsletter The Persaud Catalog, which is published 5 times per month at least, we publish online courses, we conduct local marine biological education events & we conduct public marine biological conservation events in California. We are a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based in the U.S. What exactly are your online courses? We believe in protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Education about the sea is essential to conservation, as people cannot understand the needs of the sea & its creatures if they do not understand our ocean & its creatures. We currently offer 12 online courses , with 2 more under construction and scheduled for release soon. Our courses vary in topic; however, they typically are about oceanic animals, as people cannot understand the needs of these animals if they do not understand the animals in the first place. Our online courses can be found here. We also recently began a new series of FREE online courses, called micro-courses, which discuss various dangers plaguing our oceans. These courses are available to anyone, no cost, & teach more about certain issues that our ocean is currently facing, such as overfishing. What is the benefit of reading your newsletter? Our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog, publishes approximately 7 times per month, with topics of articles ranging from individual marine animals, to how marine resources were used in different areas historically. In addition, we conduct interviews with marine scientists, ocean ecologists, conservationists, & science communicators alike to share the beauty, value, & wonder of the ocean & marine science with as many people as possible. We work our hardest to provide interesting, informative, & engaging articles to our supporters. Each of our articles can be found in the articles tab of our website, or to search for a specific article or topic, please use our navigational bar. Where do you most frequently conduct beach cleanups & local conservation events? We semi-frequently conduct local conservation events, or beach cleanups, in Santa Monica, California. Each beach cleanup will be listed in the Events Calendar section of our website, or our Eventbrite profile. We typically limit our attendance for each group, so please be sure to register early & register everyone in your party! We removed approximately 146.75 pounds (66.56 kilograms) of bio-hazardous debris from Santa Monica State Beach, & hosted 9 beach cleanups in 2025. Where do you conduct your local marine education events? We semi-frequently conduct local marine biological education events in Los Angeles, California. These events entail different activities such as oceanic educational storytimes, marine biology question & answer sessions, educational fact card distribution, & occasionally, oceanic colouring activities for the youth. We hosted approximately 8 of these events in 2025. Each event shall be listed in the Events Calendar section of our website or our Eventbrite profile. Do you accept donations? Yes! As a nonprofit organization, we gladly accept donations. Each donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. We currently accept donations both digitally and by check. For more information on how to donate to us, please visit the donations page of our website. Each person who donates over 80$ will receive a complementary foundation-branded mug! We also accept donations of equipment. For more information, please contact us at theperaudfoundation@gmail.com . For patrons who wish to contribute on a more regular basis, please consider joining our organization as a member! For more information on memberships, please visit the memberships page of our website. Which country are you registered in as a nonprofit? We are a U.S. Registered 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. For more information on exempt organizations in the U.S., please visit https://www.irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits . Which country are you registered in as a nonprofit? Our Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey is a program designed to showcase the beauty of Santa Monica Bay, encourage more residents of the area to take an interest in their marine life, & provide a comprehensive list of the marine life in Santa Monica Bay. Anyone who wishes to support this project is encouraged to submit photographs here , where one of our staff or volunteers will process them, then use them to create a web entry on this page . In each submission, the person should include where the photograph was taken, the approximate size of the subject, as well as any additional information they feel will be helpful. We accept photographs of areas all along Santa Monica Bay, from Point Dume to Palos Verdes. In short, submit a photograph to us of any marine animal, plant, or protist photographed along Santa Monica Bay at this web page, & it will be used to create a comprehensive list of all the marine creatures in Santa Monica Bay.

Our Wonderful Staff Gwenevere Persaud - Executive Director Gwenevere Persaud is our faithful, dedicated, & extraordinarily industrious Executive Director. She has written the majority of our articles, operates every program, hosts every event, & coordinates our volunteers. In December of 2022, she founded The Persaud Foundation with the goal of protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Her favourite marine organism is the gorgeous Wolf Eel (Anarrichthys ocellatus). Jaela Balugo - Board Member Jaela Balugo is one of our amazing members of the dedicated Board of Directors. She is one of the most enthusiastic people about the ocean, about ocean education, & about marine science who has ever graced this planet. Jaela assists with overseeing our programs as a board member, votes on important issues, & assists with advising our science communication programs. Her favourite marine animal is the Baluga Whale for its intellect (and after her last name!). Our Wonderful Volunteers Jasper - Science Communication Volunteer Jasper is one of our delightful, passionate science communication volunteers, dedicated to sharks! Jasper adores sharks, & is currently assisting us in our online course program. Jasper's favourite shark is the Epaulette shark, pictured above! Kapish - Science Communication Volunteer Kapish is an intelligent, devoted science communication volunteer of ours, dedicated to the ocean. Kapish is currently assisting us in our Online Course program, working to create free micro-courses to educate the public on various issues plaguing our oceans. One of Kapish's favourite animals is the Sea Turtle, photographed above! August - Social Media Volunteer August is one of our lovely Social media volunteers, in charge of designing graphics for our social media & ensuring that our message gets heard by as many people as possible. He is one of the most passionate people about the ocean to ever grace this earth, & is the self-proclaimed biggest Squid Enthusiast in Europe. His favourite animal is the beloved Magnapinna Squid, photographed above in all of its eerie glory! Peyton - Science Communication Volunteer Peyton is one of our newest volunteers, with her work primarily focused on science communication through Social Media. She is incredibly passionate, affable, & one of the friendliest as well as most affable people we have had the pleasure of volunteering with us. Her favourite marine animal is the gorgeous & gargantuan Whale Shark! Micah - Science Communication Volunteer Micah is one of our esteemed volunteers, with his work primarily focused on science communication through our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog. He is determined, rises to the challenge. & one of our most disciplined volunteers. One of his favourite marine animals is the Sunfish, also known as the Mola Mola, featured above in its sun-kissed glory! Credit to Leonardo Patrizi. Onifade - Social Media Volunteer Onifade is one of our creative social media volunteers, with his work primarily focusing on developing captivating informational graphics to be featured on our social media pages. He is determined, industrious, & has been an asset to our organization. His favourite marine animal is the dolphin, with the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin featured above in its oceanic glory. Orsolya - Science Communication Volunteer Orsolya is one of our extraordinary science communication volunteers who contributes to the newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is our primary writer on our The Pacific Tide article series & contributes actively to our Marine Biological Hall of Distinction article series. She is a freelance historian, model, former goat wrangler, & ocean enthusiast. She is detail-oriented & extremely industrious. Her favourite animal is the horse, & she is represented by the Slender Seahorse pictured above. Emily - Science Communication Volunteer Emily is one of our lovely Science Communication Volunteers who contributes to our newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is the primary writer for our new article series "Disasters at Sea". She also writes for another climate publication, GlacierHub, & is a graduate of UCSB, as well as an MA of Columbia University. Her favourite marine animal is the Mantis Shrimp, photographed above in its rainbow glory. John - Science Communication Volunteer John is one of our dedicated social media volunteers. He has been an asset to us throughout his time with the organization, & has been assisting with designing a new informational graphic series all about dolphins. In addition to volunteering with The Persaud Foundation, he volunteers with various organizations related to mental health & youth. Kathia - Social Media Volunteer Kathia is one of our esteemed Social Media Volunteers. She primarily focuses on our informational graphic series on social media. Apart from volunteering with our organization, she enjoys listening to music, gaming, & playing basketball. Her favourite marine animal is the seal, photographed above in its adorable glory. Eleanor - Science Communication Volunteer Eleanor is one of our esteemed Science Communication Volunteers. She primarily assists with research & writing for our online courses, along with research for our social media initiatives. Her favourite marine animal is the charismatic dolphin featured above.

We are a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. This page is specifically for the events calendar. All planned events will be added to this calendar before they are announced in any articles.