2024-2025 Large Whale Season Summary
March 24, 2025
We have two separate efforts focusing on cetaceans off the coast of Virginia. The first is our Offshore (Outer Continental Shelf) Cetacean Study, which focuses primarily on deep diving odontocetes like sperm whales. The second effort is our Nearshore and Mid-Shelf Baleen Whale Monitoring Project.
Right whale calf sighted off Virginia!
December 20, 2024
On December 18, 2024, during a survey off Virginia Beach, researchers from HDR Inc. and NAVFAC LANT observed North Atlantic right whale #4540 with her first known calf. This sighting is notable as it's the earliest recorded instance of a newborn right whale calf in Virginia waters, suggesting a possible shift in calving locations northward from the typical areas off Florida and Georgia.
Whales of Summer
June 10, 2024
In the mid-Atlantic, baleen whale sightings typically occur during the colder months, with peak activity in December and January. Sightings of humpback and right whales usually decrease by late March through April. While occasional baleen whale sightings, particularly of fin whales, happen during warmer months, large groups are uncommon as summer approaches. Pelagic surveys during this time often focus on odontocetes like sperm whales and beaked whales.
New Right Whale Calf Seen Off Virginia!
June 3, 2024
On Saturday 01 June 2024 during one of our offshore surveys 60 miles southeast of Virginia Beach, we encountered North Atlantic right whale Pico (Catalog #3270) and her calf!
Large Whale Action in the Mid-Atlantic
January 30, 2024
After a relatively slow start to the 2023-2024 large whale season, things are picking up here in the Mid-Atlantic. Last week was the busiest we’ve had so far this season for several of our projects as well as adjacent colleagues.
It’s Whale Season in the Mid-Atlantic!
November 20, 2023
Baleen whale season has started in the mid-Atlantic and we have several projects in the region studying their occurrence and behavior.
Coming full circle – right whale mom returns with calf
March 15, 2023
Previously CATS tagged Right whale "Smoke" is sighted again in VA with a calf.
Right Whale Party in the Mid-Atlantic
February 4, 2023
A Surface Active Group of North Atlantic right whales off the coast of Virginia.
An Urban Whale
February 3, 2023
A juvenile North Atlantic right whale finds itself in a busy area.
Right whales are on the move!
November 23, 2022
Two female right whales were sighted off Virginia during their southbound migration.
NARW tagged off VA Beach!
March 2, 2022
A yearling right whale was tagged off Virginia.
Tracking an endangered North Atlantic right whale
March 15, 2021
A yearling right whale was tagged off the coast of VA and tracked for 12 days.
Fantastic video of an encounter with North Atlantic right whales off the coast of Virginia Beach
January 27, 2021
Footage of three right whales off Virginia.
New acoustic monitoring buoy helps researchers study and protect North Atlantic Right Whales
January 19, 2021
A new buoy to listen for protected whales.
Blue whales and sei whales and right whales - OH MY!!!
April 18, 2018
A spring aggregation of endangered whales offshore.
Tagging North Atlantic Right Whales
May 9, 2016
Southeast US tagging project has successful season.
North Atlantic Right Whale Disentanglement
March 3, 2014
Our team provided assistance to a disentanglement effort.
Passive acoustic monitoring for right whales off Cape Hatteras
October 21, 2013
MARUs off NC
Current
Passive Acoustic Monitoring for Mid-Atlantic Baleen Whales
Project Objectives
Monitor large whale occurrence in the Mid-Atlantic
Complete
Assessment of Marine Mammal Vocal Response to Sonar
Project Objectives
Develop analytic methods to evaluate the vocal response of odontocetes and mysticetes to sonar from navy training activities
Complete
Passive Acoustic Monitoring for North Atlantic Right Whales off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Project Objectives
Investigate the timing of right whale migration through the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as the relative distance from shore and acoustic behavior of migrating whales
Complete
North Atlantic Right Whale Monitoring in the Southeast Calving Area
Project Objectives
Assess behavior of right whales in coastal waters of the Southeast calving grounds, including rates of travel of individuals, dive behavior, and rates of sound production
Complete
Autonomous Real-Time Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Baleen Whales for Mitigating Interactions with Naval Activities
Project Objectives
Demonstrate near real-time passive acoustic detection and classification hardware/software systems
Current
North Atlantic Right Whale Monitoring, Conservation, and Protection
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, habitat use, and behavior of North Atlantic right whales in the mid-Atlantic region
Current
Mid-Atlantic Nearshore & Mid-shelf Baleen Whale Monitoring
Project Objectives
Assess occurrence, habitat use, and baseline behavior of baleen whales in the mid-Atlantic regionNo related documents to display
