Hundreds of Humpback Whales off San Francisco area

[Bob]

3, 295 square miles of a marine sanctuary.

The Greater Farallones is a complex region with high biological diversity; nationally significant wildlife breeding and foraging areas; significant commercial and recreational fishing; estuarine habitats; numerous federally, state and locally protected marine and estuarine waters; watershed influences and impacts from eight million San Francisco Bay Area residents.

Conservation Science will help solve specific management problems, enhance ecosystem protection efforts, and assist in the interpretation of the ecosystem for the general public.

The Conservation Science program will ensure that science activities address management issues and are effectively integrated into the education and ecosystem protection programs of the sanctuary and those of other resource trustee agencies.

Implementing an effective conservation science program is a primary management goal of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS).

Characterization, monitoring, and research assist protection of sanctuary natural resources by promoting understanding of ecosystem structure and function, detecting environmental problems, tracking health and trends of the various habitats and resources in the sanctuary, and contributing to solutions to management issues throughout the GFNMS.

The deeper sea area off the Farallon islands themselves is the focus - in this fly by video one can take a look what it is like:

http://farallones.noaa.gov/science/media/flythru.mp4

[Akasha]

Posted by Bob (here)
.....

Sea Shepherd - http://www.seashepherd.org/lightbox_...back_whale.php has a background page on the Humpback whale - a few excerpts:

Habitat

The habitat of humpback whales consists of polar to tropical waters, including the waters of the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, as well as the waters surrounding Antarctica and the Bering Strait. During migration, they are found in coastal and deep oceanic waters. Generally, they do not come into coastal waters until they reach the latitudes of Long Island, New York, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Humpbacks are divided into several populations. These are for the most part isolated, but with a little interchange in some cases. There are two stocks in the North Atlantic Ocean and two in the North Pacific. There are also seven isolated stocks in the southern hemisphere.

Migration

Found in all of the world's oceans, most populations of humpback whales follow a regular migration route, summering in temperate and polar waters for feeding, and wintering in tropical waters for mating and calving. In the Arabian Sea, a year-round non-migratory population of humpbacks appears not to follow this general rule. Humpbacks migrate at 3-9 mph (4.8-14 kph). They have incredible powers of endurance, traveling over 3,100 miles (5000 km) during each seasonal migration with almost no rest along the way. During migrations, they cover over 1,000 miles per month.


Population Numbers/status

Because their feeding, mating, and calving grounds are close to shore and because they are slow swimmers, the humpback whales were an easy target for early whalers. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) gave them worldwide protection status in 1966, but there were large illegal kills by the Soviets until the 1970's. It is believed they number about 30,000-40,000 at present, or about 30-35% of the original population.

However, briefly back to Japan - they are whale killers. Not by the "radioactive waters", but by a whaling fleet which has been saying it is their "right" to kill whales, for "research purposes" (a pretense to escape an international ban on whaling). Sea Shepherd has an extensive set of documentations and campaign on their efforts to block and interfere with Japan's whaling efforts (and others).

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) ruled Friday that Japan has not provided sufficient scientific data to support its ridiculous claim that the killing of whales in the Southern Ocean is legitimate scientific research.

They have asked Japan for further data to justify their request for IWC permission to kill whales under the pretense of scientific whaling.

Last year the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that there was no scientific justification for Japanese so-called “research” whaling.

Last year the International Whaling Commission followed up on this ruling and said no to Japan’s pretense to kill whales. No whales were killed by Japan in the Southern Ocean for the 2014-2015 season, the first time zero whales were slain in Antarctic waters since 1945.

Will Japan now spit in the face of international law and public opinion? Will they attempt to send their highly subsidized whaling fleet south again in December to target 333 Minke whales in the internationally established Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary? Will they do so in violation of the international moratorium on commercial whaling? Will they continue to be in contempt of the Australian Federal Court?

Japan’s previous whaling program (known as “JARPA II”) violated international law. JARPA II authorized the killing of as many as 935 minke whales, 50 endangered fin whales, and 50 humpback whales every year in the Southern Ocean. Between 2005 and 2014, Japan killed about 3,600 minke whales and 18 fin whales under JARPA II.

Whaling or the killing of dolphins and whales for "research or food or industrial products" is stupid. Society doesn't need whale oil, nor trophies of these creatures.

A haaa! I just posted on Sea Shepherd a few days ago in the vegan thread (click to go to post). Check it out. There are a couple of top documentaries on the organisation and its founder, Paul Watson, there.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=HYHfJks15jY

No doubt, he'll already have put in for first dibs once Kirk and co' are done with it.

[Akasha]

Posted by betoobig (here)
They must be all there toghether for some pourpous, not just feeding.
I send love to them right now.
Thanks Bob.
Love Juan

Don't you mean porpoise?

[Bob]

To hunt a species to extinction is not logical...

Nobody's perfect..

Seriously though.. to hunt a species to extinction is not acceptable..

---levity..

see here..

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=iZhuErqAf8A

it is OK to focus on the JOY that the whales bring..

[Ted]

Humpback whales come to San Francisco... There's a tasteless joke in there somewhere...

[jake gittes]

Posted by Chrysalis (here)
This has been reported by our local television news here in the SF Bay Area. It is cause for concern, largely because the whales are most likely coming into the bay seeking food. That would indicate a decline and/or contamination of the natural food sources for whales in the Pacific Ocean.

While an interesting thing to see these majestic creatures up close, I also see it as a red flag that there are some serious environmental issues affecting Earth and all of her inhabitants. Fukushima comes to mind, as well as geoengineering.

We as a species need to check ourselves when it comes to our role as caretakers of this fine and beautiful planet that we call home. Unfortunately, I suspect that those who are the major players are void of empathy, and focused only upon their greed-driven agenda.

Let us all keep the light of love alive and burning...

Peace,
Chrys

I was wondering if that was the cause, Chrysalis. Sad if true, and would not be surprising with all the filth that's been pumped into the oceans - much we don't even know about.

[Bob]

Why the derailing? The humpbacks are QUITE happy to be having good food in the Farallons.. Something about attacking that which is Joy?

[Cidersomerset]

Hi all there is a thread on Fukushima , which is very important
and the contamination of sea life and health to humans is very
important.

This thread is dedicated to the beauty and serenity of these
majestic beings and I know you mean well , but it would be
nice to get back in the spirit of the original post...


Re: Japan nuclear agency upgrades Fukushima alert level

https://projectavalon.net/forum4/show...t-level/page26

========================================

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=xo2bVbDtiX8

[Bob]

Just a simple message - - Find the joy, nothing much more complicated than that..

[Chrysalis]

It is out of concern that I posted on this subject. I am by no means an expert on aquatic life, but the whales are coming into the Bay for some reason. We have had the occasional stray, "Humphrey" who came into the bay in the late 90's.

There is no question that Earth changes are happening, whether one subscribes to Mother Nature taking her course, or Mankind being a negligent, perhaps even an engaged part of what we see and experience and breathe every day. Just watching and hoping for the best...for all of us.

Peace,
Chrys

[Cidersomerset]

Striking all-white humpback whale spotted off Australia's coast

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=8PnSQiMTo4I

Published on 19 Jun 2014


On Tuesday, a rare white albino whale was witnessed off the coast of Australia. His
name is 'Migaloo' and he was spotted along the Green Cape in New South Wales
during part of his annual migration.

"The albino humpback called Migaloo has been sighted off Sydney." [Via Seven Network]

On Tuesday, a rare white albino whale was witnessed off the coast of Australia. He
was spotted along the Green Cape in New South Wales during part of his annual
migration. The past few years have been good ones for observers, as this makes it
the third consecutive year he's been seen. Those who are lucky enough to witness
him get the sight of a lifetime. The stark white humpback is absolutely stunning.
The founder of the White Whale Research Centre, Oskar Peterson describes him as
a glowing presence underneath the water.

Anticipating viewers in Australia have a two week window to catch a glimpse of him
from the last week of June to the first week of July. 'Migaloo' was first noticed in
1991 and since then his movements have been tracked. It was previously
thought ' Migaloo' was the only albino humpback in existence, but in 2011, another
one nicknamed 'Migaloo Junior' was spotted.

Peterson remarked "We have photos of a junior Migaloo from a few years ago, but
we haven't seen him since so we don't know if he survived the South Ocean. But
there is a 100% white whale we've seen photographic proof of in Norway, so
Migaloo isn't quite as unique as we once thought."

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Keeping with the Star Trek , whale connection..........



Picard's White Whale

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=oeGMHbK4NlA

=========================================================

Later Patrick Stewart played Capt Ahab, though Moby Dick was a sperm whale not
a humpback .........Moby had his revenge in this classic.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=xdvhw5XcQqg

Uploaded on 10 Jul 2011


The ambition ; it's essence is a bad feature,looks like secret of success in short term,but in
fact the cause of destruction and disaster.Transmitted such as diseases, those with ambition
,Captain Ahab's ambition to spread Ismahel and all the team,ultimately, no one earns.
spanish Subtitle:music is unique and has been assembled by me Moby Dick Herman Melville
whale Captain Ahab Ishmael CBC Television Moby Dick Patrick Stewart 1998

[Desire]

Posted by Ted (here)
They're here waiting for Captain Kirk to come back and save the world

Not funny Ted

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Posted by Ted (here)
Humpback whales come to San Francisco... There's a tasteless joke in there somewhere...

Not Funny Ted

[Ted]

Posted by Desire (here)

Posted by Ted (here)
They're here waiting for Captain Kirk to come back and save the world

Not funny Ted

¤=[Post Update]=¤

Posted by Ted (here)
Humpback whales come to San Francisco... There's a tasteless joke in there somewhere...

Not Funny Ted

I apologize if I offended you Desire. I forget sometimes that other people take this world seriously.

[Ted]

Posted by Desire (here)

Not funny Ted

I suppose you don't like whale riding either?

[Desire]

Posted by Ted (here)

Posted by Desire (here)

Not funny Ted

I suppose you don't like whale riding either?

OK Ted Thanks for the apology, and maybe I would like whale riding only if the whale thought it was a good idea!

[Bob]

Ted - please stop trying to derail this thread. Your comments are not healthy nor appreciated.

[Bob]

in 2005 a humback whale was rescued in the Farallones tangled up in "fishing gear".

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/articl...ck-2557146.php

Although the sanctuary exists in the Farallones, it is still not safe for migrant whales and dolphin.

2005 - Sunday's daring rescue was the first successful attempt on the West Coast to free an entangled humpback, said Shelbi Stoudt, stranding manager for the Marine Mammal Center in Marin County.

The 45- to 50-foot female humpback, estimated to weigh 50 tons, was on the humpbacks' usual migratory route between the Northern California coast and Baja California when it became entangled in the nylon ropes that link crab pots.

It was spotted by a crab fisherman at 8:30 a.m. Sunday in the open water east of the Farallones, about 18 miles off the coast of San Francisco.

[Desire]

Bob
Many of us appreciate the effort you put into this post.Keep it up.

Those that want to joke, start a jokster sight and go at it.But not about whales please.

[Bob]

Baja Mexico - grays blues humpbacks

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=_gmNBQ8WawM

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=u5W0NeFqPHg

While I was in awe of the trust in these whales to approach people and boats (less than 100 years ago people were in the lagoons killing them) and amazed to be so close that we could see the hair on the rostrum (head region)...

https://www.oceanicsociety.org/blog/...as-gray-whales