ABOUT US
​marineland right whale project

We are a non-profit organization comprised of dedicated volunteers and scientists committed to the stewardship and protection of the North Atlantic Right Whale. Our focus is on the northeast coast of Florida, where mothers give birth and nurture their young calves from December through March.

We partner with the Blue World Research Institute (BWRI).
​Julie Albert coordinates BWRI’s Right Whale Sighting Network and operates the whale sightings hotline.

Background

A remarkable event takes place in the coastal waters of northeastern Florida. Each year from December through March, right whales migrate to this area to give birth and nurse their calves in warm, protected waters, before returning north to feeding grounds off New England and Canada. In northeast Florida, right whales often come in close to shore, sometimes within a quarter mile of the beach. Mothers can be seen with calves, and juvenile whales may be seen traveling or playing. It is in these waters that a volunteer-based citizen network is growing and contributing to science, conservation, and stewardship of the species and its habitat. The Marineland Right Whale Project works along the coastline from Ponte Vedra Beach to Ponce Inlet, a distance of about 70 nautical miles. The project began in 2001 and now includes more than 250 volunteers.

HOW IT BEGAN

Scientists, conservationists, and resource managers are faced with a difficult task. Each year from December through March, a relatively small number of whales, generally fewer than 100, are found in a large area (400 nautical miles of coastline from North Carolina to Florida). Near-daily aerial surveys take place in some areas, while in other areas, aerial surveys are few and coverage is poor. The Project helps to extend the reach of aerial surveys by increasing the number of eyes on the water over a greater area. 

Marineland Right Whale Project, Photo Credit: Ralph Bundy, NMFS Permit # 26562
​02/04/2020 - Halo (Catalog #3546) & calf

OUR PROGRAM GOALS

dedicated teams

Teams of volunteers form the backbone of the Project. Our survey area consists of 70-nautical miles of coastline partitioned into 7 sectors, each with four to six lookout points. Each morning, mobile teams, consisting of two or more people, meet at 08:00 and travel by car to each point.  They visit each site within their sector twice, and survey for 20 minutes at each stop. Teams are equipped with binoculars, clipboards, and data sheets. In addition, four private communities have similarly organized teams, who survey from shorefront units or community dune walkovers.

collaboration

A successful project requires many partners. The Project routinely collaborates with other scientists, managers, agencies, and institutions involved with right whale protection in this area. This includes organizations within Florida (Blue World Research Institute, FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FL Department of Environmental Protection, Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve) and federal agencies (Army Corps of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service, Navy, Coast Guard).

RESPONSE teams

When a sighting is reported, the Project deploys a response team with experienced individuals, cameras, and GPS units. Photo-documentation and data on movements and behavior are recorded. Teams track the whales from shore for as long as possible, sometimes for the entire day.​ All verified sightings are reported to Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and thereby to the Early Warning System.

opportunistic sightings

Before and during the season, phone cards with right whale sighting information are widely distributed to residents, visitors, and workers who spend time at the beach. A wide variety of people are educated about the program, encouraged to be on the lookout, and advised to phone the hotline (888-979-4253) if they sight a whale.​

drone surveillANCE

When weather permits, a research drone will be deployed to take photographs and videos of Right Whales. This allows us to identify individuals and monitor their health and behavior. This data is crucial for conservation efforts. (Please note, it is ILLEGAL to fly a drone within 500 yards of a Right Whale without a scientific research permit from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service.)

data processing,
analysis, ​synthesis,
​and presentation

Project researchers archive, sort, select, and submit photos to the New England Aquarium for individual right whale identification. Data are likewise quality controlled and processed. Presentations and publications are prepared. Every hour in the field requires several hours of follow-up.​

educational outreach

Public education is achieved through presentations, events, and media interviews. Volunteers also engage with the public while surveying for whales, sharing brochures and cards with the hotline number
​(888-979-4253).​

right whale hotline

A central toll-free call-in phone hotline is maintained by Blue World Research Institute (a collaborator). Citizens call in sightings and BWRI staff follow-up to gather specific information. They notify Project response teams when the sighting is in the Project's area. ​

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Government and scientists alone cannot provide the resources or information required. A large, effective, and complementary effort is being provided by volunteer citizen scientists.

• Homegrown and grassroots projects are more creative, more likely to take hold, and more likely to produce results than externally directed government initiatives.

• Better information leads to better decisions.

• The birth of new calves is a remarkable event that takes place in coastal waters of the southeast US. This program aims to ensure that calving will continue for future generations.