information from The Whale Trail

Join us for this rare Seattle appearance by renowned whale researcher Bruce Mate. Bruce will demonstrate how his teams use satellite-monitored radio tags to identify critical habitats and migration routes of endangered whales to protect them. His talk will focus on western and ENP gray whales, right whales, and contemporary issues for blue whales during the last few years of warm water as examples.

Bruce Mate is the Director and Endowed Chair of the Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University, and founder of Oregon's Whale Watching Spoken Here program.

Bruce's talk is hosted by The Whale Trail, and co-sponsored by Seal Sitters and the American Cetacean Society, Puget Sound Chapter. Celebrate Earth Day by learning about whales!

"How We Save Whales from Space"
Presentation by Bruce Mate
When: Thursday April 21, 7 PM - 8:30
--Doors open 6:15
Where: Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Ave SW, Seattle WA
Cost: $10, $5 Kids under 12
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.com
Photo and event poster attached.
Gray whale photo credit: Craig Hayslip, Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute.

About the Speaker

Bruce Mate is a leader in the development of satellite-monitored radio telemetry for marine mammals. Using this technique, he has tagged and tracked manatees, pilot whales, bottlenose dolphins, white-sided dolphins, gray whales, right whales, bowhead whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, fin whales and blue whales. This work has led to the discovery of previously unknown migration routes and seasonal distributions (wintering and summering areas), as well as descriptions of diving behavior to better understand feeding effort.

His research primarily focuses on endangered whale species whose distributions, movements, and critical habitats (for feeding, breeding, and migration) are unknown for much of the year. Decision makers use this valuable information to manage human activities that may jeopardize the recovery of endangered whale populations, such as moving shipping lanes for North Atlantic right whales.

In 2010 and 2011, Bruce Mate’s team used satellite telemetry to track three critically endangered western gray whales from their feeding grounds in Russia to join the eastern Pacific gray whale migration to Baja California. The findings shed new light on the interactions of these populations, and have profound implications for their long-term management and conservation.

About The Whale Trail

The Whale Trail (www.thewhaletrail.org) is a series of sites along the west coast where the public can view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment. Our overarching goal is to conserve, protect and recover the southern resident orcas - J, K and L pods.

From 16 inaugural sites in Washington state, there are now more than 60, from California to British Columbia. Through our sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 30 million people each year.

The Whale Trail is led by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Seattle Aquarium, the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, and the Whale Museum. We're working with planning teams in BC led by the BC Cetacean Sighting Network, and in Oregon led by the Oregon Marine Reserves Partnership. Donna Sandstrom is the Founder and Executive Director. The Whale Trail is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, registered in Washington State. Join us!