Updating condition assessments for vulnerable killer whales

Since the turn of the year, SR³’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban have had several encounters with endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs), most recently in April. Using their remotely controlled octocopter drone, they have been able to collect aerial images of all members (n=25) of J pod, including the new calf J59, and 23/33 members of L pod. These aerial images are currently being measured to provide quantitative data on their body condition during winter and spring, allowing the team to monitor changes across seasons and years. These data will be provided to state and federal managers in both the US and Canada to help inform adaptive conservation measures, which could include seasonal changes in vessel regulations if whales are found to be in vulnerable condition. 

Holly and John will spend the next two weeks off the Kenai Fjords in Alaska, joining Dan Olsen from the North Gulf Oceanic Society for a second year of aerial photogrammetry research on fish-eating Alaska Resident killer whales (ARKWs). The team will collect aerial images of ARKWs to estimate the size and body condition of this abundant and increasing population as a comparison to the small and declining population of SRKWs.  

Aerial image of the J16 matriline in January 2022 (left) and J37 and her new calf J59 in April 2022 (right). Newborn calves are approximately 1/3 of the length of their mother at birth. These images were collected using a remotely controlled octocopter drone that was flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS Research Permit # 22306.

SR3’s RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE PLIGHT OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES

We don’t just study whales off our Pacific coast. SR3’s collaborative research is also helping to understand the challenges critically endangered North Atlantic right whales (NARWs) are facing. Using measurements of aerial photographs of NARWs in Cape Cod Bay, collected over two decades from airplanes and drones, our new publication has demonstrated that larger females have more calves. This is a problem because we have also found that NARWs are growing to smaller adult body lengths in recent years. This new paper, published today in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series, is the result of collaborative research between SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach, Dr. John Durban and colleagues from NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center, New England Aquarium and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. NARWs currently number less than 400 individuals, and declines in both abundance and body size have been linked to impacts from vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing gear, as well as changes in both the abundance and availability of their copepod prey. The new results show that reproductive females with larger body size had shorter inter-birth intervals, produced more calves per potential reproductive year and produced more calves over longer reproductive life spans. This provides evidence that recent trends in declining body size are likely contributing to the observed low birth rates over the past decade, which is a cause for concern for this critically endangered population. Conservation management aimed at reducing these human impacts are imperative for the recovery of this population.     

 An adult North Atlantic right whale mother that brought her young calf from the calving grounds off the coast of Florida and Georgia to coastal waters of Cape Cod Bay in April 2016. Image taken with a drone at non-invasive altitude of at least 130ft above the whales, under NMFS research permit # 17355. Photo by John Durban and Holly Fearnbach, SR3.

2022 Condition Assessment of “Sounders” gray whales

SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban have restarted monitoring the body condition of the “Sounders” gray whales that have once again returned for their annual migration stopover in Puget Sound to forage on ghost shrimp. As in previous years, the team is using a remotely controlled research drone to non-invasively collect high resolution overhead images that will be analyzed to measure changes in individual condition over the spring stopover and across years. This project is a collaboration with colleagues from Cascadia Research Collective (CRC), enabling us to link our aerial images and measurements to known individuals with long sighting histories (some over 30 years!) from CRC’s photo-identification studies. So far in 2022, the team has conducted two surveys, collected aerial images of seven individuals, six of which were also measured in both 2020 and 2021. In previous years, most individuals improved in condition prior to resuming their northbound migration to Arctic feeding grounds and hopefully we will document a similar trend this year. This project will continue into early summer, providing important information on the body condition and health of gray whales during the ongoing  Unusual Mortality Event.

Aerial images of a “Sounder” gray whale (CRC-723, “Lucyfer”) taken in March 2020, February 2021 and then again in March 2022. Images were collected non-invasively using a remotely-controlled drone flown at >150ft over the whales under NMFS research permit 22306. Photo by Holly Fearnbach and John Durban.

Continued lost pregnancies for the Southern Resident killer whales

In September 2021, we used high-resolution aerial images from non-invasive research drones to document three pregnant whales in J-pod, part of the endangered population of Southern Resident killer whales. These whales clearly displayed the anomalous body shape which results from pregnancy, notably increased width at mid-body as viewed from the air (see left photo). In response the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issued an emergency ruling to designate these as vulnerable whales, which prevented commercial whale watching boats from approaching within one-half nautical mile of these individuals or their groups, to protect the whales’ ability to successfully forage.

Over the past month, SR3’s research team of Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban have collected further drone images of J-pod. Unfortunately, these images have revealed that only one of the three whales (J37) is still pregnant, with J19 and J36 appearing to have decreased significantly in body width. Neither had new calves with them, so they have either lost their pregnancies or experienced neonatal death of a young calf that was not documented over the fall or winter months. We hope J37 continues to support a successful pregnancy: if so, a calving rate of 1/3 of the documented pregnancies will, unfortunately, be consistent with the high rate of reproductive loss that has been documented in recent years by our drone studies and by hormone research conducted by the University of Washington. Unfortunately, reproductive loss has become normal for this population. With only 73 whales remaining, every calf matters.

J36 lost pregnancy: The picture panel above shows her shape change between September 2021,

when increased width at mid-body clearly indicates she was in the latter stages of pregnancy, and

late February 2022 when she was no longer wide in the body and was not accompanied by a calf.

Photos by SR3, collected under NMFS research permit 22306.

Rare winter data on the condition of L pod

This past weekend, SR³’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban had a rare winter encounter with L pod from the endangered Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) population. Using a remotely-controlled octocopter drone, they were able to collect aerial images of all the whales encountered (28 individuals), which will be measured to provide the first quantitative data on their body condition in January. In recent years, the SR³ team has been successful in measuring the condition of the more regular J pod whales in different months, but year-round data on the health of K and L pods is an important data gap that needs filling to support management efforts to maintain adequate salmon prey for the whole population throughout the year. 

Our data on SRKW body condition continues to be used to support adaptive conservation measures, which could include seasonal changes in vessel or fisheries regulations if whales are found to be in poor body condition. A detailed analysis of our images is underway, but unfortunately there were a number of L pod individuals that appeared leaner than when we last imaged them in the fall, continuing a declining trend in the body condition of L pod whales in recent years, which correlates with an increase in recent deaths. Our research team will continue to monitor the condition of these endangered whales throughout the year to provide state and federal managers with information on vulnerable whales to support enhanced conservation measures.

Aerial image of a group of L pod whales from the Southern Resident killer whale population. This group is being led by the population’s oldest member (L25, estimated to be over 90 years old), and also includes its youngest member (one year old, L125). This image was collected using a remotely controlled octocopter drone that was flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales in January 2022 under NMFS Research Permit # 22306.

Scapegoating Sea Lions

Seals and sea lions are an integral part of a healthy marine ecosystem. As several species were once hunted almost to extinction, they were protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the 1970’s. This act ended the bounty hunting that stemmed from the belief that seals and sea lions were the reason for declining fish populations. Despite the fact that seal and sea lion numbers decreased to a point where they almost ceased to exist, the fish populations did not return as expected. 

Even so, sadly this same misconception still exists today. While this belief is not new, habitat destruction, toxins, and overfishing have increased, causing even greater pressures on marine wildlife. These are the real culprits to our declining fish stocks and starving killer whales. 

Despite the increasing pressures on the marine environment, many seal and sea lion populations have managed to recover, and we should celebrate this conservation success story. They are an important source of prey for top predators, including transient killer whales. These marine mammal-eating whales are increasing their presence in the Salish Sea thanks to a plentiful food supply.

Now that seal and sea lion numbers have returned to healthy levels, many who experienced what it was like prior to their protection perceive a population explosion. In reality, studies from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife show that most populations have plateaued and remained relatively stable. 

The Marine Mammal Protection Act, a U.S. Federal law states that it is illegal to kill marine mammals with the exception of self defense. Yet sadly, every year SR³ and our stranding network partners respond to numerous gunshot cases that always begin in the fall as salmon fishing opens. The targets are healthy sea lions, and sometimes seals, shot simply because they are seen as competition for salmon. In the past two years over 15 cases have been confirmed gunshot and those are just the ones that have been examined. 

In reality, there are many more gunshot cases which go unreported, as well as others outside of our region which we are not able to reach in order to collect x-ray evidence for NOAA Law Enforcement.

While this may provide a temporary outlet of frustration for some people, it does not solve the problems that stem from habitat destruction, a toxic environment, and overfishing. In fact, it’s possible that by removing seals and sea lions, there could be a decline in salmon populations. Seals and sea lions eat over 60 species of fish, some of which feed on salmon. For example, in British Columbia, almost half of harbor seals’ diet is hake, a fish species that is a major predator for young salmon. Remove the harbor seals, and there could be more predation on salmon than the harbor seals would have otherwise caused.

Dr. Andrew Trites of the Marine Mammal Research Unit at University of British Columbia provides an important reminder of the many ways seals and sea lions benefit the marine environment here: (http://mmru.ubc.ca/wp-content/pdfs/Trites_1997.pdf). Not only may they actually help the salmon population, but they are also integral in nutrient recycling (yes, seal poop is a good thing, think of it as lunch for tiny ocean creatures), and they add to the diversity and resilience of the ecosystem.

Killing large numbers of top predators has been used as a management tactic in the past for marine and terrestrial species, always failing to produce the intended long-term results and often resulting in unexpected negative outcomes. 

The NOAA fisheries office in Alaska released a short video for fishermen, reminding them that shooting seals and sea lions is against the law:  https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/marine-mammal-protection/fishermen-do-not-shoot-seals-and-sea-lions

A large number of these shootings are happening in our own backyard as well, right in the Duwamish waterway. This is an active and heavily-used waterway within the Seattle City limits, making shooting a particularly dangerous act. While sea lions are wild animals, their easy going demeanor generally means that if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you, making it extremely unlikely anyone would need to shoot them in self defense. 

Necropsies (animal autopsies) have revealed that these animals often suffer from injuries such as shattered vertebrae, broken ribs, and internal organ damage before they die. These illegal, senseless, and inhumane shootings must stop. 

If you witness a marine mammal shooting or hear gunfire over the water, call 911. 

If you see an injured or dead marine mammal, please call the Stranding Network Hotline at 1-866-767-6114.

References:

[10] Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans. 2010.  “Population Assessment Pacific Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina richardsii).”  DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/011; Zier and Gayos, 2014. “Harbor seal species profile.” Encyclopedia of Puget Sound. SeaDoc Society/UC Davis’ Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center

[3] Bowen and Lidgard. 2012. “Marine mammal culling programs: Review of effects on predator and prey populations.” Mammal Review 43 (3), January 2012. Pp. 207-220; and Morissette L, Christensen V, Pauly D (2012) Marine Mammal Impacts in Exploited Ecosystems: Would Large Scale Culling Benefit Fisheries? PLoS ONE 7(9): e43966. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043966

[14] Shields MW et al. 2018. “Increased presence of mammal-eating killer whales in the Salish Sea with implications for predator-prey dynamics.” PeerJ6:e6062 http://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6062

Puget sound harbor seals leveling out based on 1999 survey: https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/po2013sehr-wain_508.pdf

Coastal harbor seals leveling out in 90s based on early 2000s surveys: https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/po2013sehr-owco_508.pdf

California sea lions leveling out in 2010s: https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/ca_sea_lion_final_2018_sar.pdf

ON THIN ICE: NEW PUBLICATIONS HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACT OF RAPID WARMING ON KILLER WHALE POPULATIONS IN ANTARCTICA

SR3 and colleagues have recently published two scientific papers highlighting the impact of rapid warming on killer whale populations in the Antarctic Peninsula. The first paper A decade of photo-identification reveals contrasting abundance and trends of Type B killer whales in the coastal waters of the Antarctic Peninsula was published in Marine Mammal Science and was led by SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach, collaborating with Dr. John Durban and Bob Pitman, both formerly with NOAA and now with Southall Environmental Associates (SEA) and Oregon State University, respectively. This study used photo-identification images to provide the first estimates of abundance for Type B1 and B2 killer whales in the Antarctic Peninsula and revealed contrasting abundance and trends for these two endemic ecotypes. Type B1 killer whales, an ecotype that notoriously washes their seal prey from ice floes, were found to have a smaller population size (~100 individuals) with abundance declining at a rate of ~ 5% per year. Such a decline could be due to reduced survival, but could also be a result of whales responding to ice loss in the study area and moving further south to find more abundant ice and seals. In contrast, Type B2 killer whales, an ecotype that feeds on penguins, occasionally seals and likely fish or squid, had a much larger and currently stable population size of ~ 740 individuals. This study, combined with results from the team’s previous study on Type A killer whales, shows that ecotypes that prefer open-water habitat (Types B2 and A) appear to be faring relatively well in the face of  recent rapid warming and subsequent ice loss, while the ice-obligate Type B1s appear to be impacted by the reduction in pack ice habitat for their seal prey. However, there was evidence of relatively low survival in Type B2 killer whales in recent years, which may be a sign that environmental change may be beginning to impact this most abundance ecotype also (see the second paper, below…).

The second manuscript Size and body condition of sympatric killer whale ecotypes around the Antarctic Peninsula was published in Marine Ecology Progress Series and was a collaborative effort led by Dr. John Durban (SEA) and SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach. This study used aerial images collected from a remotely operated drone to provide the first measurements of size and body condition for all three ecotypes (Type A, B1 and B2) of killer whales in the Antarctic Peninsula. Both Type A and B1 whales were larger than the diminutive Type B2s, with Type A having the longest males, averaging 7.8 meters (26 feet), and Type B1 having the longest females, averaging 6.9 meters (23 feet). Type B2 whales were over one meter (>3 feet) shorter on average and were significantly leaner in body condition, with several individuals measured to be in anomalously poor condition. This poor condition was coincident with the years of low survival reported in the first paper, and also occurred in recent years when low ice cover and warmer temperatures likely impacted the food chain that has been supporting this most abundant ecotype. The generally lean measurements for Type B2 killer whales may be predictive of future population declines. The relatively good body condition of Type B1 killer whales suggests that their decline in abundance may be primarily due to movement to find their seal prey in contracting pack-ice, rather than increased mortalities as a result of nutritional stress, which will be further tested as we continue our long-term research in Antarctica. 

Results from these studies have been provided to decision-makers at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the multilateral body charged with conservation of the Southern Ocean. Data collection and analysis for these studies was primarily supported by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund and Pew Charitable Trusts. Most of the photo-identification images and all drone measurements were collected while the authors were hosted onboard Lindblad Expedition’s ship M/V National Geographic Explorer.

Photograph: Aerial photograph of a group of Type B2 killer whales in the coastal waters of the Antarctic Peninsula; note young calves swimming below their mothers. This image was collected non-invasively from >30m (100ft) above the whales using remotely-controlled hexacopter drone. Research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 19091 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029. 

Wavemaker Spotlight: Denis Tuzinovic

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denis Tuzinovic, who is part of our Wavemakers monthly giving group as well as a dedicated volunteer!

We recently had the chance to ask Denis about his passion for marine life, and why he was motivated to get so involved with SR³:

1. What initially inspired you to support SR³?  When I moved to Seattle, I always assumed that there would be a designated hospital for injured marine animals. Learning more about our area, I found out that this was not the case. Following SR³’s work not only opened my eyes to issues that marine wildlife face, but it also helped educate me on what I could do to help in my everyday life. 

2. What’s your favorite part of supporting SR³ every month as a Wavemaker?  As a volunteer, I have seen firsthand how much effort goes into operating the hospital. Knowing that my gifts are helping benefit all of this work to give injured marine animals another chance is incredibly inspiring to me.

3. What do you wish other people knew about protecting marine wildlife?
   Keep your distance! Sometimes we tend to forget this when we see marine wildlife, and the end result is unnecessary harm to an animal. You can still appreciate wildlife from a distance.

4. Why should others consider supporting marine wildlife rescue and research?
   There is so much impacting our oceans and the Salish Sea today that, without research and rescue, we wouldn’t know the effects on our marine life. We are fortunate to have a designated marine animal hospital in our state that can treat those injured and release them back to the wild. 

   Without public support, we also wouldn’t have a lot of important information available to us. For example, SR³ is using photogrammetry studies to assess the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) population. This gives us insight into the health of the SRKW population and identifies pregnant whales who need extra protection, which is super important since the population is not doing so well.

5. What’s your favorite marine animal species in the Salish Sea?
   Killer Whales! I have been fortunate enough to see the J-Pod from land at Lime Kiln Point. I have had a fascination with killer whales ever since I was a kid and seeing them in person was magical! 

From enchanting killer whales to darling seal pups, all of these marine animals are depending on us for a second chance. And it’s easier than you might think to join Denis in helping save lives every month!

Thank you to all of our Wavemakers out there whose steady waves of support are rescuing and protecting marine animals all year long!

SR3’s Southern Resident killer whale research is supporting adaptive conservation measures

SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban from Southall Environmental Associates (SEA) have had a busy start to their annual September monitoring of the health of endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs). Assisted ably in the field by Jessica Farrer and Dylan Jones, the team has already been able to use their custom octocopter research drone to non-invasively collect aerial images of all SRKWs that have been sighted around the San Juan Islands this month (63/74 individuals in the population). These images are being measured in photogrammetry analyses to add to the 13-year time series of size and body condition for each individual whale. 

These quantitative health metrics are actively being used to support adaptive conservation measures to aid in the recovery of the population. A recent publication coauthored by Holly and John highlighted the links between our body condition measurements of SRKWs, the abundance of their Chinook salmon prey, and the subsequent mortality risk to the whales. Notably, individuals measured to be in poor body condition having an elevated risk of mortality, showing that our identification of condition can serve as an early warning system to facilitate enhanced conservation measures. In response to photogrammetry measurements conducted by the SR3 team in near real-time this month, Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has recently adopted two emergency rules. In early September we identified that a calf in J pod, J56, had declined into poor condition, and as a result WDFW designated this whale as vulnerable and ruled to prevent commercial whale watching from approaching within one-half nautical mile of J56 or her group, to protect her ability to successfully forage. Then last week we identified three females in J pod (J36, J37, J19) that we measured to have width profiles indicative of late-stage pregnancy. WDFW also designated these whales as vulnerable  and adopted similar approach restrictions to help ensure that these females are able to meet their elevated nutritional needs and to give them best chance of birthing success and survival. 

We will continue monitoring the growth and body condition of SRKWs during this core month of September research, and opportunistically throughout the year, to continue to provide these important health data and support adaptive conservation management.

Aerial images documenting the shape change during pregnancy of an adult female Southern Resident killer whale (J36), collected during non-invasive health research. These images were collected using a remotely-piloted octocopter drone that was flown >100ft above the whale in September 2020 under NMFS Research Permit #19091 and September 2021 under NMFS Permit # 22306.

NEW PUBLICATION LINKS BODY CONDITION TO PREY AVAILABILITY AND SURVIVAL FOR ENDANGERED SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

NEW PUBLICATION LINKS BODY CONDITION TO PREY AVAILABILITY AND SURVIVAL FOR ENDANGERED SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

A research paper titled “Survival of the Fattest: Linking body condition to prey availability and survivorship of killer whales” was recently published in Ecosphere, a journal of the Ecological Society of America (https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3660). This collaborative paper used drone-derived photogrammetry data collected by SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach, SEA’s Dr. John Durban and colleagues since 2008 in an analysis led by Dr. Josh Stewart from NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center. The paper evaluated the link between our non-invasive measurements of body condition and the subsequent mortality probability for Southern Residents, specifically revealing that whales in poor condition had a 2-3 times higher chance of dying than whales in more robust condition. This demonstrates huge potential for using our body condition metrics as early warning indicators of individual and population health, providing managers with options for implementing enhanced recovery strategies to hopefully prevent deaths rather than making decisions in response to them. This is very important for helping to conserve and recover this small and endangered population.

We were also able to link changes in body condition to the abundance of specific salmon stocks. Notably, there was a significant correlation between the condition of J pod whales in September and the abundance of Chinook salmon returning to the Fraser River in the preceding summer months, whereas L pod body condition correlated with the abundance of Chinook returning to Puget Sound. K pod whales changed little in body condition during the study and did not correlate with salmon abundance from any specific area or tributary, likely indicating that K pod rely on a variety of salmon stocks for their summer diet. These new data help to identify priority salmon populations that are important for Southern Resident condition and population health, and help further focus recovery actions. Identifying specific salmon stocks that are important for Southern Residents has been challenging in the past, but our results show the utility of using our high-resolution body condition data to identify important prey populations. SR3 and colleagues are now extending our photogrammetry monitoring to detect changes in whale in body condition and identity salmon populations that are important to the Southern Residents throughout the year.

Aerial image of J41, an adult female Southern Resident killer whale, successfully foraging alongside her juvenile offspring J51. Image collected by Holly Fearnbach and John Durban, from SR3 and NOAA, respectively, using an unmanned octocopter that was flown >100ft above the whales under NMFS permit #19091.