Marine Life & Conservation
Northern Vancouver Island whales seen swallowing ‘bait balls’ made by birds
A population of humpback whales off northern Vancouver Island is taking advantage of diving seabirds to exploit herring stocks, new research shows.
Christie McMillan, a fisheries science master’s student at Simon Fraser University, says that seabirds such as rhinoceros auklets and common murres dive into the ocean and swim beneath the herring so the prey forms tight schools known as “bait balls”.
“It’s a response of all herring,” she said in an interview at a weekend marine mammal symposium at the University of B.C. “When they’re startled, their response is to group up tight. It’s instinctual: ‘There’s a predator, get close to my neighbour, and hopefully he gets eaten instead of me.’”
The strategy works better on a one-kilogram bird than a 25-tonne whale.
“A bird eats one herring at a time, but whales just gobble them all,” said McMillan, who is also president of the Marine Education and Research Society.
Humpbacks in Queen Charlotte Strait have learned to let the seabirds do the initial work before lunging in and swallowing the bait balls, with individual whales consuming hundreds of kilograms per day. Gulls also benefit as the bait ball rises to the surface.
McMillan said she observed the practice during two years of field research.
“I’d look at a school of herring in the distance and think,’ OK, I’ll go sample that,’ and often the humpback would beat me to it. They’d go over and engulf it. They seem to be really benefiting from the birds in that area.”
McMillan estimates up to two dozen humpbacks a day use Queen Charlotte Strait from August to November. During that time, juvenile herring represent about 84 per cent of the annual nutritional requirements of an adult male humpback and 65 per cent of a pregnant female.
“It’s pretty important they meet their energy requirements because it will lead to successful reproduction,” she noted.
The findings may have management implications for humpbacks, which are officially listed as threatened by the Canadian government, although it’s unclear whether these particular whales have alternative prey sources in the area if herring numbers decline.
McMillan said more than 2,000 humpback whales are thought to feed in the rich waters of B.C. before winter migrations to Hawaii or Mexico, where they give birth.
The next step in the research is to compare the feeding habits of this population of humpbacks with other humpbacks on the B.C. coast to determine whether they, too, specialize on herring or other species.
Source: www.timescolonist.com
Marine Life & Conservation
Double Bubble for Basking Sharks
The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!
Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants
The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.
The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.
Campaign Aims
- Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
- Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
- Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
- Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!
Donate, and double your impact. Click Here
Marine Life & Conservation
Leading UK-based shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, is delighted to announce tour operator Diverse Travel as a Corporate Patron
Corporate Patrons provide a valuable boost to the work of The Shark Trust. The Trust team works globally to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, engaging with a global network of scientists, policymakers, conservation professionals, businesses and supporters to further shark conservation.
Specialist tour operator Diverse Travel has operated since 2014 and is committed to offering its guests high quality, sustainable scuba diving holidays worldwide. Working together with the Shark Trust will enable both organisations to widen engagement and encourage divers and snorkellers to actively get involved in shark conservation.
“Sharks are truly at the heart of every diver and at Diverse Travel, we absolutely share that passion. There is nothing like seeing a shark in the wild – it’s a moment that stays with you forever!” says Holly Bredin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Diverse Travel.
“We’re delighted to celebrate our 10th year of business by becoming a Corporate Patron of the Shark Trust. This is an exciting partnership for Diverse and our guests. We will be donating on behalf of every person who books a holiday with us to contribute towards their vital shark conservation initiatives around the world. We will also be working together with the Trust to inspire divers, snorkellers and other travellers to take an active role – at home and abroad – in citizen science projects and other activities.”
Paul Cox, CEO of The Shark Trust, said:
“It’s an exciting partnership and we’re thrilled to be working with Diverse Travel to enable more divers and travellers to get involved with sharks and shark conservation. Sharks face considerable conservation challenges but, through collaboration and collective action, we can secure a brighter future for sharks and their ocean home. This new partnership takes us one more valuable step towards that goal.”
For more information about the Shark Trust visit their website here.
For more about Diverse Travel click here.
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