The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 27, 2025
Today: April 27, 2025

New buoys listen for critically endangered right whale sounds off Massachusetts coast

New buoys listen for critically endangered right whale sounds off Massachusetts coast
March 25, 2025
Neal Riley - WBZ

    Massachusetts (WBZ) -- Researchers are listening for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales off the coast of Massachusetts with the help of two new buoys in the water.

The high-tech buoys were deployed last month in Cape Cod Bay and off Cape Ann thanks to a partnership between the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. They are part of a larger East Coast network of buoys that the state says will "listen for, detect, classify, and report vocalizations of large whales in near real-time."

"Within a few hours of the buoys being in the water, they were already picking up detections, including vocalizations of right whales in Cape Cod Bay," said Erin Burke, the protected species program manager with Marine Fisheries.

Buoys detect right whales off Massachusetts

Data shows the Cape Cod Bay buoy has detected a right whale every day since Feb. 23. The Cape Ann buoy has picked up sounds from fin whales on most days, with possible detections of right and humpback whales so far.

Data from the buoys is sent back to shore every two hours, which will inform management decisions about fishing restrictions, speed limits for boats and other conservation measures.

There are about 370 right whales left in the world, and Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O'Shea said two-thirds of them come to Cape Cod Bay every year. The season's first right whale mother and calf were spotted in Cape Cod Bay by researchers in a plane on March 11, five miles west of Wellfleet.

"While incredible progress has been made, human impacts and climate change continue to threaten the survival of this species," he said in a statement. "Strong partnerships give this species the best chance of recovery."

Related

Education|Environment|Science

New video shows how chimpanzees may bond over 'boozy fruit'

Business|Environment|Political|Science|Technology|World

Death toll in Iran port explosion rises to at least 40

Arts|Business|Crime|Economy|Education|Entertainment|Environment|Health|Lifestyle|Political

Ron and Casey DeSantis were plotting a political dynasty in Florida. Then came a scandal

Arts|Business|Economy|Entertainment|Environment|Fashion and Beauty|Finance|Lifestyle|Opinion|Political|Science|Sports|Technology|Travel|World

CNN Poll: Trumpโ€™s approval at 100 days lower than any president in at least seven decades

Local

Health|Local|News

L.A. County investigating measles case in resident

Local

L.A. homeowners sue insurance companies over wildfire coverage

Local

Vacant lot in Riverside County becomes new home for controversial trailers

Economy|Americas|Business|Local|News|US|WrittenByLAPost

Port of L.A. Director: โ€˜In two weeks time, arrivals will drop by 35%โ€™ due to tariffs

Share This

Popular

Education|Environment|Science

New video shows how chimpanzees may bond over 'boozy fruit'

New video shows how chimpanzees may bond over 'boozy fruit'
Business|Environment|Political|Science|Technology|World

Death toll in Iran port explosion rises to at least 40

Death toll in Iran port explosion rises to at least 40
Arts|Business|Crime|Economy|Education|Entertainment|Environment|Health|Lifestyle|Political

Ron and Casey DeSantis were plotting a political dynasty in Florida. Then came a scandal

Ron and Casey DeSantis were plotting a political dynasty in Florida. Then came a scandal
Arts|Business|Economy|Entertainment|Environment|Fashion and Beauty|Finance|Lifestyle|Opinion|Political|Science|Sports|Technology|Travel|World

CNN Poll: Trumpโ€™s approval at 100 days lower than any president in at least seven decades

CNN Poll: Trumpโ€™s approval at 100 days lower than any president in at least seven decades

Technology

Business|Science|Technology|World

China's Huawei develops new AI chip, seeking to match Nvidia, WSJ reports

China's Huawei develops new AI chip, seeking to match Nvidia, WSJ reports
Arts|Business|Economy|Entertainment|Environment|Fashion and Beauty|Finance|Lifestyle|Opinion|Political|Science|Sports|Technology|Travel|World

CNN Poll: Trumpโ€™s approval at 100 days lower than any president in at least seven decades

CNN Poll: Trumpโ€™s approval at 100 days lower than any president in at least seven decades
Arts|Opinion|Technology

Republicans in the toughest swing districts become hard to find for people angry about Trump

Republicans in the toughest swing districts become hard to find for people angry about Trump
Arts|Environment|Science|Technology

Trump's first 100 days: Steamrolling government, strong-arming allies and igniting trade wars

Trump's first 100 days: Steamrolling government, strong-arming allies and igniting trade wars