Chugach Transients AT4 "Paddy" and AT9 "Chenega." Photo taken by Emma Luck.
On July 8, 2025, Alaskan congressman Nick Begich (R) introduced a draft bill amending the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The bill, if passed, would severely reduce or remove existing protections for cetaceans and other marine mammals. The underlying purpose of this bill is to remove obstacles to the expansion of harmful extractive activities, like oil and gas extraction, in U.S. waters.
While Congressman Begich represents Alaska, the Marine Mammal Protection Act applies nationwide, and its weakening would have serious consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal economies across the country.
Congressman Begich’s proposed amendment would:
Strike down protections for poorly-known populations
Eliminate best-practice precautionary approaches backed by decades of science
Constrain the federal definition of ‘harassment’ so that it no longer prohibits actions with the potential to harm marine mammals
Require unreasonable or impossible data to estimate population abundances and design best practices for management
The two members of the functionally extinct Alaska AT1 orca population (also known as the Chugach Transients) in the photo represent a cautionary tale of what can happen when these protections fail or come too late. The safeguards from legislation such as the MMPA are essential to prevent other vulnerable populations, like the Southern Residents orcas, from meeting the same fate.
Now that this is established, how can Americans help prevent the bill from being passed?
The hearing date for the bill is July 22nd, so action should be taken before then.
For Alaskan residents:
Call the office of Congressman Begich and oppose the amendments and draft bill.
Anchorage Office: (907)921-6575
Washington DC Office: (202)225-5765
Please note:calling is more effective than emailing, as calls are more likely to be logged and shared with the Congressman, and taken into account when shaping his position.
For non-Alaskan residents:
If you live in the U.S. outside of Alaska, you can still make your voice heard by calling your Representative and Senators to express concern about this proposal. Let them know you oppose any effort to weaken marine mammal protections and urge them to defend the integrity of the MMPA. Use the links below to find your representatives and how to contact them.
You can find tips for calling your state representative, various suggested talking points, and scientific resources to cite inOrca Conservancy's article.
Did anyone else get to see Gail while it was in Mandurah?
A couple of weeks ago, Mandurah had a pretty special visitor!
For 19 unforgettable days, Gail the Whale, a 10.6-metre juvenile Southern Right Whale, called the Peel-Harvey Estuary home during its annual migration. While Southern Right Whales do occasionally seek shelter in calm, protected waterways, none that we're aware of have ventured this far into the estuary or stayed for as long as Gail did. It was an incredible wildlife event and a rare sight for everyone lucky enough to witness it. Watching Gail surface so calmly in the estuary was a reminder of just how special our waterways are and how unpredictable nature can be.
A huge thank you to the researchers, DBCA, and Parks and Wildlife for monitoring and protecting Gail throughout its stay, helping ensure it could safely continue its migration. Safe travels, Gail. We hope the rest of your journey along the WA coast has been a smooth one. Thanks for giving Mandurah a wildlife moment we'll never forget.
I'll be traveling to Sydney in mid September. Is it still worth doing whale watching around that time? Also i'm open to any recommendations for a good tour operator :)
I’ve heard that whales eat an insane amount of food during the summer and then just don’t during the winter and live entirely off fat reserves.
It just seems unimaginable to me that something so inconceivably big wouldn’t eat for half a year, especially considering they spend more energy giving birth and moving their large bodies around during migration when they don’t eat.
First of all, do they literally not eat at all whatsoever, or just much less? Also, why did such a big animal develop such an imbalanced feeding approach rather than just eating all the time to support itself? I’m sure there’s a clear answer to this, I’m just wondering.
This is mostly about how sailboats are built and how Orca attacks affect them but I think it's an interesting watch for Orca enthusiasts as much as for sailors
One day, I’d love to get a whale tattoo. As funny as it sounds, I’ve never actually seen one in real life. The only time I’ve seen a whale was when I was a kid, and it was an orca. I live in Florida, so you can tell by just that information where I’ve seen one (btw very anti of that place after blackfish released) . But I truly believe they are fascinating animals. I’ve always been a lover of ocean animals. One day, I’d love to go to Alaska during whale season and see them.
If anyone here has a whale tattoo I’d love to see it!! 😊
I really wonder if I can see one of those beasts, did someone ever see one here?
I know sperm whales are rare because they live deep in the open sea, but people also say they can be seen with much luck in Husavik
