b'NEWSWIRENEWSWIRE Using Tags to UnderstandNorth Atlantic Right WhalesN OAA Fisheries and its partners seekbreathe. The amount of time this type of tagResearchers continue to analyze the other data to conserve and rebuild the endan- remains attached to a whale varies, but mostcollected by the tag, but preliminary results pro-geredNorthAtlanticrightwhalestay attached from several hours to a few days,vide interesting information that may be import-population.Trackingormonitoringtheirreleasing when the suction is lost. Suction cupant for management actions. For example, Smoke population and health and effectiveness of con- tags are designed to float so that once the tagwas silent during this portion of her journey servation measures is crucial to recovery efforts. is released scientists can locate and retrieve theto the calving grounds, which emphasizes that device to download the data. pregnant females may be difficult to detect with Scientists can observe right whales and otheracousticrecorders.Trackersshouldntassume marine mammals from the air, the shore, orInNovember2022,aU.S.FleetForceswhales are absent from an area when they do not from a boat. To monitor them underwater,Command-funded aerial survey team sightedhear them on the scientific listening devices they researchers use a variety of technologies andtwo endangered North Atlantic right whalesdeploy as the whales may just not be vocal. This methods such as attaching tracking devices.near Virginia Beach. The two adult females,is one reason why vessel operators are urged to go Thesesmallinstruments,calledtags,mayidentifiedas27-year-oldSmoke(#2605),slowly to avoid collisions with whales, even when beattachedtowhalesviasuctioncupsorand18-year-oldCaterpillar(#3503),wereit may seem like they are not present.implantable darts. Tags are often applied tomigrating towards the Southeast U.S. calving whales backs and can document the animalsgrounds.WorkingwiththeNavyteam,re- Many partners use tag data to better under-location,behavior,movement,swimspeed,searchers from HDR Inc. deployed a dronestand North Atlantic right whales throughout habitat use, dive depth, and health. Some tagstocaptureaerialfootageofthewhalesandtheir range, but NOAA says it is not realistic or can record sounds made by the whale and evenattachedasuctioncuptagtoSmoke.Thefeasible to tag every individual. Tagging North capture environmental measurements such astag was equipped with a camera, hydrophoneAtlantic right whales with suction cup or im-oceantemperature.Thesedatacollectively(torecordsounds),andseveralsensors;itplantable dart tags is complex:provide insights into an animals movementremained attached to her for 10.5 hours. The and behavior that are critical for addressingcamerafilmedthejourneyfromSmokes Applyingtagstoanywhalerequiresaconservation challenges. perspective as the two whales traveled south.NOAA Fisheries scientific research permit Smokes trip to the calving grounds was suc- that includes specific methods and safety Suction cup tags do not harm the animal andcessful, as she gave birth to her first known calfprecautions for the humans and whales;are applied to the whales back as it surfaces toin December. NOAA Fisheries typically does not autho- rize the tagging of certain individuals, such as calves and whales in poor health;It is not possible to locate or approach every North Atlantic right whale, as some portion of the population is not seen each year;Even with all the correct equipment and permits, the whales must be located during calm weather conditions and then closely approachedfromaboattoapplyatag, which causes stress; North Atlantic right whales are wild ani- mals that do not always cooperatetheir movements can be unpredictable and close approaches are risky even for trained, expe-rienced responders; and Tagging is expensive, time-intensive, andtag batteries and attachments only last days to months.ClickheretowatchaNOAAvideoabout tagging an individual right whale.FOGHORN 42'