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This Month’s Contents:
Blue Ocean
Society News |
Working to Save the Right Whale
Upcoming Events
| NH Coastal Program Funding Available|
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Blue Ocean Society News
Holiday greetings! This year, with your support, we were able to
educate over 20,000 whale watch passengers and several
thousand students, gain valuable data on five new finback
calves, document a right whale as disentangled, increase our
Adopt-a-Beach sites up to 24 and expand into southern Maine,
and keep our touch tank free to the public seven days a week
during the summer.
We
also held many successful events, including a spring Open
House at our office, a Wine Tasting Benefit featuring a
Grape Affair, our annual fundraiser cruise aboard the Prince
of Whales, several wonderful kayak trips in partnership with
Plum Island Kayak, and a new fundraiser cruise aboard the
M/V Thomas Laighton. Looking back on everything we saw and
did, and all the people we reached, produces an instant
“high”, and we sincerely appreciate you for reading our
newsletter, attending our events, cleaning beaches, adopting
whales, practicing environmental stewardship at home and all
that you do to help us accomplish our mission!
To
extend our thanks, we have a couple special offers in this
issue. One of our sponsors, SimplyGreen, has generously
offered discounts on BioFuel for our local supporters. Print
out a coupon online
here. We’re also offering our popular Adopt-a-Marine
Creature packets for only $20 ($5 off the regular price!)
for a special time only!
Order yours now!
While
we accomplished so much in 2007, we hope to do even more in
2008! With your help, we can provide more free or
low-cost programming to schools, expand our whale research
efforts and Adopt-a-Beach programs, and upgrade our touch
tank to enhance the ability of our visitors to make a
personal connection with the Gulf of Maine. We know
budgets are tight this time of year, but if you have even $5
or $10 to spare and would like to make a tax-deductible
contribution, you can do so online right now
by clicking here.. As
we’ve learned so well over the years, a little goes a long
way!
We
hope you have a happy, healthy holiday season and a great
2008!
 Thanks
to Leo Gagnon, Strategic Real Estate Advisor with
Keller
Williams Realty, for his generous support as our 2007 Annual
Sponsor!
Thanks also
to volunteers/interns Reagan Byrne, Laura Gehrum, Helen Hoffman, John
Miller, Kristin Piper, Steve Renner, Leah Simon, and Judy Wasson for
all their help throughout the year at volunteer nights and cleanups
and with our recent open house!
Working to Save the Right Whale
By Dianna Schulte, Research Coordinator
On November 7-8th, over 200 people
gathered at the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium
Annual Meeting in New Bedford, MA. The Consortium is a group
of government and non-government organizations and individuals who
work to study and conserve the North Atlantic right whale.
The annual meeting is an opportunity for all stakeholders to gather
and share information about current research, conservation,
management and education projects.
The presentations range widely
from acoustic monitoring to genetic profiling. At about 393
estimated North Atlantic right whales remaining, the research
currently being undertaken to protect this highly endangered species
from extinction is intense.
A few of the talks were about entanglements, which is
one of the leading causes of mortality for this population.
Scientists and fishermen are working together to try to solve this
problem so both the fishermen and the whales can live in harmony.
Currently about 75% of all North Atlantic right whales show signs
(scars) of being previously entangled.
 One individual in
particular, #3260, was observed in May with a rope caught in her
mouth. Although this entanglement was not considered life
threatening, it could still inhibit the whale’s ability to feed and
the trailing rope could have become wrapped around other body parts
which would have affected her ability to swim and dive. In
October, whale watchers aboard the Deborah Ann from Perkins
Cove, Maine had the special rare treat of seeing #3260 on
Jeffreys Ledge. Although the boat couldn’t get too close (right
whales are protected by strict approach rules), images taken by Blue
Ocean Society staff revealed no obvious line in her mouth and she is
now believed to be free of her entanglement!
All of our opportunistic sightings of right whales
are submitted to the New England Aquarium, who maintains the
official online photo catalog.
For more information and right whale photos, visit
http://www.blueoceansociety.org/eg.htm.
Upcoming Events
Beach Cleanup at Jenness Beach:
Saturday, December 15 at 10:30 AM. Help two charities at once by
bringing a new, un-wrapped toy or gift card in support of area toy
banks.
Click here for more information and to sign up..
Holiday Open House:
Saturday,
December 15, 1-3 PM. Portsmouth is a great place to visit
during the holidays. If you’re out and about this day, stop by our
office for some hot drinks, free gift wrapping, and a great
selection of ocean-related gifts, including stocking stuffers, whale
& dolphin dog treats from Barkin’ Biscuit, whale watch gift
certificates, Blue Ocean Society apparel, Adopt-a-Marine Creature
kits, and the most adorable stuffed whales you’ve ever seen! Free
parking is available across the street in the municipal parking lot.
Volunteer Night:
We haven’t
scheduled our next one yet, but if you want to be on our list to be
informed of upcoming dates, e-mail
jen@blueoceansociety.org.
Don’t live locally? Maybe you have some
expertise that would help us remotely, such as by helping with
writing projects, fundraising, or coordinating cleanups in your
area!
NH Coastal Program
Funding Available
The New Hampshire Coastal Program, which has been
hugely supportive of
 our efforts, is currently accepting
applications for its 2008
grant round.
Through federal
funding, NHCP enables projects that address coastal resources, like
water quality protection, public access and education. Grants are
offered on a competitive basis to eligible applicants, and at least
a one to one match is required. For more information, visit
http://www.des.nh.gov/coastal/Grants/index.html.
Quote of the Month
“Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much
you love the beach.”
-- Michelle Held
Thanks for your interest in marine conservation. If you wish
to support our work, please click here.
Have you become a member yet?
Click here
to buy merchandise such as Adopt-a-Marine Creature
packets, t-shirts and sweatshirts online!
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