Understanding the behavior of marine animals and being able to identify different species will help to ensure you are able to navigate safely for your protection and theirs. Before you enter their ocean home, spend some time getting to know some of the most commonly seen species!
You should know what to have on hand and what you should do if you see a whale!
By taking the See A Spout? Watch Out! Spout Spotter Course, you can easily learn how to spot whales while on the water and understand the laws and guidelines of watching whales!
Before You Leave the House
Check
- The Weather Forecast: Checking your regular weather forecast for the day, changes can happen overnight.
- The Marine Forecast: Check your local marine forecast to get an idea of wind and wave action. This can impact the comfort and safety of your trip, as well as ability to spot whales and other hazards.
- USCG Local Notice to Mariners: For other local notices affecting mariners.
Pack
- Binoculars: Allow you to get a good look at whales while watching them from a responsible distance
- Polarized Sunglasses: Cuts the sun’s glare, and can play a role in your ability to see whales!
- Field Guide: Can help you identify the species you are seeing!
Prepare
- Download Whale Alert App: A citizen science app where whale sightings are used to prevent vessel strikes.
- Save NOAA Hotline Phone Number:
- Maine through Virginia:
866-755-6622 - Other Regions check here
- Maine through Virginia:
- Familiarize yourself with wildlife viewing regulations and guidelines in your area
While On the Water: Report Injured, Dead, or Entangled Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles
What Should I Report?
Call the NOAA hotline or radio the US Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 to report injured, dead, or entangled marine mammals and sea turtles and all right whale sightings.
In the Northeast (Maine-Virginia) call NOAA’s hotline at 1-866-755-6622. Go here to find information for other regions.
Report Sightings Of The Following:
Entangled Animals
Whales and sea turtles that become entangled in fishing gear are at risk of severe injury and even death if they are unable to free themselves. There are permitted teams of researchers to carry out the highly dangerous task of attempted to free an animal from entanglement.
NOTE: You should NEVER attempt to remove any gear yourself due to risk of injury to both human and whale/sea turtle. Entangled whales are known to thrash violently when they are in distress.
Entangled/Vessel Struck Animals
At least 1 in 10 humpback whales in the Gulf of Maine alone have scars from a collision with a vessel, however these collisions are hardly ever reported. These strikes can have both short- and long-term impacts, ranging from blood loss and broken bones to chronic infections and even death. This is a threat to all whale species, and it is important for researchers to know when a strike has happened so that they can monitor the affected individual. Often a whale will have fresh injuries and scars from the spinning propeller of a vessel.
Dead Animals
Being able to account for any dead animals will help make sure their population estimates are as accurate as possible. For endangered species, every individual matters! Depending on the condition, researchers may also want to do a necropsy (animal autopsy) to determine the cause of death and collect other samples. If you see a dead animal, make sure you report the sighting.
ALL Right Whale Sightings
North Atlantic right whales are a critically endangered species. Each sighting gets added to a national database to better track their movements and allow researchers to advise on better protection measures. Even if a right whale appears healthy and perfectly fine, we still want to know about it!
NOTE: It is illegal to approach a right whale within 500 yards (1,500ft)