Photo of North Atlantic right whale mother, Snow Cone (#3560), and her calf was taken by Georgia DNR under NOAA permit #20556
What to Expect
The North Atlantic right whale is Georgia’s state marine mammal, but it is facing serious threats from human activities. Vessel strikes are the second leading cause of death for these whales, which come to Georgia waters to birth their calves in the winter months.
Recently, NOAA proposed deregulating maritime vessel speed limits, which are currently set at 10 knots for vessels larger than 65′ throughout seasonal right whale calving grounds. The proposed changes remove the existing seasonal ship speed limits that were designed to prevent vessels from striking right whales in favor of “technology-based” avoidance in dynamic zones. But the question remains: is technology alone capable of protecting Georgia’s beloved state marine mammal?
Join Georgia Conservancy, along with experts and scientists in this field, for a webinar to learn about the state of right whale conservation, proposed regulatory changes, and the technology being used to help save these animals.
In this 90-minute webinar, you’ll be able to ask your questions directly to a panel of right whale experts across the East Coast to learn about their cutting-edge work to protect right whales. We will also share information and resources for those interested in making public comments on the proposed NOAA Vessel Speed rule amendments.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Erin Meyer-Gutbrod
University of South Carolina
Dr. Meyer-Gutbrod is an Assistant Professor at the Univ. of South Carolina, where she researches the impacts of climate-driven shifts in physical oceanography on North Atlantic right whale foraging, distribution, and reproduction. She also leads the real-time analysis of moored Passive Acoustic Monitoring buoys off the coast of Norfolk, VA, off the coast of Savannah GA, and recently off the coast of Charleston, SC.
Melanie White
Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute
White is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute’s director for the North Atlantic right whale conservation program and manages aerial surveys for real-time whale identification and vessel mitigation across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Dr. Alex Zerbini
University of Washington
Dr. Zerbini advances right whale conservation through satellite telemetry and photogrammetry research and serves on international scientific advisory committees such as the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee and the NOAA Marine Mammal Take Reduction Teams.
Dr. Chelsey Crandall
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Dr. Crandall is a social scientist who leads the FWC’s Center for Conservation Social Science Research. The Center’s work spans species and systems and helps us understand the human dimensions of conservation. This includes understanding attitudes and behaviors and research that aids communication and management.
Jessica Thompson
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Thompson is a Senior Wildlife Biologist & Marine Mammal Program Manager with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, where she oversees permit reviews, research, outreach, and education on Georgia’s marine mammals. She also coordinates the Georgia Marine Mammal Stranding Network and the GA DNR North Atlantic right whale Monitoring Project.
North Atlantic right whale mother, Naevus (#2040), and her calf. Photo taken by Georgia DNR taken under NOAA permit #20556
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