Webinar Series
The National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series provides educators, students, and the interested public with educational and scientific expertise, resources and training to support ocean and climate literacy. This series generally targets formal and informal educators that are engaging students (elementary through college) in formal classroom settings, as well as members of the community in informal educational venues (e.g. after school programs, science centers, aquariums, etc.). However, the series is open to anyone interested in the topics listed below.
For distance learning programs about marine mammals and other protected species in the wild, please visit our Wildlife Viewing Guidelines and the NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources' Marine Life Viewing Guidelines to ensure you are aware of the regulations.
Upcoming Webinars
Prevalence of algal toxins in gray whales feeding in Northwest Washington, USA
March 25 at 2 pm Hawaii / 5 pm Pacific / 7 pm Central / 8 pm Eastern
Adrianne Akmajian, Marine Ecologist/ Marine Ecology Division Manager, Makah Fisheries Management
Harmful algal bloom toxins are prevalent along the Pacific Coast of North America and may be detected in marine wildlife without deleterious effects on health. We measured concentrations of domoic acid and saxitoxin in fecal samples from free-swimming gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) feeding on the northwest coast of Washington, USA in the summer and fall of 2018 and 2019. Concentrations in gray whale feces were compared to those measured in shellfish and to phytoplankton cell counts taken over the same time period. Photo-identification of individual whales allowed for insights about feeding location and exposure to toxins.
Moving Cargo and Keeping Whales Safe in Southern California's National Marine Sanctuaries
April 11 at 12 pm Hawaii / 3 pm Pacific / 5 pm Central / 6 pm Eastern
Vanessa ZoBell, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, Scripps Machine Listening Lab
Marine organisms, including whales, rely on sound for daily life functions, such as communicating, navigating, and foraging. Join Dr. Vanessa Zobell, a postdoc from the Scripps Machine Learning Lab who will discuss the importance of studying whale acoustics, the threat of noise pollution that whales are facing in the Southern California national marine sanctuaries, and creative solutions to protect these important animals.