Whale Videos

Want to encounter whales from the comfort of your own home? Dive into the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ video collection of various whale species from across the country and learn about tagging whales, ship strikes, and endangered species.

A ship sails in the ocean off the Massachusetts coast to whale-watch.

Whale Watching in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is regarded as one of the best places to whale watch in the world! Find out what species you can expect to see on your next trip in our new video!

A humpback whale swims in a blue ocean.

Humpback Whales

Happy Whale Week! National marine sanctuaries are safe havens for humpback whales. Each winter, thousands of humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to mate, calve, and raise their young, while each summer, others travel to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to feed. These whales can also be spotted in many sanctuaries in between! These protected areas are spectacular places to whale watch -- but always be sure to give the whales plenty of space.

aerial view of right whales in the water

North Atlantic Right Whales

North Atlantic right whales are one of the world's most endangered ocean species. Learn what we and our partners are doing to protect them in our video.

overhead view of humpback whales swimming underwater

Humpback Whales

National marine sanctuaries are safe havens for humpback whales. Each winter, thousands of humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to mate, calve, and raise their young, while each summer, others travel to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary to feed. These whales can also be spotted in many sanctuaries in between! These protected areas are spectacular places to whale watch -- but always be sure to give the whales plenty of space.

The head of a humpback whale

Humpback Whales of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

All November, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is celebrating the return of the whales to sanctuary waters. Learn about humpback whales who visit this special place in our Earth Is Blue video!

person on a boat with a pole getting ready to tag a whale

Tagging Humpback Whales

How do scientists in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary tag humpback whales? Very carefully! Attached temporarily with suction cups, these tags help researchers understand where whales are going and what sounds they're making.

pod of orcas swimming

Endangered Species

National marine sanctuaries play an important role in protecting some of America's most valuable marine ecosystems. They provide safe haven for many endangered species, such as orcas, Hawaiian monk seals, white abalone, and several types of salmon and sea turtles. Watch to learn about the actions sanctuaries are taking to save these endangered animals.

whale breaching while an inflatable boat follows it

Freeing a humpback whale

A feel-good story. Check out this humpback whale breaching after being freed from entangling debris in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary!

whale breaching while an inflatable boat follows it

Whale Disentanglement in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

Whales can be entangled for years until someone reports the entanglement to the right responders. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary coordinates the community-based Hawaiian Islands Large Whale Entanglement Response Network. The network is part of the larger Pacific Islands Marine Mammal Response Network headed by NOAA Fisheries Service’ Pacific Islands Regional Office.

diagram of a whale and sound waves

Noise in the Sanctuaries

How do scientists measure sound in national marine sanctuaries? Check out our video about a new hydrophone in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary to find out! ‪#EarthIsBlue‬.

a whale swimming with a whale watching boat in the background

Preventing Ship Strikes

Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary is one of the best places in the world to see endangered blue whales. But these whales are also at risk from ship strikes. Watch our video to learn about a unique program that brought shipping companies, nonprofits, and government agencies together to solve this problem and help protect whales!

a whale skeleton on the bottom of the ocean

Whale Fall

What's a whale fall? Find out in our video of this whale fall found in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary!

whale with a piece of fishing line wrapped around it's tail

What Does it Take to Disentangle a Whale?

Since 2002, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has received more than 100 confirmed reports of entangled humpback whales, representing at least 70 animals. So how do experts at the sanctuary disentangle these enormous animals? Very carefully, and without getting in the water.

a cutting device removing fishing line from a whale's tail

Humpback Whale Disentanglement

Woah! As of this year, the Hawaiian islands Disentanglement Network has freed 22 whales from 9,500 feet of fishing gear in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. #EarthIsBlue #30DaysOfOcean

people on a boat whale watching

Stellwagen Bank and Monterey Bay

What are the best places in the nation to see marine life? According to the USA TODAY 10Best Reader's Choice Contest, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary! Check out our video to find out what makes these places so phenomenal. ‪#EarthIsBlue

humpback whale swimming

Humpback Whales

Each winter, thousands of humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to mate, calve, and raise their young. The sanctuary is a spectacular place to watch these whales!

whale feeding while birds fly around

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Recently, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and Reverb teamed up to show Guster what makes Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary so amazing. Check out our video to learn about the incredible whale watching opportunities the sanctuary's rich ecosystem supports, and how you can visit the sanctuary without even getting wet at the New England Aquarium!

give wildlife space

Responsible Wildlife Viewing Video

Our simple guidelines for "Responsible Wildlife Viewing" were created to educate the public to prevent human/wildlife conflict while promoting positive and memorable experiences and can be used almost everywhere!