Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation (603) Education ~ Research ~ Conservation All photos © Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation and for educational use only.

The Gulf of Maine 36,000 sq. miles of ocean 7,500 miles of shoreline

JEFFREYS LEDGE

Who lives in the Gulf of Maine? Whales Plankton Seabirds Fish Sea Turtles Invertebrates

What Is a Whale? Whales are mammalsWhales are mammals Whales need to come up to the surface to breatheWhales need to come up to the surface to breathe Whales need salt waterWhales need salt water Whales migrateWhales migrate Have you seen a whale?Have you seen a whale?

Two Groups of Whales Whales are categorized into 2 groups:Whales are categorized into 2 groups: – Toothed Whales – Baleen Whales

Local Whales Finback (Fin) Humpback Minke Atlantic White-sided Dolphin

Whale Research Track locationsTrack locations Record behaviorsRecord behaviors Photo-identification – track individuals throughout season & yearsPhoto-identification – track individuals throughout season & years Information will help us better protect them.Information will help us better protect them. FinbacksHumpback

How to tell whales apart? Humpback whalesHumpback whales – Tail pattern – Dorsal fin shape – Scars or unusual markings Fin whalesFin whales – Dorsal fin shape – Chevron marking – Scars or unusual markings

Whale Images & Frequently- Sighted Individuals

Fin Whale

White jaw patch

Frequent Visitors “Fjord”

Frequent Visitors “Ladder”

Frequent Visitors “Comet”

Humpback Whale

“Jeffreys Ledge humpbacks” Flask

Owl

Pinball

Minke Whale

Atlantic white-sided dolphin

Threats to Marine Life PollutionPollution EntanglementsEntanglements Ship strikesShip strikes

MARINE DEBRIS

What is Marine Debris? Can you think of some examples?Can you think of some examples?

How does it get on the beach/in the ocean? Boaters/FishingBoaters/Fishing WindWind Water (streams, rivers)Water (streams, rivers) …People…People

2010 Adopt-a-Beach Cleanups in New Hampshire (178) Item# 1Cigarette Butts 29,868 2Bottle Caps (Plastic) 3,417 3Metal Beverage Cans 2,454 4Plastic Beverage Bottles 2,381 5Rope >1m 2,340 6Plastic Bags <1m 1,582 7Straws 1,570 8Styrofoam Cups 1,284 9Glass Beverage Bottles 1,177 10Fishing Line 803

Why is marine debris a problem?

Trash Travels!

Hooksett Disks On March 6, 2011, about 4.2 million of these white disks were released from a sewer treatment plant in Hooksett, NHOn March 6, 2011, about 4.2 million of these white disks were released from a sewer treatment plant in Hooksett, NH The disks are used to filter bacteria before wastewater is released The affected tank in Hooksett held about 39 million disks.The disks are used to filter bacteria before wastewater is released The affected tank in Hooksett held about 39 million disks.

The disks traveled about 77 miles to the ocean, where thousands turned up on Hampton and Seabrook Beaches. They eventually washed up as far south as East Matunuck State Beach in Rhode Island and Nantucket, Massachusetts and as far north as York, Maine. One expert believes the disks may catch a current to England and then go to Spain. The incident taught us that pollution is carried through our water. (text courtesy NH Coastal Program,

Disk Movements Map courtesy NH Coastal Program, ions/water/wmb/coastal/index.htm For a video showing the movement of the disks, click here for a YouTube video click here

How long does it take to go away? Newspaper6 weeks Apple core2 months Plywood1-3 years Cigarette butt1-5 years Styrofoam cup50 years Aluminum can years Plastic bottle450 years Fishing line600 years Glass bottle1 million years

Whales & Marine Debris Web site created by UNH Cooperative Extension with Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation dataWeb site created by UNH Cooperative Extension with Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation data Maps 8 “adoptable” fin and humpback whales, along with 5 top litter itemsMaps 8 “adoptable” fin and humpback whales, along with 5 top litter items Data collected from whale watch boats in summer.Data collected from whale watch boats in summer.

Sightings of a humpback named “Pinball” in 2009, and all balloons sighted in 2009

How to Help Dispose of trash properly Reduce the amount of waste you produce Reuse items whenever possible. Recycle as much as possible. Be sure to recycle fishing line. Never release balloons. Participate in beach or stream cleanups in your area. Everyone CAN make a difference!

Image Credits Patty Adell, Beth Bentley, Jen Kennedy, Dianna Schulte, Melanie White Web Site Credits Shane Bradt & Michael Toepfer, UNH Cooperative ExtensionShane Bradt & Michael Toepfer, UNH Cooperative Extension Funding:Funding: New Hampshire Coastal Program and NOAA Marine Debris Program

Thank you!