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Tracking killer whales with satellites

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Satellite tagging has become an important tool for tracking Puget Sound's Southern Resident Killer Whale populations. You can view maps that follow the whales' movements this winter. NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center placed a tag on an adult male dubbed K25, in Puget Sound last Dec. 29th and scientists have been excitedly following the whale to California and back again.

Satellite tagging has become an important tool for tracking Puget Sound's Southern Resident Killer Whale populations. You can view maps that follow the whales' movements this winter. NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center placed a tag on an adult male dubbed K25, in Puget Sound last Dec. 29th and scientists have been excitedly following the whale to California and back again. NOAA began satellite tagging SRKW's early last year, and the agency says the technique has been valuable for designating critical habitat for the endangered population.

For more information, visit NOAA's Marine Mammal & Seabird Ecology page, or read a summary of a recent independent science panel report about the SRKW's relationship with area salmon fisheries. Encyclopedia of Puget Sound partner ERMA Pacific Northwest also offers dynamic maps of SRKW Critical Habitat.

 

Tagged killer whale; photo courtesy of NOAA     Map courtesy of NOAA