Science on Tap: Human Impact on Recovery of Whales

Whale showing fluke.\Photo by Rena Olson.

The Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) is holding a hybrid Science on Tap event on Thursday, March 23, at 6 p.m. The theme for the night is “How modern human impacts prevent the recovery of endangered whales,” hosted by Josh Stewart, an Oregon State University Assistant Professor in the Ocean Ecology Lab within the Marine Mammal Institute. 

About the event:

“Humans decimated whale populations through hundreds of years of industrial whaling, leaving some species and populations on the brink of extinction. Despite these impacts, many whale populations have made remarkable recoveries, demonstrating the ability of threatened and endangered species to bounce back from intense human pressure. Whales have now been protected from industrial harvest in most of the world for decades, removing the most acute threat to their populations. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been enough to set all whale populations on the road to recovery, and many remain far below their pre-whaling abundances. Joshua Stewart, new faculty at OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute, will discuss his research on two endangered populations of whales—North Atlantic right whales and Southern Resident killer whales—and how ongoing human impacts have prevented their recovery. Dr. Stewart will also present recent findings on the drivers of mortality events in gray whales, a species considered an iconic example of recovery from whaling impacts, and what these mortality events mean for other whale populations approaching their pre-whaling levels.”

The event will take place at HMSC in the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building (2030 SE Marine Science Drive in Newport) and remotely on Zoom. Food and drink will be available in the atrium from 5-6 p.m. before the talk.  

This event is free and open to all. For more information and to register, go here.