It’s early May, and five gray whales weave between the kelp as they feed on herring eggs in the water around our 20-foot inflatable boat. Researchers are taking photos to identify individual whales and measure how much weight they’ve gained since they arrived in the Sitka area about a month ago on their yearly migration…
Oceans
Deep sea observation station that tracks climate change set to be pulled from Gulf of Alaska
Ocean Station Papa, which collects ocean and climate data, is one of five federal ocean monitoring stations the National Science Foundation plans to dismantle over the next couple of years.
State voids Area M restrictions after Aleutians East argues ethics violation
The Aleutians East Borough was among four plaintiffs who argued the Board of Fisheries violated state’s ethics laws.
Scientists identify mysterious ‘golden orb’ discovered off Alaska’s coast
The “golden orb” was discovered two miles deep by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research ship while mapping the ocean floor in the summer of 2023.
Alaska Marine Lines barge continues south after taking on water off British Columbia
The company said in an email that the barge was damaged during transit but was “secure” and “not sinking.”
New offshore drilling plan opens almost all federal water off Alaska
The draft plan calls for lease sales in Cook Inlet and the Arctic, as well as the Bering Sea and other regions important to the fishing industry.