23 April 2006
Russell - Whale Research
From: UK, consultant to International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
How come you're working on Defending our Oceans?
I spent several years studying sperm whales around the Azores on the IFAW research vessel Song of the Whale. One of the goals of that project was to develop ways of studying whales that did not disturb them. One such method is to listen to the whales using a hydrophone. In particular, I was part of a team that developed ways of counting how many sperm whales there are from listening to the sounds that they make. The Esperanza is now towing a hydrophone and using specialized software developed by the IFAW team to monitor sperm whales.
What are you looking forward to most in this campaign?
Any opportunity to spend time with sperm whales always brings something new and exciting. Despite having studied this species for many years, there is still so much that we do not know.
How/why did you get involved with Greenpeace?
Greenpeace and IFAW share many common goals and the organizations often collaborate together for better protection of whales around the world.
What personal connection do you have to the ocean (if any?)
I spent most of my childhood by the sea and in small boats and since then I have tried to spend as much time at sea as possible.
What made you follow your chosen profession?
As well as getting out at sea and studying whales, the real work starts with analyzing and interpreting the data that are collected. I chose to study mathematics which has proven very useful for data analysis. I enjoy the combination of fieldwork and data processing.
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Comments
A question for you Russell - from your research do you have any evidence to point to a decline in squid which is the sperm whales major food source.
Wondering if bottom trawling and other destructive forms of fishing are having an impact on squid populations.
Thanks.
Posted by: echo at April 24, 2006 2:58 AM
Hi Echo,
We would certainly expect sperm whales to be affected by over-fishing for squid but dont have any real data. There are only estimates of sperm whale numbers for a few areas and little information on trends. The data we do have from the Azores did suggest an increase in numbers that was much higher that any possible population growth so we assume to be due to immigration from other areas. The most likely explanation for this would be changes in prey distribution. For many of the areas where there are intensive squid fisheries we know almost nothing about sperm whale numbers and distribution.
- Russell
Posted by: Russell Leaper at April 24, 2006 5:14 PM
Hi Russell,
I was wondering if there is evidence of any other prey of sperm whales?
And what, speaking of predators, do the Japan Fisheries do with the sperm whale products from their recent "scientific" whaling in the north Pacific?
Although as a child I recognized how squid live deep in the day, and rise at night from always seeing them only at night, I was pretty astonished to learn how quickly squid matured and grew to large size.
There seem to be many species, some small. Where do squid fisheries occur?
Thanks for your important work, which seems in the past only supported by fishing/whaling interests!
Posted by: mike at April 24, 2006 8:14 PM
I would like to ask a couple of questions about sperm whales.
1. What is the minimun population size?
2. Since whales are Keystone species, they play an important role in the ecosystem. If they are to be removed from the sea or the numbers decreace dramaticly, which organisms are affected and which organisms take over that space.
Posted by: flavio edwin at April 27, 2006 7:20 PM
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