by Rick O'Connor | May 17, 2024
Recently I participated in a local festival to educate the public about the Rice’s Whale – the newly described species in the Gulf of Mexico that is now listed as critically endangered, possibly the most endangered whale in the world’s oceans. I honestly did not know enough about it to provide much education and chose to do terrapin conservation at my table instead (something I know more about) but have since learned much about this new member of the Gulf community.
One of the more frequent comments I heard during the event was “I did not know we even had whales in the Gulf”. This is understandable since we rarely see them – most of us have never seen one. When we think of whales we think of colder climates like Alaska, New England, and the colder waters off California. But many large whales must give birth to their smaller calves in warmer waters – so, they make the trek to tropical locations like Hawaii and Florida to do so. But there are also resident whales in the tropical seas.
You first must understand that the term “whale” does not only mean the large creatures of whale hunting fame, but any member of the mammalian order Cetacea. Cetaceans include both the large baleen whales – like the blue, gray, and right whales – but also the toothed whales – like the sperm, orca, and even the dolphins.
The Right whale is another critically endangered whale found in the Gulf of Mexico. Image: NOAA.
There are 28 cetaceans that have been reported from the Gulf, 21 of those routinely inhabit here. Most exist at and beyond the continental shelf – hence we do not see them. Only two frequent the waters over the shelf – the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin and the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, and only one is routinely seen near shore – the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin.
This image shows the location of the continental shelf and thus the location of most of the whales found in the Gulf of Mexico. Image: NOAA.
But offshore, out at the edge of the continental shelf, exists several species of large and small cetaceans. The endangered Sperm, Sei, Fin, Blue, Humpback, and Northern Right whales have been seen. Of those only sperm whales are common. Others include several beaked whales (which resemble dolphins but are much larger), large pods of other species of dolphins, pygmy and dwarf sperm whales, pygmy and false killer whales (as well as the killer whale itself), and other baleen whales such as the Minke and Bryde’s whale.
The Bryde’s whale is one of interest to this story.
The Bryde’s whale (pronounced “brood-duss” – Balaenoptera edeni) is a medium sized baleen whale, reaching lengths of about 50 feet and weighing 30 tons. It is often confused with the larger sei whale. They are found in tropical oceans across the planet and are not thought to make the large migrations of many whales due to the fact it is already here in the tropics for birth, and its food source is here as well. They reside in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico extending from the DeSoto Canyon, off the coast of Pensacola, to the shelf edge near Tampa. They appear to travel alone or in small groups of 2-5 animals. They feed on small schooling fish, such as pilchards, anchovies, sardines, and herring. Their reproductive cycle in the Gulf is not well understood.
The Bryde’s whale was thought to be the only resident baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo: NOAA.
Strandings have occurred – as of 2009, 33 have been logged. There are no records of mortality due to commercial fishing line entanglement, but vessel strikes have occurred. Due to their large population across the planet, they were not considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act, but that may change in the Gulf region due to human caused mortality. Between 2006-2010 it was estimated that 0.2 Bryde’s whales died annually due the vessel strikes.
In the 1960s Dr. Dale Rice described the Gulf of Mexico population as a possible subspecies. It is the only baleen whale that regularly inhabits the Gulf of Mexico. And ever since that time scientists examining stranded animals thought they may be dealing with a different species.
In the 1990s Dr. Keith Mullin began examining skull differentiation and genetic uniqueness from stranded animals of the Gulf population. Dr. Patricia Rosel and Lynsey Wilcox picked up the torch in 2008. In 2009 a stranded whale, that had died from a vessel strike, was found in Tampa Bay and provided Dr. Rosel more information. In 2019 a stranded whale, that had died from hard plastic in gut in the Everglades, was examined by Dr. Rosel and her team and, with data from this skull, along with past data, determined that it was in fact a different species. The new designation became official in 2019.
The newly described Rice’s whale only exists in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo: NOAA.
The new whale was named the Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei) after Dr. Dale Rice who had first describe it as a subspecies in the 1960s. With this new designation everything changed for this whale. This new species only lives in the Gulf of Mexico, and it was believed there were only about 50 individuals left. Being a marine mammal, it was already protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but with this small population it was listed as critically endangered and protected by the Endangered Species Act.
New reviews and publications began to come out about the biology and ecology of this new whale. Rice’s whales do exist alone or in small groups and currently move between the 100m and 400m depth line along the continental shelf from Pensacola to Tampa. Diet studies suggest that it may feed near the seafloor, unlike their Bryde’s whale cousins. They may have lived all across the Gulf of Mexico at the 100-400m line at one time. They prefer warmer waters and do not seem to conduct long migrations.
The area where the Rice’s whale currently exists. Image: NOAA.
Being listed under the Endangered Species Act, NOAA National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) was required to develop a recovery plan for the whale. NMFS conducted a series of five virtual workshops between October 18 and November 18 in 2021. Workshop participants included marine scientists, experts, stakeholders, and the public. There were challenges identified from the beginning. Much of the natural history of this new whale was not well understood. Current and historic abundance, current and historic distribution, population structure and dynamics, calving intervals and seasonality, diet and prey species, foraging behavior, essential habitat features, factors effecting health, and human mortality rates all needed more research.
At the end of the workshop the needs and recommendations fell into several categories.
Management recommendations
- Create a protected area
- Restrict commercial and recreational fishing in such – require ropeless gear
- Require VMS system on all commercial and recreational vessels
- Require reporting of lost gear and removal of ghost gear
- Risk assessment for aquaculture, renewable energy, ship traffic, etc.
- Prohibit aquaculture in core area and suspected areas
- Reduce burning of fossil fuels
- Prohibit wind farms in core area
- Renewable energy mitigation – reduce sound, night travel, passive acoustic
- Develop spatial tool for energy development and whale habitat use
- Require aquaculture to monitor effluent release
- Develop rapid response focused on water quality issues
- Develop rapid response to stranding events
- Reduce/cease new oil/gas leases
- Reduce microplastics and stormwater waste discharge
- Work with industry to use technologies to reduce noise
- Reduce shipping and seismic sound within the core area
- Restrict speed of vessels
- Maintain 500m distance – require lookouts/observers while in core
- Consider “areas to be avoided”
Monitoring recommendations
- Long-term spatial monitoring
- Long-term prey monitoring
- Electronic monitoring of commercial fishing operations
- Necropsies for pollution and contaminants
Outreach and Engagement are needed
Top Threats to Rice’s Whale from the workshop Include:
- Small population size – vessel collisons
- Noise
- Environmental pollutants
- Prey – Climate change – marine debris
- Entanglement – disease – health
- Offshore renewable energy development
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires the designation of critical habitat for listed species. In July 2023 NOAA proposed the area along the U.S. continental shelf between 100-400 meters depth as critical habitat. Comments on this designation were accepted through October 6, 2023.
The proposed protection zone for the Rice’s whale including the core area. Image: NOAA.
Vessel strikes are a top concern. It is understood that the most effective method of reducing them is to keep vessels and whales apart and reduce vessel speeds within the approved critical habitat.
On May 11, 2021, NOAA Fisheries received a petition submitted by five nongovernmental agencies and one public aquarium to establish a year-round 10-knot vessel speed limit in order the protect the Rice’s whale from vessel collisions. The petition included other vessel mitigation measures. On April 7, 2023, NOAA published a formal notice in the Federal Register initiating a 90-day comment period on this petition request. The comment period closed on July 6, 2023, and they received approximately 75,500 comments. After evaluating comments, and other information submitted, NOAA denied the petition on October 27, 2023.
NOAA concluded that fundamental conservation tasks, including finalizing the critical habitat designation, drafting a species recovery plan, and conducting a quantitative vessel risk assessment, are all needed before we consider vessel regulations. NOAA does support an education and outreach effort that would encourage voluntary protection measures before regulatory ones are developed.
On that note, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) did issue voluntary precautionary measures the industry could adopt to help protect the Rice’s whale. These include:
- Training observers to reduce vessel collisions.
- Documenting and recording all transits for a three-year period.
- All vessels engaged in oil and gas, regardless of size, maintain no more than 10 knots and avoid the core area after dusk and before dawn.
- Maintain 500m (1700 feet) distance from all Rice’s whales.
- Use automatic identification system on all vessels 65’ or larger engaged in oil and gas.
- These suggestions would not apply if the crew/vessel are at safety risk.
So…
This is where the story is at the moment…
This is what is up with the Rice’s whale in the Gulf of Mexico.
We will provide updates as we hear about them.
References
1 An Overview of Protected Species in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Protected Resources Division. 2012. https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/oil-and-gas-energy-program/GOMR/NMFS-Protected-Species-In-GOM-Feb2012.pdf.
2 Rosel, P.E., Mullin, K.D. Cetacean Species in the Gulf of Mexico. DWH NRDA Marine Mammal Technical Working Group Report. National Marine Fisheries Service. Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
https://www.fws.gov/doiddata/dwh-ar-documents/876/DWH-AR0106040.pdf.
3 A New Species of Baleen Whale in the Gulf of Mexico. 2024. NOAA Fisheries News.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-species-baleen-whale-gulf-mexico.
4 Rice’s Whale. NOAA Fisheries Species Directory.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/rices-whale.
5 Rice’s Whale. Marine Mammal Commission.
https://www.mmc.gov/priority-topics/species-of-concern/rices-whale/.
6 Rice’s Whale: Conservation & Management. NOAA Species Directory. 2024.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/rices-whale/conservation-management.
7 BOEM Issues Voluntary Precautionary Measures for Rice’s Whale in the Gulf of Mexico. 2023. U.S. Department of Interior. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/notes-stakeholders/boem-issues-voluntary-precautionary-measures-rices-whale-gulf-mexico.
8 NOAA Fisheries Denies Petition to Establish a Mandatory Speed Limit and Other Vessel Mitigation Measures to Protect Endangered Rice’s Whales in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA Fisheries News. FB23-079. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Bulletin. October 27, 2023.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-denies-petition-establish-mandatory-speed-limit-and-other-vessel-0#:~:text=NOAA%20Fisheries%20denied%20a%20petition,with%20rulemaking%20at%20this%20time..
9 Petition to Establish Vessel Speed Measures to Protect Rice’s Whale. NOAA Fisheries. Protected Resources and Actions.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/petition-establish-vessel-speed-measures-protect-rices-whale.
10 Denial of Gulf Protections Could Lead to the “Permanent Loss” of Rice’s Whale. Jim Turner. WUSF News. October 31, 2023.
https://www.wusf.org/environment/2023-10-31/denial-of-gulf-protections-could-lead-to-the-permanent-loss-of-rices-whales.
by Rick O'Connor | Apr 20, 2024
The Snake Watch Project is one that is helping residents in the Pensacola Bay area better understand which species of snakes are most encountered, where they are encountered, and what time of year. The project began in 2022 and over the last two years between 50-60% of the 40 species/subspecies of snakes known in the Pensacola Bay area have been encountered. The majority of these encounters have been in the spring, with garter snakes, black racers, banded water snakes and cottonmouths being the most common.
The eastern garter snake is one of the few who are active during the cold months.
Photo: Molly O’Connor
The 1st quarter reports cover the winter months, and you would expect fewer encounters – but encounters do happen. In 2022 there were only 6 encounters during the winter months. There was one mid-sized snake (between 12-24” maximum length), 2 large snakes (greater than 3’ maximum length), 1 water snake and 2 cottonmouths for a total of five species. In 2023 there was a significant increase in 1st quarter reports. There were 57 encounters (26% of the total for the year) and 13 species logged.
- Two species of small snakes (less than 12” maximum length) were encountered three times.
- Three species of mid-sized snakes were encountered nine times, this included an encounter with the eastern hognose snake.
- Six species of large snakes were encountered 17 times. These include the rarely seen eastern kingsnake and Florida pine snake.
- Three species of water snakes were encountered, including the green water snake.
- The cottonmouth was encountered 10 times during the 1st quarter of 2023.
This increase in sightings may be more a result of more people interested in the project than a true increase in snake activity, but it does provide us with information on snake activity during the winter months. Eastern garter snakes, eastern ribbon snakes, banded water snakes, and cottonmouths were the most frequently encountered.
A cottonmouth found on the trail near Ft. Pickens.
Photo: Ricky Stackhouse
Snake encounters during the 1st Quarter of 2024 are down. This year 27 encounters occurred logging eight species. The cottonmouth continues to be the most encountered snake in our area and the only one who was encountered in double digits (n=11). Other species encountered included the eastern garter snake, eastern ribbon snake, gray rat snake, corn snake, southern black racer (encountered every month), eastern coachwhip, banded water snake (encountered every month), and the cottonmouth (also encountered each month this quarter).
We will continue to log encounters during the spring. If you see a snake, please let Rick O’Connor know at roc1@ufl.edu.
by Rick O'Connor | Apr 20, 2024
Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is one of the most noxious weeds in the U.S. and has been a problem in the agricultural and timberland for decades. In more recent years it has been found on our barrier islands. Stands of cogongrass on the beaches are not as massive and dense as they are in the upland regions of our district, but now is the time to try and manage it before it does. And NOW is the time to identify whether you have it on your property or not – it is in seed.
Cogongrass shown here with seedheads – more typically seen in the spring. If you suspect you have cogongrass in or around your food plots please consult your UF/IFAS Extension Agent how control options.
Photo credit: Mark Mauldin
Cogongrass produces blades that resemble St. Augustine but are taller and wider. The blades can reach a height of three feet and the color is more of a yellow green (lime green) than the deep green of St. Augustine. If you can touch the blade, you will notice that the midline of the parallel leaf veins is off center slightly and the edges of the blades are serrated – feeling like a saw blade when you run fingers from top to bottom. They usually form dense stands – with a clumping appearance and, as mentioned, it is currently in seed, and this is very helpful with identification.
The midline vein of cogongrass is off-center.
Photo: UF IFAS
The seeds are white, fluffy and elongated extending above the plant so the wind can catch them – similar to dandelions. These can easily be seen from the highway or riding your bike through the neighborhoods. As mentioned above, if you see seeds like this you can confirm the identification by examining the leaf blades. You can also send photos to your county extension office.
The white tufted seeds of cogongrass.
Photo: University of Georgia
If the identification is confirmed the next step is to report the location on EDDMapS – https://www.eddmaps.org. You can also do this with the free app IveGotOne (which can be found on the EDDMapS website or any app store). HOWEVER, you cannot report private property without their permission.
The next step would be management. It is not recommended to mow or disturb the plant while in seed. Herbicide treatment is most effective in the fall. Many will mow the plant, allow the grass to resprout no more than 12 inches, and treat this with an herbicide. It is recommended that you contact your county extension office for recommendations as to which herbicide to use and how.
The negative impacts of this noxious grass have been an issue in the upland communities for decades. There have been few major issues with it in the coastal zone, but early detection rapid response is the most effective management plan to keep negative impacts from occurring. We encourage coastal communities to survey for cogongrass while it is in seed and develop a management plan for the fall.
by Laura Tiu | Apr 13, 2024
What is 54 years old and growing better with age? Earth Day! Every year on April 22, we mark the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement.
Prior to 1970, America and Americans lived with a host of environmental threats and concerns from automobile emissions due to leaded gas, industrial waste, and unchecked air pollution.
While a public awakening began to grow after 1962 when Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, it wasn’t until 1969 when a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California inspired long-term change.
Senator Gaylord Nelson, an environmentally conscious junior senator from Wisconsin, spearheaded the movement when he saw the potential to engage students to raise public consciousness about air and water pollution. He partnered with Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize campus teach-ins and to scale the idea to a broader public.
April 22 was chosen as the date, a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation. They branded the event Earth Day and promoted the event nationally. The first Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans, 10% of the population at the time, to participate and demonstrate against the harmful impacts of unsustainable industrial development.
This first Earth Day united groups that had previously been fighting individually against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness and the extinction of wildlife. It also let to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and many of the environmental protection laws we have today, including the Clean Water Act.
Today, Earth Day celebrations continue, both as protests and celebrations. Here in the Florida Panhandle, one way we celebrate Earth Day is by supporting beach cleanups. It is one avenue to give back to our communities and help take care of the environment that we love.
Why not take the time to celebrate 54 years of progress and tradition? Find a way to celebrate Earth Day this coming April 22, 2024.
by Rick O'Connor | Apr 6, 2024
In 2005 I was leading a field trip with high school students in a salt marsh on Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola Beach. As we explored a brackish water creek, we came across a three-foot red mangrove tree, prop roots and all. To say we were surprised and excited would be an understatement.
Most know that mangroves are trees that can tolerate seawater and grow along estuarine shorelines across the tropics, including south Florida. They can form dense forests that support all sorts of aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. They need calm protected waters to establish themselves but once established are excellent at protecting shoreline communities during hurricanes. However, they cannot tolerate cold weather, only surviving freezing temperatures for one or two nights.
The red mangrove.
Photo: University of Florida
Growing up in Pensacola we would often find red mangrove propagules (seedlings) washed ashore arriving from the tropical parts of the Gulf. They were generally on the Gulf side of Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key but never germinated. If they were carried into the estuary, and found a protected lagoon to begin germination, they would not survive our winters. This is what made finding an established three-foot mangrove in a lagoon off Santa Rosa Sound in 2005 so surprising.
Mangrove propagule washed ashore. Photo: Rick O’Connor
Historically mangroves were not found north of Tampa Bay. However, in recent decades they have become established as far north as Cedar Key. Trying to determine whether the mangrove we found was the northern most in Florida I found that they were also expanding along the east coast of Florida as far north as St. Augustine, and there were records in the Jacksonville area. Many attribute this to climate change. Our winters are milder than they were when I was a kid, and this may be leading to what many are calling the “tropicalization of northern Gulf of Mexico”. Not only mangroves, but other historically south Florida species, such as snook and bonefish, have been reported along the panhandle.
In 2017 I was leading another high school group on a field trip in a salt marsh in Big Lagoon State Park. We found a germinated seedling of a red mangrove doing very well. We explored more and found seven others in the nearby area. How many more were growing in the Pensacola Bay area?
A small red mangrove growing in Big Lagoon near Pensacola FL
Photo: Rick O’Connor
We partnered with a research team from Dauphin Island Sea Lab who was looking into this as well. The team included extension agents and specialists from Florida and Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, as well as biologists from the National Estuarine Research Reserves in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida panhandle. Each county/region selected 10 transect sites that had the highest probability of mangroves to monitor each year. Mangroves appear to be established on some of the Mississippi barrier islands, as well as in St. Joe Bay. Individuals have been reported from Bay County. A ninth mangrove was found in Escambia County but a hard freeze in 2018 killed them all. Since then, one young multi-year red mangrove was found on NAS Pensacola. It died in the hard freeze of 2023. Despite the hard freezes, those established in St. Joe Bay seem to be holding on. I decided to make a visit and see.
A red mangrove growing at NAS Pensacola. Photo: Whitney Scheffel.
Black mangroves growing near St. George Island in Franklin County.
Photo: Joshua Hodson
Wading out from the buffer preserve with Gulf County Sea Grant Agent Ray Bodrey, we found relatively large patches of mangroves, and seeds suggesting active expansion was ongoing. But I noticed the species we were seeing were black mangroves. I mentioned to Ray that what we had seen in Pensacola were red mangroves. He said that the red mangroves have a hard time here as well. Black mangroves are more tolerant of cold weather, and it is they who are establishing these large patches. There are reports of large patches of mangroves on the Mississippi barrier islands – and they are the black mangroves as well. I know that black mangroves have been established in the Chandeleur Islands in Louisiana for decades. I am convinced that if black mangroves seeds were to reach protected lagoons in Pensacola Bay, they would probably do well here as well.
I continue to conduct our transects each year in the Pensacola Bay area. I have a couple of trained volunteers helping me but could always use more. If you think you have seen a mangrove growing in the Florida panhandle, we would love to know and document their location. We know they are established in Gulf County, so our focus is now Escambia to Bay counties. If you think you have seen one, contact me at roc1@ul.edu or your county Sea Grant Agent.
