Follow Local Resident Orca Whale L-87 On NOAA’s Website

In late December the Northwest Fisheries Science Center tagged local resident Orca L-87 with a satellite linked tag. According to the Center, “The information gathered from this tag will address the data gap in winter distribution identified in the Recovery Plan as well as provide information for improving Critical Habitat designation. This technique has been identified as an important approach for addressing this issue by the independent science panel that assessed the impact of salmon fisheries on Southern Resident killer whales”

The site is updated every 3-4 days or so, and is an interesting way to see where this (and other local whales) are, and how far they travel each day.

(Chart below is from 1-7-2014 – click to enlarge)