ACS-LA Across the Internet
Events
Make a donation
Current Cetacean News
Our ACS-LA Board posts current cetacean news on our Facebook page and the most recent articles can be found on this page. Keep up-to-date by coming back often! And if you are on Facebook, follow us!
American Cetacean Society - Los Angeles Chapter (ACS/LA)
Founded in 1967, the American Cetacean Society protects whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats through public education, research grants, and conservation actions.
No upcoming events
Commemorating 40 Years, Gray Whale Census
On Dec. 1st, 2024, Alisa Schulman-Janiger was recognized for her 40 years of dedication as Director and Coordinator of ACS-LA’s Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project by the Mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes, John Cruikshank. The ACS-LA Board was joined by Census citizen...
Gray Whale Census update March 2024
Gray Whale Census morning crew M'Liz Callender, Petrina Long, Joanne Kajiyama, and Caroline DeGraaf, 2024 February 29, Point Vicente Interpretie Center, by Alisa Schulman-Janiger. Southbound gray whale mom and calf, photographed from our Census station at the Point...
Gray Whale Census Summary 2014-2015
Photo by Alisa Schulman-JanigerACS/LA GRAY WHALE CENSUS AND BEHAVIOR PROJECT: 2014-2015 Census Project Director/Coordinator: Alisa Schulman-Janiger Email: janiger@cox.net For daily sighting details, please visit: www.acs-la.org Higher gray whale counts, record...
Gray Whale Census Summary 2017-2018
Photo by Nancy Rhodes ACS/LA GRAY WHALE CENSUS AND BEHAVIOR PROJECT: 2017-2018 Census Project Director/Coordinator: Alisa Schulman-Janiger Email: janiger@cox.net For daily sighting details, please visit: www.acs-la.org Our third highest southbound calf counts...
Our Partners and Sponsors
Thar she blows! Nice illustration of a variety of whale blows, by @whaleposter, Zoltan Nemeth. ... See MoreSee Less
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑
Northern right whale dolphins in the Santa Barbara channel, June 2025. By ACS-LA member, Lory Barra. ... See MoreSee Less
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
ACS-LA Members: We thought it would be fun to spotlight members' cetacean photos! If you'd like to participate, please send the photo you'd like us to spotlight with your first and last name, and a small description including where and when it was taken. We will entitle these posts "Members' Corner" and post them to ACS-LA's Facebook and Instagram and give you full photo credit.
Come join the fun and share an experience with our whaley community! Simply email us at: acs.lachapter@gmail.com
To become a member: acs-la.org/membership/
Example:
San Pedro, CA
"The short beaked common dolphins were jumping like popcorn on this day in November of 2019, and while not that clear a photo, this is still one of my favorite captures for sheer height out of the water. Got this photo on my cel phone." - Patty F. ... See MoreSee Less
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Gray Whales off Baja CA: bad news includes very low total counts, record low calf counts, more skinny whales, and many strandings. Gray whales may be at a tipping point in their history, as thousands have died throughout their North American range. Between 2019 and 2025 at least 1,235 gray whales have stranded dead along the Pacific coast of North America from Baja California Sur in Mexico to Alaska, nearly 8 times the previous 10-year average stranding frequency! In response, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared in 2019 an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for the Eastern North Pacific gray whale population and began to investigate the increased number of mortalities (NOAA 2024). NOAA has estimated the population declined from an estimated 26,960 whales in the 2015/2016 winter to 14,525 by the 2023/2024 winter as the result of multiple consecutive years of the increased mortality rate. Here are details from this season's research efforts in Laguna San Ignacio and Bahía Magdalena. (GWRM). ... See MoreSee Less
2025 Annual Gray Whale Report for Laguna San Ignacio and Bahía Magdalena | Gray Whale Research in Mexico
graywhaleresearchmexico.org
2025 Annual Gray Whale Report for Laguna San Ignacio and Bahía Magdalena By Steven Swartz June 9, 2025 2025 Gray Whale Research Summary Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) may be at a tipping point i...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Gray whales in trouble! Scientists say they’ve seen a surprising number of gray whale strandings this year during their migration up the west coast. NOAA Fisheries says the total strandings for all US states currently totals 47: 27 in California, 13 in Washington (more than twice the normal average), and 7 in Oregon. Last year the total was 31; in 2023 (last year of the UME) the total was 44. At least 80 gray whales died in the warm lagoons of Baja Mexico; surveys also show far fewer calves were born than normal.
An ‘Unusual Mortality Event‘ (UME) of the species officially known as eastern North Pacific gray whales occurred from December 2018 to November 2023. 690 strandings were documented along the west coast of North America, and more than a quarter of the population likely died. The expectation has been for a rebounding population; with fewer whales around, available food should be enough. Instead, many still appear to be starving, and it looks like the UME is continuing. Many stranded whales appear emaciated, suggesting problems with their Arctic food supply - linked to climate change.
NOAA Fisheries says it will issue its latest population abundance estimate for the eastern north Pacific gray whales as soon as this week. In 2024, it was roughly 19,000. NOTE: this estimate will likely drop to close to 15,000... ... See MoreSee Less
Gray whales along the Pacific west coast appear to be in trouble
www.knkx.org
After an official Unusual Mortality Event was declared over, scientists expected the population to rebound. Instead, they're seeing high numbers of strandings.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW for our annual Condor Express 8 hr whale watch. If you are an ACS-LA member you will be receiving a discount code via email today (around 2:45pm) for $10 off your tickets. Early bird $5 off applies to all tickets purchased by August 15th.
For more info and to buy tickets:
www.eventbrite.com/e/acs-la-summertime-whale-watching-adventure-2025-tickets-1353783626269?aff=od...
Date: Sept 6, 2025, Saturday 8am-4pm
Come join us for a fun whale watch experience in the Santa Barbara Channel with a good group of whaley people in an area teeming with marine life! ... See MoreSee Less
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.0 CommentsComment on Facebook