San Francisco and Sydney, Australia are both beautiful “cities by the Bay” and gateways to the Pacific Ocean. What do we have in common when it comes to supporting, protecting, and educating on the marine mammals and wildlife who live and frequent the Bay and surrounding waters? Please join us as we hear from marine scientist, Dr. Vanessa Pirotta, a fierce advocate for the marine world and cetaceans. In getting to know her work, there is a lot we can learn to be more effective stewards locally, for the cetaceans and marine world we love.

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We’re excited to host a special whale watching tour with Monterey Bay Whale Watch!

This exclusive outing is more than a whale watch. It’s an opportunity to experience Monterey Bay alongside researchers and conservationists who have dedicated their lives to understanding and protecting whales, dolphins, and other marine life. Don’t forget to use special discount code ACS26

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Please join us as we hear from marine biologist and killer whale expert Nancy Black. Nancy started Monterey Bay Whale Watch 34 years ago guaranteeing her regular on-the-seas observations and study of marine life in what is known as the "Serengeti of the Oceans". She has been photo-identifying Monterey Bay killer whales and studying their distribution, natural history, and behavior for 30 years. We are pairing this exciting talk with a community whale watch with Nancy in Monterey Bay on April 5 and an art auction of Firuze Gokce’s “J63 and her Mom Diving into the Kelp Forest”. Details follow.

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Environmental variation across temporal and spatial scales shapes individual differences in traits and causes resource acquisition and allocation to fluctuate dramatically. Spotlighting northern elephant seals as a model system, Roxanne and research technician Conner Hale will discuss how the Beltran Lab combines mark-recapture methods and animal-borne sensors to investigate how individual variation contributes to population persistence. They will highlight how the lab group's research advances the understanding of individual-environment interactions and how it can be used to test and refine ecological theory. Please join us for some cutting edge science and an even greater appreciation for elephant seals – they have a lot to tell us!

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As gray whales soon begin their migration north along the eastern pacific, join us as we pay tribute to these beautiful goliaths with a timely update on their status. We are so pleased to kick off 2026 with esteemed scientist, Dr. Steven Swartz who has been “on the ground” studying gray whales in their breeding lagoons in Baja California since 1977. For everything you might want to know about gray whales, please register for what will be an amazing talk from one of the world's experts.

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Come join us for a whale of a good time at The Marine Mammal Center! Our annual social event is back and better than ever. Meet fellow cetacean enthusiasts, learn about the latest marine mammal research, and enjoy a fun-filled day celebrating these amazing creatures. Don’t miss out on this fin-tastic opportunity to connect with others who share your passion for whales, dolphins, and porpoises. See you there!

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Dall’s porpoise is a cetacean you won’t forget if you’ve ever seen one or a group of them – they are powerful fast swimmers that rip so rapidly across the surface they create a characteristic spray known as a “rooster tail” – a thrilling display. Recently there has been concern about the apparent decreasing numbers of Dall’s porpoise in the eastern North Pacific (ENP). In early 2025, the ACS-SFBay chapter awarded a research grant to Dr. Thomas Jefferson to address the concerns and evaluate available evidence for population declines. Please join us to hear from our grantee on the results of his study, evidence of the decline along the west coast, and suggested next steps for our understanding of threats to the Dall’s porpoise population.

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As photographer-extraordinaire, Jodi Frediani leads us on a trip through the Inside Passage. We'll meet lunge feeding humpback whales, black and brown bears, eagles, lots of other critters and take in this majestic landscape. Along the way, Jodi will share her collaboration with researchers, film crews, and whale aficionados. We are in for a real treat!

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California humpback whales are seasonal migrants between here and mostly Mexico and Central America, a simple general pattern, but when we look deeper the patterns are complex and persistent across huge population changes. Join us for an exploration of new technology enabling a deep dive into the lives of leviathans, and the understanding recently revealed. We are delighted to have Ted Cheeseman, founder of Happywhale share insights from his unique vantage point and knowledge.

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The federal government budget at NOAA has been slashed. What does this mean for our Nation's most significant marine areas and the wildlife they protect?  Please join us as we hear from Maria Brown, former Superintendent of the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries. Come to learn about our local National Marine Sanctuaries, some of the most biologically diverse marine ecosystems in the world. How do cetaceans depend on these marine protected areas? What exactly are the regulations and what projects are underway meant to restore cetacean populations? Importantly, how can we all help safeguard these vital habitats? If there was ever a time to be better informed of marine policy and protection, it is now!

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We turn our attention to the leviathans of our seas, of our planet, the blue whale. In this talk, marine mammal biologist and recipient of our chapter’s recent research grant, Jessie Meyer will share his study results. As a measure of health, body condition has been increasingly used to assess the impacts of environmental and physiological change on marine mammals. This study expanded a previous analysis of blue whale body condition in the Eastern North Pacific (ENP) using images collected by Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) over a total of 21 years between 1991 and 2023. In all, 4,188 images of 1,319 individuals were grouped by year, decade, region, and season to investigate potential differences in body condition. Please join us for ground-breaking knowledge and insight into these wondrous animals who command our respect and caring.

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With numerous gray whale strandings in the news in recent weeks, it’s a good time to put them in the spotlight. Marine biologist Barbie Halaska will lead us on a celebration of their incredible natural history. She will draw from her deep experience in performing necropsies and share how they help scientists learn more about the species and offer insights into the recent Unusual Mortality Event (2018 – 2023)

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Please join us as we embark on a global travel - virtually – along one humpback whale’s migration. You won’t want to miss the journey as chronicled by the marine biologists behind the discovery of this epic cetacean story.

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Join us as Marc shares his knowledge and photos from what truly is an extravaganza and celebration of marine life. We will be at sea on the boat – virtually – as we visit birthing sites of gray whales and witness the season’s burst of life with blue whales, humpbacks, dolphins, seabirds and pinniped species that include elephant seals, Guadalupe fur seals, California sea lions and more.

We also are thrilled, as part of this celebration of ocean life, to pair a fundraising art auction of two works by board member and artist Firuze Gokce. Details to follow!

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Formal research on Nicaragua humpback whales has been ongoing since 2016 uncovering intriguing information and discoveries for this important breeding area. Join us as Joëlle De Weerdt presents the latest research advancements drawing from the results of her PhD thesis as well as giving us new, exciting perspectives in what the future holds for humpback whale research.

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Please join us to kickoff 2025 with Chad King, Research Ecologist at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, who will treat us to his many years exploring the Sanctuary. We will celebrate ocean protection with Chad as he leads us into the deep sea and shares his observations and discoveries, covering flora and fauna, including human impact on ocean ecosystems.

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Once numbering in the tens of thousands, the North Pacific right whale was driven to the brink of extinction; now it's estimated that fewer than 50 animals remain in the eastern population. Despite this, one of these rare animals was seen this May off Point Reyes, CA. So how do you study the proverbial needle in a very large haystack? Come learn about North Pacific right whales as Jessica Crance, Marine Mammal biologist and right whale specialist, talks about their dark history, the research being done to save them, and the struggles and rewards of studying one of the most critically endangered large whale populations in the world.

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Dr. Nicola Ransome is the recipient of ACS-SF Bay chapter’s 2023 Christine Fitzsimmons cetacean research grant. Her primary research focus is on the study of anthropogenic impacts on large whales of the Eastern Tropical Pacific. She has used the grant proceeds toward her ongoing research of a threatened “distinct population segment” (DPS) of humpback whales, whose migratory corridor is Central America through the west coast of North America. The research is focused on seasonal (early season) timing and identification of the whales through tail flukes and the Happywhale identification platform. Please join us as Nico shares her findings and the impact of the results from this empirical research.

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In March of this year, Vancouver Island residents were gripped with the story of kʷiisaḥiʔis, or “Brave Little Hunter” who had been stuck in the Zeballos (BC) lagoon since her pregnant mother was stranded and drowned. Join us to hear the story of coaxing this calf into the open ocean by a scientist involved, techniques used, and overall what scientists are learning of this population of Orcas using latest technology and leveraging AI deep learning algorithms.

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Dr. Vanessa ZoBell, postdoctoral researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego will discuss the importance of studying whale acoustics, the threats that whales are facing in the modern ocean, and creative solutions to protect these important animals.

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"Whale Conservation in San Francisco Bay and Beyond"

Dive into whale conservation in San Francisco Bay and beyond! Join Kathi George, The Marine Mammal Center’s Director of Cetacean Conservation Biology who will lead us on an exploration of cetacean research initiatives at The Marine Mammal Center including maritime collaborations that reduce the risk of entanglement and vessel strike on large whales. Can there be a balance between whales and human activities? Discover how the Center is working to create such a balance.

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Please join us for an illuminating evening with Dr. Patrick Robinson as he shares some of the research findings from the UC Santa Cruz elephant seal research program.  He will discuss the research methods used to study these animals on their epic migrations and share what he and other researchers have learned about their elusive lives in the deep mesopelagic zone.  In addition to highlighting results from behavioral, physiological, ecological, and oceanographic research, he will share some of the remaining mysteries and future areas of research.

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We had a joyful evening and heard from local elephant seal expert, Dr. Sarah Allen. Dr. Allen’s keen observations of these animals from the frontlines of Pt. Reyes have been instrumental in our knowledge of their behavior and habitat needs.

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We are thrilled to host author, Susan Casey for her presentation, "Uncovering the Ocean's Deepest Secrets". In her latest book, The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean, she embedded for seven years with explorers and marine scientists as they endeavored to unravel the deep sea’s many mysteries. 

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We are delighted to host Dr. Tim Markowitz, Cetacean Field Research Coordinator of The Marine Mammal Center, and contributing author in the recently published book, Sex in Cetaceans: Morphology, Behavior, and the Evolution of Sexual Strategies, for what is certain to be a fascinating presentation!

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The ACS San Francisco Bay Chapter is excited to kick off our 2024 speaker series with Dr. Jeff Boehm, Chief External Relations Officer of The Marine Mammal Center. There’s no one better to share the experiences of this iconic organization that has been caring for ill and injured marine mammals for almost fifty years.

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On November 14, 2023, Dr. Kim Holland of the University of Hawaii’s Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) presented a fascinating broad-strokes overview of past and current research at the HIMB. His presentation focused on the physiological ecology and behavior of several shark species found in Hawaiian waters.

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ACS San Francisco Bay Chapter had another exciting evening with award-winning wildlife photographer, Jodi Frediani. For this talk, Jodi took us on her fourth trip to the Antarctic Peninsula and her first voyage to South Georgia in October 2022.

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