3 North Bound 0 South Bound 8 hrs

March 4, 2025 Tuesday

Sunny 60 degrees and Water Temperature 53 degrees with calm seas. Three North bound Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus)seen in 3 sightings. One with white deep scar (?) healing an injury and another was underweight with lack of fat pad at post cranial head area. One was healthy with no loss of fat pads visible.

The UME ( Unusual Mortality Event) was declared over in 2023 but it’s still important to monitor and document body conditions of the Gray Whales along the migration route. This year is the LOWEST documented South bound count by the ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior project in 40 years of counting whales. Here is an expert from the ACS-LA page posted on February 11th 2025

“We counted 3 northbound gray whales yesterday (10 February), which brings us up to 88 southbound (NO calves), and 10 northbound gray whales. This is a record low southbound count to date – MUCH lower than last season, when we had counted 186 southbound (including 22 calves) and 21 northbound grays (including 1 calf): last season, we ended up with 225 southbound grays (including 24 calves) – our lowest ever southbound count!”

Most likely the whales are taking far offshore routes to get to Mexico but they are late to arrive in the lagoons as well. Many Gray Whales have been observed in areas further south than typical years. It is speculated they are traveling further to get to warmer water. This has happened before in post recovery from the last UME in 1999- 2000 and in years with cooler La Nina waters. Documenting the health of the whales this year to compare with calf production rates will help understand the recovery Gray Whales are making after recent years (2019-2023) of malnutrition and increased death rates.

Surf was “up” for local surfers out catching waves today. Local wildlife and whale enthusiasts, Eric Pierson and Richard Corman, looked on.

One Gray Whale with a large white rimmed injury filled with whale specific lice: Cyamus scammoni (only found on Gray Whales). The lice only feeds on dead skin, keeping the wound clean and healing. The lice is not a parasite but it is in a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial to both.

Research Vessel LA MER observed doing water quality sampling near shore today. The same ship has been observed in several locations recently. Point Dume is in the Northern end of the Santa Monica Bay. In addition to typical water sampling the local areas are being carefully monitored after the local wildfires, including the Palasades Fire for toxins and debris. Heal the Bay is advocating for the local waters and driving conservation efforts to ensure a healthy ecosystem protecting the abundance of marine life and human life along the impacted fire areas.

Tonight’s sunset at Point Dume, Malibu.

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