May 12, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries has been on a quest to find what conditions make the best habitat for the endangered Rice’s whale. A team of scientists from the Southeast Fisheries Science Center published research findings in the journal Endangered Species Research that characterize their habitat. The findings were based on whale surveys and oceanographic data.
The study found the oceanographic conditions important for Rice’s whale habitat are primarily located along the outer edge of the continental shelf around the Gulf of Mexico. Here, conditions promote high food productivity and likely support optimal feeding habitat for the whales.