Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on Earth. They can be found in every ocean and range in size from the small dwarf sperm whale to the massive blue whale, the largest animal on the planet. Whales belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans. Marine mammals in the cetacean family include whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
There are two types of cetaceans: baleen and toothed. Baleen whales, or Mysticetes, have baleen plates which sieve prey, like krill, from the water. Toothed whales, or Odontocetes, have teeth and feed on fish, squid, and other marine mammals such as seals and sea lions.
Together with our partners, we work to ensure the conservation of whales which are all protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and protect and recover those that are listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Species News
Scientists Investigate Why a Sperm Whale Washed Up Along Hilton Head, South Carolina
Scientists overlooking Rice's whale flukeprints—calm patches of water on the surface of the ocean formed by the passing of a whale. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Carrie Sinclair (Permit #29138)
Reflecting on 15 Years of Science Since Deepwater Horizon: Monitoring Recovery
Technical divers Jake Emmert of Moody Gardens and Devin Waddell of Georgia Aquarium reattach a coral colony (Swiftia exserta) to the reef in the northern Gulf of America. Credit: Georgia Aquarium/Jonathan Langham
Reflecting on 15 Years of Science Since Deepwater Horizon: Supporting Restoration
NOAA scientists look over the side of a research vessel at oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Glenn Zapfe
Reflecting on 15 Years of Science Since Deepwater Horizon: Response and Assessment
Multimedia
A gray whale and her calf migrate north along the California coast on their way to summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Scientists are using an unmanned aerial vehicle to produce very precise overhead images of gray whales, then analyzing the images to understand how environmental conditions affect the health of adult females and ultimately the reproductive success of the population. Credit: NOAA
Researchers retrieve a passive acoustic recorder. Courtesy: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Listening for Whales: Using Passive Acoustic Monitoring to Track North Atlantic Right Whales
Research
Surveys in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
We conduct research and monitoring surveys to better understand the physical, biological, economic, and social components of marine ecosystems found in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean from the Canadian Scotian Shelf to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
On-Demand Gear Guide
A roadmap for wider use of on-demand fishing in the Greater Atlantic Region by 2028.
Monitoring the Ecosystem in the Northeast
The most comprehensive, ongoing program exploring marine resources and oceanographic conditions in the Northwest Atlantic. Our analyses inform local and international fisheries management, protected species research, and climate science.
A Decade of Declines in Toothed Whale Densities Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
We document decadal density declines for seven of eight monitored species groups, including sperm…
Understanding Marine Mammal Protections
Learn how NOAA Fisheries protects all marine mammals under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
