Determination for conservation

PLYMOUTH -With the intent of studying Plymouth’s biggest residents, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) has moved to America’s Hometown.

Regina Asmutis-Silvia, senior biologist for WDCS’ North American branch, said the decision to move from its East Falmouth office to Plymouth was to put the group in a better position for research, which is focused primarily on studying the North Atlantic right whale, which makes Cape Cod Bay one of its critical habitats.

With only 400 of the oceanic mammals remaining, Asmutis-Silvia said these whales are in danger of becoming extinct within our lifetime.

“Plymouth provides us with a whole lot more access,” Asmutis-Silvia said. “The issues we deal with are here.”

Right whales, which can weigh up to 100 tons, earned their name for being known as the “right whale” to hunt, due to their slow speed and coastal habitats.

Along with Cape Cod Bay, the North Atlantic right whale is also seen around the coasts of Florida, as well as areas east of the Cape. Members of the WDCS often respond to strandings in the Plymouth area.

The last whale hunt occurred over 70 years ago, but today the whales face new threats: ship strikes and entanglement in fishing nets. The biologist said Massachusetts has been very cooperative in establishing laws to minimize these dangers, one of which requires fishing nets to be weighted as opposed to floating.

Since February, WDCS has been moving its equipment and four to six member staff to the new Plymouth location.

“Here we have access to the whale-watching boats; we can get on the water more frequently,” Asmutis-Silvia said. “It provided us a whole breadth of opportunities we didn’t have before.”

WDCS is based out of England, but has chapters in the United States, Australia, Argentina and Germany. Its mission is to be the global voice for dolphins and whales as well as their environment, which the society does through a combination of research, conservation and campaigning.

One of its programs is energy conservation, which is conducted in concert with www.energy.gov. WDCS advocates for a reduction in CO2 emissions, which can negatively impact the ocean.

The organization also works with local schools to educate youngsters.

“We make people aware of being responsible in the water,” Treasurer Michael Waterson said. “There are many facets to what we do and how we do it.”

The new Nelson Street location also provides housing for the society’s internship program. Every three or four months two interns work at the site, doing research, campaigning and conservation.

Waterson said his organization looks for people with enthusiasm for marine work, as well as a desire to learn.

“It gives them the experience of working in an international operation as well,” Waterson said.

Whale lovers can even adopt or sponsor their own humpback whale, which are known to call the waters of the Gulf of Maine home. Working with whale watch boat captains, researchers photograph and catalogue these animals. Family histories are tracked through this program.

People that adopt the whales receive a certificate, and are kept apprised of sightings of their sponsored whale. The adopted humpbacks are used as flagships for whale protection issues. Funds that go into this program are used for research.

“You really can get to know these animals individually,” Asmutis-Silvia said. “These people are very committed to their animals.”

Photos by Laurie Govoni Enos