Blog Posts

Written by: Aitana Romero Vaernewyck, Emily Foote, Andy Klein, and Lewis Evans Kick things off with our Maui 2026 field season recap! Each winter, the waters of Maui Nui become a hub of activity as humpback whales return to their breeding grounds. For our team at the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), this marks the start of an intensive field season focused on understanding whale behavior, physiology, and health. Specifically, our project aims to understand the drivers o

Written by Cameron Nemeth We are pleased to share a new publication in Marine Mammal Science , entitled: Nares modulation in breathing cetaceans reflects respiratory mechanics Authors: Cameron Nemeth , Joy Reidenberg , Lars Bejder and Andreas Fahlman A humpback whale breathing at the surface on a brisk morning in Southeast Alaska. Credit: Alaska Whale Foundation Field Team (NOAA permit #19703) Overview: Cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises) possess a specialized resp

Written by Abigael Jacka , Taylor Rouse , and Lewis Evans Video overview of our 2025 humpback season edited by Abigael As we prepare for our 2026 humpback whale field season in Maui Nui, our team has taken a moment to look back on the incredible work accomplished last winter. Two of our 2024–2025 interns, Abigael Jacka and Taylor Rouse, recently compiled a detailed reflection on last year’s (2025) Maui field season — capturing the discoveries, day-to-day realities, and collab