Whale Entanglements in Fishing Gear Surge Off U.S. West Coast During Marine Heatwaves

Each spring, humpback whales start to feed off the coast of California and Oregon on dense schools of anchovies, sardines and krill—prey sustained by cool, nutrient-rich water that seasonal winds draw up from the deep ocean. That process, known as coastal upwelling, turns the California Current into one of the most productive marine ecosystems in […]