March Madness - Skaana ocean news round-up

Sharktopuses, orcas, new ocean science & America vs. scientists

Yes, a lot of science news these days is depressing so let’s kick off with something friggin’ amazing. I’ve just released a book on octopuses, that was following a book on sharks and next-up… sharktopuses???

No, this is not the plot for a sequel to Sharknado - or it least it wasn’t when it made the news… but a scientist filmed a Maori octopus riding a Mako shark like an undersea Uber…

My other fave ocean science story of Mad March: Dolphins welcome SpaceX's Crew-9 astronauts home after splashdown (video) ‘cause I can’t help thinking they’re hoping for news from their home planet.

And now… a reminder to check out our latest episode if you haven’t yet… Skaana was created to share stories like this… Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes and I talk about Tahlequah’s second tour-of-grief and why the world’s response was so negligible different than the one that transfixed the world in 2018.

Helping Tahlequah

Second Tour of Grief for Critically Endangered Southern Resident Orca, Tahlequah. NOW is the time to Prevent a Third Tour of Grief. TAKE ACTION! - Dam Truth

In orca news

New orca calf spotted off Vancouver Island this week - CHEK News. Okay, it’s a Biggs’ orca but still… always good news…

No orca emergencies in Canada

Government declines to issue emergency order, putting southern resident killer whales at greater risk - EcoJustice

Feds refuse protection order for southern resident orcas, rejecting ministers' advice - CHEK News

Feds refuse emergency order for endangered orcas - The Narwhal

Belugas, baby…

What happened with the belugas? Can Canada learn from its conservation mistakes? - Canadian Geographic

The return of the whale hunt in Washington State?

‘We are optimistic’: Makah First Nation may receive permit to hunt Grey Whales of their coast soon - Chek News

And more cool Octo-news (though not as cool as sharktopuses)

Video shows octopus ‘hanging on for dear life’ during B.C. bomb cyclone - CHEK

In ocean science news

drone images to detect early pregnancy in killer whales - Ocean.org

Victoria-based compact ocean robot is making huge research waves - CHEK

Ping, You’ve Got Whale

A new artificial intelligence-powered detection system is giving ship captains real-time alerts when a whale is in their path. - Biographic

Trump vs. Science

‘Caught off guard’: EPA proposes to fire hundreds of scientists - “This is not designed to cut expenses, it's designed to destroy,” one official said. - Grist

It’s Not Just NOAA People They Fired, It’s NOAA’s Mission - SciLight

Trump Disbands First Ever Scientific Integrity Committee -SciLight

And the Union of Concerned Scientists are really f#@ing concerned about the future of science: 48 Scientific Societies Representing Almost 100,000 Scientists Ask Congress to Protect the Future of Science

Coming soon on Skaana…

• Sperm whale expert Shane Gero

• Beatrice Frank - New Executive Director, Georgia Strait Alliance

• Lummi Tribal Elder Squil-le-he-le Raynell Morris on the new movie Resident Orca about the life and death of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (Lolita/Tokitae).

• And our coverage of the eco-issues in the upcoming Canadian federal election.

Also… please support Skaana at Patreon or here on Substack.

And please check out my latest book - Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep… available wherever you buy books.