Monterey Bay Whale Watch Map of Marine Mammal
Sightings in the Monterey Bay Region
March 26 - April 25, 1998
compiled by Richard Ternullo
Note: Gray Whales were present throughout the area during this reporting period, and are not plotted on the chart. Numerous California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, and Southern Sea Otters are seen on all trips, and also are not plotted.
Humpback Whales have replaced Gray Whales as the most frequently sighted
baleen whale in our area. Mother and calf Gray Whales can be seen from
locations close inshore as they move northward until late May.
The most extraordinary reports are our sightings of Killer Whale/Gray Whale
predation events from start to finish, the first ever in recent times. There
is an unseen annual drama occurring off our coast as the Gray Whale mothers
and calves make their way to Alaskan waters. This has probably been an event
that has occurred for thousands of years. Only now has it been documented.
Monterey Bay seems to be an area of high risk for mother/calf pairs as they
cross the deep submarine canyon that bisects our bay. Such events may continue
until about mid to late May.
The sightings plotted above were compiled by Richard Ternullo for the period 3/26/98 to 4/25/98.
Sightings reported by British Broadcasting Corp., D. Davi, N. Lemon, B. Lucas, Monterey Bay Whale Watch, L. Oliver, R. Ortiz, R/V Pt. Sur, K. Stagnaro, J. Williamson, W. Williamson.