The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed the causes of death or injury for 11 killer whales caught incidentally in fishing gear and a NOAA research survey in Alaska in 2023.
The agency said Dec. 1 that six whales died from being caught in Alaska processor vessels using non-pelagic trawl gear targeting flatfish. A seventh whale was caught in fishing gear and seriously injured, according to NOAA.
The agency said it will undertake further analyses to fully assess the impacts of all human-caused mortalities and serious injuries for these stocks of killer whales in 2023.
