Which coast has a wider abundance of sea mammals, east or west?
Good question. I had to ask the scientists on board because I wasn’t sure. And I don’t think this question really can be answered! Many of the same marine mammals we have been seeing here are also found in the Atlantic Ocean, so in terms of species, there may not be too much of a difference. Both habitats are quite diverse. Here in the Pacific, I have seen mostly fin whales, blue whales, humpback whales, sperm whales, and killer whales, and common and striped dolphins. All of these species are also found on the east coast. What is the biggest problem with the abundance of mammals in the Pacific Ocean? Probably the biggest problem is with the fisheries’ bycatch. The bycatch refers to the animals caught by fisheries that weren’t the intended species. Sometimes when fishing boats cast their nets or drag their lines, other species get caught; species they were not trying to catch. The bycatch (dolphins, whales, sea turtles, sharks, etc.) die by being tangled in the nets or caught on the li
