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FEATURE ARTICLE: FRAN & HER CALF
Written by Aeon Bashir
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On August 29th, 1779, the American Forces defeated the British at the Battle of Newtown. On August 29th, 1958, the famous singer/songwriter Michael Jackson was born. However, on August 29th, 2022, an event of great sorrow came to pass. Fran, California’s most famous and beloved whale, washed ashore in Half-Moon Bay, most likely killed by a ship strike. Fran was 17 years old and 49 feet long. Humpback whales tend to live around 80-90 years and grow to about 49-50 feet. Fran was quite big and yet fairly young. Fran will be remembered forever on.
Fran was born in 2005, and was the daughter of River aka Big Fin. She was named by Fred Bergholz in honor of his late wife. Fran had a unique personality. She would come up, unafraid, to boats, but she wouldn’t annoy them or get too close. She had her friends and family that she hung out with, and she was quite a friendly whale. Fran has been sighted 279 times and remains the second most sighted whale throughout the world.
On July 25th, 2022, I was fortunate enough to see Fran and her calf. She was huge and graceful, and it was an amazing experience. I also had the privilege of naming Fran’s calf through Whales of Guerrero. I named her “Aria”, which commonly means a beautiful tune or melody, typically legato and smooth. This translates to the humpbacks’ singing voice and also symbolizes her life as a wonderful melody. Aria also means lioness. A lioness symbolizes strength and gracefulness as it moves through the African savanna. In the same way, Fran’s calf elegantly moves through the water, and the orca marks on her fluke tell the story of her strength and courage. Aria was an extremely mature calf as she was born early in the season. It is likely that she was already weaned before late August. There is quite a lot of hope that Aria will survive. You can track Aria here.
Here is a video of Fran and Aria from the July 25th encounter at Monterey Bay, unfortunately one of the last sightings of them together. Fran was a wonderful whale, and her legacy will be remembered forever.
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Fran and Aria
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SPOTLIGHT HABITAT: MUDFLATS
Written by Hannah Peterson
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The spotlight habitat for October is mudflats! Mudflats are also known as tidal flats. They are typically formed when the ocean brings in mud and silt, leaving it in estuaries, bays, and lagoons when the tide comes in. The mudflats are then exposed at low tide. Due to the mixture of mud and water, they tend to be like quicksand. They also have minimal vegetation. Mudflats are known to have a rotten egg smell and have been thought to be unhealthy, but that opinion is changing. Mudflat hiking has become a popular recreational activity. Mudflats are threatened by damage from ships, chemical pollution, rising sea levels, and land development. Mudflats are considered an essential ecosystem, and therefore need our protection. They are a very productive breeding ground for fish and provide habitats for worms, mollusks, crustaceans, snails, and oysters. Additionally, they are important for migratory birds, and they help prevent coastal erosion by acting as a barrier to waves. Do what you can to help preserve mudflats for many years to come!
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SPOTLIGHT SPECIES: MUDSKIPPER
Written by Kiyas Kousoulas
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Skipping along the shores of swamps and mudflats, you’ll find this month’s spotlight species: the mudskipper. This unique species is not just a normal fish, but an amphibious fish. Unlike most fish, amphibious fish are able to survive outside of the water for extended periods of time. There are 23 living species of mudskippers alive today, and they can be found from Africa to Polynesia and even in Australia. When on land, mudskippers spend their time playing in the mud where they burrow, skip around, and hunt. These feisty fish are also very protective of their space. They are even known to spit mud and scream when defending their territory. Although they can survive on land, these creatures must always have water close by to ensure their skin stays wet. A mudskipper's ability to survive both in the water and on land comes from its unique body. These fish are very interesting looking as they have elongated bodies that are usually a brownish color. Their special gills give them the ability to breathe on land, and their distinct pectoral fins function similar to arms and allow them to move around the ground. Although they aren’t endangered, mudskippers are threatened by habitat loss. Protecting the environments these species call home can help ensure their rarity lives on for years to come.
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OPPORTUNITIES AT AEON FOR OCEAN
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Are you interested in joining our team and helping to contribute to ocean conservation? We are currently looking to fill the following positions:
- Comic Illustrator
- Social Media Associate
- Graphic Designer
- Publishing Associate
- Director of Technology
- Director of Operations
More information can be found on our Volunteer Opportunities page.
Interested applicants can apply directly on our website using the link above.
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KRILL2WHALE PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
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What is Krill2Whale?
Krill2Whale (K2W) is a program focused on educating kids about marine life and oceans so they can then share that information with other children in both casual and formal presentation settings. The goal is to spread awareness on the importance of the marine ecosystem and to increase involvement in activities to save our oceans.
How does K2W benefit kids?
Not only will new K2W Ambassadors join a group of inspiring kids, make new friends, and learn about marine life, but they will also learn valuable life skills like public speaking, leadership, and planning. The K2W Ambassadors will be given the opportunity to present a 30-45 minute interactive presentation at schools and libraries and help organize events for their communities.
How can my child join?
Head to aeonforocean.org/krill2whale for more information. If you'd like to join, click “Join me” in the “Become a K2W Ambassador” section and complete the form. If you have further questions about the program, please send an email to info@aeonforocean.org.
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