SEASWAP: Southeast Alaska Sperm Whale Avoidance Project
Short Documentary Film (2006) | Runtime: 37 minutes

Alaska commercial fisherman Kendall Folkert works hard for his catch. Long hours on the boat can lead to disappointment and financial trouble when crafty sperm whales steal black cod off his longline gear. A team of researchers joins Kendall in the North Pacific to outwit the clever animals.

Whale researchers Aaron Thode (Scripps Institution of Oceanography) and Jan Straley (University of Alaska Southeast) join forces in a unique collaboration with fishermen and fisheries managers to understand the signals prompting sperm whales to the fishing vessel Cobra. Watch as these individuals give you a look inside their work, marvel at the ingenuity of this endangered species, and experience how fishing and science come together to stymie these creatures from getting an easy meal.

(Alaska SeaLife Center & North Pacific Research Board)