All About False Killer Whales

Despite their dramatic name, false killer whales aren’t an orca species. These animals are dolphins—members of the same extended family as the iconic “killer whale” (Orcinus orca). Compared to their namesake counterparts, these marine mammals are far less well-known than our ocean’s iconic orcas.

Let’s dive in and take a closer look at false killer whales—one of the ocean’s most social, yet lesser-known dolphin species.

Appearance and anatomy

False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are among the largest members of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). Adults can grow up to 20 feet long and weigh between 1,500 and 3,000 pounds, though some individuals have been recorded weighing even more. For comparison, that’s roughly double the size of a bottlenose dolphin—and slightly larger than a typical sedan.

These animals are incredibly powerful swimmers with long, torpedo-shaped bodies that help them move efficiently through the open ocean in search of prey. Their skull structure is what earned them their name, as their head shape closely resembles that of orcas. With broad, rounded heads, muscular jaws and large cone-shaped teeth, early scientists were fascinated by the similarities between these two marine mammal species.

Although their heads may look somewhat like those of orcas, there are several ways to distinguish false killer whales from their larger namesake counterparts.

One of the most noticeable differences has to do with their coloration. While orcas are known for their iconic black-and-white pattern with paler underbellies, alternatively, false killer whales are typically a uniform dark gray to black in color—almost as if a small orca decided to roll around in the dirt. If you’ve ever seen the animated Disney classic 101 Dalmatians, the difference is a bit like when the puppies roll in soot to disguise themselves as labradors instead of showing their usual black-and-white spots.

Their teeth also present a differentiator. The scientific name Pseudorca crassidens translates almost literally to “thick-toothed false orca,” a nod to their sturdy, cone-shaped teeth that help these animals capture prey. Orcas tend to have more robust, bulbous heads, while false killer whales appear slightly narrower and more streamlined.

Behavior and diet

False killer whales are both highly efficient hunters and deeply social animals. It’s not unusual to see them hunting together both in small pods and larger groups as they pursue prey like fish and squid.

Scientists have even observed false killer whales sharing food with each other, a behavior that is very unusual for marine mammals. While some dolphin and whale species work together to pursue prey, they rarely actively share food. The sharing of food among false killer whales spotlights the strong social bonds within their pods. Researchers believe these tight-knit social connections help false killer whales thrive in offshore environments where they’re always on the move.

Maintaining these close bonds and coordinating successful hunts requires constant effective communication, and this is where false killer whales excel. Like other dolphins, they produce a variety of sounds like whistles and clicks to stay connected with their pod and locate prey using echolocation. In the deep offshore waters where they live, sound often becomes more important than sight, since sound travels much farther underwater than light.

Where they live

False killer whales are highly migratory and travel long distances throughout tropical and subtropical waters around the world. They prefer deeper waters far offshore, and this pelagic lifestyle can make them more difficult for scientists to study than many coastal dolphin species.

However, there are a few places where researchers have been able to learn more about them—including the waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.

Scientists have identified three distinct groups of false killer whales in and around Hawaii, but one well-studied group stays close to the main Hawaiian Islands year-round. Unfortunately, researchers estimate that only about 140 individuals remained in 2022, with populations expected to decline without action to protect them. This is exactly why this group is listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is considered one of the most vulnerable marine mammal populations in U.S. waters.

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Current threats to survival

False killer whales are currently listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. From climate change-induced ocean acidification and harmful algal blooms to marine debris and fishing bycatch, false killer whales face the same mounting pressures that are impacting marine ecosystems around the world. As their prey becomes scarce due to increasing threats, populations of top predators like these decline, serving as a powerful signal that the ocean’s overall health is in critical need of protection.

Here at Ocean Conservancy, we’re working daily to confront these threats head-on and protect the ecosystems and wildlife we all cherish so dearly. But we can’t do it without you. Support from ocean lovers is what powers our work to protect our ocean, and right now, our planet needs all the help it can get. Visit Ocean Conservancy’s Action Center today and join our movement to create a better future for our ocean, forever and for everyone.

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What are Limpets and Why Do They Matter to Our Ocean?

If you’ve ever explored the shores or tidal pools of our ocean, chances are you’ve spotted some small, cone-shaped shells clinging to rocks. These are sea snails called limpets, and they are far more resilient and important than they may appear. 

To feed, limpets use a tongue-like organ called a radula. The radula is covered in rows of tiny teeth, each measuring less than a millimeter in length. The remarkable strength of limpet teeth stems from their structure, which is made of chitin—a primary material in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans—and reinforced by the mineral goethite. Researchers in the U.K. have found that goethite is the strongest known biological material on Earth and is even stronger than Kevlar. Limpets use their incredibly sturdy teeth and radula to scrape algae off rocks with ease, earning them the nickname the “bulldozers of the seashore.”

To move across rock formations, limpets utilize tidal movements and their strong muscular “foot.” This foot is different than a human foot in that it acts as a suction cup to firmly attach the limpet to rocks and withstand the force of waves. The foot also produces mucus, which helps with adhesion and eases movement by allowing the limpet to glide across rock formations. As limpets travel, they also leave behind a trail of this mucus, which helps guide them back to a preferred resting spot during low tide.

Over time, a limpet creates a “home scar,” a small indentation in the rock formed by repeatedly scraping and returning to the same location. During low tide, the limpet uses its foot to seal itself tightly to this home scar and prevent it from drying out. Limpets can live for more than 20 years, often remaining on the same rock their entire lives.

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Why are Limpets Important for Our Ocean?

Limpets play an essential role in controlling algae growth on the rocky surfaces of our ocean.  By clearing algae, limpets create space for other species, like barnacles and mussels, to settle and thrive. Those species, in turn, provide habitat for countless microorganisms and other marine life.

Limpets also provide a significant food source for fish, birds and even humans. In fact, the earliest known evidence of humans eating limpets dates back 164,000 years to a cave in South Africa. Today, limpets are considered a delicacy in many coastal cultures worldwide. 

Unfortunately, limpets face the same threats that affect all ocean species. Dirty fossil fuel production, oil spills and other human stressors are causing our ocean to absorb more carbon and making seawater more acidic. Limpets are particularly impacted by ocean acidification caused by a changing climate. Ocean acidification causes the calcium carbonate in the limpet shells to dissolve, making it difficult to maintain normal function, growth and reproduction.

At Ocean Conservancy, we know that a responsible and rapid transition away from oil and gas toward 100%-clean ocean energy by 2050 is both possible and essential to protect our ocean from the climate crisis. But we cannot do this work alone. Take action and demand bold ocean-climate solutions that protect limpets and all marine species. 

The post What are Limpets and Why Do They Matter to Our Ocean? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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How NOAA Supports Abundant Fisheries

What do a school of cod in the Gulf of Maine, a humpback whale migrating down the West Coast and a coastal wetland along the Gulf Coast have in common? NOAA Fisheries, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), conserves and manages these and many other ocean resources.

NOAA Fisheries—also called the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)–is critically important for a healthy ocean and sustainable fisheries and provides services the American public relies on. NOAA Fisheries has a big mission: It is responsible for the stewardship of our nation’s ocean resources and their habitats.

NOAA Fisheries is a model for marine resource management around the world. Here are just some of the services that NOAA Fisheries delivers:

Keeping Fishing Sustainable

Effectively managing fisheries is what allows us to fish now and still conserve fish stocks and marine ecosystems for the future. NOAA Fisheries manages commercial and recreational fisheries in federal waters and plays a key role in management at the international and state levels. Sustainable management includes keeping catch within science-based catch limits, ending overfishing, rebuilding overfished stocks and preventing bycatch. While there is still room for improvement, NOAA Fisheries and its partners have rebuilt 52 fish stocks to healthy levels since 2000 and reduced overfishing to just 6% of stocks. Abundant fish stocks can pay dividends for commercial fishermen and anglers, for coastal communities and businesses and for the ecosystem.

Supporting Healthy Marine Ecosystems

Fish and other marine life need healthy habitats to thrive, also benefiting coastal communities and economies. NOAA Fisheries conserves and restores coastal and ocean habitats, such as wetlands and coral reefs, as well as rivers upstream. Restoration activities include removing culverts and dams that block fish passage and cleaning up after oil spills. Conserving habitats often means ensuring minimal damage to habitats from ocean activities—everything from fishing to marine construction. Through conserving habitats, NOAA Fisheries helps protect special places and ensure minimal damage to habitat from human activity.

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Supporting Coastal Communities

NOAA Fisheries works to meet the needs of local fishing communities and other coastal communities to support sustained participation in fisheries and fishing livelihoods, cultural practices and local seafood economies. Better understanding the benefits and costs of changes to the management of local fisheries helps plan for uncertainty and change, improving safety at sea and responding to fisheries disasters. 

Ensuring Safe and Sustainable Sources of Seafood

Americans rely on having access to fresh and safe seafood. NOAA Fisheries provides services to the seafood industry nationwide and abroad, including checking sanitation, inspecting fish and shellfish products, testing for contaminants, offering training and helping prepare seafood for export. When events like oil spills threaten the seafood supply, the program provides testing for safety. NOAA Fisheries also enforces laws and regulations, ensuring seafood entering the U.S. seafood supply complies with regulations that keep us safe and protect fish and other species.

Protecting Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles and Other Species

NOAA Fisheries protects and recovers marine species listed under the Endangered Species Act and conserves and manages marine mammals (whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions) under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It also manages sea turtles and responds to stranded and injured marine animals. NOAA Fisheries achieves these objectives in part through permitting, authorizing and consulting on activities and actions that could affect protected resources in order to limit impacts and ensure compliance with the law.

Delivering Cutting-Edge Science

NOAA Fisheries produces world-class science and research to support conservation and management decisions. This includes surveys that provide critical information about fish stocks, marine mammals and ecosystems. Some surveys are conducted on NOAA’s fleet of “white ships,” but others involve cooperative research with fishermen. NOAA Fisheries is also continually integrating cutting-edge new technologies, like uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and Saildrones, and adopting innovative methods such as the use of environmental DNA (eDNA), which can detect the presence of animals in a body of water through water sampling.

NOAA Fisheries assessments help managers understand the status of fish stocks, including how many fish can be caught sustainably. NOAA Fisheries also produces valuable ecosystem and socioeconomic data that go into stock assessments and are considered in management decisions. For example, scientists track the development of marine heatwaves and the impacts observed in the ecosystem that can cause disruptions to fisheries.

Finally, NOAA Fisheries doesn’t function alone—it works with countless partners on science, management and conservation. From industry, state and local governments, Tribes, academic institutions, community groups and others, NOAA Fisheries touches communities throughout the nation.

The post How NOAA Supports Abundant Fisheries appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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What is the High Seas Treaty and Why Does It Matter?

You may have seen headlines recently about a new global treaty that went into effect just as news broke that the United States would be withdrawing from a number of other international agreements. It’s a confusing time in the world of environmental policy, and Ocean Conservancy is here to help make it clearer while, of course, continuing to protect our ocean.

What is the High Seas Treaty?

The “High Seas Treaty,” formally known as the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, went into effect on January 17, 2026. We celebrated this win last fall, when the agreement reached the 60 ratifications required for its entry into force. (Since then, an additional 23 countries have joined!) It is the first comprehensive international legal framework dedicated to addressing the conservation and sustainable use of the high seas (the area of the ocean that lies 200 miles beyond the shorelines of individual countries).

To “ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity” of these areas, the BBNJ addresses four core pillars of ocean governance:

1. Marine genetic resources: The high seas contain genetic resources (genes of plants, animals and microbes) of great value for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food production. The treaty will ensure benefits accrued from the development of these resources are shared equitably amongst nations.
2. Area-based management tools such as the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) in international waters. Protecting important areas of the ocean is essential for healthy and resilient ecosystems and marine biodiversity.
3. Environmental impact assessments (EIA) will allow us to better understand the potential impacts of proposed activities that may harm the ocean so that they can be managed appropriately.
4. Capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology with particular emphasis on supporting developing states. This section of the treaty is designed to ensure all nations benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity through, for example, the sharing of scientific information.

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Why is the High Seas Treaty Important?

The BBNJ agreement is legally binding for the countries that have ratified it and is the culmination of nearly two decades of negotiations. Its enactment is a historic milestone for global ocean governance and a significant advancement in the collective protection of marine ecosystems.

The high seas represent about two-thirds of the global ocean, and yet less than 10% of this area is currently protected. This has meant that the high seas have been vulnerable to unregulated or illegal fishing activities and unregulated waste disposal. Recognizing a major governance gap for nearly half of the planet, the agreement puts in place a legal framework to conserve biodiversity.

As it promotes strengthened international cooperation and accountability, the agreement will establish safeguards aimed at preventing and reversing ocean degradation and promoting ecosystem restoration. Furthermore, it will mobilize the international community to develop new legal, scientific, financial and compliance mechanisms, while reinforcing coordination among existing treaties, institutions and organizations to address long-standing governance gaps.

How is Ocean Conservancy Supporting the BBNJ Agreement?

Addressing the global biodiversity crisis is a key focal area for Ocean Conservancy, and the BBNJ agreement adds important new tools to the marine conservation toolbox and a global commitment to better protect the ocean.

Ocean Conservancy’s efforts to protect the “ocean twilight zone”—an area of the ocean 200-1000m (600-3000 ft) below the surface—is a good example of why the BBNJ agreement is so important. The ocean twilight zone (also known as the mesopelagic zone) harbors incredible marine biodiversity, regulates the climate and supports the health of ocean ecosystems. By some estimates, more than 90% of the fish biomass in the ocean resides in the ocean twilight zone, attracting the interest of those eager to develop new sources of protein for use in aquaculture feed and pet foods.

Done poorly, such development could have major ramifications for the health of our planet, jeopardizing the critical role these species play in regulating the planet’s climate and sustaining commercially and ecologically significant marine species. Species such as tunas (the world’s most valuable fishery), swordfish, salmon, sharks and whales depend upon mesopelagic species as a source of food. Mesopelagic organisms would also be vulnerable to other proposed activities including deep-sea mining.

A significant portion of the ocean twilight zone is in the high seas, and science and policy experts have identified key gaps in ocean governance that make this area particularly vulnerable to future exploitation. The BBNJ agreement’s provisions to assess the impacts of new activities on the high seas before exploitation begins (via EIAs) as well as the ability to proactively protect this area can help ensure the important services the ocean twilight zone provides to our planet continue well into the future.

What’s Next?

Notably, the United States has not ratified the treaty, and, in fact, just a few days before it went into effect, the United States announced its withdrawal from several important international forums, including many focused on the environment. While we at Ocean Conservancy were disappointed by this announcement, there is no doubt that the work will continue.

With the agreement now in force, the first Conference of the Parties (COP1), also referred to as the BBNJ COP, will convene within the next year and will play a critical role in finalizing implementation, compliance and operational details under the agreement. Ocean Conservancy will work with partners to ensure implementation of the agreement is up to the challenge of the global biodiversity crisis.

The post What is the High Seas Treaty and Why Does It Matter? appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Testing the Waters Together: Launching the mCDR Forum

This blog was co-written alongside co-creators and co-founders of the mCDR Forum: Ben Rubin, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Carbon Business Council, and Amanda Viellard, PhD, Director of Ocean Policy at Carbon 180.

The ocean plays a major role in absorbing carbon dioxide and moderating the climate. Marine carbon dioxide removal, or mCDR, builds on this natural process through a range of approaches that aim to increase the amount of CO₂ removed from the atmosphere. As a result of this potential to help address climate change, mCDR has become a rapidly evolving field, spanning early-stage research, in-water field trials and, in some cases, early deployment. 

As interest grows across academia, industry, philanthropy, governments and civil society, so do questions around governance, environmental integrity, accountability, equity and public trust. How these questions are answered will meaningfully shape the direction of the field.

At this inflection point, Carbon180, Ocean Conservancy and the Carbon Business Council are launching the mCDR Forum, a new space for cross-sector discussion on marine carbon dioxide removal. Our organizations have identified a growing need for a neutral forum to share knowledge and resources, raise questions and convene conversations around mCDR across sectors and perspectives. The mCDR Forum is designed to support dialogue, learning and relationship-building at a moment when shared understanding and open communication are especially important.

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A Coordination Gap 

Over the past several years, interest in mCDR as a potential tool for addressing climate change has grown. Governments are funding research, companies are developing and piloting an array of mCDR approaches, and scientists are working to better understand ocean processes, monitoring methods and ecological benefits and risks. At the same time, communities, Indigenous rightsholders and environmental organizations are raising critical concerns about safeguards, consent and long-term impacts on ocean ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.

As activity in the space accelerates, it’s critical that opportunities for structured, cross-sector engagement keep pace. Too often, conversations about mCDR are siloed—they take place within technical research settings, advocacy circles or regulatory processes that may not meaningfully overlap or include parties most directly connected to, or impacted by, potential mCDR deployment. These silos impede progress and can erode trust and reinforce misunderstandings about the promise, limits and goals of mCDR.

The mCDR Forum aims to address this gap by creating a dedicated space where various actors can share information, surface concerns, identify knowledge gaps and explore what responsible pathways forward might look like without requiring alignment on a single vision or outcome.

Why a Neutral Convening Matters

mCDR encompasses a wide range of approaches, from ocean alkalinity enhancement and biomass-based pathways to direct ocean capture and ecosystem restoration. These approaches vary significantly in their technical maturity, anticipated benefits, and potential environmental and social risks. It is neither realistic nor productive to expect consensus across all of these pathways, especially at this early stage.

That is why the mCDR Forum is explicitly approach-agnostic. Its purpose is not to promote specific pathways or to advocate for deployment, but to foster informed discussion grounded in evidence, transparency and accountability. Participants are not asked to endorse position papers, sign letters, or converge on shared recommendations. Instead, the forum prioritizes knowledge sharing, open communication, respectful engagement and relationship building across different sectors.

Equally important is making sure a range of experience and expertise is presented. The forum is intended to welcome participants from academia, mCDR suppliers and buyers, environmental NGOs, climate NGOs, philanthropy, coastal communities, Indigenous communities, and local, state, federal, international and Tribal governments. By bringing these perspectives into a shared conversation, the Forum can help ensure that questions of governance and environmental protection are not treated as afterthoughts.

Why Now?

This forum comes at a pivotal moment for mCDR, shaped by several key trends:

• Public and private investment is increasing, raising the stakes for how research and pilot projects are designed, governed and evaluated.
• National and international policy discussions are emerging around research permitting, monitoring, reporting and verification standards, and the role of mCDR in climate strategies.
• Public awareness is growing, alongside skepticism and concern rooted in the history and impacts of ocean experimentation and overpromised climate solutions.
• Scientific questions remain, underscoring the need for coordination, transparency and shared learning.

Without proactive spaces for dialogue, these dynamics could lead to polarized debates, duplicated efforts or loss of public engagement. A neutral forum offers a way to ask better questions and engage diverse perspectives about what we know, what we don’t and what responsible progress should require.

Why Carbon180, Ocean Conservancy and the Carbon Business Council?

The forum is led by three organizations that bring complementary perspectives and networks to the table.

Carbon180 has worked for nearly a decade to build the carbon removal field responsibly from the ground up, translating science into policy, connecting research with policymakers and ensuring that communities have a voice in how climate solutions are developed. Its dedicated ocean policy team extends that approach to mCDR, bringing marine science expertise and a commitment to environmental justice into this emerging space that demands both. 

Ocean Conservancy has delivered effective, evidence-based solutions for the ocean and all who depend on it for more than 50 years. Today, it continues to unite science, people and policy to protect our ocean from its greatest challenges. Its involvement reflects a commitment to ensuring that any discussion of mCDR advocates for a healthy ocean and a thriving planet forever and for everyone.

The Carbon Business Council represents a growing ecosystem of more than 100 organizations working on scaling carbon removal responsibly. Its participation ensures that industry perspectives, and practical insights into innovation, scale and market dynamics, are part of transparent, multi-stakeholder conversations.

Together, we share a belief that the future of mCDR should not be shaped by any single sector acting alone. Convening across differences is not always easy, but it is essential for building legitimacy, identifying blind spots and advancing solutions that are both effective and publicly accountable.

Looking Ahead

As interest in mCDR continues to grow, so does the responsibility to engage thoughtfully and transparently. This forum is a step toward meeting that goal, making space for conversation before conclusions, and for collaboration before consensus.

The goal of the mCDR Forum is not to settle debates or accelerate deployment for its own sake, but to create durable connective tissue across a complex and evolving field. By supporting dialogue, learning and collaboration, our collective insights can meaningfully inform research priorities, governance frameworks and funding decisions. 

We look forward to learning alongside the many individuals and organizations who care deeply about the future of our ocean and our climate.

Interested in joining the conversation? Register for the mCDR Forum here.

The post Testing the Waters Together: Launching the mCDR Forum appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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