6. Drones

Future research is suggested by Ocean Alliance for whale data gathering using Intel drones, for example, the Falcom 8+ which is a “commercial drone designed for robust environments precision flight” (Murison & Murison, 2017).

Link: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/drones/falcon-8.html (Intel® Falcon™ 8 System, n.d.)

7. Education

Educating people on the negative effects and harm plastic pollution creates on the environment and human health is necessary (Van Truong et al, 2019).

8. Filtration Mechanisms

Further research into baleen whale filtration mechanisms is suggested to result in numerous applications as well as conservation and population management (Werth et al, 2016).

9.Fishing Gear

9. Fishing Gear – “Abandoned, lost and discarded (ALD)”. There are several reasons to include fishermen and fisherwomen in future solutions for ALD fishing gear as they:

• have “valuable experience and knowledge” in both the “handling and retrieval” of such gear
• can assist to identify and implement solutions
• could assist current “management agencies” in the “ management decisions and strategies” for the reduction of such gear (Goodman et al, 2019).

While ALD fishing gear is regulated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), retrieved gear could also be recorded for accurate records (Goodman et al, 2019).

It is further suggested for management and mitigation that:

• retrieval of ALD fishing gear at-sea by fishers be legalized
• waste management systems be established for old gear
• collaboratory methods be used for the identification and prioritization of hotspots with “scientists and other stakeholder groups” for the collection of data and providing of local knowledge for the estimation and mitigation of ALD gear to strengthen trust and create sustainable management (Goodman et al, 2019).

"Fishermen want to help” (BBC News, 2020). They “are devastated when an entanglement happens" (BBC News, 2020).

10. Fishing Knowledge

Knowledge from fishermen who have long term experience, observations and interactions in the marine environments can help clarify trends and elements for research topics where data is scarce, such as whale predation in Alaska (Peterson & Carothers, 2013).

11. Foraging Grounds and Food Supply

Further research into the location of food supply that is moving with ocean temperatures increasing, thus move whale foraging grounds (Carpenter, 2018).

12. Future Species Interactions

Research into future species interactions will need further considerations to determine ecological thresholds or mechanisms for resilience (Hughes et al, 2018).

13. Gear Marking

Further research and development is required and ongoing for cost effective technology for relocating fishing gear (He & Suuronen, 2018).

14. Global Regulation and Remediation

Future regulation and remediation of toxic marine pollutants is suggested for urgent prioritization by the United Nations Environment Programme, Stockholm Convention, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Sonne et al, 2018).

15. Gular (Throat) Tissue

Additional research of the microstructure of gular tissues will greatly improve understanding of the sensory and mechanical physiology of the throat during feeding in baleen whales, thus, in turn, aiding in evolutionary reconstruction of feeding behaviors of this species as a whole (Berta et al, 2015).

16. Indigenous knowledge

Working with Indigenous knowledge to assist in guidance of monitoring and enhancement of understanding of changes to beluga species and environmental change (Loseto et al, 2018).

17. Past Populations

Through new field observations and an increased knowledge of past population dynamics, we may be able to discover further benefits of whales (Roman et al, 2014).

18. Pollution Threat Assessment

With most species of cetaceans at a high risk of becoming extinct, there is an urgent need for an assessment relating to the threats of pollution (Zhu et al, 2019).

19. Risk Assessment for Microplastic Effects

With cetaceans being an indicator for the health of the ocean and humans, further research in the form of a risk assessment on the effects of microplastics in relation to cetaceans is required globally (Zhu et al, 2019).

20. Sustainable Solutions

Research is needed for suitable sustainable solutions and understanding for the creation of “multiple, coupled ecosystem services” (Boumans et al, 2015).

21. Whale Behavior

An increased understanding of whale behavior in relation to approaching ships along with the integration of new observation and detection processes to reduce whale strikes is key to whales and ships coexisting in the ocean (Williams et al, 2016).

22. Whales and Interconnected Species

Tracking data for species, including, marine mammals, seabirds, fish and sea turtles can help provide information necessary for design, implementation and management for conservation (Hays et al, 2019).

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