NECWA News Blog

Yesterday, March 21, 2026, NECWA was once again part of Cooler Middleborough, a community festival that brings together different organizations all focused on making the world a better place for us and for the organisms that also call it home. NECWA brought our 40' inflatable whale model and set-up 6 tables with lots of educational material available to festival participants.  Kids and adults had a great time viewing our inflatable model of Salt, the Humpback Whale. Not only could you view Salt from the outside, but you can also go inside her and view inflated organs, like the heart, lungs, and digestive tract.  NECWA also set-up our Song Tent where we play and discuss humpback song. Kids and adults can go inside and listen to humpback song as they learn about its purpose and changing musical structure.      NECWA also provided 6 tables filled with various educational activities. Some tables displayed marine artifacts like whale bones, whale baleen, shark j...

On Saturday, March 7th, NECWA staff members Kathy Miller and Deb Munson presented a poster on thresher shark strandings on Cape Cod. This conference was sponsored by Mass Audubon and held at the Cape Cod Community College in Barnstable. This poster was put together by Krill Carson, John Chisholm (State Shark Biologist), Deb Munson, and Kathy Miller. The poster was very well received by conference participants. NECWA responds to strandings of various species of marine wildlife, esp. those that are overlooked by other organizations. We call them the "Marine Misfits." NECWA has been rescuing and documenting strandings for over 20 years which has created a very important long-term database for many marine misfits, including the ocean sunfish, torpedo ray, and various species of sharks. Please donate to NECWA to keep us in the field conducting rescues and research activities. We are a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to rescuing and studying New England's unique coastal marine w...

Due to the recent Blizzard, DMF is extending the public comment period for Horseshoe Crabs harvested in the waters of MA. The second and last remote public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th, starting at 6 pm. Please register and attend this Zoom meeting if possible. If you can not attend and comment via Zoom, you can email written comments through Friday, March 6th. Email to Director Dan McKiernan at marine.fish@mass.gov. The Southeastern Massachusetts Pine Barrens has a great page on this species, the issues, and how to help. Go to https://pinebarrensalliance.org/horseshoe-crab-advocates/ . Also check out the Massachusetts Horseshoe Crab Coalition at https://horseshoecrabs.org We need good management of this species to ensure its continued survival in the coastal waters of New England. Your voice can make a difference. Learn the facts and make a statement on behalf of these amazing creatures.