Captain John Boats

NECWA’s research and education activities have been aided by various collaborations.Capt. John & Son IV of the fleet of Capt. John. Photo courtesy of NECWA. The most significant of these has been the long-stranding collaboration with Captain John Boats, a commercial whale watching company operating out of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Captain John Boats has provided a research platform for NECWA staff and associates to conduct studies on wild populations of marine mammals and other coastal marine wildlife. A humpback whale flipper slapping off the bow of the boat. Photo courtesy of NECWA.This information is helping us better understand the biology and ecology of coastal marine wildlife that come to feed in our New England waters throughout the spring, summer and fall.

While traveling aboard Captain John Boats, Bridgewater State University interns, interns from other colleges and universities and participating naturalists collect sighting and photographic data on marine wildlife observed in Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay, including the waters of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. NECWA interns are responsible for managing and analyzing this data which provides these “scientists-in-training” with real life experiences in the Two humpback whales feeding together. Photo courtesy of NECWA. fields of marine science.

NECWA would like to thank Captain John Boats for their continued generosity and support that has provided these types of unique research and educational opportunities to Bridgewater State College undergraduates and other young people within our community.

To learn more about them go to their website Captain John Boats and read the different excursions they offer, or call them at 1-800-242-2469.

 

The broad back of a humpback whale. Photo courtesy of NECWA. Humpback whale and birds feeding together. Photo courtesy of NECWA. Another whale encounter. Photo courtesy of NECWA.

 

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