10 METER 10 FEET 0 

Blue Whale 

Balaenoptera musculus 

Fin Whale 

Balaenoptera physalus 

Sei Whale 

Balaenoptera borealis 

Bryde’s Whale

Balaenoptera edeni 

Minke Whale 

Balaenoptera acutorostrata 

Baird’s Beaked Whale 

Berardius bairdii 

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale 

Ziphius cavirostris 

Stejneger’s Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon stejnegeri 

North Pacific Right Whale

Eubalaena japonica 

Gray Whale

Eschrichtius robustus 

Bigg’s (transient) Killer Whale

Orcinus orca subsp. 

Resident Killer Whale

Orcinus orca subsp. 

adult male 

adult female 

calf 

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae 

Hubbs’ Beaked Whale 

Mesoplodon carlhubbsi 

Sperm Whale

Physeter macrocephalus 

Marine Mammals of the U.S. West Coast 

Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) 

In 1972, Congress enacted the 

MMPA, establishing a national 

policy to help prevent the 

extinction or depletion of 

marine mammal populations 

from human activities. 

NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are 

the lead federal agencies for enforcing this law to protect 

marine mammals. The MMPA protects all whales, dolphins, 

seals, sea lions, porpoises, manatees, polar bears, otters, 

and walruses from human-induced harm. In the United 

States, NOAA Fisheries works with scientists, industry, and 

conservation groups to develop measures that help to protect 

marine mammals from entanglement, ship strike, and other 

activities that might cause these animals harm. 

West Coast Region 

Northwest Fisheries Science Center 

Southwest Fisheries Science Center 

TO REPORT STRANDED, INJURED, OR DEAD MARINE MAMMALS, CALL THE NOAA FISHERIES WEST COAST MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK HOTLINE: 1-866-767-6114 

Perrin’s Beaked Whale 

Mesoplodon perinni 

120oW

40oN

United 

States PACIFIC

OCEAN

Washington

Oregon

California

US West Coast 

Design and illustrations: Uko Gorter (www.ukogorter.com) 

Offshore Killer Whale 

Orcinus orca 
You can help protect marine mammals! 

Seeing marine wildlife in their natural environment can be a 

thrilling experience. In our excitement, we sometimes forget 

that our presence has an efect on wildlife and their habitat. 

Set an example for others, and help protect our spectacular 

marine resources. 

Admire from a distance, give animals space! 

Do not approach closer than 100 yards to any whale, dolphin, 

or porpoise. For orcas in WA stay 200 yards away. 

Slow down and operate at a no-wake speed. 

Keep clear of the whales’ path! 

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hare the shore with seals and sea lions! 

all our Hotlines 

Report a dead, injured or stranded marine mammal at: 

1-866-767-6114 

Call law enforcement if you see a harassment or a violation: 

1-800-853-1964 

For entangled marine mammals, please call 

1-877-SOS-WHALe or 1-877-767-9425 or hail the U.S. 

Coast Guard on Ch. 16 

Report derelict gear, please call 1-855-542-3935 

Sea Otter 

Enhydra lutris 

Learn more 

Watching Marine Mammals: https://go.usa.gov/xuqDB

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/northwest-fisheries-science-center

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/southwest-fisheries-science-center

www.bewhalewise.org/

5 METER 0 10 FEET 

adult male adult female 

Steller or Northern Sea Lion 

Eumetopias jubatus 

adult female 

pup 

adult male 

Short-beaked Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis 

Guadalupe Fur Seal pup 

Arctocephalus philippii townsendi 

pup 

California Sea Lion 

Zalophus californianus 

False Killer Whale 

Pseudorca crassidens 

Bottlenose dolphin

Tursiops truncatus 

Give animals space and limit noise. 

Keep people and pets away. Marine mammals can carry 

diseases that are transmittable to pets and humans. 

Pay attention and move away at the frst sign of disturbance 

or agitation. 

Risso’s Dolphin

Grampus griseus 

Short-finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala macrorhynchus 

Pygmy Sperm Whale

Kogia breviceps 

adult male adult female 

Download: Dolphin & Whale 911 app 

(for Android and iPhone) 

Harbor Porpoise

Phocoena phocoena 

Dall’s Porpoise

Phocoenoides dalli 

Marine Mammals of the U.S. West Coast 

calf 

adult male 

adult female 

Northern Right Whale Dolphin

Lissodelphis borealis 

Pacific White-sided Dolphin

Lagenorhynchus obliquidens 

pup 

adult variation 

adult variation 

Harbor Seal 

Phoca vitulina 

Northern Elephant Seal

Mirounga angustirostris 

pup 

adult male 

adult female 

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba 

Northern Fur Seal 

Callorhinus ursinus 

pup 

adult male 

adult female 

Long-beaked Common Dolphin

Delphinus capensis 

{. l\ NOAA ~ ff FISHERIES 

Dwarf Sperm Whale 

Kogia sima Design and illustrations: Uko Gorter (www.ukogorter.com) 

TO REPORT STRANDED, INJURED, OR DEAD MARINE MAMMALS, CALL THE NOAA FISHERIES WEST COAST MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING NETWORK HOTLINE: 1-866-767-6114