When I started writing the pieces for this issue, I didn’t go in with a defined theme. I keep an ongoing list of topics I want to write about, and these were the ones that felt the most exciting to me right now. I also try to make sure I keep an even coverage on all the tags as to not overwhelm with any single topic. Each of the pieces in this issue looks at a different side of marine mammal conservation that sits a bit outside of what we usually picture as “the field.” Not the day-to-day research itself, but everything around it from community, how information is shared and the hurdles we face in communications, and how some of the science extends beyond conservation.
This one is also a bit more technical than past issues. The bowhead piece especially goes deeper into cellular and disease biology, and the communications piece breaks down some of the structural challenges in how conservation work is communicated. I found myself building more visuals than usual to help walk through some of those ideas, which ended up being one of my favorite parts of writing these pieces.
Putting this issue together was definitely an exercise in zooming out, to see how much of the work that’s being done around the world doesn’t always get the same attention as traditional marine mammal conservation. I hope it encourages you to look at the work from a slightly wider lens, too.
— Audra Hessenflow
Feature: Women Loving Whales
A humpback whale in a partial breach, courtesy of Sam Carmack.
Co-founded by Chloe Brown, Rylee Landen, and Sam Carmack, Women Loving Whales began as a way to share conservation stories from their experiences in the field, but quickly expanded into something more layered, addressing the gaps in support, representation, and accountability that many women and marginalized individuals encounter in field-based spaces.
This feature dives into what WLW is all about, from candid conversations about workplace challenges to the creation of community-driven events and resources. It explores how three women are building something that exists alongside traditional conservation work, while helping to reshape inclusivity in the space.
The Whale That Defies Aging
How does a whale live for centuries without the same risks of aging? This piece takes a closer look at the longest living mammal on earth, the bowhead whale, and what their biology is revealing about longevity and cancer resistance. By exploring the genetic and cellular mechanisms that allow them to maintain health over centuries, this piece examines how studying bowheads is beginning to inform broader questions in the health of all species susceptible to cancer.
Two bowhead whales making use of of a crack in the ice to breathe in Disko Bay, West Greenland. Courtesy of Fredrik Christiansen, Aarhus University.
A crabeater seal, one of the most abundant marine mammals, laying out on pack ice in Antarctica, courtesy of Sofia Green
The Communications Gap in Marine Mammal Conservation
Marine mammal conservation isn’t lacking in effort, but it is often lacking visibility, usually surfacing in moments of urgency. This piece looks at the gap between the work being done and how it’s communicated, and how those gaps build on each other, shaping what people see, understand, and engage with.
If you’re receiving this, you’re part of a small group getting early access to Issue 03. It will be released publicly in two days. Thank you for being here. MMMN is still in its early stages and I can’t put into words how much it means to have you here reading, supporting, and helping shape what it becomes.
How You Can Support MMMN
Donate: If you’ve found value in MMMN and want to support the time and work that goes into each issue, you can contribute here. MMMN is fully independent and something I build in my own time, so your support directly helps sustain and grow it:
Follow along: If you haven’t already, follow MMMN on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn for updates, exclusive content, and upcoming topics.
Share the newsletter: Forward this issue or your favorite piece to someone who also cares about marine mammals.
Engage: Either reply to this email or comment on your favorite piece to let me know what topics you’d love to see covered next.
Support the community: If an organization, researcher, project, or photographer from this issue resonated with you, consider giving them a follow or reading more about their work.
Thank you for being apart of MMMN and we appreciate your work and dedication to marine mammals all over the world.