Discoveries on Beaked Whales with Digital Record Tags (DTAGs)

Alex Bocconcelli, Research Specialist at WHOI, dove deep into the history of beaked whales. Very little is known about beaked whales because they spend most of their lives underwater at great depths.

Using the Digital Recording Tag developed at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, discoveries have been made for some of the secrets of these elusive whales. An amazing discovery was that they can dive for 1.5 hours up to a depth of 6,230 feet, the current depth record for any marine mammal! Data collected during several research cruises in the Ligurian Sea, Canary Islands, Bahamas, and Alboran Sea have begun to provide insights into their mysterious lives.

Alex is an experienced Italian Mariner and Sea Captain. With a Master’s degree from MIT, he has been on more than 100 research cruises and has co-authored more than 50 papers.