Bowhead Research Articles

Effects of airgun sounds on bowhead whale calling rates: evidence for two behavioral thresholds.

In proximity to seismic operations, bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) decrease their calling rates. Here, we investigate the transition from normal calling behavior to decreased calling and identify two threshold levels of received sound from airgun pulses at which calling behavior changes. Data were collected in August–October 2007–2010, during the westward autumn migration in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea. Up to 40 directional acoustic recorders (DASARs) were deployed at five sites offshore of the Alaskan North Slope. Using triangulation, whale calls localized within 2 km of each DASAR were identified and tallied every 10 minutes each season, so that the detected call rate could be interpreted as the actual call production rate. Moreover, airgun pulses were identified on each DASAR, analyzed, and a cumulative sound exposure level was computed for each 10-min period each season (CSEL10-min). A Poisson regression model was used to examine the relationship between the received CSEL10-min from airguns and the number of detected bowhead calls. Calling rates increased as soon as airgun pulses were detectable, compared to calling rates in the absence of airgun pulses. After the initial increase, calling rates leveled off at a received CSEL10-min of ~94 dB re 1 μPa2-s (the lower threshold). In contrast, once CSEL10-min exceeded ~127 dB re 1 μPa2-s (the upper threshold), whale calling rates began decreasing, and when CSEL10-min values were above ~160 dB re 1 μPa2-s, the whales were virtually silent.

In the Warming Arctic Seas

In the Warming Arctic Seas

Bowhead whale body condition and links to summer sea ice and upwelling in the Beaufort Sea

We examined the response of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) body condition to summer sea ice conditions and upwelling-favorable winds. We used a long-term dataset collected from whales of the Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort Seas (BCB) stock to estimate various body condition indices (BCI’s) for individual whales that were harvested by Alaskan Eskimos. A series of offshore regions frequented by bowhead whales in summer were delineated and used to quantify interannual summertime environmental conditions including: (a) mean open water fraction, (b) duration of melt season, (c) date of continuous freeze-up, and (d) mean upwelling-favorable wind stress. Body condition was analyzed relative to these metrics for both the preceding summer feeding season and the previous three seasons combined. Our analysis indicates a significant increase in the long-term trend in an axillary girth-based body condition index (BCIG) over the study period (1989–2011). The increase in BCIG is likely associated with the trend in overall reduction of sea ice, including increased duration of open water, changes in upwelling potential (wind stress), and possibly higher primary production in the Pacific Arctic marine ecosystem favoring water-column invertebrates. We found strong significant positive correlations between BCIG and late summer open water fraction in the Beaufort Sea and smaller nearshore areas off the Mackenzie Delta and west of Banks Island. Additionally, BCIG was positively and significantly correlated with duration of melt season, later date of freeze-up in the Beaufort Sea, and upwelling-favorable winds on the Mackenzie shelf and west of Banks Island. A strong seasonal difference in BCI’s was noted for subadult bowheads, presumably associated with summer feeding; however, yearlings were found to drop in BCI over at least the first summer after weaning. Our results indicate an overall increase in bowhead whale body condition and a positive correlation with summer sea ice loss over the last 2.5 decades in the Pacific Arctic. We speculate that sea ice loss has positive effects on secondary trophic production within the BCB bowhead’s summer feeding region. While not part of this study, the abundance of BCB bowheads increased markedly over the same period.

Seasonal spatial patterns in seabird and marine mammal distribution in the eastern Chukchi and western Beaufort seas: Identifying biologically important pelagic areas

The Chukchi and Beaufort seas are undergoing rapid climate change and increased human activity. Conservation efforts for upper trophic level predators such as seabirds and marine mammals require information on species’ distributions and identification of important marine areas. Here we describe broad-scale distributions of seabirds and marine mammals. We examined spatial patterns of relative abundance of seabirds and marine mammals in the eastern Chukchi and western Beaufort seas during summer (15 June–31 August) and fall (1 September–20 November) from 2007 to 2012. We summarized 49,206km of shipboard surveys for seabirds and 183,157km of aerial surveys for marine mammals into a grid of 40-km×40-km cells. We used Getis-Ord Gi∗ hotspot analysis to test for cells with higher relative abundance than expected when compared to all cells within the study area. We identified cells representing single species and taxonomic group hotspots, cells representing hotspots for multiple species, and cells representing hotspots for both seabirds and marine mammals. The locations of hotspots varied among species but often were located near underwater canyons or over continental shelf features and slopes. Hotspots for seabirds, walrus, and gray whales occurred primarily in the Chukchi Sea. Hotspots for bowhead whales and other pinnipeds (i.e., seals) occurred near Barrow Canyon and along the Beaufort Sea shelf and slope. Hotspots for belugas occurred in both the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. There were three hotspots shared by both seabirds and marine mammals in summer: off Wainwright in the eastern Chukchi Sea, south of Hanna Shoal, and at the mouth of Barrow Canyon. In fall, the only identified shared hotspot occurred at the mouth of Barrow Canyon. Shared hotspots are characterized by strong fronts caused by upwelling and currents, and these areas can have high densities of euphausiids in summer and fall. Due to the high relative abundance of animals and diversity of taxa, these sites are clearly important areas of congregation for seabirds and marine mammals that should be prioritized in the development of management and conservation plans.

A year in the acoustic world of bowhead whales in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas

Bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, in the Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort (BCB) population, experience a variable acoustic environment among the regions they inhabit throughout the year. A total of 41,698h of acoustic data were recorded from 1 August 2009 through 4 October 2010 at 20 sites spread along a 2300km transect from the Bering Sea to the southeast Beaufort Sea. These data represent the combined output from six research teams using four recorder types. Recorders sampled areas in which bowheads occur and in which there are natural and anthropogenic sources producing varying amounts of underwater noise. We describe and quantify the occurrence of bowheads throughout their range in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas over a 14-month period by aggregating our acoustic detections of bowhead whale sounds. We also describe the spatial–temporal variability in the bowhead acoustic environment using sound level measurements within a frequency band in which their sounds occur, by dividing a year into three, 4-month seasons (Summer–Fall 2009, August–November 2009: Winter 2009–2010, December 2009–March 2010: and Spring–Summer 2010, April–July 2010) and their home range into five zones. Statistical analyses revealed no significant relationship between acoustic occurrence, distance offshore, and water depth during Summer–Fall 2009, but there was a significant relationship during Spring–Summer 2010. A continuous period with elevated broadband sound levels lasting ca. 38days occurred in the Bering Sea during the Winter 2009–2010 season as a result of singing bowheads, while a second period of elevated levels lasting at least 30days occurred during the early spring–summer season as a result of singing bearded seals. The lowest noise levels occurred in the Chukchi Sea from the latter part of November into May. In late summer 2009 very faint sounds from a seismic airgun survey approximately 700km away in the eastern Beaufort Sea were detected on Chukchi recorders. Throughout the year, but most obviously during the November into May period, clusters of intermittent, nearly synchronized, high-level events were evident on multiple recorders hundreds of miles apart. In some cases, these clusters occurred over 2–5day periods and appear to be associated with high wind conditions.

Change in the Beaufort Sea ecosystem: Diverging trends in body condition and/or production in five marine vertebrate species

Studies of the body condition of five marine vertebrate predators in the Beaufort Sea, conducted independently during the past 2–4 decades, suggest each has been affected by biophysical changes in the marine ecosystem. We summarize a temporal trend of increasing body condition in two species (bowhead whale subadults, Arctic char), in both cases influenced by the extent and persistence of annual sea ice. Three other species (ringed seal, beluga, black guillemot chicks), consumers with a dietary preference for Arctic cod, experienced declines in condition, growth and/or production during the same time period. The proximate causes of these observed changes remain unknown, but may reflect an upward trend in secondary productivity, and a concurrent downward trend in the availability of forage fishes, such as the preferred Arctic cod. To further our understanding of these apparent ecosystem shifts, we urge the use of multiple marine vertebrate species in the design of biophysical sampling studies to identify causes of these changes. Continued long-term, standardized monitoring of vertebrate body condition should be paired with concurrent direct (stomach contents) or indirect (isotopes, fatty acids) monitoring of diet, detailed study of movements and seasonal ranges to establish and refine baselines, and identification of critical habitats of the marine vertebrates being monitored. This would be coordinated with biophysical and oceanographic sampling, at spatial and temporal scales, and geographic locations, that are relevant to the home range, critical habitats and prey of the vertebrate indicator species showing changes in condition and related parameters.

Sensory Hairs in the Bowhead Whale, Balaena mysticetus (Cetacea, Mammalia)

We studied the histology and morphometrics of the hairs of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus). These whales are hairless except for two patches of more than 300 hairs on the rostral tip of the lower lip and chin, the rostral tip of the upper lip, and a bilateral row of approximately ten hairs caudal to the blowhole. Histological data indicate that hairs in all three of these areas are vibrissae: they show an outermost connective tissue capsule, a circumferential blood sinus system surrounding the hair shaft, and dense innervation to the follicle. Morphometric data were collected on hair diameters, epidermal recess diameters, hair follicle length, and external hair lengths. The main difference between the hairs in the different regions is that blowhole hairs have larger diameters than the hairs in the chin and rostrum regions. We speculate that the hair shaft thickness patterns in bowheads reflect functional specializations.

Organization and distribution of glomeruli in the bowhead whale olfactory bulb.

Although modern baleen whales (Mysticeti) retain a functional olfactory system that includes olfactory bulbs, cranial nerve I and olfactory receptor genes, their olfactory capabilities have been reduced to a great degree. This reduction likely occurred as a selective response to their fully aquatic lifestyle. The glomeruli that occur in the olfactory bulb can be divided into two non-overlapping domains, a dorsal domain and a ventral domain. Recent molecular studies revealed that all modern whales have lost olfactory receptor genes and marker genes that are specific to the dorsal domain. Here we show that olfactory bulbs of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) lack glomeruli on the dorsal side, consistent with the molecular data. In addition, we estimate that there are more than 4,000 glomeruli elsewhere in the bowhead whale olfactory bulb, which is surprising given that bowhead whales possess only 80 intact olfactory receptor genes. Olfactory sensory neurons that express the same olfactory receptors in rodents generally project to two specific glomeruli in an olfactory bulb, implying an approximate 1:2 ratio of the number of olfactory receptors to the number of glomeruli. Here we show that this ratio does not apply to bowhead whales, reiterating the conceptual limits of using rodents as model organisms for understanding the initial coding of odor information among mammals.

A hidden getaway for bowhead whales in the Greenland Sea

The critically endangered Spitsbergen stock of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) seems to be increasing. However, research effort has also been increasing confounding a firm conclusion. A systematic aerial survey for walrus (Odobaenus rosmarus), applying distance sampling methodology in part of the Northeast Water Polynya (NEW), revealed a ‘bycatch’ of several observations of bowhead whales, which resulted in an estimated abundance of 102 (95 % CI 32–329) individuals. This is the largest abundance of bowhead whales reported from the Greenland Sea since the days of whaling in the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries. The NEW was inaccessible to vessels during the whaling period because of heavy pack ice, and it is only recently that researchers have visited this area; thus only a few sightings of bowhead whales within the NEW exist prior to the survey in 2009. The NEW may nevertheless be one of the most important summering grounds for the Spitsbergen stock, and the whales may benefit from advection of calanoid copepods from the productive deep basins along the coast of Svalbard east of the NEW. This discovery provides renewed hope for the Spitsbergen stock of bowhead whales that until now has shown only inconclusive signs of recovery despite more than 100 years of protection from whaling.

Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope analyses of bowhead whale baleen as biochemical recorders of migration and arctic environmental change

An analysis of the stable isotopes of oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δD) was used to examine the linkage between sea ice concentration and the migration of western arctic bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus; WABW). We compared δ18O and δD variability along the length of WABW baleen with isotopic values of zooplankton prey from different WABW habitat, with published δ13C and δ15N data, and with historical sea ice records. Zooplankton signatures varied widely (δ18O = −13‰–56‰; δD = −220‰ to −75‰), with regional separation between winter (Bering Sea) and summer (eastern Beaufort Sea) habitats of WABW observable in δD. The δ18O and δD of WABW varied significantly along the length of baleen (δ18O = 8–18‰; δD = −180 to −80‰), confirming seasonal migration and reflecting distinct regional dietary variation in isotopes. WABW migration appears to have varied concomitant with temporal sea ice concentration (SIC) changes; in years with high SIC, the difference in δD of WABW baleen between seasonal habitats was significantly greater than low SIC periods. This work shows that SIC is not only a determinant of habitat accessibility for WABW, but baleen may also be a record of historical SIC and Arctic climate.

Diet of female polar bears in the southern Beaufort Sea of Alaska: evidence for an emerging alternative foraging strategy in response to environmental change

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) diet may become more variable in some Arctic regions due to climate warming and altered sea ice habitat. We surveyed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope profiles of five polar bear tissues sampled from adult females in the Southern Beaufort Sea of Alaska in order to assess inter-tissue isotopic variability and to determine whether any dietary shifts are occurring in this population. We did not detect any significant shifts from historical means in population-level tissue stable isotope values. A number of sectioned hair samples, however, were significantly depleted in 15N relative to the mean. We hypothesized that lower hair δ15N values were due to the consumption of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) tissue. Telemetry data showed that polar bears with 15N-depleted hair sections were located on multiple dates near known subsistence-harvested bowhead whale bone piles and had spent 90 % of the prior year within 50 km of the shore. Bears with hair section δ15N values at or above the mean spent no time near bowhead whale bone piles and less than half of the year nearshore. An isotopic mixing model estimation of diet proportions determined that bowhead whale comprised approximately 50–70 % of fall diet for bears with lower hair δ15N values. We conclude that these results offer emergent evidence of an alternative foraging strategy within this population: ‘coastal’ bears, which remain near to shore for much of the year and use bowhead whale bone piles when they are present. In contrast, ‘pelagic’ bears follow a more typical strategy and forage widely on sea ice for seals.

A (gray) whale of a tale: a rare view inside one of nature's majestic animals.

A (gray) whale of a tale: a rare view inside one of nature's majestic animals.

Seasonal foraging behaviour of Eastern Canada-West Greenland bowhead whales: an assessment of isotopic cycles along baleen

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 522:269-286 (2015) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11145 Seasonal foraging behaviour of Eastern Canada-West Greenland bowhead whales: an assessment of isotopic cycles along baleen Cory J. D. Matthews1,*, Steven H. Ferguson1,2 1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada 2Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada *Corresponding author: ummatth9@myumanitoba.ca ABSTRACT: Eastern Canada-West Greenland (EC-WG) bowhead whales Balaena mysticetus migrate seasonally between northwestern Hudson Bay/Foxe Basin and Gulf of Boothia in summer and Hudson and Davis Straits in winter. Despite recent advances in knowledge of summer diet composition, determining seasonal variation in foraging behaviour of EC-WG bowhead whales remains a priority for understanding how annual metabolic requirements are met, as well as identifying factors driving seasonal habitat selection. We measured stable nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur isotope composition (δ15N, δ13C, and δ34S) along continuously growing baleen plates (n = 14) to assess alternative seasonal foraging hypotheses, namely winter fasting vs. year-round foraging. Synchronous δ15N and δ13C cycles, with periods of 15N enrichment corresponding to foraging on the summer grounds, were inconsistent with standard fasting predictions, although δ15N cycles could reflect changes in diet-tissue δ15N discrimination between periods of intense foraging throughout the open-water season and supplemental protein intake during winter/spring. Correlations between δ15N and δ34S values, potentially meditated through amino acid metabolism, support this interpretation. Reasonable agreement between baleen isotope oscillations and regional baseline δ15N and δ13C variation also indicated foraging occurs within isotopically distinct food webs across the summer and winter ranges. We conclude that EC-WG bowhead whales forage throughout their distribution, and conservatively interpret δ15N and δ34S cycles to reflect reduced food consumption during winter. Foraging outside of periods of peak productivity likely contributes to annual metabolic requirements and winter habitat selection. KEY WORDS: Arctic · Balaena mysticetus · Diet · Fasting · Isoscape · Marine mammal · Stable isotopes · Sulfur · Time series Full text in pdf format PreviousCite this article as: Matthews CJD, Ferguson SH (2015) Seasonal foraging behaviour of Eastern Canada-West Greenland bowhead whales: an assessment of isotopic cycles along baleen. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 522:269-286. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11145 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 522. Online publication date: March 02, 2015 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2015 Inter-Research.

Evaluation of UAS for photographic re-identification of bowhead whales,Balaena mysticetus

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have the potential to collect high-resolution photographs of marine mammals for life-history studies without disturbing the species being studied. We conducted a pilot study near Igloolik, Nunavut, in early July 2013 to collect identification-quality photographs of bowhead whales and record the responses of the whales to overflights by an UAS. Operating under a restrictive line-of-sight permit from Transport Canada, we successfully collected high quality photographs of bowhead whales and none of the whales overflown responded to the overflights in an observable manner. If the UAS were operated under a beyond-line-of-sight permit, the UAS could be used to search for whales ahead of and to the side of the survey vessels making it more efficient to find whales to photograph. Even when operating under the restrictive line-of-sight permit, large numbers of whales could be photographed, which would provide important life-history information on the poorly studied Eastern Canada – West Greenland population.

Eyewitness to a Whale Hunt: Theory, Event, and Apology in the Inuit North

The paper revisits a whale hunt that took place in the vicinity of the hamlet of Pangnirtung, Nunavut, in 1998. An eyewitness to the hunt, I wrote a Master’s thesis, “The Bowhead Whale Hunt at Kekerten, Nunavut Territory (July 1998),” giving a chronicle of its duration and preparation. The hunt was undertaken by the Inuit as a way of dealing with a haunted piece of their past: the catastrophic aftermath of the presence of European whalers in the region in the 19th and early 20th centuries, which deeply challenged both the physical and cultural survival of the Inuit of the Eastern Arctic. The hunt was carried out at a significant site of memory/ lieu de mémoire: a former whaling station in proximity to the community. An important aspect of the Pangnirtung hunt was the assertion of Inuit collective identity in the claim of sovereignty over the management of bowhead whale stock in the months preceding the creation of Nunavut, in April 1999. Yet departing from conventional interpretations that would understand the Inuit as the recipients of a “gift” in a cycle of forgiveness and restitution (apology-as-discourse), I argue that the event itself was not the result, but the very substance of apology. Bringing the past forward into the present, the Inuit of Pangnirtung introduced an event as a critical requirement in undertaking the work of apology.

Selective pressurized liquid extraction technique for halogenated organic pollutants in marine mammal blubber: A lipid-rich matrix

Analytical methods for unique and rare samples, such as marine mammal tissue, strive to reduce opportunities for analyte loss and contamination. Historically, analytical methodologies for marine mammal tissues required an extraction followed by multiple cleanup and concentration steps. These steps increase the opportunity for analyte loss and sample contamination. Selective pressurized liquid extractions (SPLE; an analytical technique that combines PLE with in-cell adsorbent cleanup) have the potential to reduce and/or eliminate the number of steps. A SPLE method was developed for the simultaneous extraction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from bowhead whale blubber. This SPLE utilized acidic silica with a fat-to-fat retainer ratio of 0.02 as well as eliminated post-extraction cleanup steps, such as size-exclusion chromatography step. In addition, neutral silica was placed beneath the acidic silica as an acid buffer, thereby preventing acid from contaminating the extraction system. Analysis was performed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in electron capture negative ionization mode. PBDE, PCB and OCP triplicate recoveries averaged 84±1%, 83±3%, and 76±11%, respectively. Overall, measurements of NIST Whale Blubber SRM 1945 were within±30% of certified values. PBDEs were measured for the first time in bowhead whale blubber; average concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 1.4ngg−1 wet weight (ww). Average OCPs and PCBs concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 37ngg−1ww and 0.1 to 3.0ngg−1ww, respectively, which were within one order of magnitude lower than those previously reported in bowhead whale blubber.

Facile synthesis of core–shell/hollow anisotropic particles via control of cross-linking during one-pot dispersion polymerization

Preparation of anisotropic particles based on seed phase separation involves multiple processes, and asymmetrical structures and surfaces cannot be produced when anisotropic shapes emerge. In conventional one-pot dispersion polymerization (Dis.P) using cross-linker, only spherical particles are prepared due to rapid and high cross-linking. Herein, monodisperse snowman-like particles with core–shell/hollow structures and partially rough surface were synthesized straightforward by a modified one-pot Dis.P, in which ethylene glycol and water (6/4, vol.) were used as medium, and ammonium persulfate (APS) aqueous solution, vinyl acetate (VA) and/or acrylic acid (AA), divinylbenzene (DVB) and styrene (St) were added at 6h. The cross-linking of growing particles was confined to exterior (forming cross-linked shell), and gel contents were low, leading to phase separation. Asymmetrical morphologies, structures, sizes and surface roughness were flexibly tuned by varying amounts of APS, VA and/or AA, water and DVB, and DVB adding speed. At low APS contents or high DVB amounts, the inhomogeneous cross-linking of head enabled its phase to separate, producing elongated head. With addition of VA and AA, phase separations inside head and body were induced, generating hollow structure. Adding DVB very slowly, nonlinear growth of third compartment occurred, forming bowed head.

Insights into the Evolution of Longevity from the Bowhead Whale Genome

SummaryThe bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is estimated to live over 200 years and is possibly the longest-living mammal. These animals should possess protective molecular adaptations relevant to age-related diseases, particularly cancer. Here, we report the sequencing and comparative analysis of the bowhead whale genome and two transcriptomes from different populations. Our analysis identifies genes under positive selection and bowhead-specific mutations in genes linked to cancer and aging. In addition, we identify gene gain and loss involving genes associated with DNA repair, cell-cycle regulation, cancer, and aging. Our results expand our understanding of the evolution of mammalian longevity and suggest possible players involved in adaptive genetic changes conferring cancer resistance. We also found potentially relevant changes in genes related to additional processes, including thermoregulation, sensory perception, dietary adaptations, and immune response. Our data are made available online (http://www.bowhead-whale.org) to facilitate research in this long-lived species.

Song sharing and diversity in the Bering‐Chukchi‐Beaufort population of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), spring 2011

AbstractBowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) of the Bering‐Chukchi‐Beaufort population migrate in nearshore leads through the Chukchi Sea each spring to summering grounds in the Beaufort Sea. As part of a population abundance study, hydrophones were deployed in the Chukchi Sea off Point Barrow, (12 April to 27 May 2011) and in the Beaufort Sea (12 April to 30 June 2011). Data from these sites were analyzed for the presence of bowhead whale song. We identified 12 unique song types sung by at least 32 individuals during ~95 h of recordings off Point Barrow. Six of these songs were detected at the Beaufort MARU site as well as six additional song types that were not analyzed. These results suggest a shared song repertoire among some individuals. This report represents the greatest number of songs to date during the spring migration for this population. We attribute this greater variety to population growth over the 30 yr since acoustic monitoring began in the early 1980s. Singing during early to mid‐spring is consistent with the hypothesis that song is a reproductive display, but further research is necessary to understand the exact function of this complex vocal behavior.

Development and assessment of a new dermal attachment for short‐term tagging studies of baleen whales

Summary Current studies of fine‐scale baleen whale diving and foraging behaviour rely on archival suction cup tags that remain attached over time scales of hours. However, skin irregularities can make suction cup attachment unreliable, and traditional pole deployment of suction cup tags is challenging in moderate sea conditions or when whales are evasive. We developed a new tag attachment to overcome these limitations. The attachment features a short (6·5–7·5 cm) needle that anchors in the whale's dermis (epidermis and blubber) to which a free‐floating tag is attached via a severable tethered link. The needle, tag and a detachable ‘carrier rocket’ with fletching are fitted together to form a projectile that can be deployed at distances of up to 20 m using a compressed‐air launcher. A corrosive release mechanism allows the tag to separate from the needle after a specified period of time so that the tag can be recovered. The dermal attachment was evaluated during a study of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in the Gulf of Maine and then subsequently deployed on bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) near Barrow, Alaska. Monitoring of tagged humpback whales indicated that the needle was shed several days after deployment, the attachment site healed shortly thereafter, and there were no discernible behavioural or health effects over time scales of days to months after tagging. Bowhead whales showed little immediate reaction to tagging; the most common response was a prolonged dive right after tag deployment. On average, respiration rates of tagged bowhead whales were elevated after tag attachment, but returned to the same rate as undisturbed bowheads within 1–1·5 h. When compared to suction cups, the dermal anchor provided a more reliable attachment and it can be applied from greater distances and in rougher sea conditions; it is therefore a useful alternative in circumstances where suction cup tags cannot be easily deployed.