The Nassau County chapter of the Sierra Club recently hosted an informative discussion about North Atlantic right whales. Tom Pitchford, a wildlife biologist with the Right Whale Project of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commision (FWC), and Barb Zoodsma, the Right Whale Recovery Program Coordinator of NOAA, did a fantastic job educating a full house of interested locals about right whale ecology and conservation efforts. Audience members included one of the awesome pilots flying our surveys, Holly Friedman; a Fernandina Harbor Pilot, Brian Seuter, plus his family; two of the local NEA aerial surveyors, Kelly and myself; Sierra Club members plus persons from all over Amelia Island. Tom and Barb fielded questions, relayed compelling stories and shared amazing video footage of right whale disentanglement efforts. All in all, the evening was a great success. Public education is an integral part of right whale conservation work and we are grateful to the organizers of this important event!

Suzie