The Gulf of Mexico has many whales and dolphins (Cetaceans) including a resident population of sperm whales. The Gulf also has extensive offshore oil and gas development and concern exists if noise from industry activities, in particular seismic airguns, may create problems for cetaceans that live in the same waters. 

In 1999, the MMS began planning a study to investigate the lives of Gulf of Mexico sperm whales and if seismic vessels and offshore platforms affected them.  In 2000-2001, MMS conducted a preliminary study through cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and in 2002, the Sperm Whale Seismic Study (SWSS) began with additional support from an Industry Research Funders Coalition (IRFC), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).  The 5-year Cooperative Agreement, awarded to the Texas A&M Research Foundation, is managed by the Texas A&M Department of Oceanography and includes researchers from around the world. June, 2005, begins the fourth and the final year of research cruises for SWSS.  Next year will be devoted to analyzing and reporting on data collected from all the SWSS cruises and a final report will be released in early 2007.  How do you study the lives of sperm whales?  In many ways and what follows are updates on our two cruises this summer and accounts from scientists onboard the Research Vessel Gyre and sailboat Summer Breeze on what they do.