Emma Luck
@emmaluck22.bsky.social
Master of Marine Policy, BSc Marine Biology 🌊 📝
Working in marine policy and marine mammal science. I like whales 🐋
📍 Alaska
Working in marine policy and marine mammal science. I like whales 🐋
📍 Alaska
And some terrestrial Costa Rican wildlife!
Seeing a resplendent quetzal was AMAZING—they live only in cloud forests in parts of southern Mexico and Central America and can be difficult to spot! Certainly the most exquisite bird I’ve ever seen.
The sloths and toucans are incredible too! 🦥
Seeing a resplendent quetzal was AMAZING—they live only in cloud forests in parts of southern Mexico and Central America and can be difficult to spot! Certainly the most exquisite bird I’ve ever seen.
The sloths and toucans are incredible too! 🦥
January 8, 2026 at 11:00 PM
And some terrestrial Costa Rican wildlife!
Seeing a resplendent quetzal was AMAZING—they live only in cloud forests in parts of southern Mexico and Central America and can be difficult to spot! Certainly the most exquisite bird I’ve ever seen.
The sloths and toucans are incredible too! 🦥
Seeing a resplendent quetzal was AMAZING—they live only in cloud forests in parts of southern Mexico and Central America and can be difficult to spot! Certainly the most exquisite bird I’ve ever seen.
The sloths and toucans are incredible too! 🦥
Starting off 2026 with new cetaceans! I am in Costa Rica and saw my first false killer whales a few days ago off the coast of Uvita 🇨🇷
January 8, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Starting off 2026 with new cetaceans! I am in Costa Rica and saw my first false killer whales a few days ago off the coast of Uvita 🇨🇷
A killer whale undergoes many changes in its first year of life!
They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.
They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.
December 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
A killer whale undergoes many changes in its first year of life!
They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.
They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.
Reposted by Emma Luck
Booming sea otters and fading shellfish spark values clash in Alaska
Booming sea otters and fading shellfish spark values clash in Alaska
HOMER, Alaska — Roarke Brown, a charter boat captain since 1972 in this picturesque fishing village, remembers being able to tread out onto the Kachemak Bay mud flats at low tide to fill a 5-gallon…
news.mongabay.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Booming sea otters and fading shellfish spark values clash in Alaska
Reposted by Emma Luck
This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important
⚠️ Chinese researchers have invented bone glue that mimics how oysters stick to surfaces underwater.
The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.
interestingengineering.com/science/chin...
The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.
interestingengineering.com/science/chin...
China's oyster-inspired 'bone glue' bonds fractures in minutes
A new oyster-inspired Bone-02 adhesive can revolutionize bone repair without metal fasteners.
interestingengineering.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important
Reposted by Emma Luck
Wild map: all the places in the world where killer whales take fish from fishing activities, often right off hooks on lines
By @emmaluck22.bsky.social et al.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
By @emmaluck22.bsky.social et al.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
September 26, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Wild map: all the places in the world where killer whales take fish from fishing activities, often right off hooks on lines
By @emmaluck22.bsky.social et al.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
By @emmaluck22.bsky.social et al.
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
Reposted by Emma Luck
Frontiers | A global review of operational fishery interactions with killer whales (Orcinus orca): dynamics, impacts, and management strategies
Frontiers | A global review of operational fishery interactions with killer whales (Orcinus orca): dynamics, impacts, and management strategies
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) are cosmopolitan, apex predators that sometimes interact with commercial fisheries. These fishery interactions can affect killer...
www.frontiersin.org
September 26, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Frontiers | A global review of operational fishery interactions with killer whales (Orcinus orca): dynamics, impacts, and management strategies
I am pleased to share our new review paper detailing killer whale interactions with commercial fisheries in Frontiers in Marine Science!
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
September 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I am pleased to share our new review paper detailing killer whale interactions with commercial fisheries in Frontiers in Marine Science!
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
Accepted! I can’t wait to share more soon! 🤩
My first, first-author paper is SUBMITTED! 🎉
September 25, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Accepted! I can’t wait to share more soon! 🤩
Some exciting news to share—I recently started a new position as an Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow! For the next year, I’ll be working with the Alaska Mariculture Alliance on policy and other topics related to Alaska’s budding mariculture industry 🌊 🦪🌱
alaskaseagrant.org/2025/08/alas...
alaskaseagrant.org/2025/08/alas...
Alaska Sea Grant: Alaska Sea Grant State Fellows announced for 2025
A new class of 11 Alaska Sea Grant State Fellows is preparing to start work around the state, including at the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Ma…
alaskaseagrant.org
August 24, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Some exciting news to share—I recently started a new position as an Alaska Sea Grant State Fellow! For the next year, I’ll be working with the Alaska Mariculture Alliance on policy and other topics related to Alaska’s budding mariculture industry 🌊 🦪🌱
alaskaseagrant.org/2025/08/alas...
alaskaseagrant.org/2025/08/alas...
Reposted by Emma Luck
The culprit of the mass seastar deaths in the Pacific was not a virus as thought, but a Vibrio bacteria strain
www.washington.edu/news/2025/08...
www.washington.edu/news/2025/08...
‘The discovery of the decade’: Researchers have found the culprit behind sea star wasting disease
An international research effort, including scientists from the University of Washington, has finally revealed the cause of sea star wasting disease: a strain of the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida.
www.washington.edu
August 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The culprit of the mass seastar deaths in the Pacific was not a virus as thought, but a Vibrio bacteria strain
www.washington.edu/news/2025/08...
www.washington.edu/news/2025/08...
Every now and then I catch my cat Sushi staring at photos of killer whales with remarkable intensity…
They do say pets take after their owners!
They do say pets take after their owners!
August 4, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Every now and then I catch my cat Sushi staring at photos of killer whales with remarkable intensity…
They do say pets take after their owners!
They do say pets take after their owners!
Reposted by Emma Luck
Alaska's Rep. Nick Begich has proposed text that would drastically weaken the incredible Marine Mammal Protection Act. Cooper Freeman, the Center's Alaska director, explains why these changes would be terrible for Alaskans and the state's wildlife. 👇
www.adn.com/opinions/202...
www.adn.com/opinions/202...
Opinion: What does Rep. Nick Begich have against Alaska marine mammals?
Alaska’s congressman has proposed a truly heartless piece of legislation that would gut the remarkably successful Marine Mammal Protection Act.
www.adn.com
July 18, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Alaska's Rep. Nick Begich has proposed text that would drastically weaken the incredible Marine Mammal Protection Act. Cooper Freeman, the Center's Alaska director, explains why these changes would be terrible for Alaskans and the state's wildlife. 👇
www.adn.com/opinions/202...
www.adn.com/opinions/202...
Last weekend was a delight—I observed my first bubble net feeding humpback whales and got to see the AD8s and AJs! (Resident pods of killer whales)
July 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Last weekend was a delight—I observed my first bubble net feeding humpback whales and got to see the AD8s and AJs! (Resident pods of killer whales)
If anybody has recommendations for public policy/interdisciplinary PhD programs in Australia or New Zealand that accept international students, I am all ears 👀
July 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
If anybody has recommendations for public policy/interdisciplinary PhD programs in Australia or New Zealand that accept international students, I am all ears 👀
A recent piece I made describing 4 different stocks/populations of resident killer whales found in the North Pacific Ocean! ⬇️
July 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
A recent piece I made describing 4 different stocks/populations of resident killer whales found in the North Pacific Ocean! ⬇️
Reposted by Emma Luck
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
July 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
Living in Alaska means having a constant panicky feeling in July because you can feel summer slipping away and you have not done nearly enough summer activities yet
July 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Living in Alaska means having a constant panicky feeling in July because you can feel summer slipping away and you have not done nearly enough summer activities yet
Reposted by Emma Luck
New free book: "Marine mammal acoustics in a noisy ocean", looks like an incredible intro to how sound works in the ocean and an overview of some of the big outstanding questions and answers.
By Erbe et al.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
By Erbe et al.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Marine Mammal Acoustics in a Noisy Ocean
This open-access book explores the potential impacts of noise on marine mammal species such as whales, dolphins, seals, seacows, and otters.
link.springer.com
July 7, 2025 at 4:38 PM
New free book: "Marine mammal acoustics in a noisy ocean", looks like an incredible intro to how sound works in the ocean and an overview of some of the big outstanding questions and answers.
By Erbe et al.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
By Erbe et al.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Reposted by Emma Luck
The administration's FY26 budget request for NOAA includes terminating the entire Sea Grant program. The Sea Grant Association will be sending this letter highlighting impacts in IL + IN to congressional delegations - please consider adding your name in support docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Illinois-Indiana Letter to Congress in Support of Sea Grant
Dear Illinois and Indiana congressional delegations:
We, the undersigned constituents from Illinois and Indiana, are writing to urge your support for federal funding for the Sea Grant Program in fi...
docs.google.com
July 3, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The administration's FY26 budget request for NOAA includes terminating the entire Sea Grant program. The Sea Grant Association will be sending this letter highlighting impacts in IL + IN to congressional delegations - please consider adding your name in support docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Yesterday I had some great encounters with killer whales! We saw the AT1 transients (Bigg’s) in the morning, and then found the AK6 matriline (residents) later in the afternoon. My first time seeing two killer whale subspecies in the same day!
June 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Yesterday I had some great encounters with killer whales! We saw the AT1 transients (Bigg’s) in the morning, and then found the AK6 matriline (residents) later in the afternoon. My first time seeing two killer whale subspecies in the same day!
My trip to Japan was a dream—northeastern Hokkaido is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.
June 9, 2025 at 2:43 AM
My trip to Japan was a dream—northeastern Hokkaido is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.
Japan’s Shiretoko Peninsula is every bit as magical as I hoped it would be. Here are some resident killer whales we saw yesterday in Nemuro Strait!
May 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Japan’s Shiretoko Peninsula is every bit as magical as I hoped it would be. Here are some resident killer whales we saw yesterday in Nemuro Strait!
Hello from Japan! 🇯🇵 Day 1 highlights included a visit to the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. They have a fully articulated western gray whale and a North Pacific right whale, as well as various other skeletons and specimens.
May 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Hello from Japan! 🇯🇵 Day 1 highlights included a visit to the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. They have a fully articulated western gray whale and a North Pacific right whale, as well as various other skeletons and specimens.