Smithsonian Earth is committed to supporting research and conservation initiatives worldwide.

We're partnering with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) and staff scientist Héctor M. Guzman to help protect whale habitats in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Due to surges in maritime traffic, ocean wildlife is often at risk of colliding with commercial ships en route to the Panama Canal, a crucial hub of global trade in the region.

Dr. Guzman’s research is part of an ongoing international project to better understand whales and their ecosystems. His work informs policy decisions that create safe travel routes circumventing the habitats of threatened species, like those recently implemented in Panama by the International Maritime Organization.