NOAA Fisheries Image Gallery

Gray Whale Breathing, Trapped in Sea Ice

Picture by: Dave Withrow Picture taken on: January 17th, 1988

Tags: gray whale operation breakthrough Alaska trapped

One of three gray whale trapped by sea ice outside of Barrow, Alaska in 1988. This event inspired the new film Big Miracle, released in February 2012. This event inspired a new film called Big Miracle which was released in February 2012. This photo was scanned from slides at the National Marine Mammal Lab in Seattle.

Related Story: Gray Whale Breathing, Trapped in Sea Ice