Jessica Farrer

Jessica has dedicated nearly 20 years to marine mammal research, with experience spanning diverse ecosystems. She has worked as a fisheries observer aboard commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea and contributed to marine mammal studies across Alaska, Hawaii, Washington State, the Galapagos, and Antarctica. Notably, she spent four seasons at a remote sea-ice camp near McMurdo Station, Antarctica, studying Weddell seals as part of the U.S. Antarctic Program.

Currently, Jessica serves as the Research Director for The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, WA. In this role, she oversees several conservation programs aimed at promoting marine mammal conservation in the Salish Sea through education and research. Her work with the urbanized marine mammals of the Pacific Northwest contrasts sharply with the stark, isolated expanses of Antarctica and the marine mammals that call this region home. Antarctica first captivated her in 2009 during her initial field season at McMurdo Station. Since then, she has returned to the Ice almost every year.

Jessica is the unmanned aerial systems pilot for SR3's project, which monitors cetacean health around the Antarctic Peninsula. Her research focuses on the use of genomic techniques and non-invasive sampling to enhance our understanding of Antarctic marine predator ecology. She aims to expand knowledge of this relatively pristine ecosystem and apply lessons from the Pacific Northwest to advocate for early conservation measures in response to climate change and increasing human impact.