One of Heather Welch's jobs, before she was fired with an email that gave her just 90 minutes to pack up, was to prevent collisions between ships and whales in the waters off the US West Coast, writes with the BBC.

Welch, who was an ecologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for nearly a decade, specialized in mapping the movements of marine animals. This helped ships plan their routes and fishermen improve their catches, avoiding the accidental killing of seals and porpoises.

Welch is just one of more than 1,000 people who have been laid off at NOAA, the leading U.S. weather and climate agency. The group where Welch worked, which provided critical data to fishermen, was hit hard. Many of its activities will be reduced or stopped altogether, the report said. KosovaPress.

NOAA plays a key role in monitoring the oceans, and the data it provides is crucial for weather forecasts, shellfish harvests, and changes in sea levels and temperatures. The impact of these disruptions could be significant, including on public health and the safety of people who depend on the sea.