In 1970, a scientist released an album of whale songs that became a global hit and helped change public views on whaling

An album of humpback whale songs released in 1970 became a significant environmental work. These structured whale sounds were identified as songs by researchers Roger Payne and Scott McVay. The recordings helped persuade the US Department of the Interior to list great whale species as endangered. This led to the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act being enacted.