LIHUE — While scientists are studying why people are seeing fewer whales in Hawaii, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is reminding folks that they’re still out there.
The humpback whale season in Hawaii is underway; running through May 15 officially, and now’s the time to see the marine mammals.
Now’s also the time when there’s the greatest risk of collisions with humpback whales, so those on the water should keep a sharp eye out.
“Collisions between whales and vessels occur annually, presenting serious risks to boaters as well as the whales,” said Edward Lyman, large whale entanglement response coordinator for the sanctuary. “Whale calves are particularly vulnerable because they are difficult to see and surface more often.”
Humpback whales annually travel 3,000 miles from their feeding grounds in Alaska to breeding grounds in warmer waters, including Hawaii, and are protected by state and federal agencies.
Approaching humpback whales when on or in the water within 100 yards or within 1,000 feet by air is illegal.
On Kauai, the 2018 season kicked off early with reports of first sightings on October 18 from a Blue Dolphin Adventures tour.
Every year the Sanctuary holds an Ocean Count, where citizen volunteers are distributed to 15 sites on Kauai, and to sites throughout the rest of the state, to watch the water and count spouts, pectoral slaps and other whale activities.
The count is held the last Saturday of January, February and March, during peak whale season, every year from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Counts have been showing a decline in numbers since 2015.
In March 2015, Kauai and the Big Island averaged two whales every 15 minutes, and Oahu averaged three every 15 minutes.
March 2014 yielded an average of three whales every 15 minutes on Kauai and Oahu, and two per every 15-minute time period on the Big Island.
Kauai reported four whale sightings every 15 minutes in March 2013, and Hawaii and Oahu calculated an average of three.
With concerns about fewer sightings surfacing, scientists are researching several reasons — like changing ocean temperatures due to climate change, increased noise from sonar and ocean traffic and ghost nets and gear that can entangle the whales.
That can result in starvation, physical trauma and infections, and may contribute to vessel strikes since the animals are less mobile. The Hawaiian Islands Large Whale Entanglement Response Network, a community-based effort led by the sanctuary, supports large whale response efforts statewide under the authorization of NOAA Fisheries. The network involves many state and federal agencies, including the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as private non-governmental organizations, fishermen, researchers and other individuals. If you see an injured or entangled marine mammal, keep a safe and legal distance and call NOAA’s Marine Mammal Stranding and Entanglement Hotline at 888-256-9840 or the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 immediately. If you are reporting a vessel coming too close to a whale, call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at 800-853-1964 or email respectwildlife@noaa.gov. Additional guidelines and safety tips can be found at: https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/res/ocean_etiquette.html.
