Featured Image Credit: NOAA
By Sarah Sharkey
Humpback whales typically spend their winters near the Hawaiian Islands to avoid the frigid temperatures of the North Pacific in the winter. They make this journey of roughly 6,000 miles to mate, give birth and start raising their calves. Their migration is extremely impressive and it takes roughly six to eight weeks of nonstop swimming from Alaska to Hawaii.
The waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are extremely important to the Pacific humpback whale population because this habitat functions as their breeding grounds. Historically, humpbacks have run into entanglements and boat strikes because of the human influence in these waters.
But this year is different.
There has not been a single whale entanglement reporting this season! According to Ed Lyman, the large whale entanglement response coordinator with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, “It’s mind-boggling.” This is a wonderful improvement though!
Overall, the population of humpback whales is growing and healthy. They were recently taken off the federal endangered species list. There is still an interagency effort, Operation Kohola Guardian, which makes sure that boats are keeping their distance from the whales.
Hopefully the number of entanglements stay this low next season, but if you happen to run into a humpback whale (or any marine mammal) in distress you should call the Coast Guard. Lyman stresses that you should not try to help the animal yourself, reach out to the professionals so that both you and the animal stay safe.