Two boats struck whales in January

Two separate collisions between small tour boats and humpback whales last month in Hawai‘i waters are currently under investigation.

Law enforcement and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Response team are looking into two incidents, though it is presently unclear whether the whales involved sustained injuries.

On Jan. 10, a small tour boat reportedly struck a humpback whale of unconfirmed age off the Kona coast. On Jan. 27 in Waikiki, another small tour boat collided with a humpback calf born this year. There were no reported injuries to passengers aboard the vessels.

January through March is peak season for whales in Hawaiian waters. It’s estimated that approximately 10,000 whales visit Hawai‘i from November through May.

David Schofield, NOAA’s Marine Mammal Response coordinator for O‘ahu, said that over the last few years Hawai‘i has seen about five to seven vessel collisions with whales per year. In 2007 there were six.

When a boat collides with a whale, the animal can sustain either blunt-force or sharp-force trauma. The former can be hard to see but often causes internal injury; the latter leaves visible scars from propeller wounds.

Schofield was unsure when the investigation would conclude but offered some preventative measures.

“We have a lot of keiki whales out there,” Schofield said. “It’s like a school zone. You wouldn’t drive 60 miles per hour through a school zone.”

Schofield also recommends a person on-board to look out for whales, as they can appear suddenly. In the event of a collision, he recommends making sure the boat’s hull has not been compromised and that everyone on board is safe.

To report a collision, call (888) 256-9840. Tips for safe boating can be found at http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/safe_boating.html

• Ellen Edmands, staff writer, can be reached at eedmands@kauaipubco.com.