Humpback whales have already been spotted by tour boat operators off Maui and the Big Island, said Jean Souza, the Kaua‘i programs coordinator for the NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Just last weekend the first whales off
Humpback whales have already been spotted by tour boat operators off Maui and the Big Island, said Jean Souza, the Kaua‘i programs coordinator for the NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
Just last weekend the first whales off Kaua‘i’s coast were spotted in Kilauea.
This is an indication that the whale season is upon us and to launch this year’s season, Souza said the marine sanctuary is hosting a free whale presentation Monday at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School cafeteria from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
According to a new humpback whale brochure from the sanctuary, as many as 10,000 humpback whales are in Hawaiian waters each year from about November through May.
Humpback whale season in Hawai‘i generally runs from November through May, although whales may be encountered in limited numbers during other months. The usual peak in humpback abundance occurs from January through March.
Ed Lyman, an NOAA researcher and marine mammal response coordinator, will be the guest presenter heading up a 90-minute multi-media presentation centering on whale disentanglement.
Lyman has been involved in more than 60 large whale disentanglement efforts and has helped train a network of disentanglement responders in Hawai‘i, the West Coast and Alaska.
Lyman has conducted humpback whale research in Hawai‘i and off New England as well as taking part in research projects off Alaska and American Samoa.
His underwater images of humpback whales help assess entanglement threats.
Joining Lyman in the presentation will be a special enforcement agent from the NOAA Fisheries Division.
Additionally, a workshop for boaters, kayakers, surfers and commercial boating operators will be held on Nov. 18 at the West Kaua‘i Technology and Visitor Center conference room from 10 a.m. to noon in Waimea.
This workshop will discuss how to avoid colliding with whales and how to report collisions. A new boating and ocean use guide for safety and conservation with regards to the humpback whale will also be available.
According to the brochure, humpback whales, averaging 45 tons in weight, can pose safety hazards for boaters, with vessel-whale collisions occuring each year in Hawai‘i. These accidents are a serious risk to both boaters and whales.
Ocean users such as kayakers and surfers are also subject to safety risks when whales surface, breach, or slap their massive tails or flippers, the brochure states.
The sanctuary will share the latest news, tips, guidelines and laws concerning ocean user interactions with humpback whales and other marine mammals at this workshop.
Additionally, because ocean users are instrumental in helping to monitor ship-struck, entangled and otherwise injured marine mammals, instruction on what users can do to assist trained rescue personnel in helping distressed animals will be offered.
The NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, with the support of the U.S. Coast Guard will be increasing its efforts around the Hawaiian Islands during this humpback whale season. Details on this effort as well as how to effectively report suspected violations and what to expect if you become involved in an investigation will be discussed.
Souza said she is also in the process of finalizing locations for training workshops for the upcoming ocean counts beginning in January. More details on these training workshops will be available once all of the details are finalized.
No reservations are needed to attend these workshops.
For more information, call the sanctuary office at 246-2860.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
