NAWILIWILI — Two humpback whales — one of them dragging a net and a buoy — were spotted off Na Pali Coast on Tuesday, prompting immediate response from the United States Coast Guard and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National
NAWILIWILI — Two humpback whales — one of them dragging a net and a buoy — were spotted off Na Pali Coast on Tuesday, prompting immediate response from the United States Coast Guard and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.
“They appeared to be healthy with no signs of illness or skin diseases,” said Jean Souza, coordinator for the whale sanctuary on Kaua‘i. “But one is entangled, and is being tracked by the Coast Guard.”
Souza said the report about the entangled whale came in at 11 a.m. By afternoon she was at the USCG Nawiliwili station, helping the Coast Guard with disentaglement equipment that she brought from her office.
“We want people to know that we are aware of the situation, and the whale is being tracked,” Souza said. “The Coast Guard also issued a ‘notice to mariners,’ so boaters out there should also be aware of the situation.”
A USCG patrol on the Westside was diverted in response to the initial reports, and confirmed the entanglement.
The crew spent several hours assessing the entanglement and tracking the whale, said Souza, adding that whale was traveling “pretty good.”
“Initially it was spotted off Na Pali, and between noon and 2 p.m. it had traveled to a point outside the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana,” Souza said. “This means it was traveling west at an estimated speed of about five knots.”
But after initial assessment, it was decided to “stand down” operations to disentangle the whale until Wednesday. The Coast Guard is supposed to provide a helicopter, and the USCG Nawiliwili crew will be able to respond accordingly.
“We have the equipment on hand to do the job,” Souza said. “We have trained personnel in the Coast Guard who attended training prior to the start of the whale season.”
Souza said what they don’t want is people taking it on themselves to try to disentangle the whale.
“They may have good intentions, but can get seriously hurt,” Souza said. “This will be a boat-based operation by the Coast Guard.”
Call NOAA Fisheries hotline at 1-888-256-9840 to report a marine mammal in distress.
