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There is an abundance of mother humpback whales and their calves here.
While that’s good news, according to Ed Lyman, natural resources specialist for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, it also means boaters must be extra vigilant to avoid collisions with marine life in island waters.
Wildlife Authority officials are again urging boaters to slow down and use caution in sheltered waters for both their own safety and that of the whales during the peak of humpback whale season in Hawaii.
“Right now we’re in our top three whale months,” Lyman said, “and there are a lot of whales out there — a lot of mothers and calves.”
In fact, according to Lyman, a calf was reportedly hit by a boat off Maui early Saturday morning. It was itself reported as a chance, surprise encounter, he said.
A multi-agency crew, including him, responded and searched for the injured calf because there was blood in the water, but the crew could not find it.
Lyman said four ship collisions with humpback whales have been reported so far this season, compared to two in the same period last season. However, these are only the ones that have been reported.
Since 1979 there have been 147 confirmed and reported collisions between whales and ships.
Marine reserve officials say hitting a whale at any speed on the water could be disastrous for both humans and the whale. That’s because an adult humpback whale can weigh around 45 tons, and hitting one — even at slow speeds — would be like hitting a slow-moving freight train with a car.
Lyman said that on the same day as the previous incident, there was a report of a humpback whale hitting a boat on its starboard side with a fin, causing one of its crew members to fall overboard. Luckily, that person was saved, but the situation could have been a lot worse.
Meanwhile, animal welfare officials are mourning the likely loss of a female humpback whale, identified as “Moon” by its tail fin, due to blunt force injuries associated with a ship strike.
In December, officers discovered Moon with her injuries about half a mile off the coast of Olawulu, Maui, in sheltered waters.
The Pacific Whale Foundation examined the injured whale and believes it was likely struck by a ship. Due to severe spinal trauma, she had lost her ability to swim with her tail, but amazingly, she had made her journey and continued to travel using only her pectoral fins.
Lyman said researchers in British Columbia knew Moon well and saw her there in September with the same injury and crooked tail.
To his knowledge, she was spotted three times in Hawaii in early December but was never seen again.
Due to the extent of her injuries and emaciation, officials believe this was Moon’s final trip to Hawaii and is likely to succumb here. It’s another reminder of why it’s important to respect these beloved whales and live with them in the water, Lyman said.
Thousands of humpback whales migrate from Alaska to the warmer waters of Hawaii to mate, calve and nurse their young – from October to May, with peak activity from January to March.
State and federal laws protect whales from disturbance or injury. In Hawaiian waters, it is illegal to approach a humpback whale by any means by sea or drone closer than 100 yards or closer than 1,000 feet by plane.
Officials said there is a common misconception that whales have excellent sonar capabilities and always avoid boats and people on the water, but that this is not true. Not only do whales dive regularly, but they also surface in front of moving boats, they said, and could harm vessels, occupants and themselves.
“Never assume that a whale can or will avoid you,” officials said in a news release.
Sanctuary Superintendent Kim Hum urged the public to enjoy whales from afar and to respect “these incredible animals and their natural behavior”.
“Give them plenty of room to move around the area,” Hum said in a release. “The last thing anyone wants is a crash or near crash with a whale, or worse, an overturned boat and someone getting hurt from getting too close.”
BEWARE OF WHALES
Guidelines for humpback whales in sheltered waters:
>> It is illegal to approach a humpback whale closer than 100 meters by sea or drone means and closer than 1,000 feet by airplane.
>> During whale season, particularly in water depths of 600 feet or less, boaters are asked to maintain a speed of 15 knots or less (or minimum planing speed) to minimize the risk of hitting a whale. Speed should be reduced to 6 knots or less within 400 yards.
>> Boaters should not cross in front of whales, pursue them from behind, or surround whales. Never separate a mother and calf or intentionally place a vessel in an animal’s path. This is known as “leapfrogging” and is illegal.
>> When a curious whale approaches, the ship’s captain should disengage the propulsion system and drift. When it is safe to do this and the whale has moved away, slowly re-engage and move the ship away.
>> Any sighting of an injured or entangled marine mammal should be reported immediately to NOAA’s Marine Life Hotline at 888-256-9840 or the US Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.
>> For best practices on boating with whales, visit dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/boating-with-whales.
Source: Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary