Monitoring Humpback Whales in the North Pacific

The goal of this study is to maintain long-term continuous monitoring of humpback whales while identifying threats or stressors to the population to provide science-based  recommendations on mitigation strategies and contribute to adaptive management.

The Hawaii Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of humpback whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any animal, traveling between cooler, productive foraging grounds in the waters around Russia, Alaska, and western Canada to the warmer, tropical breeding grounds in  Hawai’i. Recent observations in Hawai’i and Southeast Alaska have revealed declines in sighting rates of humpback whales, with a 50-75% decrease reported between 2013 and 2018. Despite  the widespread popularity of humpback whales, this species continues to face several threats relating to human activities and ecosystem health, which is magnified by their preferred use of coastal habitats.

To effectively address these issues requires continuous long-term monitoring to determine the potential population changes and better predict and monitor the impacts of various stressors. By monitoring trends in their abundance, distribution, health and population status we can  better inform management practices. Data are collected during systematic research surveys and aboard platforms of opportunity in the leeward waters of Maui Nui. We collect a variety of  data to gain a broad understanding of individual and population-level metrics, including photo identification, biological samples, and UAS morphometrics.

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