Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, to demonstrate support for environmental protection, recommit to making changes in our daily lives that can generate lasting positive impact for our planet, and to inspire others to take action with us. At Pacific Whale Foundation, we live these values 365 days a year – through our core Research, Education and Conservation programs; on board our vessels by incorporating green features throughout our operations; and through supporting and nurturing our team members as effective ocean ambassadors that will empower the next generation of environmental stewards.
Pacific Whale Foundation is fortunate to have a global community of over 9,000 annual members that actively support our programs, which reach over 400,000 people each year. If you aren’t a member yet, please consider joining our Membership ‘ohana or signing up to receive our Enews to stay updated on current issues facing threatened marine species and habitats, and learn how you can help.
Here a just a few ways that our members help to protect unique marine species like humpback whales, dolphins, false killer whales and sea turtles through Pacific Whale Foundation efforts:
- Participation in the International Whaling Commission to help advocate on behalf of whales
- Research to locate the endangered population of false killer whales, found only in Hawai‘i, and collect identification and photogrammetry photos to determine population parameters and use underwater footage to record behaviors and assess scar patterns. We also use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to measure body size and condition as well as assess potential pregnancy status
- Marine debris research projects to reduce marine debris from the source through effective outreach and policy
- Collaborative study with UH Manoa Marine Mammal Research Program and UH Hilo, among others, using drones to quantify the bioenergetic demands of humpback whale migration between Alaskan feeding and Hawaiian breeding grounds in an effort to identify potential factors contributing to the decline in observed sighting rates of humpback whales in Hawaii and Alaska
- Conservation campaigns, like The Last Straw and Tobacco Free Beaches & Parks, and the Volunteer on Vacation program create a healthier ocean from the land
- Citizen Science projects, like Great Whale Count, Whale & Dolphin Tracker, and Photo Donations, involve the public in scientific research on cetaceans
- Financial support and collaboration with international organizations in Chile, Ecuador, and Australia. The Centro de Conservacion Cetacea in Chile was recently part of an expedition that documented a possible new species of orca.
- Creation and maintenance of North Pacific Humpback Whale Catalog to advance our understanding of humpback whale biology, history, behavior, migration patterns, and population status to help further conservation and management efforts.
Mahalo to the thousands of supporters who make it possible for Pacific Whale Foundation to pursue our mission to protect the ocean and inspire environmental stewardship. This Earth Day, consider making an impact by joining us in this mission and ensuring the health of ocean life for years to come.