Three New Studies Published!
December 12, 2024
We’re excited to announce the publication of three new collaborative research studies in the last month, showcasing the vital role of partnerships in advancing marine science. These publications highlight Pacific Whale Foundation’s commitment to sharing knowledge and working alongside other researchers to better understand and protect whales and dolphins. From innovative findings to impactful conservation strategies, these collaborations reflect our dedication to science-based stewardship. Visit https://bit.ly/3W7rTIn to see our publications.
PWF Hawaii Team Completes Whale Entanglement Response Training
December 05, 2024
Round of applause for Research! 👏 Our Hawaiʻi team recently completed NOAA’s Whale Entanglement Response Training with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary aboard our research vessel, Kaiao. For some team members, this was a valuable refresher, while others gained new skills under the guidance of Sanctuary staff.
The training covered essential techniques, including throwing grapple hooks to secure lines for attaching telemetry buoys to gear trailing behind entangled whales, as well as methods for safely approaching these whales. Additionally, our Chief Scientist, Jens, received specialized training on techniques from NOAA’s inflatable boat, which included adjusting distances on the working line for cutting away trailing gear.
Pacific Whale Foundation has been actively involved in whale entanglement response efforts since 2015, and we look forward to this annual training each year. With humpback whales already appearing in Maui Nui, we’re prepared to make a positive impact!
If members of the on-water community should come across an entangled whale in Hawai‘i, do not try to help the animal yourself, but instead be a first responder and call in the report to NOAAʻs regional hotline at (888) 256-9840.
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary leads large whale entanglement response efforts in Hawaiʻi under NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (Permit No. 24359).
Pacific Whale Foundation First Sighting of Risso’s Dolphins Off the Coast of Lānaʻi
October 30, 2024
Thanks to near-ideal weather conditions, our Research team got out on the water on all 10 planned survey days in our 4th year with the Marine Mammal Research Program University of Hawaii in the deeper waters off Lānaʻi’s leeward coast!
The team gathered photo identification (for long-term population monitoring) and body condition (via drone, to assess health and age class) for a variety of species, including spinner dolphins, common bottlenose dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins, and short-finned pilot whales.
We were also fortunate to observe some less common species such as false killer whales, melon-headed whales, Fraser’s dolphins, and Risso’s dolphins! In fact, this was our team’s first sighting and only record of Risso’s dolphins off Lānaʻi.
Research activities authorized under NMFS/MMPA ESA permit # 27099. The UAS pilot holds FAA Part 107 authorization.
Pacific Whale Foundation Documents Nala, Iconic Hervey Bay Whale, During Recent Research Encounter
August 20, 2024
Recently, our research team in Australia (Pacific Whale Foundation Australia) were treated to an encounter with one of Hervey Bay’s most famous whales; Nala. Our researchers were notified by a whale watch vessel and the team launched a rapid response to document Nala’s presence and measure her size to determine her body condition and health!
Nala is well known in Hervey Bay as she has been a frequent visitor to this important migratory stopover site since the late 80’s during which she has been documented with at least 14 calves! The team observed Nala resting and socializing with another whale at the southern end of the bay. Both individuals briefly demonstrated some surface-active behaviors including breaching, pec slapping and head lunging, before returning to resting at the surface.
Research activities conducted under research permits and following animal ethics approval. The drone operator holds a remote pilot license (RePL) certified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Pacific Whale Foundation Celebrates 40 Years in Australia
July 30, 2024
Join us in celebrating 40 years of dedication and passion for these magnificent creatures in Australia!
Our journey there began in 1984 when Pacific Whale Foundation founder, Greg Kaufman, visited Hervey Bay for a documentary film project. During his visit, Greg realized Hervey Bay is a crucial resting area for humpback whale mothers and calves on their migration back to feeding grounds in Antarctica. This discovery sparked PWF’s mission to learn more about humpback whales in Hervey Bay. Research efforts involved photo-identification of whale flukes as well as recording their songs using hydrophones. This research led to some of the first comparisons between humpback whale song in Hawaiʻi and Australia (Hervey Bay) to explore regional variations and understand the global significance of whale songs. These efforts improved our understanding of migration patterns, how whale populations are connected, and how cultural transmission occurs among them. Since then, we’ve been committed to understanding and protecting humpback whales in the Bay. Our efforts focus on addressing current threats, including fisheries interactions, vessel traffic, ocean pollution, tourism pressure, and climate change.
Study Finds Drones More Effective than Vessels for Assessing Skin Parasite Burden in Humpback Whales
July 24, 2024
Recently, Isabel Taylor, from the University of the Sunshine Coast (and now a naturalist on board Ocean Defender!), used our data to assess the potential of using drones to evaluate the skin parasite burden on humpback whales.
Using specialized software, Isabel compared images of the same whale taken with traditional vessel-based methods to those taken by drones. While vessel-based photography is commonly used in whale research, drones have recently become a very popular research tool that allows more data to be collected with minimal impact on the whales.
Through pixel-based analyses, Isabel found both methods to be comparable at estimating parasite coverage, however, drones produced many more suitable images for assessment than the vessel-based method, making them an overall more effective tool for assessing parasite coverage! These results highlight the value of drones in cetacean research and going forward we aim to continue using this method to assess parasite burden in humpback whales.
Research activities conducted under research permits and following animal ethics approval. The drone operator holds a remote pilot license (RePL) certified by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Over 100 Attendees at Annual Ecuador Whale Watching Training
July 18, 2024
117 people attended our annual training for whale watching captains and tour guides hosted by our Ecuador Research team in Puerto Lopez! The training covered a range of topics, including:
– the latest whale and dolphin-watching regulations
– the diversity of cetaceans along the Ecuadorian coast
– updates from our ongoing research efforts in the region with an emphasis on the threats of unsustainable tourism
At the end of the sessions, we distributed 20 eco-friendly bags with messages to avoid marine litter, reinforcing our commitment to preventing marine plastic pollution. Each year, our commitment extends to educating the local community about whale interaction rules and sustainable practices. We are delighted to deepen our engagement with the community and eagerly anticipate further opportunities to strengthen these bonds!
Research activities conducted under permits from Machalilla National Park. (Actividades de investigación realizadas bajo los permisos del Parque Nacional Machalilla.) Research activities conducted under appropriate state and federal permits and following animal ethics approval.
New Study Highlights Critical Need for Monitoring Small Population of Pantropical Spotted Dolphins in Maui Nui
July 16, 2024
Pacific Whale Foundation is pleased to announce our recent publication ‘Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata attenuata) abundance estimates in Maui Nui, Hawaiʻi reveal small population in need of monitoring’ published in Frontiers in Mammal Science. Recent minimum population estimates are critical for effective marine mammal conservation, yet such estimates are often lacking at the stock or management level. Throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands, island-associated stocks of pantropical spotted dolphins (PSD) face multiple anthropogenic and natural threats including:
– vessel impacts
– fisheries interactions
– marine debris
– climate change
– disease
Prior to this study, no abundance estimates of the 4-Islands (i.e., the Maui Nui region) PSD stock existed that were suitable for management use. This publication features Pacific Whale Foundation’s use of long-term dolphin photo-ID data to generate abundance estimates of PSD in Maui Nui. Our benchmark results revealed a small population in need of monitoring given the numerous threats facing this stock, the uncertainty of their impacts, and the decreased resiliency and recovery potential of small populations to negative demographic and environmental stochastic events. Our findings, including documenting long-term site fidelity and year-round presence of PSD in Maui Nui, further signify this area as one of future research and conservation importance.
Australian Team Completes 24 Days of Dolphin Surveys in Hervey Bay, Revealing Key Insights into Species Distribution and Habitat Use
July 12, 2024
The Australian research team have been conducting line transect surveys in Hervey Bay since August 2022! These surveys help to better understand the abundance, distribution and habitat-use of the dolphins in the bay
To date, the team has completed 24 days in the field, covering nearly 4,300 kilometers! The most common species recorded was the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin; the team encountered 163 different groups. They also encountered 20 Australian humpback dolphin groups and 17 common bottlenose dolphin groups. The outcomes of this project will help inform management decisions regarding all three dolphin species in Hervey Bay and help to assess the threats they may face in this area!
Research activities conducted under research permits and following animal ethics approval.
Oʻahu Diver’s Surprise Encounter with Out-of-Season Humpback Whale Highlights Need for Ongoing Research
July 9, 2024
Over the weekend an Oʻahu diver was in for a surprise when he encountered a humpback whale!
KHON2 News reported on the out-of-season encounter between diver known as Oʻahu Ryan and the humpback whale. Typical months for humpback whales sightings in Hawaiʻi occur between November through May.
It appears that this whale has mistimed some part of its migration, either here in Hawaii or Alaska. While we cannot determine the exact reason for its presence, it highlights the importance of ongoing research. As ocean conditions continue to change due to climate change, we anticipate seeing more of these unusual sightings in the future. Understanding these patterns is important for the conservation and protection of humpback whales and their habitats.
Whale Season Approaches in Hervey Bay: First Whales Spotted as Teams Prepare for Fieldwork and Whale Watches!
June 13, 2024
Whale season in Hervey Bay is right around the corner and the first whales of the season have been spotted! 🐋
Our Research team down in Australia is hard and work prepping for the upcoming season of fieldwork and our Eco-Adventure team is prepping for whale watches. Do you have travel plans for the next few months? Consider heading down under!
Male Humpback Whale Songs: Communication and Competition, Not Just Mating Displays
June 12, 2024
As you may know, only male humpback whales sing. Those songs have often been thought to be mating display, similar to bird song, but did you know that this idea has been consistently debunked? Studies have shown that when scientists played humpback song to breeding females in the area which interestingly resulted in males approaching the source of the played song, sending researchers back to the drawing board.
It is more likely that males are singing to communicate with other males. A popular theory surrounding this idea is that the males might use songs to coordinate their behavior. This could invite competition from other males, or those other males might be looking for partners in an alliance. Alliances between male humpback whales have been observed in competitive groups and might help males displace other competitors!
Interesting/Unusual Sightings
One of Hervey Bay’s Most Famous Whales
July 2024
The Australia research team were treated to an encounter with one of Hervey Bay’s most famous whales; Nala. The whale watch fleet notified our researchers and the team launched a rapid response to document Nala’s presence and measure her size to determine her body condition and health.
Nala has been a frequent visitor to this important migratory stopover site since the late 80’s during which time she has been documented with at least 14 calves. The ability to track the life history of a single female over 40 years highlights the importance of PWF’s long-term monitoring efforts happening throughout the Pacific. The team observed Nala resting and socializing with another whale at the southern end of the bay.
Unusual Double-Dorsal Fin Sightings Across Three Regions
2024
Our research teams have had a trio of unusual sightings this year; three humpback whales, with two dorsal fins each! One was sighted in Ecuador in August, where local guides who have affectionately named it the “dragon whale”, called our research team so they could come gather data. The other is a calf, who was sighted with its mother by one of our research staff in Hawai‘i in March. A week after the Ecuador sighting, our Australia team sighted a “dragon” of their own in Hervey Bay! All whales seemed energetic and in good health. This double dorsal fin is unusual, but not rare, and has been documented in both calves and adults, and can be a genetic anomaly or the result of an injury. We believe the Hawai‘i and Ecuador occurrences are genetic, however, if you look closely at the Australia sighting, you can see that the spacing between the dorsal fins is much smaller than the other two – so this might be a healed injury rather than something it was born with – we aren’t sure!
Hawaii
Ecuador
