Practice Makes Perfect: Drone Operations in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

By Rachel Plunkett

December 16, 2025

A well-placed multi-sensor tag on a humpback whale allows researchers to track its underwater movements and observe its behavior. But how do whale researchers practice dropping these suction cup tags from a drone onto the back of a massive ocean animal? With a surfboard, of course! At the onset of humpback whale (koholā) season in Hawaiʻi, the research team at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary spent a full morning practicing drone operations from aboard the R/V Koholā. The ocean was calm, the sky was clear, and the team took to the air, running through tag drop drills with the precision of a pit crew.

We asked sanctuary research coordinator and whale expert, Dr. Marc Lammers, for more details. Below is a look at how the day went, and some interesting details about how this top-notch team stays focused and ready throughout each season to tag, track, and study the majestic koholā that migrate to these sanctuary waters each winter.

Why are you tagging whales with an aerial drone?

Aerial drones give researchers a safe and precise way to place temporary suction-cup tags on humpback whales. These tags record detailed information—such as dive depth, body orientation, and underwater sound—that would otherwise be difficult to gather.

wide angle shot of a drone hovering above a humpbackwhale — A drone carries a suction-cup tag toward a humpback whale. A successful deployment attaches cleanly near the dorsal fin, allows the whale to continue natural behavior without disturbance, collects high-quality data, and later releases for recovery. Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA Permit #25754

Lammers says that they still maintain the pole system, but the team primarily uses aerial drones for deployments: “Drone tagging has become the preferred method because it allows us to collect high-resolution data while maintaining greater distance and reducing disturbance to the whales. It also increases tagging precision and expands the range of behaviors we can safely approach.”

Deploying tags from a drone keeps the research vessel farther from whales, reduces disturbance, and improves tagging accuracy and efficiency. The long-reach pole remains a valuable backup when weather or sea conditions—such as high winds—limit drone use.

Why do you use a surfboard for training?

Practicing on a towable object like a surfboard first ensures that the team is fully prepared for safe, efficient, and high quality tag deployments before the season officially begins. We tow a board behind the boat, and the drone pilot locks onto the “target”, tracks it, and drops the tag when the time is right—as if it were a real animal surfacing.

These early season sessions are our annual team refresher, giving everyone a chance to rebuild muscle memory, fine tune communication, and get back into the groove before research season officially begins.

Which tags are you using this season?

This season, the team is using three types of multi-sensor suction-cup tags:

a small orange oblong object with four suction cups on the bottom — The multi-sensor tags have suction cups for temporary attachment to the back of a large whale. Photo: Elizabeth Beato/NOAA

DTAGs (Digital Acoustic Recording Tags) – These record the whale’s movement, depth, and the surrounding soundscape at very high resolution.
Acousonde tags – These focus on detailed acoustic recordings and diving behavior and are especially useful for longer-duration deployments.
CATS tags (Customized Animal Tracking Solutions) – These carry multiple sensors including video, accelerometers, and magnetometers, providing a wide range of behavioral and fine-scale movement data.

All three tags attach temporarily using soft suction cups and release on their own after a period of time for safe recovery.

What are the various team roles for whale tagging through drone operations?

The team’s tagging operations usually involve four key roles:

Drone Pilot: the drone, tracks the whale, and positions the tag precisely for deployment
Launcher/Catcher: Manages the drone during takeoff and landing
Boat Captain: Maintains safe vessel positioning around the whales, keeps consistent speed and angle for the pilot, and ensures overall safety of the operation
Data Recorder/Spotter: Documents animal behavior, group composition, environmental conditions, and all operational details while also helping spot whales and track their movements.

a person in a hard hat on a boat holding a drone ready to launch — Maura Schonwald getting set up to launch the drone. Photo: Lizzy Beato

Two people in hard hats on a boat look at a screen for drone operations — Jason Moore and Marc Lammers setting up drone configurations. Photo: Lizzy Beato

Each role is essential for a safe, coordinated, and successful deployment. “A successful tagging operation means both good scientific data and minimal disturbance to the whale,” Lammers concludes.

Stay Tuned

To learn more about this research, keep an eye out for an upcoming Stories From the Blue video highlighting drone-assisted humpback whale tagging conducted by sanctuary scientists.

Additional Information

Tagging Humpback Whales to Understand Their Behavior Humpback Whales of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Responsible Recreation in Hawai‘i Get Involved: Sanctuary Ocean Count

Rachel Plunkett is the content manager and senior writer editor for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

The drone-assisted tagging and monitoring activities described here are authorized under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, including Section 309, which enables NOAA to carry out research and monitoring essential to understanding and protecting humpback whales within Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.