Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Monitoring Inventory
The monitoring projects in the following inventory take place in or around the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Projects are conducted by either Sanctuary staff or by our partners. Summary information is presented for each.
For more information about the monitoring activities at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, please click here, and review the Sanctuary Condition Report.
Contact the research coordinator at the Sanctuary for additional information.
Structures of Population, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpback Whales (SPLASH)
| Lead | NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Committee, SPLASH Steering Committee |
| Objective | An international cooperative research project developed to understand the abundance, population structure, and potential human impacts on humpback whales across the entire North Pacific Ocean. |
| Method | Photo-identification and biopsy tissue sampling, in both feeding and wintering areas throughout the North Pacific. |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Active | 2004 - 2006 | Variable |
| Links | http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/science/splashinfo |
| http://cascadiaresearch.org/SPLASH/splash.htm | |
| Partners | Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Mammal Laboratory and Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Sanctuary Program, National Park Service, Canada Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Instituto Nacional de Ecologia, Mexico |
| Keyword(s) | cetaceans |
Habitat Mapping
| Lead | Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary |
| Objective | Bathymetry mapping of the entire sanctuary. The synthesis, begun by the Hawai'i Underwater Research Lab, incorporates data from a wide variety of mapping groups and includes academic, state, and federal data. |
| Method | Vessel-based multi-beam mapping is conducted opportunistically when NOAA vessel has time or is transiting the sanctuary. |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Active | 1997 - present | Opportunistic |
| Links | http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/science/habitatmapping |
| http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/science/rprojects | |
| http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/documents/maps | |
| Partners | Hawaii Underwater Research Lab |
| Keyword(s) | bathymetry |
Humpback Whale Entanglement
| Lead | Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary |
| Objective | Monitor the number of entangled baleen whales reported from within the sanctuary, release if possible and determine origin of gear and impact to whale. |
| Method | Assess whale entanglement reports to HIHWNMS and NOAA Fisheries. |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Active | 2003 - present | Continuous |
| Links | http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/science/rprojects |
| http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/hihw/ | |
| Partners | NOAA Fisheries (Pacific Islands Regional Office), National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program |
| Keyword(s) | cetaceans, gear impact |
Ship Strikes to Whales
| Lead | Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary |
| Objective | Aerial surveys assessing humpback whale distribution and abundance in Hawai'i. |
| Method | Aerial surveys conducted annually to assess ship strikes. |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Inactive, pending funding | 1993 - 2003 | Continuous |
| Links | http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/science/rprojects |
| Partners | NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, National Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program |
| Keyword(s) | cetaceans, ship strikes, distribution, abundance |
Humpback Whale Observation
| Lead | Dr. Joe Mobely |
| Objective | Monitor the number of baleen whales reported struck by vessels from within and around the sanctuary. |
| Method | Assess reports to NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. |
| Status | Duration | Frequency |
| Inactive, pending funding | 2003 - present | Every 2-3 years |
| Links | Reports - http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/ |
| Partners | NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary |
| Keyword(s) | cetacean |