Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Monitoring Inventory

photo of a humpback whale under water

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