Large Whale Entanglement Response on Kaua‘i

By Jean Souza

Whale entanglement response, Dec. 18, 2013. Photo courtesy of Griffin/NOAA MMHRSP permit # 932-1905-1

January signals the start of the peak humpback whale season in Hawai‘i. These whales tend to prefer the shallower waters of Hawai‘i as their primary winter breeding and calving grounds. Given enough patience, they can be seen from the shore or from a boat. Look for subtle clues such as the blow (exhale) and dorsal (back) area that is black. Remember: Do not approach within 100 yards of a humpback whale; in the air, do not fly within 1000 feet of the whale.

While whale-watching, you may encounter a whale that needs help. Here is information that might help you.

Whales and other marine animals become entangled in fishing gear and marine debris every year. In Hawai‘i, humpback whales are the most frequently entangled large marine animal reported. There is a network of trained responders, including on Kaua‘i, coordinated by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS), and working under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program in the North Pacific.

Why Humpback Whales?

Whale entanglement response. Photo courtesy of Humpback Whale Sanctuary/NOAA Fisheries MMHRSP permit # 932-1905

Of the nearly 20 whale and dolphin species in Hawai‘i, nearly all of the reported entanglements have been humpback whales. This can be attributed to their long pectoral fins, their curiosity toward things in their environment (this is especially applicable to juvenile whales), their tendency to be tactile, and their presence in places where fishing gear and marine debris are present. Not all entanglements happen in Hawai‘i, though. Many of the humpback whales became entangled in their feeding grounds off Alaska and British Columbia, with their large size allowing them to migrate to their principal breeding/calving grounds off Hawai‘i. While in Hawai‘i waters, their presence close to the islands, Hawai‘i’s strong conservation spirit, and the clear blue waters allow for many entangled whales to be observed and reported.

Entanglements have consisted of a wide variety of materials, including fishing gear like traps and gillnets, to non-fishing related gear, such as mooring lines and anchor ropes, and to marine debris. On occasion, the entanglement has been proven to be communication-type cables, hydrophones (underwater microphones set out to listen to the animals), and FADs (fish aggregating devices).

In some cases, the whale can get out of its entanglement by itself. Humpbacks are known to be the most acrobatic of the large whales, which sometimes works in their favor. Most entanglements do not immediately kill the animal, but may impact their ability to feed (starvation). However, if complex enough, the entanglement may result in drowning. Entanglements may also cause physical trauma of lines cutting into the body and in some cases amputating flippers or the animal’s tail (flukes). Those same embedded wraps of line may introduce bacteria that can result in a systemic infection. While the impacts are not typically immediate, they are nonetheless there.

Entanglement Response

In cases of life-threatening entanglements, there is a network of responders who are authorized and trained to respond. Responding to an animal that can be more than 40 tons and 45 feet long, that may not realize you are trying to help it, can be dangerous to the animal and responder alike. It is for this reason that large whale entanglement response is a permitted activity authorized through NOAA Fisheries. Entanglement responses and the responder network in Hawai‘i are coordinated by Ed Lyman, who is the Natural Resource Specialist for the HIHWNMS, and serves as the Regional Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator under NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. Ed is based on Maui and has more than 25 years of experience in large whale entanglement response. He and the sanctuary program, working with NOAA Fisheries, have been key instigators initiating the Hawai‘i large whale entanglement response some 18 years ago. The sanctuary program has assisted other regions such as Alaska, the West Coast, Mexico, Canada, Russia, and others in their large whale entanglement response efforts. Ed is part of a team of experts that are consulted by countries worldwide on large whale entanglements.

The mission of NOAA’s National Whale Entanglement Response Program is to reduce serious injury and mortality of entangled whales. The ultimate goal is to establish long-term prevention solutions, so much effort is put into retrieving as much information as possible and the entangling gear for measurement and analysis.

Most importantly, the responses are boat-based, meaning that no one gets into the water. Such exposure has resulted elsewhere in injuries and deaths. Secondly, the response is based on getting a good assessment of the entanglement and developing a disentanglement strategy.

There are many tools to aid in this, such as the use of underwater cameras attached to long poles to determine how the whale is entangled and what it is entangled in. Increasingly, aerial drones operated by the response team and aerial photos obtained by helicopters have provided invaluable images toward assessing the entanglements and their impacts.

On Kaua‘i, a tracking buoy may be attached to the trailing entanglement of a whale to help monitor its location until conditions and resources are appropriate for response. This has been a key tool on an island where calm ocean conditions in the lee of the island is relatively small, and where whales tend to encircle the island. The actual freeing of the whale is a boat-based process using specially manufactured v-shaped cutting knives attached to long poles to free the animals. Advanced level of training is required for this operation as the responder will be close to the animal.

NOAA Fisheries’ Kaua‘i Marine Mammal Response Program Coordinator, Jamie Thomton, has the most advanced training of personnel on Kaua‘i. Others in the network include Mimi Olry of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, US Coast Guard Station Kaua‘i, Capt. Tara Leota, and others. Ocean users such as tour boat operators and fishermen have been important in providing initial assessments and standing by entangled whales until the experienced and authorized response arrives.

How to Help

All reports of marine wildlife emergencies should be called into the NOAA Fisheries 24/7 hotline number (888) 256-9840 or to the US Coast Guard via VHF Ch 16.

The most accurate reports of entanglement tend to be from ocean users, not shoreline watchers who are usually too far away to see details. Here are some things to observe:

. Species of whale

. Size of whale and color of its skin

. Exact location and direction of travel

. Observed entanglement on the whale’s body and type of entanglement

. Any observed trailing lines, buoy and buoy number

. Taking pictures or video is extremely important (from a safe and legal distance)

Human life and human safety are priorities, so no one should enter the water or approach the whale within 100 yards unless authorized by NOAA to do so. It is important that ocean users do not cause additional stress on the whale which might make it evasive and inhibit whale rescue efforts. Remember that almost all entanglements are not immediately life-threatening, so there is time to mount a careful and strategic response.

Avoid these common mistakes:

. Waiting too long to report an entanglement. Rapid reporting is the best way to help an entangled animal.

. When in a boat, not standing by the entangled whale until backup arrives — leading to a whale that cannot be relocated

. Failing to be a careful observer and jumping to conclusions. Such as mistaking white pectoral fins or other white body parts (that appear turquoise through the water) as entanglement or what appears to be a surfboard tied to a whale. About 20% of humpback whales in Hawaii have white pecs.

. Trying to cut the entanglement off the whale’s body yourself, including removing buoys. Not only is this dangerous for humans and illegal, but it makes it more difficult to find the whale again and get all the gear off the animal. Even one wrap of line left around the body may be lethal in the long run. One of the objectives is to remove all of the entangling gear if possible.

Statistics

Normally, about 30 to 40 whales are reported entangled each whale season in Hawai‘i. Only about 50 percent of these reports are usually confirmed, resulting in around 8 to 12 different animals. More than 200 entanglement responses have been undertaken since 2002 and 33 whales have been freed of entangling gear. Some entanglements were not life-threatening with the animal likely to throw off the gear on its own, some reports could not be responded to due to time of day or distance offshore, and some animals took multiple days (efforts) to free.

Juvenile whales appear more likely to become entangled. Based on buoy and trap identification, the longest distance that a humpback whale traveled with its entanglement was around 2500 nautical miles straightline distance from west of the Pribilof Islands in the middle of the Bering Sea to offshore of the island of Maui.

No confirmed large whale entanglements were reported in the 2020 whale season.

Visit https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/ for more information on humpback whales.

To receive a digital copy of a 54-page 2020 handbook for ocean users about Hawai‘i’s whales, dolphins, sea turtles and monk seals and the laws that protect them, email Jean.Souza@noaa.gov The handbook includes a phone directory of agency contacts, summary of laws, and species profiles. Prepared by NOAA and the State of Hawai‘i.

Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery Celebrates First Birthday in January

In celebration of its first birthday, Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery will be distributing free Grab-&-Go Ocean Learning Kits on Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument on Saturday, Jan. 16. Distribution will be at Kukui Grove Center and at Princeville Public Library while supplies last. Hours and locations are:

. Kauai Ocean Discovery at Kukui Grove Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

. Déjà Vu Surf Hawaii at Kukui Grove Center, 1 p.m.

. Princeville Public Library, 9 a.m.

• Jean Souza serves as the on-site manager of Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery at Kukui Grove Center and is a Program Specialist with the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. She is a member of NOAA’s large whale entanglement response network. Jean can be contacted at Jean.Souza@noaa.gov