Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

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The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is one of the world's most important whale habitats, encompassing 1400 square miles in the waters of the Hawaiian Islands. It was designated by United States Congress on November 4, 1992 as a National Marine Sanctuary to protect the endangered humpback whale and their marine habitat in the North Pacific.^[1]

Contents 1 Sanctuary 2 Humpback whale 3 See also 4 Footnotes 5 Further reading 6 External links

[edit] Sanctuary

Since the crustaceans, krill and small fish the humpback whales feed on live Hawaii's warm, shallow waters close to shore, the whales were drawn there and became easy prey for early whalers. Here too, the whales mate, calf, and nurse their young.^[2][3] In 1966 the International Whaling Commission (IWC) put them in a protected status worldwide, but large illegal kills continued into 1970's. Currently the humpback whales are thought to number about 30,000-40,000 worldwide, which is approximately 30–35 percent of their previous population.^[4]

It is also estimated that almost two-thirds of humpback whales in the North Pacific migrate yearly from Alaska to spend their time in Hawaiin waters.^[2][5] As many as 10,000 humpback whales are thought to visit Hawaii every year,^[2] an increase from the 1,000 whales estimated in 1978.^[6] This number is still greatly diminished from the estimated 15,000 to 20,000 in the days before the whaling ban.^[7] It is crucial for the protection and long-term recovery of humpback whales to protect not only the whales but their habitats.

The Sanctuary also conducts research into reducing the threats to these endangered whales.^[8] Every year it conducts a whale count. Data have shown that Hawaii’s humpback whale population is increasing by approximately seven percent annually.^[9]

[edit] Humpback whale

Compared to other whales, the humpback whale has extremely long flippers which reach up to 30 percent of its length of up to 40 feet. The whale appears dark from the top while its flippers and tail, the sides and underside appear partially white and are noticeable when they are beginning dive as are their small dorsal fins.^[10] Male humpback whales engage in "singing." These songs have been described as long, complex "songs". Whales in different areas of the world sing different songs. A song may last from 10 to 20 minutes, and can be repeated for hours. The songs have been found to change a little from year to year. The songs may be a part of mating behavior as is their circle bubbling. Since they prefer the shallow shore waters, they are easily observed and their songs can be heard at a distance underwater.^[11] The whales engage in many other interesting behaviors that can be observed from shore.^[12]

[edit] See also

• Hawai`i Institute of Marine Biology

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] Further reading

• Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce (February 1997). "Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Final Environmental Impact Statement/Management Plan. A Federal/State Partnership for the Protection of Humpback Whales and Their Habitat". . NOAA

[edit] External links

• Hawaiian Islands humpback whale National Marine Sanctuary
• humpback whaleNational Marine Sanctuary
• Hawaiian Islands Humback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
• humpback whale - Megaptera novaeangliae
• humpback whale on PBS