National Marine Fisheries Service

01/21/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/21/2022 15:25

NOAA-Led Team Works to Free Entangled Humpback Whale Reported off Kauaʻi

A NOAA-led team of marine mammal responders is continuing to track an entangled adult humpback whale first spotted off Po'ipū, Kauaʻi on January 16, 2022.

A community member reported the entanglement to NOAA officials. NOAA mobilized a same-day joint response in coordination with the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The humpback whale was emaciated, light-colored, rough-skinned, and had patches of rust-colored whale lice-indicative of a whale in distress. There was a large amount of gear wrapped around the whale, and some of the gear may have involved the mouth. Mouth entanglements are especially dangerous for whales, as they often impact the animal's ability to feed.

Initial Response Efforts

January 16, 2022

Trained NOAA and DLNR responders mounted an initial, same-day response and were able to remove a majority of the gear trailing from the whale. However, because of the complexity of the entanglement, they were not able to remove all of it. They attached a satellite and Very High Frequency, or VHF, telemetry buoy to aid in tracking the whale for possible follow-up disentanglement attempts. The telemetry buoy is configured to self-release in approximately one week avoiding any additional impact to the whale.

January 17, 2022

The team mounted a second response; however, the whale moved away from Kauaʻi to Niʻihau. The team was unable to reach the whale due to the greater distance and the whale's increase in speed.

January 19, 2022

Data from our satellite telemetry buoy indicated the whale was navigating around Kauaʻi. The team mounted a third effort from Kauaʻi aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. However, after extensive effort, they were unable to sight the whale.

January 20, 2022

Data from our satellite telemetry buoy indicated the whale was still navigating around Kauaʻi. The team mounted a fourth effort from Kauaʻi aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel. However, again after extensive effort, they were unable to sight the whale.

Future Response Efforts

We will continue to monitor the whale's location with the telemetry buoy and will attempt to remove more gear, if feasible.

Our goal is to safely free large whales from life-threatening entanglements. At the same time, we try to gather valuable information that will reduce the frequency and impacts of entanglements in the future.

To date, the team has removed nearly 2,000 feet of heavy gauge line from this whale, greatly improving its condition, as evidenced by the whale's increased speed. The gear will be further investigated in an effort to determine its identity and possible origin.

NOAA coordinates disentanglement efforts under the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program permit (#18786). These efforts are dependent on the commitment of state and federal agencies, private non-governmental organizations, fishermen, and the community working together.

How Can You Help?

Early reporting is key to successful response efforts. We ask for the public's help in following these steps if they spot an entangled whale:

  1. CALL - Call the statewide NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840 to alert authorized responders. If you do not have cell service, call the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.
  2. MONITOR - If a response is possible, authorities may ask that you watch the animal from a safe-and legal-distance. Follow the 100-yard or close approach rule. This prohibits approaching humpback whales by any means (including with a drone) within 100 yards, and within 1,000 feet when operating an aircraft.
  3. DOCUMENT - If possible, take photos and video of the animal and entanglement from a safe-and legal-distance. Again, remember the 100-yard or close approach rule!
  4. WAIT - Rescue efforts should only be conducted by trained, authorized personnel. For your safety and the whale's, do not attempt to free a whale on your own. Disentangling a large whale is dangerous. Removing trailing lines and buoys may diminish the chances of freeing the animal of all gear, leaving potentially lethal wraps of line still around the whale.