Marine Conservation Biology - Hawaii

Conserving Marine Biodiversity in the World’s Most Remote Island Chain

Ship Strikes and Whales

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) migrate to Hawaii each winter to calve and breed. While they are on the breeding grounds these whales are susceptible to collisions with vessels. Calves are especially susceptible to vessel strikes. Recent plans to introduce high-speed ferries for inter-island transport have created concern over the potential for mortality of humpbacks. Is it possible to site these activities in the middle of a humpback whale breeding area?.