Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary: Research

SPLASH RESEARCH

SPLASH is the most comprehensive study ever attempted of the endangered North Pacific humpback whale population. The effort is a partnership of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program and NOAA Fisheries. Visit the Special Offerings section of our website to learn more!

SANCTUARY SPONSORED RESEARCH

The sanctuary supports scientific research that is consistent with the goals and program. To learn more or download the results of a particular project, see the Project List.

OVERVIEW OF SANCTUARY RESEARCH

For decades, the marine area encompassed by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary has served as an important laboratory for natural scientists seeking to better understand Hawai`i's marine resources, as well as for social scientists who study the numerous and complex interactions of humans and their environment.


A male humpback whale singing his mysterious songs.

From the start, research and long-term monitoring were identified as critical to achieving the sanctuary's primary goal of resource protection for the humpback whale and its habitat. To effectively work toward achieving this goal, there is a need to improve our present understanding of the humpback's vital life rates (e.g., age at sexual maturity, pregnancy rates, variability in reproductive success, calving intervals, age-specific mortality and survivorship rates, longevity), as well as, abundance, distribution, movement, behavior and interrelationships with its Hawaiian habitat and its Alaskan feeding grounds. It is also necessary to identify how these parameters change over time due to natural or human-induced factors.

While much scientific research has been, and continues to be, collected on humpback whales, many unanswered questions remain about their habitat requirements, population dynamics, threats and impacts vital rates and social behaviors. Such baseline information is needed to develop an understanding of sanctuary resources and ensure the effective implementation of management strategies using the best available scientific information. The Sanctuary Research Program is currently being developed to help address these important management needs.

Towards a Research Plan

While the sanctuary has funded research for several years, it is currently developing a comprehensive research plan and program to provide more detailed guidance and direction for sanctuary-sponsored research. The research plan and program are being developed by sanctuary staff in close consultation with the research committee of the sanctuary advisory council, other government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.


A mother and calf swimming in the waters off Maui. Calves are typically one-third the size of their mothers. (Photo: Joseph Mobley)

The primary goals of the program are to: 1) improve understanding of the central North Pacific population of humpback whales and their wintering habitat; 2) address and resolve specific management concerns; and 3) coordinate and facilitate information exchange among various researchers and institutions, agencies and the public.

With a view to these goals, the sanctuary will promote research designed to: 1) provide NOAA, the State of Hawai`i, and the public with a means to evaluate the effectiveness of the sanctuary in protecting the humpback whale and its habitat; 2) provide a means to distinguish between the effects of human activities and natural variability on identified and perceived impacts to humpback whales and their habitat; and 3) evaluate management actions.

Research Program Management

The sanctuary research program will be co-managed by NOAA and the State of Hawai`i in accordance with the Compact Agreement signed in 1998. Program implementation is expected to be achieved through a combination of activities conducted by the sanctuary staff and other individuals and organizations.

Additional program implementation will be accomplished through the use of a sanctuary vessel. The sanctuary will offer use of the vessel as a research platform to qualified applicants on a competitive basis. Sanctuary staff and contractors may also use the vessel to implement various elements of the research program.


Researchers are required to obtain permits from the National Marine Fisheries Service and the State of Hawai`i to break the 100-yard distance requirement. (Photo: NMFS)

The research program will be closely linked to the sanctuary's education and outreach programs. Research supported by the sanctuary will include education and outreach components to the maximum practicable extent.

The program will be periodically reviewed and revised to ensure that research supported by the sanctuary is relevant to changing information and management needs. Program review and revision will be facilitated with formal input from the sanctuary advisory council and other concerned parties. Workshops and other activities will also be conducted to facilitate effective program review and revision.