These highly migratory whales swim between their calving grounds in the tropics and the nutrient rich temperate and sub-arctic waters to feed. They can be found both inshore and offshore, but they tend to follow the coastlines.
Pacific commercial whalers are thought to have killed some 28,000 humpbacks during the 20th century. By the mid 1960s, only 1,200 humpback whales were thought to have existed in these waters. Today, populations are thought to be limited but relatively stable.
While commercial whaling has long been curbed, several other factors impede the recovery of this species. Fishing gear entanglements and ship collisions, for instance, cause much mortality, and there are new fears regarding food availability and noise pollution.
Potential areas for NACAP action include promoting fishing gear modifications and disentanglement best practices, producing information for ship masters and their companies on how to avoid striking whales, and encouraging cruise ships to retain a qualified naturalist on their vessels.
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Publication – Humpback Whale