Whale sanctuary may be expanded
By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
A Hawai'i sanctuary for humpback whales has worked so well it could well be extended to other whales, seals and turtles, Gov. Ben Cayetano said yesterday when he approved a second five-year management plan for the joint federal-state project.
The sanctuary is one of 13 national marine sanctuaries and includes waters around the islands of Maui, Lana'i, and Moloka'i, and waters around parts of O'ahu, Kaua'i and the Big Island.
Hawai'i is a winter migratory home for the endangered humpbacks, and one of the places where they breed, calve and nurse their young.
Cayetano said he was happy that the management plan "includes a community-based process to consider .... other ocean resources precious to our islands."
The Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit organization which owns a whale watching tour company here, yesterday welcomed the extension of the sanctuary plan, but said the sanctuary still needs to share power more with the community.
"We're enthused to see the sanctuary reauthorized for another five years," said Greg Kaufman, president of the foundation.
"We're also pleased to see that Governor Cayetano has taken us up on recommendations" to include in the sanctuary other endangered species, such as sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals, Kaufman said.
The foundation and others sponsoring whale-watching activities, as well as fishermen, expressed concerns when the sanctuary was established five years ago that it would impose arbitrary government controls on some boating and fishing activities.
But Naomi McIntosh, acting director for the sanctuary, said yesterday she believes those fears have proven to be unfounded.
"The state is continuing to support the sanctuary," McIntosh said. "We are required at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to review our management plan every five years, and because there was a lot of controversy surrounding it originally, the governor five years ago said he wanted to see if it was still a good thing for the people of Hawai'i," McIntosh said.
"His approval indicates he does feel it is a good project," she said.
She said concerns that the sanctuary would regulate speed of vessels, or bring more stringent enforcement, proved not to be true.
One of the fundamental protections, the regulation prohibiting anyone from approaching to within 100 yards of a humpback whale, was already in place before the sanctuary was created, she noted.
"What we did was try to explain to people the importance of the law, and other regulations, and the need to provide a sanctuary, and the result was a lot more voluntary compliance. The 'ocean police' have had to go after only the most egregious violations," she said, referring to a task force that includes the Coast Guard, state conservation officers and NOAA fisheries enforcement officers.
Meanwhile, the humpback whales which come to Hawaiian waters beginning in November for winter breeding apparently are thriving, McIntosh said.
"From research done by scientists in the sanctuary, the population appears to be increasing 7 percent a year," she said.
The total population in the northern Pacific appears to be about 3,500 to 5,000, compared to a pre-whaling peak of 10,000 more than 100 years ago, and a low of only about 1,000 in the 1970s, she said.
In the next five years, she said, "we will start a process to look at other species that may need additional protection."
Reach Walter Wright at wwright@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8054.
