First whale of season spotted

By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor

LAHAINA, Maui — Maui's first reported humpback whale sighting of the season occurred Saturday, prompting officials to remind boaters to take caution when sharing the ocean with the endangered marine mammals.

The Coast Guard has completed its investigation of the incident, and the report is awaiting final review by the Coast Guard commandant before it is released, a spokeswoman said yesterday.

On Jan. 5, Maui fisherman Sandy Parker was knocked unconscious when his 18-foot boat struck a humpback whale as he was returning to Kahului Harbor. On Feb. 8, a young humpback whale was hit by a recreational boater off Puamana Beach Park near Lahaina. Officials are unsure whether the whale was injured.

Parker, 28, said he was "traumatized" by the collision, and a large scar on his forehead is an inescapable reminder of the accident. He said the humpback popped up about 20 feet in front of his boat and he didn't have time to avoid the collision. Parker, a county firefighter, still fishes frequently but has a new wariness in the water.

"I'm always thinking about it. It's always on my mind. I'm always looking out for whales," he said yesterday. "But the way it happened, there's no way I could've avoided it."

He believes more whale-boat collisions are inevitable. "There are more people on the water and so many more whales. It's bound to happen," Parker said.

Approaching humpback whales closer than 100 yards is prohibited by federal and state law and can result in fines of up to $25,000. Paul Newman, an enforcement officer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said yesterday there were at least 70 reports of possible violations of whale-approach laws last season, but only six cases were referred for possible civil prosecution.

The NOAA investigation of the Dream Cruises Hawai'i case is pending, but Newman said the two Maui collisions did not result in citations because the contact was unintentional.

Whale-watching has become an increasingly important part of state's tour boat industry, particularly on Maui. A report released this year by Markrich Research estimated that 300,000 people go on whale-watch cruises each season, resulting in more than $9 million in direct revenues.

The report also said there were 484 tour boats and fishing charters in operation in Hawai'i waters, sharing the ocean during the winter months with an estimated 5,000 humpback whales. The whales come to the Islands to socialize, mate and give birth, migrating 2,500 miles from their summer feeding grounds in Alaskan waters.

Saturday's sighting involved a solitary whale about six miles off Launiupoko in West Maui. Capt. Thomas Miller of the fishing boat No Problem, owned by Aerial Sportfishing Charters of Lahaina, told the Pacific Whale Foundation that at about 10:30 a.m., he saw a dolphin and then realized it was accompanied by a whale.

First sightings of humpback whales in Hawai'i typically take place at this time of year. Last year, the first sighting was Oct. 21.

Pacific Whale Foundation officials said the early season arrivals are typically single adult males, with other early arrivals including mothers with calves that were born in Hawai'i last season.

The sightings become more regular in late November, with January and February considered the peak months for whale activity. Most humpback whales are gone by early May, but some may linger through mid-June.

The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is developing signs to post at small-boat harbors and ramps reminding boaters to take precautions to avoid whale collisions. Sanctuary co-manager Jeff Walters said yesterday it's a safety issue as much as it is about protecting the whales.

"That Maui fisherman was knocked out, and it's lucky he didn't get knocked overboard," Walters said.

He said boaters should keep a sharp lookout during the whale season and slow down in "whale waters," generally speaking the shallow, nearshore waters where mothers and calves are known to rest. He said 13 knots generally is considered slow enough to allow whales time to react to an approaching vessel.

If boaters find themselves within 100 yards of whales, Walters said they should stop the boat immediately, assess the situation, and either wait for the whales to leave the area or slowly motor away from the animals.

Boaters are encouraged to report collisions with whales to help researchers study the encounters. Experts say most collisions are unintentional. "No fisherman has ever been cited for an unintentional collision," Walters said.

The Pacific Whale Foundation, has "Best Practices Guidelines for Operating Boats Where Whales are Present" posted at www.pacificwhale.org. Copies also are available at the foundation's Ocean Stores at The Harbor Shops at Ma'alaea and at 612 Front St. in Lahaina.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.