Humpback Whales Removed from Endangered Species List

Published by: John C. Derrick

Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.

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Hawaii Humpback Whales

Score one for the whales! Thanks to conservation efforts, most of the world’s humpback whale populations, including those that breed in Hawaii, have been removed from the endangered species list.

These majestic creatures were classified as endangered in 1970. At that time, commercial whaling operations had severely reduced their numbers across the globe, as they were highly coveted for their oil and meat.

In what NOAA is calling “a true ecological success story,” the humpbacks have seen their numbers grow tremendously. Back in the 1960’s, estimates placed the number at about 5,000; today NOAA calculates that figure at around 85,000. Most of the huge population increase can be attributed to the near eradication of commercial whale hunting, thanks to international efforts to crack down on the barbaric practice.

At one time, humpback whales were thought of as one single population; however, as their breeding and migration habits were studied, scientists began to think of their numbers in terms of regional populations. With this is mind, they were split into 14 different groups in 2015. Shortly thereafter, NOAA decided to remove 9 of these 14 populations from the endangered species list, as it determined that their status no longer warranted such classification. As of this writing, 1 population segment is listed as threatened (Mexico), and 4 remain on the endangered list (Central America, Cape Verde/Northwest Africa, Arabian Sea, and Western North Pacific).

According to estimates, about 11,000 humpback whales come to Hawaii’s warm waters each year to mate, calf, and nurse their young; currently, scientists consider their numbers to be healthy and point out that rules to keep them safe are in place.

One of these protections is the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Under this act, it is unlawful to harass any marine mammals; this means that vessels in Hawaiian waters must remain a certain distance away, so as not to disturb them.

That’s why it’s so important to choose a whale watching tour that cares not only about the comfort and safety of the vessel’s passengers; but also that of the marine life whose ‘home’ they are visiting. Enter our friends at Pride of Maui.

Enjoying a whale watching tour with Pride of Maui means you are supporting a company that ensures their operating practices meet the highest safety standards out there. Plus, their tours adhere to the most up-date marine conservation practices, so you can be confident that the whales will be just as well respected as you are.

Best of all, not only will see these mesmerizing creatures frolic and amaze you with their size and gracefulness; but you’ll also learn firsthand about what exactly you are witnessing. Pride of Maui’s expert captain and crew love the humpback whales and want you to witness and learn everything you can about them.

And while choosing an eco-friendly whale watching tour is an important part of keeping the humpback whales safe, there are other things we can all do to help:

Pick up trash (yours and other peoples’) at the beach
Reduce, reuse, recycle- to keep plastics and other trash out of the ocean
Support other eco-friendly tour companies, no matter where you are in the world
Support marine preservation programs, studies, and legislation
Support sanctions against illegal whaling
Teach children in your life about these marvelous ocean dwellers and why we all need to do our part to keep them safe and healthy

We’ve helped them come a long way; let’s make sure the humpbacks survive and thrive for generations (of both whales and humans) to come.