August 12, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
This is a collaborative effort with the University of Alaska Southeast, University of Alaska Fairbanks, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office and Alaska Fisheries Science Center/Auke Bay Laboratories and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.
It’s an unusual year out on the water near Juneau, Alaska.
Normally a throng of tourists would arrive in Juneau on cruise ships. They would board one of the more than 65 whale watching vessels for an opportunity to see whales.
Juneau is a premiere location for whale watching, especially humpback whales. Humpbacks migrate to Alaska each spring to feed in the nutrient-rich waters and build up fat stores through the summer. Then they migrate back to Hawaii, Mexico, and other areas of the Pacific Ocean in the fall to breed and calve in tropical waters over the winter. They frequently breach, blow, and dive—showing their tail flukes. If whale-watchers are lucky, they may even get to see humpback whales engaged in “bubble net feeding.” This rare cooperative feeding method occurs in only a few areas around Alaska.
Because the whale watching industry in Juneau has tripled in the past two decades, there is concern about potential impacts of whale watching vessels on humpback whales. Prior studies indicate that humpback whales tend to increase speed, change direction, and breathe faster in the presence of vessels. The findings indicate that humpbacks may be taking measures to avoid vessels.
But this year, it is relatively quiet on the water. There are few tourists and just a sprinkling of whale watching vessels in areas that are normally bustling with activity.