Defenders of Wildlife Blog

Defenders' Sierra Weaver, courtesy WDCS

As an environmental lawyer in Washington, D.C., much of my work involves the often invisible world of policy, laws, and court decisions. Every now and again, however, I have the incredible privilege of getting out to see the wildlife I work to protect. This past weekend, I got to do just that on a whale watching trip in one of the most important whale habitats on the East Coast of the United States—the waters off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

There were several whales in the water that day, but the most striking by far were the humpback mother and calf swimming alongside our boat. Locals told us that the mom was known as Mural, and that this was her third calf they’d identified over the years (as well as the first calf they’d seen this season). Not only did their beauty take my breath away as they gently rolled and swam close to each other and to our boat, but I was struck by how critically important our work to protect them really is. Those very whales I was watching might not have been there if it hadn’t been for our successful efforts to slow down ships and remove dangerous fishing gear from the water. And for the highly endangered North Atlantic right whales we heard were in the area (but couldn’t see because of extra protections that keep them free from disturbance by the public), it was enough to know they were there.

Whale watchers sight a humpback calf, courtesy WDCS

My trip out to see the whales was part of the fifth-annual naturalist training sponsored by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, and the Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown. And not only was I lucky enough to see humpback whales, fin whales, and white-sided dolphins swimming all around us, I also got to meet the wonderful folks in the whale watching community who are out educating the public about these animals every day. These folks who ride aboard the whale watch vessels and ensure that passengers know what they’re seeing are all incredibly well versed in the science and threats to the species, but this year the workshop organizers decided they would also benefit from the broader context of the policy work that ensures we all have amazing wildlife to enjoy.

That’s where I came in. And in exchange for talking about what I do from my desk in D.C.—how we use important laws like the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act to make sure that these magnificent and imperiled species get to keep swimming in the waters off of New England—I got to learn from the folks who know these whales by name and be inspired both by what they do and what they see on a daily basis. All in all, not a bad day on the job.

The calf surfaces for air, courtesy Caroline Good.

Learn more:

Read about the critically endangered right whale and what Defenders is doing to save the species from extinction.

See how Sierra is leading Defenders’ fight to prevent fishing gear from entangling threatened and endangered whales in waters off the East Coast. 

A weekly homage to endangered species, large and small.

HUMPBACK WHALES

In Hawaii, no animal is bigger than the humpback whale. Weighing up to 40 tons (about 80,000 pounds), nothing rivals these giant ocean acrobats in physical size or economic impact, which includes a big boost to the local tourism industry. At the start of the 21^st century, tour operators in Hawaii earned an estimated $16 million in ticket sales for wildlife excursions. Of that number, $11 million– almost 70 percent — was credited to tours specifically for the humpback whale.

And it’s not surprising when you see how these graceful giants captivate audiences. Though massive, humpbacks are actually one of the smaller baleen whales (whales who use net-like filters called baleen to filter food) and one of the most agile. They leap out of the water and make giant splashes as they crash back into the ocean. This spectacle—called breaching—enchants whale watchers all over the world.

Humpbacks can grow up to 16 meters in length with females growing slightly larger. During the summer, the whales feed on krill and small fish to stock up for long migrations to warmer winter waters. From December to April humpbacks are common sights along the shores of the Hawaiian Islands. This is good news for Hawaii’s economy. More than 50 boats and about 300 jobs are dedicated specifically to the business of humpback whale watching in the state. Those who want an even closer look at the whales often take guided snorkeling expeditions—an industry itself worth more than $5 million. Not only in Hawaii, but off the coast of Australia, Canada and all around the world, humpbacks bring in an estimated $60-90 million in annual tourism revenue according to studies by NOAA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Local, national, and international conservationists get support from businesses and communities because of the humpbacks’ proven profitability.

One reason the whales are so marketable is that they are naturally curious and charismatic. Humpbacks often come very close to tourist boats and some even hover around or beneath the vessels for extended periods. Casual tourists often observe the whales from the beach and jump at the opportunity to see the majestic animals up close on boat rides.

Spyhopping humpbacks captivate eager tourists

Big Business Faces Big Challenges

Unfortunately, there was a time when hunting made it difficult to find these whales. In the 1960s, estimated populations of humpback whale fell from more than 120,000 to only about 20,000 animals worldwide as they were nearly hunted to extinction. In 1970, under a precursor to the endangered species act, the U.S. government awarded legal protection to the humpback.

Along with many other countries, the United States outlawed whaling (commercial whale hunting) and took actions to protect the creatures from other perils which sparked a rebound in populations.

Although they’re protected in all U.S. coastal waters under the Endangered Species Act, humpbacks still face many threats including collisions with ships and habitat disruption such as underwater drilling. The whales are sometimes entangled in fishing nets and other debris. To protect this charming animal we must set and uphold higher standards of maintaining cleaner more sustainable oceans.

Losing the humpback would not only be a devastating blow to marine ecosystems, it would also be downright bad for business.