Mariners looking for emaciated humpback whale impacted by entanglement off Maui

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is asking Maui’s boaters and water enthusiasts to be on the look out for a recently-entangled, 40-foot female humpback whale off the Lahaina shore of Maui.

The monitoring team of the Maui-based Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary encountered the distressed whale, referred to as Palette, on Jan. 22.

Sanctuary staff confirmed the whale had multiple deep entanglement wounds, encrusted with red-colored cyamid amphipods (white lice) around her rostrum (upper jaw) due to a previous mouth entanglement that also involved the chest region.

The whale’s calm behavior allowed for close approaches, and the sanctuary team was able to thoroughly assess the animal.

But the nature of the deep, cyamid-covered wounds made it impossible to determine whether there was still gear present. Out of an abundance of caution, the team decided to make surgical cuts to remove any potentially remaining life-threatening wraps that may have been embedded in the wounds.

Mariners are urged to keep a sharp lookout for this animal, but not approach closely or attempt to directly engage. She may be moving slowly due to impacts from her recent entanglement.

Please reduce speed in and around West Maui to minimize the possibility of striking this or other whales.

If you sight this animal or any marine mammal in distress, maintain 100 yards distance and immediately call the NOAA Fisheries’ 24/7 response Hotline at 888-256-9840. If calling is not possible, radio the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16, and they will relay the report.

During whale season, especially in water depths of 600 feet or less, boaters are asked to maintain a speed of 15 knots or less (or safe planing speed) to minimize the risk of striking a whale. When directly approaching a whale to view it, or departing from viewing, speed should be reduced to six knots or less within 400 yards.

These speed recommendations for boating around whales were developed jointly by the sanctuary, the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Pacific Whale Foundation, and members of Hawaiʻi’s on-water community. These and other best practices can be found at: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dobor/boating-with-whales/