Uploaded April 2020 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Jens Currie presents findings of a three-year study conducted by Pacific Whale Foundation to determine the behavior of humpback whales in the presence and absence of vessels in Maui, with the ultimate goal of providing further guidance on how to minimize potential disturbance around whales. During the study, 472 vessel approaches were observed and the behaviors of 943 individual whales were recorded before, during, and after vessels approached.
“There are many factors besides approach distance that could impact whale behavior," remarks Currie, "while the 100-yard approach rule in Hawaii is a great start, there has not been a study to determine if this regulation was sufficient, or if further guidelines are warranted, until now.”
The presentation is beneficial for any individual or organization operating marine vessels or interested in how to better protect the marine life of Maui’s ocean waters. Currie recommends that visitors and residents familiarize themselves with PWF’s “Be Whale Aware” program at pacificwhale.org/BWA.
Following guidance from Hawaii State and County officials, PacWhale Eco-Adventures has suspended ecotour and Ocean Store operations from March 20th – April 30th. With our social enterprise temporarily put on hold, Pacific Whale Foundation is completely reliant on donor support.
Right now, it is imperative that our team transitions our program engagement to a web-based environment through opportunities like Jens' webinar in order to sustain our connections. The role that our organization plays in keeping people connected for the sake of the environment is incredibly important in times like these. If we all take the proper precautions and continue to treat each other with kindness and care, we’ll get through this together.
We are fortunate to have an online, regularly engaged audience of more than 250,000 individuals. Because now is not the time to be asking for major gifts, we're imagining a moment where each supporter simply donated $5. This would allow our Research, Education and Conservation programs to thrive through this uncertain time. If you are able, we hope you join this exciting vision of ours. Learn more about upcoming online events by joining our mailing list at pacificwhale.org/mailing-list
Jens Currie presents findings of a three-year study conducted by Pacific Whale Foundation to determine the behavior of humpback whales in the presence and absence of vessels in Maui, with the ultimate goal of providing further guidance on how to minimize potential disturbance around whales. During the study, 472 vessel approaches were observed and the behaviors of 943 individual whales were recorded before, during, and after vessels approached.
“There are many factors besides approach distance that could impact whale behavior," remarks Currie, "while the 100-yard approach rule in Hawaii is a great start, there has not been a study to determine if this regulation was sufficient, or if further guidelines are warranted, until now.”
The presentation is beneficial for any individual or organization operating marine vessels or interested in how to better protect the marine life of Maui’s ocean waters. Currie recommends that visitors and residents familiarize themselves with PWF’s “Be Whale Aware” program at pacificwhale.org/BWA.
Following guidance from Hawaii State and County officials, PacWhale Eco-Adventures has suspended ecotour and Ocean Store operations from March 20th – April 30th. With our social enterprise temporarily put on hold, Pacific Whale Foundation is completely reliant on donor support.
Right now, it is imperative that our team transitions our program engagement to a web-based environment through opportunities like Jens' webinar in order to sustain our connections. The role that our organization plays in keeping people connected for the sake of the environment is incredibly important in times like these. If we all take the proper precautions and continue to treat each other with kindness and care, we’ll get through this together.
We are fortunate to have an online, regularly engaged audience of more than 250,000 individuals. Because now is not the time to be asking for major gifts, we're imagining a moment where each supporter simply donated $5. This would allow our Research, Education and Conservation programs to thrive through this uncertain time. If you are able, we hope you join this exciting vision of ours. Learn more about upcoming online events by joining our mailing list at pacificwhale.org/mailing-list
