Protection Might Come Too Late for Rare Hawaiian Whale

A unique species is on the verge of extinction. There are only 123 Hawaiian insular false killer whales left in the world, but shockingly, they aren't a protected species.

A proposal by the National Marine Fisheries Service will add the rare whale to the list of protected species under the Endangered Species Act. The NMFS is accepting comments on the proposal until February 15th, and the Pacific Whale Foundation, located in Maui, has already sent out an action alert seeking support for the measure.

The Hawaiian insular false killer whale is genetically unique to the Hawaiian waters. It is thought that, of the 123 living whales, only 46 are able to breed. The mammals only give birth once every two to four years. According to the Pacific Whale Foundation, once you do the math, the numbers are nearly too small to sustain the population.

Conflict with the $60 million longline fishing industry has created a big threat to the already fragile species. Longline fishermen use huge lines — up to 50 miles long — and string shorter lines with hooks and bait from the main line. Overfishing is another concern facing the whales and an easy meal of bait or hooked fish can't be resisted.

Although the number of fatalities is small (three between 1997 and 2009), the Pacific Whale Foundation states that, "false killer whale bycatch in Hawaii has exceeded 'sustainable levels' since at least 1999, meaning that these animals are being killed at a rate that’s higher than what the population can sustain."

The Pacific Whale Foundation has urged fishermen to use alternative hooks, such as weaker or circular hooks, in place of tradition hooks to help prevent injury and death to all marine creatures.

The government has failed to adequately protect the whales from the fishing industry, even though they should have received protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act passed decades ago. The NMFS was finally forced to adhere to the rules of the Marine Mammal Protection Act only after two lawsuits were filed.

Hawaiian insular false killer whales are also threatened by exposure to toxins that cause infection and disease.

The list of threats to the species is long — 29 threats to be exact, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Pacific Whale Foundation is not only asking for support for the proposal, they also want people to choose their seafood wisely and be aware of how fish are caught. They have provided information on their website 0n how to select seafood that doesn't pose risks to the insular false killer whales and other marine life.

While the proposal to give the whale protection is a step in the right direction, the Pacific Whale Foundation remains, "concerned that their numbers have dwindled so low that it might be too late to save this distinct population."

Send a letter today in support of the proposal to protect the Hawaiian insular false killer whale before it's too late.

Photo credit: konaboys