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01 September, 2005

Open Message on Whale Watching in Panama
Ref: Article in The Panama News, Issue 15 (WebRef W1)

This recent article highlights one of the greatest treats Panama has to offer - Whale Watching. Little
known until recently, it stands to be a possible great New Venture for Northern Hemisphere tourists.

However, it also sadly portrays a near indiscriminate disregard for these creatures, not to mention the
considerable danger they were in.

The endangered Humpbacks are readily identified as a Baleen feeder. That is, it filters its
food from a large mouthful of prey and water. Feedings are in the rich cold waters at high latitudes.
Order Cetacea (whales and dolphins)
Suborder Mysticeti (baleen whales)
Family Balaenopteridae
Genus Megaptera
Species novaeangliae
Sometimes they are also noted as "mustached whales".

Their acrobatics are legendary and always an inspiring sight to behold. The male's songs are likewise a
most unique characteristic - most always sung during the non-feeding season in the warm waters of their
chosen breeding and birthing areas. Their songs stay the same for a season, then the following they year
create a new one. Their signature “blow” is caused by the surface exhale via a double blowholes, where
the air at over 200 mph causes the water around the hole to be vaporized, giving rise to their “’thar she
blows” spouts readily seen miles away in cool air.

The Pacific waters have several groups that appear to use the same locales each year - Alaska waters in the
N Summer for feeding; and these groups return to lower latitudes in the N Winter, Hawaii being one of the
largest concentrations - with over 3,000 counted within the Maui, Molokai, and Lanai basin in the past years.
Of the estimated upwards of the possible 15,000 animals World-wide, that's 20% of the total! (W2) (W3) (W4)
(W6)

The N Pacific groups that make the HI-AK run each year, do that 2,500+ mile (abt 4,000 Km) run in about 4-8
weeks. Feeding takes place in the very rich AK waters. Once they depart, their next feeding period is the
following year when returning to AK waters again. Notable here, is that the mother, having given birth to a
ton plus calf, is feeding her child about 100 lbs of “milk” per day (actually is more like a thick cottage cheese-
yogurt mix). The calf gains about 50 lbs per day, as mother Humpback’s milk the richest butterfat milk of all.
This continues until they have reached the higher latitudes and feeding is once again the activity at hand –
adults consume more than One Million Calories per day! But, in 4 months, they eat enough for a year’s
needs. (W4)

As noted, birthing and mating takes place in the warm waters. Once a mother gives birth to a (1500-2500 lb)
offspring, about a month later she is in estrus. This causes a considerable foray of competing males to join
the “escort” for possible mating rights. The calf is often in danger, and the mother must often prod, move,
and cajole the calf to safety away from the males who are pushing, shoving and attempting to get closer
creating potentially dangerous situations. The author has witnessed a mother physically lift up her calf on
her snout and make a 180 degree turn to place her child out of harm’s way. The oblivious males’ only intent
of gaining their position next to the female can be a considerable danger to not only the calf, but also to any
small boat near this group.

There are specific guidelines established over the past decades for the non-interactive and potentially
disruptive and dangerous viewing of these magnificent creatures, which have allowed both close
encounters of them and their activities, as well as to maintain the necessary non-molesting viewing of the
whales and their activities. The referenced article clearly describes an act of inconsiderate approaching
and probable molestation, as well as by International Law, an illegal act of approach. (W5)

The rules are quite explicit and allow for excellent viewing, without the need to either pursue or create a
potentially act of molestation. That the 100 yard (call it meters as is within a boat length difference)
approach distance is well within range of any camera, should be sufficient. That, as noted in the article
“…about 20 yards off our starboard side one of the humpbacks leaped completely out of the sea and
splashed back down…” should have been a sign to anyone with a modicum of awareness, that the whales
were not receptive to their close presence. That’s just barely a whale’s length away! One can only imagine
the outcries that would arise about a “killer Humpback’s leap” if it would have landed on their small craft!
And, that situation is not uncommon in whale watching areas where breeching whales have landed on
smallcraft.

The more effective (and legal) means to watch these whales, is to approach their apparent path in such a
way as to view their approach. Stop, kill the engine and wait for the whale to approach the boat. Once
outside the 100 yd (or mtr) distance, one should then slowly depart AWAY from the whale(s) so as not to
molest them.

Do the whales approach boats? I can tell you that numerous times while driving boats in BOTH Alaska and
Hawaii, as well as few times here in Panama, whales will most often approach boats dead in the water. In
March 2002 while driving a whale watch boat with 75 pax out of Lahaina, Maui, one animal approached us
and seemed to be most interested in coming in contact with our large wooden hull. It would come up from
the rear, rise until its body was in contact with the hull and tail protruding behind about 5 mtrs, and stay in
that position for about 5 minutes. Then, swam out and around the boat taking several breaths and spraying
the delighted passengers with “whale breath”, and then would go under the craft again and settle up
against the hull for another 5 or so minutes. This went on for just over 55 mins, and when it was finally out
of the 100 yd circle, we backed away and headed for port, coming in 30 mins late from that “two hour” Whale
Watch” – although there were NO complaints that day from the pax, only from the bus drivers who were
delayed in taking the pax to their next stops on Maui.

That the Humpbacks have been here in Panama waters for years is well known to those of us who are on the
waters, although it has not been so well publicized. The groups that come to Panama, return to Southern
Pacific waters, probably off the S coast of Chile, and are not part of the Hawaii-Alaska crowd. Our season
seems to start in Late June and end about early Oct as have noted past few years. In 2000, after my return in
late Sept from Alaska where the whales were nearly 100% gone; our first fishing trip out to the Islas Ladronas
the first week of Oct was greeted with views of breeching Humpbacks between Islas Parida and Ladrones.
The trips after mid-Oct, we didn’t see any more. We’ve seen them in July and subsequent months, so
suspect there could be some in Panama waters even in June.

As a nation with considerable interactions with the oceans, Panama needs to establish and adopt the
necessary guidelines for such protection of mammal viewing. Not just the Humpbacks, but also for all
Cetacea, as well as Turtles (which does have some limited regulations with little enforcement) and other
endangered species. Without the necessary regulations and their enforcement, these resources will wither
away and be lost to the future generations. (W5)

Sadly, too often the expedient kill of a natural resource to supplant one’s diet needs, is not considered
within the true insight of today. Wherein that creature is allowed to live and be viewed by paying tourists
this country is currently being blessed with an increasing quantity, is worth infinitely more than that single
event of being exterminated. Education of this is of paramount import to preserve the natural resources for
generations.

Additionally, the necessity to embrace and follow the rules for endangered species, and specific to this
discussion, for marine species covered by CITES; it becomes a matter of urgent need if the expectations of
the tourism influx Panama is so keenly anticipating is to flourish.

For further edification, several references are included below.

The author is available for discussions, welcomes comments and suggestions, and would be willing to
participate in a process to establish the above noted needed guidelines in Panama.

Louis N. Anciaux
6-612-7736

WEB-SITE REFERENCES: Click on the URLs below to view these sites.

(W1) Referenced article from The Panama News, issue 15
http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_11/issue_15/outdoors_01.html
(W2) General Info on Humpbacks
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/species/Humpbackwhale.shtml
(W3) General Info on Humpbacks (and note the difference in population estimates!)
http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/humpback.htm
(W4) Hawaii’s NOAA Site for all-around info
http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/
(W5) Marine Mammal Protection Act
http://www.earthtrust.org/wlcurric/appen2.html#anchor16068318
(W6) New data suggests 5,000 Humpbacks in Hawaii’s waters
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jan/22/ln/ln10a.html