Injury determinations for humpback whales and other cetaceans reported to NOAA response networks in the Hawaiian Islands during 2018

Injury Determinations for

Humpback Whales and Other

Cetaceans Reported to NOAA

Response Networks in the

Hawaiian Islands During 2018

Amanda L. Bradford

Edward G. Lyman

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Marine Fisheries Service

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-PIFSC-103

https://doi.org/10.25923/mtcd-f441

June 2020

Injury Determinations for Humpback

Whales and Other Cetaceans

Reported to NOAA Response

Networks in the Hawaiian Islands

During 2018

Amanda L. Bradford

Edward G. Lyman

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

National Marine Fisheries Service

1845 Wasp Boulevard

Honolulu, HI 96818

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

726 South Kihei Road

Kihei, HI 96753

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-PIFSC-103

June 2020

U.S. Department of Commerce

Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Neil A. Jacobs, Ph.D., Acting NOAA Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries

iii

Recommended citation

Bradford AL, Lyman EG. 2020. Injury determinations for humpback whales and other cetaceans

reported to NOAA response networks in the Hawaiian Islands during 2018. NOAA Technical

Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-PIFSC-103, 18 p. doi:10.25923/mtcd-f441

Copies of this report are available from

Science Operations Division

Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

National Marine Fisheries Service

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

1845 Wasp Boulevard, Building #176

Honolulu, Hawaii 96818

Or online at

https://repository.library.noaa.gov

Cover: Photo courtesy of NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine

Sanctuary, NOAA Fisheries Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (Permit

#18786-02)

Table of Contents

List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. v

Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Methods........................................................................................................................................... 2

Results and Discussion ................................................................................................................... 3

Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 5

Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................... 6

Appendix ....................................................................................................................................... 12

List of Tables

Table 1. Injury determinations for humpback whales reported to be involved in vessel collisions

in Hawaiian waters during 2018 ......................................................................................... 7

Table 2. Injury determinations for humpback whales reported to be entangled in presumed

fishing gear or marine debris in Hawaiian waters during 2018 .......................................... 8

Table 3. Injury determinations for cetaceans other than humpback whales reported to be injured

in Hawaiian waters during 2018 ....................................................................................... 10

Table 4. Summary of humpback whale vessel collisions and entanglements in Hawaiian waters

during 2018 that resulted in different preliminary and reviewer injury determinations. .. 11

Abstract

Reports of cetaceans with human-caused injuries in Hawaiian waters are made each year to the

Pacific Islands Region Marine Mammal Response Network (PIR-MMRN, coordinated by the

NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Regional Office) and the

Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network (HIERN, coordinated by the NOAA

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary). These injury reports largely

involve humpback whales that were entangled in fishing gear or marine debris or were struck by

or otherwise injured by contact with a vessel. Bradford and Lyman (2015, 2018, 2019) made

determinations of injury severity (i.e., serious or non-serious) for cetaceans in Hawaii reported

injured by human causes during 2007–2017. The present report provides a summary of injury

determinations for cetaceans in Hawaii reported injured by human causes during 2018. Injury

determinations were made using a nationally standardized process and criteria for distinguishing

serious from non-serious injuries (NMFS 2012). During 2018, there were 19 reports of cetaceans

with human-caused injuries, including 4 humpback whales involved in vessel collisions, 11

humpback whales entangled in presumed fishing gear or marine debris, and 4 other cetaceans

with human-caused injuries. The 15 humpback whale vessel collisions and entanglements led to

11 serious injuries. For the other cetaceans, injury determinations of serious were made for two

spinner dolphins of the Hawaii Island stock entangled in fishing gear. While accounting for

injuries reported to PIR-MMRN and HIERN has improved the stock assessment process for

some populations, significantly more effort is needed to report, document, and monitor injured

cetaceans in Hawaiian waters, particularly species other than humpback whales.

Introduction

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires the NOAA National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS) to prepare Stock Assessment Reports (SARs) for marine mammal stocks

occurring in U.S. waters. Along with information on stock abundance and status, the SARs

include an estimate of the annual human-caused mortality and serious injury (M&SI) by source.

Regulations define serious injury as one that will likely result in mortality.

In 2012, NMFS

clarified its interpretation of this definition as any injury that is more likely than not to result in

mortality.

The process for distinguishing serious from non-serious injuries pursuant to the

MMPA was also revised (NMFS 2012).

These revisions were aimed at making the injury

determination process more consistent and transparent, as well as providing additional guidance

for cases that would have previously been classified as “cannot be determined.” Estimates of

human-caused M&SI are compiled and averaged over 5-year periods for inclusion in the SARs.

However, the process of injury determination, including internal and external peer review, and

the MMPA-specified SAR public review leads to a 2-year lag between the M&SI estimation

period and the SAR year. The 2020 SARs require estimates of M&SI from 2014 to 2018.

Reports of injured and dead cetaceans in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone around the

Hawaiian Islands (Hawaiian EEZ) are received each year by the Pacific Islands Region Marine

Mammal Response Network (PIR-MMRN), which is coordinated by the NMFS Pacific Islands

Regional Office (PIRO), and the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network (HIERN),

which is coordinated by the NOAA Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine

Sanctuary. These two agencies work closely together and are part of the greater NMFS Marine

Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. Most of the injury reports involve humpback

whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) that are entangled in fishing gear or marine debris or have

been struck by or otherwise injured by contact with a vessel. Occasionally, however, reports of

other species are received. While reported cetaceans have traditionally been assessed for injury

and impact by PIR-MMRN or HIERN, and response efforts mobilized as appropriate,

determinations of injury severity (i.e., serious or non-serious) were only recently initiated

(Bradford and Lyman 2015). Prior to that effort, injury determinations based on reports to PIR-

MMRN or HIERN had not previously been accounted for in estimates of M&SI for the affected

stocks.

Bradford and Lyman (2015, 2018, 2019) provided a summary of injury determinations for

cetaceans in and around the Hawaiian EEZ reported injured by human causes to PIR-MMRN and

HIERN during 2007–2017. The present paper extends this time series of injury determinations

through 2018. These determinations are based on injury reports that are opportunistic and not a

part of a quantifiable and directed sampling scheme. Thus, the resulting determinations of

serious injury (or mortality) cannot be used to estimate undocumented M&SI from the same

source. However, these serious injuries and mortalities can serve as minimum estimates of M&SI

by source and should be included in the relevant SARs (NMFS 2016).

50 CFR 229.2

NMFS Policy Directive PD 02-238

77 Federal Register 3233 (23 January 2012)

Most cetacean species that occur in the Hawaiian EEZ are recognized as Hawaii stocks, with

differentiation as pelagic and island-associated stocks for some species. Hawaiian stocks of

cetaceans are assessed and managed by the NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

(PIFSC) and PIRO, respectively. However, humpback whales that overwinter in the Hawaiian

EEZ are part of the central North Pacific (CNP) stock, which falls under the purview of the

NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) for assessment and the NMFS Alaska Regional

Office and PIRO for management. Therefore, in terms of SAR preparation, the determinations

contained herein are directed at AFSC for humpback whales and at PIFSC for all other

cetaceans.

Methods

The PIR-MMRN maintains an electronic database of more than 1,500 records with summary

information (e.g., date, species, location, condition) for each stranded or injured marine mammal

reported from 1848 to the present. Generally, these records are associated with case-specific

documentation, such as a Level A Form, a necropsy report or photographs. The PIR-MMRN

database was accessed and cetacean records in and around the Hawaiian EEZ during 2018 (n =

34) were extracted. These records were reviewed to identify reports of cetaceans injured by

human causes so that injury determinations could be made and applied to the assessment and

management of the affected stocks.

The identified PIR-MMRN reports were supplemented with 17 confirmed injury reports (i.e.,

containing sufficient descriptive information from a reliable source) from 2018 maintained in the

HIERN database, which dates back to 2002 and contains more than 1,000 records also associated

with case-specific documentation. Database records from HIERN occasionally overlap with

those from PIR-MMRN, but are usually considered more complete because HIERN was the

primary data source. Further supplementing the reports compiled from the two databases was a

report of an injured spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) from a research team led by R. Baird

(Cascadia Research Collective), which should have been incorporated into the PIR-MMRN database.

The merged set of 2018 injury reports was evaluated, and the injury severity of each cetacean

injured by human causes was determined using the revised guidelines and criteria presented in

NMFS (2012). When follow-up (observation or response) of injured individuals occurred, which

was often the case for entangled humpback whales, an injury determination was made both

before and after follow-up and any mitigation efforts. This differentiation ensures that the

appropriate number of mortalities and serious injuries can be considered when classifying

commercial fisheries on the MMPA-mandated List of Fisheries (LOF) and when comparing

M&SI estimates with the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) value reported in the SARs. That

is, initial injury determinations prior to follow-up and mitigation are used in LOF classifications,

and determinations after these efforts are relevant to the PBR comparisons (NMFS 2012).

Injury determinations were made collaboratively by the authors, with EGL taking the lead on the

reports of humpback whales and ALB on the reports of other cetaceans. Additional interpretation

or consideration was required in the application of some of the injury categories for injured large

whales (see Appendix for details of how these categories were applied). As directed by NMFS

(2012), the preliminary injury determinations were then sent for independent review to members

of the NMFS Determination Staff Working Group with applicable expertise (Forney 2010;

Henry et al. 2019). The humpback injury determinations were reviewed by A. Henry (NMFS

Northeast Fisheries Science Center), and the other cetacean injury determinations were reviewed

by K. Forney (NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center). Differences between the preliminary

and reviewer determinations were discussed and reconciled by ALB and EGL, with input from

the reviewers as needed.

Follow-up and mitigation efforts of entangled cetaceans, particularly disentanglement activities

by the HIERN, often involved the photo-documentation and occasionally the collection of

entangling gear. The HIERN made substantial efforts, in collaboration with PIRO and other

partner agencies, to identify the gear type and associated fishery (if applicable) for the humpback

entanglement cases. However, unlike other regions where there are dedicated gear specialists,

staff resources in the Pacific Islands are challenged to systematically review the gear in all cases.

A summary of the information available for a systematic gear review for all the cetacean

entanglements is included along with the injury determinations. For the humpback

entanglements, the details and available results of gear reviews conducted to date are included

along with assessment of the possibility of further classification from additional review efforts.

Results and Discussion

In total, 19 reports of cetaceans with human-caused injuries from 2018 were identified. The

reports consist of 4 humpback whales involved in vessel collisions (Table 1), 11 humpback

whales entangled in presumed or confirmed fishing gear or marine debris (Table 2), and 4 other

cetaceans with human-caused injuries (Table 3). The other cetaceans include a bottlenose

dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) with a gunshot wound (Harnish et al. 2019) and three spinner

dolphins entangled in presumed or confirmed fishing gear. As in Bradford and Lyman (2015,

2018, 2019), the review process highlighted the challenging nature of some of the humpback

whale injury events and revealed regional differences in the ways some injury categories are

applied to large whales (Appendix). For the 15 humpback whale vessel collisions and

entanglements, the injury determinations by the reviewer differed from the preliminary

determinations in 2 (13.3%) cases (both entanglements; Table 4). Follow-up discussions led to

changing both of the preliminary entanglement injury determinations (Table 4). The reviewer

was in agreement with the preliminary determinations for the other injured cetaceans.

The 4 humpback whale vessel collisions led to 4 serious injuries for comparison to PBR (Table

1). The 11 humpback whale entanglements led to 7.75 serious injuries (note that some large

whale injury categories involve prorating injuries as proportionally serious; NMFS 2012) for

consideration with the LOF and 7 serious injuries for comparison to PBR (Table 2). For the 4

other cetaceans reported injured, there were 3 serious injuries for consideration with the LOF and

2 serious injuries for comparison with PBR values (Table 3). The serious injuries of relevance to

the SARs were from two spinner dolphins of the Hawaii Island stock. These M&SI estimates can

be combined with those from 2014–2017 (Bradford and Lyman 2018, 2019) for use in the

applicable 2020 SARs.

HIERN attempts to cross-match the injured humpback whales that were adequately photo-

identified with other photo-identified whales in its database and with other CNP humpback

whale photo-identification catalogs, including use of the Happywhale

platform. However, there

are not dedicated personnel to systematically pursue identification of injured individuals to the

greatest extent possible, and the CNP stock of humpback whales numbers in the thousands of

individuals (Muto et al. 2019). Additionally, many reports are made without images suitable for

photo-identification. Based on identification efforts to date, there are no individuals of any

cetacean species known to have been injured more than once between 2014 and 2018. Thus, for

the purposes of establishing minimum estimates of M&SI, all injured cetaceans summarized here

and in Bradford and Lyman (2018, 2019) are considered separate individuals. There may be

cases where a given individual is associated with more than one injury report, which would lead

to a positive bias in the resulting minimum M&SI estimates. However, any positive bias is

unlikely to exceed the level of undocumented M&SI from vessel collisions and fishing gear

entanglement.

The follow-up injury determination for the bottlenose dolphin calf with a gunshot wound to the

head (Table 3) would have been serious without the follow-up sightings that revealed healing of

the wound and survival of the calf (Harnish et al. 2019). This case demonstrates the value of

follow-up information in determining the outcome of a human-caused injury. Known outcomes

are particularly valuable in defining what constitutes a serious injury, but these data are

substantially more limited for small cetaceans as compared to large whales (NMFS 2012).

Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) previously provided a report of a rough-toothed dolphin

(Steno bredanensis) off Kauai in 2015 with line tightly wrapped around its pectoral flipper,

which was determined to be seriously injured (Bradford and Lyman 2018). After a recent update

of their photo-identification catalogs, CRC provided follow-up information on this rough-toothed

dolphin, as well as new reports and follow-up information for 2 additional cetacean individuals

that were injured in previous years. Two sightings of the rough-toothed dolphin in August 2018

indicate that the individual survived the entanglement injury, which can now be considered non-

serious for the purposes of the 2020 (and 2021) SAR. The other two reports are outside of the

M&SI period for the 2020 SAR but offer valuable known outcome data for future reference. A

bottlenose dolphin from the Hawaii Island stock was encountered on 12/09/09 with line tightly

wrapped around its pectoral flipper, a serious injury according to category S8a (NMFS 2012).

Although this individual was sighted 5 more times, the last sighting was on 8/17/10. The CRC

bottlenose dolphin catalog is current through 2017, so the lack of follow-up sightings of this

individual supports the serious injury determination. A short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala

macrorhynchus) was encountered off Hawaii Island on 10/30/11 with line trailing from its

mouth, a serious injury according to categories S2 or S5a and S6 (NMFS 2012). This individual

was sighted 23 more times, with the last sighting on 11/29/15. The CRC short-finned pilot whale

catalog is current through 2015, so the demonstrated survival of the individual indicates the

injury was non-serious.

Of the 11 humpback whale entanglements, gear type was identified for 5 (45.5%), involving

higher-latitude gill net (n = 1; the first known observation of a humpback whale carrying an

active gill net set from higher latitudes to Hawaii) and British Columbia pot gear (n = 4) (Table

2). Of the entanglement cases with unknown gear types, one is considered to have involved

marine debris (not from an active set) that was once possibly mooring gear. None of the 5

https://happywhale.com/home

entanglements with known gear types were further linked to specific commercial fisheries.

Although a substantial effort was made to review the photographed and collected gear, staff

resources did not allow a complete review in all cases. The best assessment of available gear and

photographs suggests additional effort in identifying the fishery associated with the 4 pot gear

entanglements is warranted, but there is limited possibility of further classification from

additional review effort for any of the other humpback whale entanglement cases. Of the 3

spinner dolphin entanglements, gear type was identified for 1 (33.3%), involving the entrance

tunnel of an eel or hagfish trap (Table 3).

Part of the process of reviewing the PIR-MMRN database for reports of cetaceans injured by

human causes involved following up on stranding records where there was noted or suggested

evidence of human-caused injury. This follow-up can require obtaining information from

necropsy reports prepared by the marine mammal stranding program led by K. West (University

of Hawaii at Manoa). If the injury was determined to be the cause of death, the associated record

would be added to the subset of injury reports of relevance to the human-caused M&SI estimates

and summarized herein. If the injury could not be confirmed or was determined not to be the

cause of death, the associated record would be excluded from the subset of injury reports

compiled for the present paper. During 2018, there were no PIR-MMRN stranding records with

evidence of human-caused injuries.

Cetaceans in Hawaiian waters, particularly humpback whales, are subject to human-caused

injuries from a variety of sources, which should continue to be accounted for in the SARs. For

cetacean species other than humpback whales, significantly more effort and resources are needed

to report, document, and monitor individuals with anthropogenic injuries. PIR-MMRN and

HIERN have been expanding their efforts in this regard, primarily by communicating to various

partners and stakeholders and highlighting the value of reporting injured cetaceans. Continued

progress in soliciting and documenting such injuries will inform and improve the assessment and

management of the affected cetacean stocks.

Acknowledgements

We thank the PIR-MMRN and HIERN staff and volunteers, as well as the whale researchers,

non-profit groups, and other ocean users who report and respond to dead and injured cetaceans in

the Pacific Islands Region. Kristi West and her stranding program associates conduct necropsy

and follow-up work that is critical for understanding the factors contributing to cetacean

mortality. Aliza Milette-Winfree provided access to the PIR-MMRN database and helpfully

fielded questions about its contents. Rachel Finn assisted with the HIERN database. Members of

the PIRO Observer Program and the Alaska Regional Office assisted with aspects of the gear and

fishery identification for the humpback whale entanglements. Allison Henry and Karin Forney

reviewed the humpback and other cetacean injury determinations, respectively. The Pacific

Scientific Review Group (PSRG) and PIRO performed an additional review of the full set of

injury determinations. This report was improved by comments from Erin Oleson and Nancy

Young.

Literature Cited

Bradford AL, Lyman E. 2015. Injury determinations for humpback whales and other cetaceans

reported to the Hawaiian Islands Disentanglement and Pacific Islands Marine Mammal

Response Networks during 2007–2012. NOAA Tech Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-45. 37 pp.

Bradford AL, Lyman E. 2018. Injury determinations for humpback whales and other cetaceans

reported to the Hawaiian Islands Disentanglement and Pacific Islands Marine Mammal

Response Networks during 2013–2016. NOAA Tech Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-75. 24 pp.

Bradford AL, Lyman E. 2019. Injury determinations for humpback whales and other cetaceans

reported to the Hawaiian Islands Disentanglement and Pacific Islands Marine Mammal

Response Networks during 2017. NOAA Tech Memo. NMFS-PIFSC-81. 18 pp.

Forney KA. 2010. Serious injury determinations for cetaceans caught in Hawaii longline

fisheries during 1994–2008. NOAA Tech Memo NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-462. 24 pp.

Harnish, AE, Ault J, Babbitt C, Gulland FMD, Johnson PC, Shaughnessy NL, Wood KA, Baird

RW. 2019. Survival of a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) calf with a

presumptive gunshot wound to the head. Aquat Mamm 45:543-548.

Henry AG, Garron M, Reid A, Morin D, Cole TVN. 2019. Serious injury and mortality

determinations for baleen whale stocks along the Gulf of Mexico, United States East

Coast, and Atlantic Canadian Provinces, 2012-2016. NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science

Center Reference Document 19-13. 60 pp.

Muto MM, Helker VT, Angliss RP, Boveng PL, Breiwick JM, Cameron MF, Clapham PJ, Dahle

SP, Dalheim ME, Fadely BS, Ferguson MC, Fritz LW, Hobbs RC, Ivashchenko YV,

Kennedy AS, London JM, Mizroch SA, Ream RR, Richmond EL, Shelden KEW,

Sweeney KL, Towell RG, Wade PR, Waite JM, Zerbini AN. 2019. Alaska marine

mammal stock assessments, 2018. NOAA Tech Memo. NMFS-AFSC-393. 399 pp.

National Marine Fisheries Service. 2012. NOAA Fisheries Policy Directive 02-238-01: Process

for distinguishing serious from non-serious injury of marine mammals. 42 pp.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/laws-and-policies/protected-resources-policy-

directives.

National Marine Fisheries Service. 2016. NMFS Instruction 02-204-01: Guidelines for preparing

stock assessment reports pursuant to the 1994 amendments to the MMPA. 24 pp.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/laws-and-policies/protected-resources-policy-

directives.

Table 1. Injury determinations for humpback whales reported to be involved in vessel collisions in Hawaiian waters during 2018,

using the most recent established criteria for distinguishing serious from non-serious injury of large whales (Table 1 in NMFS 2012).

Report

date

Age

class

Vessel

length (ft)

Vessel

speed

(kn)

Event summary Observed injury

Injury

categories

Injury

determination

Value

for PBR

01/06/18 Calf ? ?

Whale discovered with injuries consistent

with vessel strike (date and location of

strike unknown).

Propeller and skeg lacerations

(superficial) on back and

peduncle

L5b, L12 Serious 1

02/22/18 Calf ? ?

Whale discovered with injuries consistent

with vessel strike (date and location of

strike unknown).

Propeller lacerations (severity

unknown) on right flank

L11, L12 Serious 1

03/09/18 Calf ? ?

Whale discovered with injuries consistent

with vessel strike (date and location of

strike unknown).

Propeller lacerations

(superficial) across back

L5b, L12 Serious 1

12/26/18 Calf ? ?

Whale discovered with injuries consistent

with vessel strike (date and location of

strike unknown).

Propeller laceration

(superficial) on dorsal fin

L5b, L12 Serious 1

Table 2. Injury determinations for humpback whales reported to be entangled in presumed fishing gear or marine debris in Hawaiian

waters during 2018, using the most recent established criteria for distinguishing serious from non-serious injury of large whales

(Table 1 in NMFS 2012). The “initial” injury determination is associated with the condition of the whale prior to any follow-up and

mitigation efforts and may be used for List of Fisheries (LOF) fisheries classifications. The condition of the whale following a change

in entanglement status, whether by mitigation or self-release, is reflected in the “follow-up” injury determination, which is used for

Potential Biological Removal (PBR) comparison. Note that in cases where there were no follow-up or mitigation efforts, the initial and

follow-up determinations are the same. An injury determination of serious followed by an asterisk indicates that the basis of the

determination was the significant health decline caused by the injury (NMFS 2012). Table continues on following page.

Report

date

Age class Event summary

Initial injury

categories

Initial injury

determination

Value

for

LOF

Response outcome

Follow-up

injury

categories

Follow-up injury

determination

Value

for

PBR

Gear type Fishery Fishery review details

01/04/18 Adult

Line wrapped five times tightly

around caudal peduncle with

deep wounds from line at fluke

insertion.

L2, L5a Serious 1

Response mounted, but

whale not tagged or

disentangled.

L2, L5a Serious 1

Higher

latitude gill

net

Unknown

Photographed gear reviewed

by a level 5 responder. First

observation of humpback

carrying active gill net set

from higher latitude to

Hawaii. Little identifying

information on gear to

identify fishery. Limited

possibility of further

classification from additional

review effort.

01/11/18 Adult

Line went through the mouth

forming a loose bridle with a

twist below body. Line trailed

from twist 75 ft on one side and

at least 200ft on the other

ending in three buoys.

L3 Non-serious 0 Fully disentangled. n/a Non-serious 0 BC pot gear Unknown

Recovered gear reviewed by a

level 5 responder. Identifying

features on buoys may be

enough to determine fishery

with additional review effort.

01/19/18 Subadult

Two buoys attached, one on

each side of body. Lack of

constricting gear not confirmed.

L10

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75

Response mounted, but

whale not re-located.

L10

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75 Unknown Unknown

Video showing gear reviewed

by a level 5 responder. Little

identifying information on

gear to identify gear type or

fishery. Limited possibility of

further classification from

additional review effort.

01/21/18 Adult

Line wrapped or draped over

back, likely originating from the

mouth or right pectoral flipper,

with superficial line scars on

sides of dorsal fin suggesting

entanglement was previously

more involved. Lack of

constricting gear not confirmed.

L10, L5b

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75

Response mounted, but

whale not re-located.

L10, L5b

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75 Unknown Unknown

No gear recovered and gear

not documented enough for a

review of gear type and

fishery.

01/27/18 Adult

Line draped around pectoral

flipper, forming a loose bridle

that meets at a pair of buoys at

the peduncle, with one line

trailing 10–15 ft to another pair

of buoys, and the other line

trailing 80 ft. Whale was

moderately emaciated with small

cyamid patches and light skin

and was considered to be in

significant health decline.

L3 Serious* 0

Partially disentangled;

loose wrap remains and

whale still showed signs

of significant health

decline.

L3 Serious* 0 BC pot gear Unknown

Photographed gear reviewed

by a level 5 responder.

Identifying features on buoys

may be enough to determine

fishery with additional review

effort.

Report

date

Age class Event summary

Initial injury

categories

Initial injury

determination

Value

for

LOF

Response outcome

Follow-up

injury

categories

Follow-up injury

determination

Value

for

PBR

Gear type Fishery Fishery review details

02/04/18 Subadult

Line wrapped multiple times

around body and peduncle, with

mouth involved and buoys at the

peduncle, before trailing 80 ft

behind. Deep wounds from line

at fluke insertion, with less deep

wound from line on pectoral

flipper. Whale was moderately

emaciated with cyamid carpets

and light and rough skin and was

considered to be in significant

health decline.

L2, L5a Serious* 1

Partially disentangled,

with over 80-ft line

removed. Constricting

wrap and deep wounds

remain and whale still

showed signs of

significant health decline.

L2, L5a Serious* 1 BC pot gear Unknown

Recovered gear reviewed by a

level 5 responder. Identifying

features on buoys may be

enough to determine fishery

with additional review effort.

02/05/18 Subadult

Netting and line entangling

rostrum and back. Lack of

constricting gear not confirmed.

L10

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75

Response mounted, but

whale self-released from

gear.

n/a Non-serious 0 Unknown Unknown

Recovered gear reviewed by a

level 5 responder. Little

identifying information on

gear to identify gear type or

fishery, although possibly

mooring gear. Gear likely

marine debris and not from

an active set. Limited

possibility of further

classification from additional

review effort.

02/13/18 Adult

Line wrapped through mouth,

draped or wrapped around

pectoral flipper, and twice

around caudal peduncle, with

superficial insertion and chafe

wounds suggesting

entanglement was previously

more involved. Lack of

constricting gear not confirmed.

L10, L5b

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75

Response mounted, but

whale not tagged or

disentangled.

L10, L5b

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75 Unknown Unknown

Photographed gear reviewed

by a level 5 responder. Little

identifying information on

gear to identify gear type or

fishery. Limited possibility of

further classification from

additional review effort.

03/15/18 Subadult

Line wrapped tightly around

pectoral flipper, possibly

involving mouth, with buoys

attached and line trailing along

flank. Deep wounds from line

close to flipper insertion, with

less deep wound from line on

caudal peduncle. Whale was

significantly emaciated with

cyamid carpets and light skin and

was considered to be in

significant health decline.

L2, L5a Serious* 1

Response mounted and

whale tagged, but whale

not disentangled (except

removal of tagging gear).

L2, L5a Serious* 1 BC pot gear Unknown

Photographed gear reviewed

by a level 5 responder.

Identifying features on buoys

may be enough to determine

fishery with additional review

effort.

04/05/18 Adult

Line with buoy trailed behind

whale from unknown location on

body. Lack of constricting gear

not confirmed.

L10

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75 No response L10

Prorate 0.75

Serious

0.75 Unknown Unknown

Video showing gear reviewed

by a level 5 responder. Little

identifying information on

gear to identify gear type or

fishery. Limited possibility of

further classification from

additional review effort.

05/20/18 Subadult

Line wrapped loosely around

fluke blades and tightly around

caudal peduncle, likely to

become embedded as the whale

grows. Line trails 3 ft to a pair of

buoys, and superficial notch and

chafe wounds on leading edge of

fluke.

L2, L5b Serious 1

Response mounted and

whale tagged, but tag

stopped transmitting and

whale not disentangled.

L2, L5b Serious 1 Unknown Unknown

Photographed gear reviewed

by a level 5 responder. Little

identifying information on

gear to identify gear type or

fishery. Limited possibility of

further classification from

additional review effort.

Table 3. Injury determinations for cetaceans other than humpback whales reported to be injured in Hawaiian waters during 2018,

using the most recent established criteria for distinguishing serious from non-serious injury of cetaceans (Tables 1–2 in NMFS 2012).

The “initial” injury determination is associated with the condition of the whale or dolphin prior to any follow-up and mitigation efforts.

For presumed fishery-related injuries, the initial determination is used for List of Fisheries (LOF) classification. The final known

condition of the individual, regardless of injury type, follow-up, or mitigation, is reflected in the “follow-up” injury determination, which

is used for Potential Biological Removal (PBR) comparison.

Report date

Species

Stock

Age class

Event summary

Initial injury

categories

Initial injury

determination

Value

for LOF

Response outcome

Follow-up injury

categories

Follow-up injury

determination

Value for

PBR

Gear type and fishery

summary

07/14/18

Bottlenose

dolphin

Oahu

Calf

Dolphin observed with

a gunshot wound to the

head.

Serious

n/a

No response, but

10 follow-up

sightings spanning

a year since

wound first

photographed on

06/30/18 indicates

wound healing and

survival of dolphin

(Harnish et al.

2019).

Non-serious

n/a

10/25/18

Spinner

dolphin

Hawaii

Island

Unknown

Dolphin observed with

eel or hagfish trap on

rostrum.

S8a

Serious

No response, but

dolphin self-

released from gear

during

observation.

n/a

Non-serious

Gear photographed

and identified as the

entrance tunnel of an

eel or hagfish trap.

11/08/18

Spinner

dolphin

Hawaii

Island

Unknown

Dolphin observed with

multiple tight wraps of

line around caudal

peduncle, with

embedded lines

forming wounds and

line training behind

dolphin.

S8a

Serious

No response

S8a

Serious

Gear not recovered

or photographed.

12/06/18

Spinner

dolphin

Hawaii

Island

Adult

Dolphin observed with

multiple tight wraps of

line around caudal

peduncle, with lead

weights attached to the

gear.

S8a

Serious

No response

S8a

Serious

Gear not recovered

or photographed.

Table 4. Summary of humpback whale vessel collisions and entanglements in Hawaiian waters during 2018 that resulted in different

preliminary and reviewer injury determinations. The final injury determinations resulting from follow-up discussions are shown along

with a rationale for the determination. The injury determination “categories” are based on the most recent established criteria for

distinguishing serious from non-serious injury of large whales (Table 1 in NMFS 2012). The injury determination “values” refer to the

number of serious injuries relevant to either List of Fisheries classification or Potential Biological Removal comparison. For

entanglements, “|” is used to separate the initial and follow-up injury determination categories and values.

Report date Injury type

Preliminary injury determination

Reviewer injury determination

Final injury determination

Final determination rationale

categories

Application of categories

L2, L3, L10

1) Although not the practice of all members of the NMFS Determination Staff Working

Group, particularly members assessing injured whales on their feeding grounds, an

entangled humpback whale that showed signs of a significant health decline was still

considered to be seriously injured after partial or full disentanglement. The rationale for

the serious determination in such cases is that the whales are on their breeding grounds

and still have to migrate in order to improve their nutritive condition.

2) When follow-up observations indicated that a whale had self-

released from

entangling gear, the observed entanglement was still reflected in the initial injury

determination that may be used for List of Fisheries classification. This approach is

different than that used for marine mammals released from gear by fishermen in real-

time (i.e., when the injury determination is made after the fisherman releases the animal

from the gear; NMFS 2012).

However, in the present context, an initial injury

determination is needed to account for the unknown duration of the entanglement and

the resulting impact to the whale.

L5a, L5b

Although not the practice of all members of the NMFS Determination Staff Working

Group, these categories were applied whenever lacerations were reported, even for

fishery-related injuries. This use accounted for one or more injuries resulting from an

entanglement in the event that the whale was disentangled. That is, if an entanglement

caused a deep laceration, that laceration would remain, even if all gear was removed

from the whale.

Along with other members of the NMFS Determination Staff Working group, a

dependent calf of a mother with an injury of prorated severity was assigned the same

prorated injury determination as the mother.

L12

Although not the practice of all members of the NMFS Determination Staff Working

Group, this category was applied along with L5a, L5b, or L11 when a whale was observed

with clear vessel collision injuries, even if the actual collision was not reported. The

rationale for this use is that it prevents a bias in the injury determination process for

calves. That is, if a calf was reported struck by a vessel of any size and unknown speed,

even with no resulting visible injuries, it would be considered seriously injured because

“a strike to a calf by a vessel of any size when speed is unknown will be considered a

serious injury” (NMFS 2012). However, a calf with superficial injuries clearly indicating a

vessel collision (L5a) would be considered non-seriously injured if the collision itself was

not reported. To avoid this determination bias from unreported collisions, L12 was used

when observed injuries were sufficient confirmation that a collision had occurred.

Description of injury categories (from Table 1 in NMFS 2012): L2 – constricting wrap; L3 – loose wrap, bridled or

draped gear; L5a – deep laceration; L5b – superficial laceration; L8 – dependent calf of a dead or seriously injured

mother; L10 – evidence of entanglement; and L12 – vessel strike observed.