Select a pin to learn more about an area’s role in a humpback’s migration.
Many humpbacks in the Pacific Northwest start their migration journey in the Babuyan Islands region of the Philippines. The shallow waters serve as their breeding grounds from January to early April. It's here where newborn calves are welcomed into the world.
The tropical environment is suitable for newborn calves, as they lack insulating blubber. Studies show that warm water speeds the shedding of skin cells, allowing calves to grow and swim faster.
Although less common, other breeding areas along the Pacific Northwest blue corridor include waters around the Okinawa and Ryukyu Islands of Japan. These areas have high shipping traffic, especially around Okinawa due to the region being a commercial trade hub.
It's recommended that ships keep a distance of 100 meters from whales, however there are no legal consequences if a collision occurs. The lack of legal action enforcing whale protection enables careless shipping practices, disrespecting what should be a safe place for humpbacks to reside during the winter.
As the spring season progresses, the humpbacks begin making their way north toward nutrient-rich waters where they feed. Reaching the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia marks a split in migration; with some humpbacks feeding in the nearby Sea of Okhotsk, and others travelling further north to the Bering Sea.
Offshore sites around the peninsula have been identified as areas potentially rich with natural gas. Seismic surveys are often conducted to determine the viability of these deposits. The noise from these surveys often cause stress and behavioral changes in humpbacks, who rely on auditory senses to navigate and communicate.
Humpbacks migrating to the Bering Sea travel north along the eastern coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula to temporarily forage amongst the abundant ecosystem the waters provide. The rich biodiversity has attracted commercial fishing, which has conflicted with the humpback's migration.
While regulating fishing activity and use of whale-safe gear is encouraged, entanglement still occurs due to dense fishing activity overlapping with migration season. Local and international organizations are constantly working toward solutions to better safeguard whales as they migrate. Unfortunately amounting resources and conducting research can prove costly due to Kamchatka's remote location.
The Bering Strait is an important spot in the Pacific Northwest migration journey, as it's the only maritime route to the Arctic from the Pacific Ocean. Humpbacks often pass through the strait in order to reach the nutrient-rich Chukchi and Barents seas.
The strait is abundant with shipping activity due to shorter transportation for commercial vessels. Maritime traffic in this region is projected to increase by 10% in the coming decades. These projections paired with the shallowness of the strait spells a bleak future for humpbacks that need to pass through.
The Aleutian Islands in Alaska is a crucial feeding ground for humpbacks, serving as the final stop in their migration for food. The region is lush with krill and small fish, however active fisheries in the region compete for space to reach their quotas.
The NOAA and other organizations are making efforts to promote sustainable fishing in this region. While there has been relative success on this front, bycatch is still a concern due to unreported fishing and industry pressure.