The Impact of Vessels on Humpback Whale Behavior: The Benefit of Added Whale Watching Guidelines

The concurrent increase in marine tourism and vessel traffic around the world highlights need for developing responsible whale watching guidelines. To determine impact of presence on humpback behaviors Maui Nui, a land-based study was conducted from 2015 to 2018 Maui, Hawai'i. Theodolite tracks were used summarize swim speed, respiration rate, dive time, path directness potential impacts various types behavior. Vessel presence, proximity, approach type conjunction with biological parameters generalized additive modeling framework explain changes behaviors. results presented here show increases decreasing times, which has been shown be an energetically demanding avoidance strategy. These observations, increasing awareness implication non-lethal effects human disturbance changing oceanic environments whales, pre-cautionary management. Stricter guidelines will limit level individual whales Hawai'i ensure they maintain fitness required compensate varying ecological anthropogenic conditions.