Programs

  • Program 1 [2020]

    OVERVIEW 2020 DESPITE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND GLOBAL HEALTH CONCERNS, PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION'S RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS CONTINUED ADVANCING OUR MISSION TO PROTECT THE OCEAN THROUGH SCIENCE AND ADVOCACY AND INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGH REIMAGINED STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDED SHIFTING TO VIRTUAL PLATFORMS, CREATING A ROBUST CONSERVATION ADVOCACY AGENDA GLEANED FROM ONGOING RESEARCH, SHARPENING COMMUNICATION EFFORTS WITH TARGETED MESSAGING, AND EXPANDING OUR RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN AUSTRALIA. RESEARCH PROGRAM EMPLOYING A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH CONSISTING OF LONG- AND SHORT-TERM APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECTS, PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION RESEARCHERS GLOBALLY CONTRIBUTE SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYSIS OF MARINE ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION MEASURES AND OUTCOMES. WITH AN EMPHASIS ON IDENTIFYING AND ASSESSING MAJOR STRESSORS, OR THREATS, TO WHALES AND DOLPHINS, PWF'S RESEARCH PROGRAM CONCENTRATES ON DEVELOPING SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON CETACEAN POPULATIONS WORLDWIDE. DESPITE PANDEMIC INTERRUPTIONS, PWF RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED SUCCESSFUL FIELD SEASONS IN HAWAI'I, AUSTRALIA AND ECUADOR, CONCURRENTLY MANAGING 10 RESEARCH PROJECTS IN ADDITION TO SPONSORED FIELD WORK FOR A BLUE WHALE PROJECT IN CHILE, TO RAISE AWARENESS OF MARINE MAMMAL STRESSORS AND SUPPORT FURTHER RESEARCH AND/OR ACTIONS INITIATED BY CONSERVATION PARTNERS AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AT LARGE. ENGAGEMENT WITH ORGANIZATION STAKEHOLDERS AND LOCAL AND CONSERVATION-MINDED COMMUNITIES REMAINED A PRIORITY AND WAS ACHIEVED THROUGH VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS, WEBINARS AND Q&A SESSIONS WITH RESEARCH PROGRAM PRINCIPALS. IN 2020, PWF RESEARCHERS PUBLISHED THE FOLLOWING PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC PAPERS: 1) MARINE MAMMALS USED AS BAIT FOR IMPROVISED FISH AGGREGATING DEVICES IN ECUADOR, EASTERN TROPICAL PACIFIC; 2) BREEDING HUMPBACK WHALES OFF MOZAMBIQUE AND ECUADOR SHOWING GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS AND ISOTOPIC NICHES; 3) SPINNER DOLPHIN HOT SPOTS AND MOVEMENT PATTERNS WITHIN MAUI NUI TO INFORM ENHANCED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS. IN ADDITION, SELECT RESEARCHERS WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS EVENTS AND CONFERENCES INCLUDING LECTURING ON RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING AT THE ECUADOR WHALE FESTIVAL, PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE SWIM-WITH-WHALES TOURISM INDUSTRY IN TIMOR-LESTE, PRESENTING AT THE MAKING WAVES COMMUNITY CONFERENCE IN AUSTRALIA'S HERVEY BAY AND CONTRIBUTING DATA TO THE UPDATED ZONING PLAN FOR THE GREAT SANDY STRAITS MARINE PARK IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS IN HAWAI'I INCLUDED WORKING WITH THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL TO DEVELOP VOLUNTARY WHALE-WATCHING GUIDELINES AND THE UNPRECEDENTED COLLECTION OF HISTOLOGICAL SAMPLES FROM A HUMPBACK WHALE PLACENTA - A FIRST OUTSIDE OF THE WHALING INDUSTRY - OFFERING PROMISING INSIGHT INTO THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF WHALES. PWF'S VITAL RESEARCH PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA RESULTED IN A JOINT DATA COLLECTION PROJECT INVOLVING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS, INCLUSION IN A LARGE-SCALE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO PREDICT CLIMATE-CAUSED DISRUPTIONS TO HUMPBACK WHALE MIGRATION IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE, ONGOING ADDITIONS TO THE PHOTO-ID DATABASE, AND THE CONCLUSION OF DATA COLLECTION FOR OUR SWIM- WITH-WHALES IMPACT STUDY. FIERCELY COMMITTED TO THE CONTINUED SHARING OF STUDY RESULTS AND DATA-DERIVED EVIDENCE, WE ENDEAVOR TO INFORM AND GUIDE GLOBAL CONSERVATION MEASURES WHILE ADVANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF CETACEAN POPULATIONS THROUGH APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECTS AND COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH OTHER RESEARCHERS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $841.7K

  • Program 2 [2020]

    EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS THAT RESPECT AND VALUE THE WORLD'S OCEANS AND INHABITANTS IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF PWF'S EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED, SCIENCE-BASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO CONNECT WITH AND APPRECIATE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS WHILE INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. WHILE 2020 PRESENTED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN OFFERING THE HIGH-QUALITY, ENGAGING PROGRAMMING OF PRE-PANDEMIC DAYS, PIVOTING TO COVID-SAFE PRACTICES FOR PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF ENCOURAGED EXCITING INNOVATIONS IN HOW WE SHARE OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM. PHYSICAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS, WHILE DAUNTING IN THEIR LIMITATIONS, FORCED STAFF TO REINVENT COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH STRATEGIES THAT ULTIMATELY EXPANDED OUR REACH THROUGH A SERIES OF VIRTUAL AND HYBRID ADAPTATIONS OF POPULAR PROGRAMS SUCH AS OCEAN CAMP, KEIKI WHALEWATCH AND OTHER CLASSROOM-CENTRIC OFFERINGS. KEIKI WHALEWATCH ENJOYED REMARKABLE SUCCESS, IMPACTING A TOTAL OF 3,700 STUDENTS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC CUT THE SEASON SHORT BY ONE MONTH. FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, PWF EDUCATORS BROUGHT THE PROGRAM TO STUDENTS ON THE NEIGHBORING ISLANDS OF MOLOKA'I AND LANA'I; 2020 ALSO MARKED THE FIRST YEAR THE PROGRAM INCLUDED MOLOKA'I MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. IN ADDITION, OUR INFLATABLE HUMPBACK WHALE, 'OHANA, DEBUTED AT FIVE LOCAL SCHOOLS FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE LIFE-SIZE TEACHING TOOL OFFERED 367 STUDENTS A RARE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE - EXPLORING THE INTERNAL WORKINGS OF A HUMPBACK WHALE. PWF'S EDUCATION TEAM INTRODUCED TWO NEW VARIANTS OF THE IMMENSELY POPULAR OCEAN CAMP PROGRAM IN RESPONSE TO THE STRICT COVID GUIDELINES IN PLACE AT THE TIME. VIRTUAL OCEAN CAMP AND OCEAN CAMP: FROM SCREEN TO SEA PROVIDED CAMPERS GRADES 1-5 WITH FUN, ENGAGING AND COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES SIMILAR TO TRADITIONAL OCEAN CAMP PROGRAMMING UTILIZING A 'SAFER-AT-HOME' VIDEO CONFERENCING PLATFORM. THE HYBRID PROGRAM, OCEAN CAMP: FROM SCREEN TO SEA, FEATURED A WEEK OF VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVITIES LED BY QUALIFIED EDUCATORS, CULMINATING WITH AN IN-PERSON SNORKEL TRIP ON A PACWHALE ECO-ADVENTURES VESSEL DESIGNED TO BRING WHAT THEY LEARNED TO LIFE. TO MAINTAIN CONTINUITY, OCEAN CAMP ENROLLMENT SHIFTED FROM DAILY TO WEEKLY WITH SIX WEEKS OF VIRTUAL OCEAN CAMP AND THREE WEEKS OF OCEAN CAMP FROM SCREEN TO SEA REACHING A TOTAL OF 178 CAMPERS FROM THREE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, NINE US STATES AND FIVE DIFFERENT TIME ZONES. THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF THE VIRTUAL OCEAN CAMP PROGRAM WERE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE; ALL REMAINING WEEKS OF PROGRAMMING FOR THE YEAR WERE OFFERED AT SUBSIDIZED RATES. THE SHIFT FROM EXCLUSIVELY IN-PERSON TO LARGELY VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING ALLOWED PWF EDUCATORS TO MAINTAIN CONNECTIONS WITH OUR LOCAL AND GLOBAL COMMUNITY. PARTICIPANTS LEARNED ABOUT MARINE LIFE THROUGH A VARIETY OF LIVE AND PRE- RECORDED LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES EASILY CONDUCTED AT HOME UTILIZING SIMPLE HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS. LIVE SESSIONS ENCOURAGED VIEWERS TO INTERACT WITH AND ASK QUESTIONS OF THE PRESIDING EDUCATOR. THESE INNOVATIVE ONLINE LESSONS AND VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS BOAST A COMBINED TOTAL OF 3,518 VIEWS TO DATE AND WILL CONTINUE EXPANDING OUR REACH GLOBALLY.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $337.1K

  • Program 3 [2020]

    CONSERVATION PROGRAM THROUGH OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAM, PWF DEVELOPS AND ADVOCATES FOR SCIENCE- BASED SOLUTIONS TO MAJOR STRESSORS ON WHALES AND DOLPHINS THAT ALIGN WITH ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY VALUES. USING CUTTING-EDGE DATA GLEANED FROM OUR RESEARCH FINDINGS, WE STRIVE TO POSITIVELY INFLUENCE POLICY AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT BY CREATING AGENDAS AND MOBILIZING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR OUR OCEAN CONSERVATION EFFORTS. THE CONSERVATION TEAM ALSO HAD TO REEXAMINE COMMUNICATION PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES IN ORDER TO STAY THE COURSE. AFTER CONSIDERABLE ADJUSTMENTS AND ADAPTATIONS, THE CONSERVATION PROGRAM NOT ONLY CONTINUED, IT FLOURISHED. SHIFTING TO VIRTUAL AND ONLINE MESSAGING INCLUDING WEBINARS, FACEBOOK LIVE PRESENTATIONS AND A ROBUST SERIES OF METICULOUSLY RESEARCHED ARTICLES RESULTED IN AN INCREASED REACH WITH IMPROVED EFFECTIVENESS IN CONSERVATION ADVOCACY. PWF RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE A SCIENCE- BASED POLICY AGENDA THAT IDENTIFIES THE MAJOR STRESSORS IMPACTING WHOLE POPULATIONS OF WHALES AND DOLPHINS GLOBALLY, INCLUDING MARINE DEBRIS, VESSEL TRAFFIC, FISHERIES INTERACTIONS, UNDER REGULATED TOURISM, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. CONSERVATION LAUNCHED AN ARTICLE SERIES ENTITLED MAKING WAVES: POLICIES TO PROTECT THE OCEAN THAT UNDERSCORES OUR AGENDA WHILE FURTHER EDUCATING SUPPORTERS. BUILDING ON OUR REPUTATION AS INDUSTRY EXPERTS AND INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY THOUGHT LEADERS, THE MAKING WAVES SERIES EXAMINES MAJOR STRESSORS ON WHALES AND DOLPHINS, HIGHLIGHTS RELATED POLICIES THAT EXIST AT THE STATE, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, AND CHRONICLES PWF'S PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE EFFORTS TO EFFECTIVELY MITIGATE THESE THREATS. CONSERVATION'S OVERARCHING PRIORITIES FOR 2020 AND BEYOND INCLUDE ADDRESSING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC POLLUTION, PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES FOR WILDLIFE WATCHING TOURISM, FOSTERING AWARENESS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESULTANT RISING OCEAN TEMPERATURES, REDUCING SHIP STRIKES INVOLVING WHALES, AND THE ACCIDENTAL CATCH OF WHALES AND DOLPHINS IN COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, OUR CONSERVATION PROGRAM HAS ACTIVELY STUDIED THE GLOBAL ACCUMULATION OF PLASTIC DEBRIS ON OUR BEACHES AND ADVOCATED FOR THE ELIMINATION OR REDUCTION OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS, WHICH SUPPORTED MAUI COUNTY IN PASSING SWEEPING LEGISLATION BANNING THE SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF PLASTIC DISPOSABLE FOOD-WARE, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2022. PWF'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE REVERSAL OF A CONTROVERSIAL 'SOLUTION' IN RESPONSE TO THE JUNE 2020 DISCOVERY OF TWO 70-YEAR-OLD UNDETONATED ORDINANCES (UXOS) INSIDE MOLOKINI'S MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICT. THE STATE OF HAWAI'I SUGGESTED CONDUCTING A REMOTE DETONATION CAPABLE OF CAUSING TREMENDOUS HARM TO MOLOKINI'S FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM. PWF WROTE TO STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND RELEVANT AGENCIES OUTLINING THE POTENTIAL DESTRUCTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND URGING THEM TO CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES. ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, PUBLIC FEEDBACK LED TO STATE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO LEAVE THE UXOS UNDISTURBED AND OUR FRAGILE ECO SYSTEM UNHARMED. PWF PRESENTED AT THE 27TH ANNUAL HAWAI'I CONSERVATION CONFERENCE ON THE NECESSITY, REPLICABILITY AND SUCCESS OF PWF'S COASTAL MARINE DEBRIS MONITORING PROGRAM. AS THE MODERATOR OF THE COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION SESSION, PWF CONNECTED WITH CONFERENCE ATTENDEES TO BUILD A NETWORK OF PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE ISLANDS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $84.8K