Species Distribution: Short-Finned Pilot Whale - Hawaii

This dataset contains a collection of known point locations of short-finned pilot whales identified either via automated satellite tracking of tagged organisms or through direct human observation via shipborne and aerial surveys. This can be useful for assessing species abundance, population structure, habitat use, and behavior. This collection is aggregated from multiple data sources and survey periods listed below. Each data point contains attributes for further information about the time and source of the observation. This dataset was compiled by the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) and may be updated in the future if additional data sources are acquired.

Cascadia Research Collective (CRC) has been undertaking shipborne surveys for odontocetes in Hawaiian waters since 2000. Short-finned pilot whales are among the most frequently encountered odontocetes in deep water around the main Hawaiian Islands. There appear to be island-resident populations in deep waters around all of the main Hawaiian Islands. From photo-identification and satellite tagging there is evidence of both an island-associated and a pelagic population of short-finned pilot whales in Hawaii, and several different communities of island-associated pilot whales around the islands, with individuals largely remaining associated with one or two islands. In adition, Dr. Joseph Mobley of the Marine Mammal Research Consultants (MMRC) led aerial surveys for cetaceans in Hawaiian waters from 1993-2003.

For further information, please see:
http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/short-finned-pilot-whales-hawaii