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Humpback Whale
Learn more about humpback whales and what NOAA Fisheries is doing to study this species and best conserve their populations.
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Protected Status
ESA Endangered
Central America DPS
Western North Pacific DPS
ESA Endangered - Foreign
Arabian Sea DPS
Cape Verde Islands/Northwest Africa DPS
ESA Threatened
Mexico DPS
MMPA Protected
Throughout Its Range
MMPA Depleted
Western North Pacific stock
Central America/Southern Mexico - California-Oregon-Washington stock
Mainland Mexico - California-Oregon-Washington stock
CITES Appendix I
Throughout Its Range
SPAW Annex II
Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region
Quick Facts
Weight
Up to about 40 tons
Length
Up to about 60 feet
Lifespan
About 80 to 90 years
Threats
Entanglement in fishing gear,
Vessel strikes,
Vessel-based harassment,
Ocean noise
Region
Alaska,
New England/Mid-Atlantic,
Pacific Islands,
Southeast,
West Coast
Humpback whale breaching. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Humpback whale breaching. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
About the Species
Humpback whale breaching. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Humpback whale breaching. Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Before a final moratorium on commercial whaling in 1985, all populations of humpback whales were greatly reduced, most by more than 95 percent. The species is increasing in abundance throughout much of its range but faces threats from entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes, vessel-based harassment, and underwater noise.
Humpback whales live in all oceans around the world. They travel great distances every year and have one of the longest migrations of any mammal on the planet. Some populations swim 5,000 miles from tropical breeding grounds to colder, more productive feeding grounds. Humpback whales feed on shrimp-like crustaceans (krill) and small fish, straining huge volumes of ocean water through their baleen plates, which act like a sieve.
The humpback whale gets its common name from the distinctive hump on its back. Its long pectoral fins inspired its scientific name, Megaptera, which means “big-winged” and novaeangliae, which means “New England,” in reference to the location where European whalers first encountered them. Humpback whales are a favorite of whale watchers―they are often active, jumping out of the water and slapping the surface with their pectoral fins or tails.
NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to the conservation of humpback whales. Our scientists use a variety of innovative techniques to study, protect, and disentangle humpback whales. We also work with our partners to ensure that regulations and management plans are in place to reduce entanglement in fishing gear, create safer shipping lanes, and protect habitats.
Population Status
Commercial whaling severely reduced humpback whale numbers from historical levels. The United States listed all humpback whales as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act in 1970 and then under the Endangered Species Act in 1973. NOAA Fisheries worked worldwide to identify and apply protections for humpback whales. The International Whaling Commission’s final whaling moratorium on commercial harvest, in effect since 1985, played a major role in the recovery of humpback whales. Currently, four out of the 14 distinct population segments are still protected as endangered, and one is listed as threatened (81 FR 62259, September 2016). Three humpback whale stocks in U.S. waters are designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (see annual stock assessment report).
Map showing locations of the 14 distinct population segments of humpback whales worldwide.
Appearance
Humpback whales’ bodies are primarily black, but individuals have different amounts of white on their pectoral fins, bellies, and the undersides of their flukes (tails). Southern Hemisphere humpback whales tend to have more white markings, particularly on their flanks and bellies than do Northern Hemisphere humpback whales.
Humpback whale flukes can be up to 18 feet wide—they are serrated along the trailing edge, and pointed at the tips. Tail fluke pigmentation patterns, in combination with varying shapes and sizes of whales’ flukes and/or prominent scars, are unique to each animal. They are distinctive enough to be used as “fingerprints” to identify individuals.
When photographed, scientists can often identify individual whales—a process called photo-identification - and catalog occurrences of individual whales and use this information to track them over time.
Behavior and Diet
Humpback whales are a favorite of whale-watchers, as they can be found close to shore and often display activities near the surface, such as breaching (jumping out of the water) or slapping the surface with their pectoral fins and tails.
During the warmer months (and occasionally into cooler months), humpback whales spend most of their time feeding and building up fat stores (blubber) to sustain them throughout the winter. Humpback whales filter-feed on small crustaceans (mostly krill) and small fish. They use several techniques to help them herd, corral, and disorient prey and that can include using bubbles, sounds, the seafloor, and even their pectoral fins. One specific feeding method, called "group coordinated bubble net feeding," involves using curtains of air bubbles to condense prey. Once the fish are corralled, they are pushed toward the surface and engulfed as the whales lunge upward through the circular bubble net. Different groups of humpback whales use other bubble structures in similar ways, though there appears to be some regional specialization in bubble-feeding behaviors among populations.
Where They Live
Humpback whales live throughout the world's major oceans. They can travel great distances during their seasonal migration with some animals migrating 5,000 miles between high-latitude summer feeding grounds and winter mating and calving areas in tropical waters. In the North Pacific, some humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Hawaiߵi—they can complete the 3,000 mile trip in as few as 28 days. While calving, they prefer shallow, warm waters commonly near offshore reef systems or shores. Humpback whale feeding grounds are generally in cold, productive waters.
At least four humpback whale populations occur in the North Pacific:
Mexico population
Breeds along the Pacific coast of Mexico and the Revillagigedo Islands
Transits the Baja California Peninsula
Feeds across a broad range from California to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Central America population
Breeds along the Pacific coast of Central America, including off Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua
Feeds off the West Coast of the United States and southern British Columbia
Hawaiߵi population
Breeds in the main Hawaiian Islands
Feeds in most of the known feeding grounds in the North Pacific, including the Aleutian Islands/ Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Southeast Alaska, and northern British Columbia
Western North Pacific population
Breeds in the areas of Okinawa, Japan, and the Philippines
Feeds in the northern Pacific, primarily in the West Bering Sea and off the Russian coast and the Aleutian Islands
Also evidence for the existence of a lesser-known breeding area in the western North Pacific
In the North Atlantic, two populations of humpback whales feed during spring, summer, and fall throughout a range that extends across the Atlantic Ocean from the Gulf of Maine to Norway. These two populations migrate south during the winter to calve and mate in the West Indies and Cape Verde (off the coast of Africa), and possibly in other areas.
Seven populations of humpback whales are found in the Southern Hemisphere, all of which feed in Antarctic or sub-Antarctic waters.
World map providing approximate representation of the humpback whale's range.
Lifespan & Reproduction
Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 10 years. Females produce a single calf every 2 to 3 years on average, although annual calving has been documented in some individuals. Calves are born after an 11-month gestation and measure about 13 to 16 feet in length. Calves stay near their mothers for up to 1 year before weaning. Mothers are protective of their calves, swimming closely and often touching them with their flippers. While calves are not believed to maintain long-term associations with their mothers, they are more likely to be found in the same feeding and breeding areas as their mothers.
Threats
Vessel Strikes
Inadvertent vessel strikes can injure or kill humpback whales. Humpback whales are vulnerable to vessel strikes throughout their range, but the risk is much higher in coastal areas with heavier ship traffic.
Climate Change
The impacts of climate change on whales are unknown, but it is considered one of the largest threats facing high latitude regions where many humpback whales forage. Most notably, the timing and distribution of sea ice coverage is changing dramatically with altered oceanographic conditions. Any resulting changes in prey distribution could lead to changes in foraging behavior, nutritional stress, and diminished reproduction for humpback whales. Additionally, changing water temperature and currents could impact the timing of environmental cues important for navigation and migration.
Entanglement in Fishing Gear
Humpback whales can become entangled by many different gear types, including moorings, traps, pots, or gillnets. Once entangled, if they are able to move the gear, the whale may drag and swim with attached gear for long distances, ultimately resulting in fatigue, compromised feeding ability, or severe injury, which may lead to reduced reproductive success or even death. There is evidence to suggest that most humpback whales experience entanglement over the course of their lives but are often able to shed the gear on their own. However, the portion of whales that become entangled and do not survive is unknown.
Vessel-Based Harassment
Whale watching vessels, recreational boats, and other vessels may cause stress and behavioral changes in humpback whales. Because humpback whales are often found close to shore and generally surface in an active state, they tend to be popular whale watching attractions. There are several areas within the United States where humpback whales are the central attraction for the whale watching industry, including the Gulf of Maine (particularly within the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary), California, Alaska (particularly southeast Alaska), and the Hawaiian Islands.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Cetacea
Family
Balaenopteridae
Genus
Megaptera
Species
novaeangliae
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 11/26/2024
What We Do
Conservation & Management
All humpback whales are protected under the MMPA, and five populations are protected under the ESA. Our work includes:
Reducing the risk of entanglement in fishing gear
Developing methods to reduce vessel strikes
Responding to dead, injured, or entangled humpback whales
Educating the whale watching/tourism industry and vessel operators on responsible viewing of humpback whales
Partnering to implement the Whale SENSE program, a whale watching stewardship, education, and recognition program to increase wildlife viewing standards
We conduct various research activities on the biology, behavior, and ecology of humpback whales. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions and enhance recovery efforts for this ecologically, economically, and socially important species that is endangered in certain areas. Our work includes:
Monitoring humpback whale abundance and mortality in U.S. waters
Studying humpback whale population structure
Collaborating with international scientists to track the movements and behavior of humpback whales as they migrate across international boundaries
Be responsible when viewing marine life in the wild. Observe all larger whales from a safe distance of at least 100 yards by sea or land.
In Hawaiߵi and Alaska, it is illegal to approach a humpback whale within 100 yards, by land or sea. It is also illegal to approach humpback whales in Hawaiߵi within 1,000 feet (333 yards) by air.
Report a sick, injured, entangled, stranded, or dead animal to make sure professional responders and scientists know about it and can take appropriate action. Numerous organizations around the country are trained and ready to respond. Never approach or try to save an injured or entangled animal yourself—it can be dangerous to both the animal and you.
Vessel collisions are a major cause of injury and death for whales. Here are some tips to avoid collisions:
Be Whale Aware. Know where whales occur (habitat).
Watch your speed in areas of known marine mammal occurrence. Keep speeds to 10 knots or less to reduce potential for injury.
Keep a sharp lookout. Look for blows, dorsal fins, tail flukes, etc. However, be aware that most captains report never seeing a whale prior to colliding with it.
Protect your boat, protect your passengers. Boats can be heavily damaged and even "totalled" after colliding with a large whale. Collisions can also injure passengers.
Keep your distance. Stay at least 100 yards away.
Stop immediately if within 100 yards. Slowly distance your vessel from the whale.
Call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 to report a federal marine resource violation. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in the United States.
A school of northern right whale dolphins observed off Oregon on the recent Southwest Fisheries Science Center marine mammal survey. Image collected under NOAA Fisheries research permit #22306. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Cory Hom-Weaver.
Alaska Stranding Network members examined a young, male humpback whale (2024097) on July 8, 2024 near Elfin Cove. Members included a veterinarian with Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services and a biologist with Glacier Bay National Park. Credit: Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services.
The humpback whale Central America distinct population segment (DPS), Western North Pacific DPS, Arabian Sea DPS, and Cape Verde Islands/Northwest Africa DPS are listed as endangered and the Mexico DPS is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
The Western North Pacific stock, Central America/Southern Mexico - California-Oregon-Washington stock, and the Mainland Mexico - California-Oregon-Washington stock are depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
NOAA Fisheries has made significant progress toward the protection of humpback whales worldwide. We have taken many steps to reduce injury and mortality caused by fishing gear, reduce the threat of vessel collisions, minimize the effects of vessel disturbance and noise, and protect habitats that are essential to the survival and recovery of this species.
Recovery Planning and Implementation
Recovery Actions
Under the ESA, NOAA Fisheries is required to develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of listed species. NOAA Fisheries originally developed a recovery plan in 1991 to identify actions that would advance the recovery of the global species and protect its habitats. The ultimate goal of the 1991 Humpback Whale Recovery Plan is to help humpback whales thrive, allowing the species to be reclassified from “endangered” to “threatened,” and ultimately removed from the ESA's list of threatened and endangered species.
The major actions recommended in the existing species-wide recovery plan are:
Reduce or eliminate injury and mortality caused by fisheries, fishing gear, and vessel collisions
Minimize effects of vessel disturbance
Continue the international moratorium on commercial whaling
Following the 2016 change in the listing status of humpback whales, NOAA Fisheries determined in 2019 that recovery plans would not promote the conservation of the endangered Arabian Sea and the Cape Verde Islands/Northwest Africa DPSs. We are currently developing an updated, DPS-specific recovery plan for the ESA-listed Central America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific DPSs. In the interim, the recovery strategy for these DPSs will be guided by the existing species-wide plan and a new DPS-specific recovery outline.
Together with our partners, we undertake numerous activities to support the directives of the humpback whale recovery plan, protect humpbacks, and reduce adverse impacts from human activities.
Efforts to implement recovery for humpback whales include:
Creating marine protected areas for humpback whales
Minimizing vessel disturbance
Reducing entanglement in fishing gear
Reducing vessel strikes
Understanding and addressing the effects of ocean noise
Collaborating with the Commission on Environmental Cooperation to develop the North America Humpback Whale Conservation Action Plan for the United States, Canada, and Mexico
Monitoring Plan
NOAA Fisheries collaborated with state and federal agencies to create a monitoring plan for the nine distinct population segments of humpback whales that have recovered and are no longer protected under the ESA. Recently, NOAA Fisheries convened a post-delisting monitoring plan group (PDMP working group) to assemble, review, and discuss any updated data on the nine distinct population segments of humpback whales that no longer meet the definition of a threatened or endangered species and are no longer protected under the ESA. An interim report for the post delisting monitoring plan was published in 2022.
Critical Habitat
Although the original listing of this species predated the requirement for critical habitat designations, the 2016 revision to the humpback whale listing under the ESA triggered the requirement for NOAA Fisheries to designate critical habitat to the maximum extent prudent and determinable. A proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Central America, Mexico, and Western North Pacific DPSs of humpback whales was published in 2019 and a final rule was published on April 21, 2021.
Designating Marine Protected Areas for Humpback Whales
In 1992, the U.S. Congress created the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to protect humpback whales and their habitat around Hawaii. NOAA Fisheries co-manages the sanctuary with the State of Hawaiߵi, conducts research on humpback whales, and operates a sanctuary education and learning center.
NOAA Fisheries and the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources have established the world’s first sister sanctuaries to protect humpback whales. The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Massachusetts, and the Santuario de Mamíferos Marinos de la República Dominicana are two marine protected areas 3,000 miles apart. Around 900 humpbacks spend spring and summer in the rich feeding grounds of Stellwagen Bank before they head south in the late fall to mate and give birth in the warmer waters of the Dominican Republic. The sister sanctuary agreement strengthens coordination and management efforts between the two sanctuaries and improves humpback whale recovery in the North Atlantic.
Minimizing Whale Watching Harassment
NOAA Fisheries supports responsible viewing of marine mammals in the wild and has adopted a guideline to observe all large whales from a safe distance of at least 100 yards by sea or land in all areas. In addition, federal approach regulations for humpback whales in Alaska and Hawaii require, with limited exceptions, that you:
Not approach within 100 yards of a humpback whale
Not place your vessel in the path of oncoming humpback whales, causing them to surface within 100 yards of your vessel
Not disrupt the normal behavior or prior activity of a humpback whale
Operate your vessel at a slow, safe speed when near humpbacks
In Hawaiߵi, regulations also prohibit operating an aircraft within 1,000 feet (333 yards) of a humpback whale.
WhaleSENSE is a voluntary education and recognition program developed by NOAA Fisheries and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation in collaboration with the whale watching industry to recognize whale watching companies committed to responsible practices in the U.S. Atlantic and Alaska.
Companies participating in the WhaleSENSE program agree to:
Stick to the regional whale watching guidelines
Educate naturalists, captains, and passengers to have “SENSE” while watching whales
Notify and report whales in distress
Set an example for other boaters
Encourage ocean stewardship
Both Alaska and Hawaiߵi have specific guidance and requirements for minimizing whale watching impacts from tourism on humpback whales and other marine animals.
Reducing and Responding to Entanglement
Entanglement in fishing gear is a leading cause of serious injury and death for many whale species, including humpback whales.
In the Atlantic, we implemented the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury of right whales, humpback whales, and fin whales in gillnets and trap/pot fisheries along the East Coast.
In Alaska, we have a network of trained entanglement responders around the state. When an entangled whale is reported, responders can be authorized to evaluate the entanglement and, in cases where the entanglement is life threatening to the animal and a response can be carried out safely, a team may attempt to cut the whale free from gear.
Collisions between whales and large vessels can injure or kill whales, damage the vessels, and injure passengers, but they often go unnoticed and unreported. The most effective way to reduce collision risk is to give whales a wide berth or avoid areas of high whale concentrations altogether. If this is not possible, the second best option is for vessels to slow down and keep a lookout.
In the Atlantic, we have taken both regulatory and non-regulatory steps to reduce the threat of vessel collisions to North Atlantic right whales. These actions, may also reduce the threat of vessel collisions to humpback whales, which occur in the same waters. The steps include:
Requiring vessels to slow down in specific areas during specific times (Seasonal Management Areas)
Advocating for voluntary speed reductions in Dynamic Management Areas
Recommending alternative shipping routes and areas to avoid
Overseeing Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response
We work with volunteer networks in all coastal states to respond to marine mammal strandings including all whales. When stranded animals are found alive, NOAA Fisheries and our partners assess the animal’s health and determine the best course of action. When stranded animals are found dead, our scientists work to understand and investigate the cause of death. Although the cause often remains unknown, scientists can sometimes attribute strandings to disease, harmful algal blooms, vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, pollution exposure, and underwater noise. Some strandings can serve as indicators of ocean health, giving insight into larger environmental issues that may also have implications for human health and welfare.
Underwater noise can pose a threat to whales, interrupting their normal behavior and potentially causing temporary or permanent reductions in hearing. NOAA Fisheries is investigating all aspects of acoustic communication and hearing in marine animals, as well as the effects of sound on whale behavior and hearing. In 2018, we issued technical guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic (human-caused) sound on marine mammal hearing.
Commercial whaling severely reduced humpback whale numbers from historical levels, and the United States listed all humpback whales as endangered in 1970. NOAA Fisheries worked nationally and internationally to identify and apply protections for humpback whales. The International Whaling Commission’s whaling moratorium, in effect since 1985, played a major role in the recovery of humpback whales.
NOAA Fisheries developed a recovery plan in 1991 to identify actions that would protect the species in important breeding and feeding areas. In addition, we have taken steps to reduce threats to the species, such as establishing regulations to:
Restrict vessel and aircraft distance from humpbacks to reduce disturbance
Limit vessel speed in certain areas to reduce the likelihood of deaths and serious injuries from vessel strikes
In 2015, we completed a global status review of humpback whales, and in 2016, we revised the ESA listing for the humpback whale to identify 14 distinct population segments. We determined that nine populations have recovered enough that they do not warrant listing, while four populations are still protected as endangered (Central America, Western North Pacific, Arabian Sea, and Cape Verde Islands/Northwest Africa). The Mexico population is listed as threatened.
In June 1970, humpback whales were designated as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Conservation Act (ESCA). In 1973, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) replaced the ESCA, and continued to list humpback whales as endangered.
In April 2015, we…
NOAA Fisheries conducts research on the biology, behavior, and ecology of the humpback whale. The results are used to inform management decisions and enhance recovery efforts for this species.
Shipboard Studies
NOAA Fisheries conducts research cruises that investigate the whales’ habitat preferences and feeding ecology, as well as doing photographic and genetic identification. Information from these research projects can be used to inform management actions that protect the humpback whale and reduce their human-related mortalities.
The Years of the North Atlantic Humpback Project in 1992 to 1993 and the follow-up project, More North Atlantic Humpbacks, in 2003 to 2005 were international collaborations to monitor humpback whale populations, investigate human-caused deaths, and conduct various other surveys, including research on humpback songs, across many humpback habitats.
Through a multi-year project, researchers from NOAA Fisheries, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and partner organizations have made advancements in how humpback whales are tagged. The detailed information about individual whales collected from the tags over many years is informing humpback whale conservation biology.
Image
One of the humpback's most interesting behaviors is bubble-net feeding, a complex and coordinated tactic for capturing many fish at once. Credit: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center/Christin Khan
Acoustic Science
Other research is focused on the acoustic environment of cetaceans, including humpback whales. Acoustics is the science of how sound is transmitted. This research involves increasing our understanding of the basic acoustic behavior of whales, dolphins, and fish; mapping the acoustic environment; and developing better methods to locate cetaceans using autonomous gliders and passive acoustic arrays.
Scientists use small aircraft to spot large whales (including humpbacks) and record their seasonal distribution. Understanding their migration patterns helps managers establish measures to reduce vessel strikes.
Stock Assessments
Determining the size of humpback whale populations helps resource managers determine the success of conservation measures and regulations. Our scientists collect population information on humpback whales from various sources and present the data in an annual stock assessment report.
Our research on the population dynamics, diet and foraging behavior, distribution, and movement patterns of humpback whales provides information crucial for understanding and protecting humpback whale populations in Alaska.
Data demonstrating regular trans-Pacific movements of humpback whales in the North Pacific, highlighting the importance of Mexico for the species ocean-basin-wide.
Staff at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Protected Species Branch prepare annual reports on the results on their analyses and injury determinations for marine mammals interacting with humans.
Marine mammal bycatch is a significant anthropogenic threat to recovering populations. Gear reduction in Washington (USA) crab fishery decreased entanglement risk to whales.
This dataset depicts the boundaries of the South Island Restricted Area in effect annually from February 1-April 30 in ESRI shapefile format for the NOAA Fisheries’ Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO).
