Volunteers complete 2nd whale count of 2017

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More than 590 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island during the second count of the 2017 Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count.

More than 590 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island during the second count of the 2017 Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count.

Ocean Count serves to promote public awareness about humpback whales, the sanctuary and shore-based whale-watching opportunities. The count is conducted three times per year during the peak whale season.

Volunteers collected data from 50 sites statewide Saturday. A total of 174 whale sightings were recorded during the 11:30-11:45 a.m. time period, the most of any time period during the day’s count.

Preliminary data detailing whale sightings by site location are available at http://www.sanctuaryoceancount.org/resources.

Additional information is available on the sanctuary’s website at http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.