Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

DAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR

SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release September 25, 2015  

DLNR RECEIVES $1.2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
FALSE KILLER WHALE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT

HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources, in partnership with Cascadia Research Collective and Hawaii Pacific University, has been awarded nearly $1.2 million dollars over three years from NOAA Fisheries to support the conservation and recovery of Hawaii’s endangered false killer whales.

The grant will support tagging research on the movements and habitat use of false killer whales, and will also examine the potential overlap of the species with state fisheries. Work in June by Cascadia Research Collective included tagging three false killer whales that are part of a rare social group that is one of the focuses of the grant.

In addition, the grant will allow the DLNR to build on the successful outreach work it is already conducting with shoreline fishermen to help reduce harmful interactions with monk seals and sea turtles. “With this new funding, the DLNR will now be able to partner with boat-based fishermen who may be sighting and interacting with false killer whales, in order to collect new data and develop new ways to reduce harmful interactions that may be occurring,” said DLNR Chairperson Suzanne Case.

The grant will also support stranding investigations of false killer whales, sperm whales, and humpbacks.

The award is part of NOAA Fisheries Species Recovery Grants for 2015. This year’s award also provides continued support to the DLNR for monk seal and sea turtle conservation outreach efforts, including the successful Barbless Circle Hook Project that is conducted in partnership with NOAA Fisheries.

To view the latest information on false killer whales in Hawaii:
https://www.facebook.com/False-Killer-Whales-Hawaii-342365899233834/timeline/

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Media Contact:
Dan Dennison
Senior Communications Manager
Office of the Chair
Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 130
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Tel 808-587-0407
Cell 808-295-8749
Fax 808-587-0390
[email protected]