In addition, the National Park Service funded a more 
thorough analysis of available information on vessel-whale 
interactions in the Bay, took steps to start a study of the 
bio-acoustic characteristics of the Bay and the effects of 
man-made noise on the whales, and, at the end of 1980, was 
taking steps to start research to characterize the food and 
feeding behavior of humpback whales in Glacier Bay. 
Humpback Whales in Hawaii 
The waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands provide 
winter calving grounds and habitat for about 500 of the 
estimated 1,000 humpback whales comprising the North Pacific 
population. As public interest in whale-watching in Hawaii 
increased, it became apparent that these activities might be 
adversely affecting the whales. In July 1977, the Commission 
convened a workshop to consider the problem, and, based upon 
the workshop results and other findings, considered and 
acted in cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, upon a number of points related to humpback whale 
protection. These included hydrofoil operation in certain 
areas, establishing criteria for determining activities 
constituting harassment, the education of military and 
civilian boat and aircraft operators, as well as research on 
the abundance, distribution, and movements of humpback 
whales in the area (see the 1978 Annual Report). On 4 
January 1979, the Service, after consulting with the Commission, 
published a "Notice of Interpretation of 'Taking by Harassment' 
in Regard to Humpback Whales in the Hawaiian Islands Area" 
and thereby established criteria for making determinations 
concerning activities constituting harassment (see the 1979 
Annual Report). 
In 1979, the Commission learned of plans to reinstitute 
inter-island hydrofoil service, and on 6 August 1979, asked 
the National Marine Fisheries Service about steps being 
taken to assure that hydrofoils would not jeopardize the 
whales. On 4 September, the Service answered that it intended 
to work with the company to ensure compliance with the 
provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the 
Endangered Species Act and to review and incorporate appropriate 
protective measures into the Service's on-going interpretation 
of harassment relative to humpback whales in Hawaiian waters. 
Concerned about the timing of these steps, the Commission 
wrote on 13 November 1979 about the status of plans to 
resume hydrofoil operations, the results of the Service's 
review of existing protective measures, the Service's determination 
as to whether an environmental impact statement and/or a 
Section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act 
would be required, and its plans for future research and 
Management actions. 
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