New class to teach Southeast mariners how to avoid hitting humpback whales
A new class developed by whale biologists and marine pilots in Southeast Alaska will soon teach mariners how to avoid hitting humpback whales when sailing large ships through the region. The training comes as the state’s cruise industry booms.
Humpback whales migrate thousands of miles from their winter breeding grounds in Hawaii and Mexico to feed in Alaska’s rich waters over the summer. And that’s when ship traffic surges with hundreds of cruises and whale watching tours. This summer, some ports in Southeast expect to see a record number of cruise ship passengers.