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HomeNewsArchivesWHALES TARRY IN VI WATERS A LITTLE LONGER

WHALES TARRY IN VI WATERS A LITTLE LONGER

April 4, 2001 — If you missed this season's series of whale-watching trips organized by the Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John, there is still time left to spot the huge ocean-going mammals, says E.A.S.T. board member Craig Barshinger. From December through April, humpback whales migrate from the Arctic region to the warmer waters of the Caribbean where they give birth to their young. They are frequently sighted in the Virgin Islands between February and the end of April.
Since January, more than 80 whales, including at least 10 juveniles, have been sighted according to reports received by the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
"We suspect there have been more that people have just not reported," said environmental specialist, Donna Griffin. Most sightings involved one to three whales, but in March a National Park Service employee reported seeing a group of more than 30 whales on the North Sea Mount, south of Anegada. Many reports also came from residents who spotted whales from their homes.
These dark whales are easily identified by their long white flippers, white bellies and undersides. Adult humpbacks may be more than 50 feet long, weighing 30 to 40 tons.
A good technique to use to spot whales is to look for signs along the horizon, explained Barshinger. A breaching whale can be seen five to 20 miles away, and looks like a sailboat appearing momentarily on the horizon, he said. Whale spouts, which can rise to heights of 15 feet, can be seen from a distance of five miles.
For best results, Barshinger recommends whale watching from a sailboat. Multi-hulled sailboats are especially appropriate. "They are usually faster so you can get in the vicinity of whales much quicker," he said. Powerboats are noisy and tend to scare off whales.
If you've spotted a whale, you may approach it within 300 yards (900 feet), but no closer. Herding or hassling the whales in any way is prohibited, as these whales are endangered.
For more than five years E.A.S.T. has organized whale-watching trips for the public. These trips are a major fund-raiser for the organization.
On the final trip of the season, 20 children were able to participate thanks to sponsorship by the Community Foundation of the V.I. "Although we didn't see whales, the kids were fascinated by the sailing experience and learned a lot about whales and the ocean," said Barshinger.
In the late spring humpbacks return to their summer home in the North Atlantic. There they will feed on the abundant population of krill and plankton, stocking up for their winter journey back to the Caribbean.

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