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50 Maui Whale Watch Magazine • WhaleWatchingOnMaui.com The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary's offices and visitor center is at 726 S. Kihei Road in Kihei. This is the place Ed Lyman, aka "The Whale Rescuer," works out of when he's on Maui. Officially, he's the Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator, and he's been helping to save whales here since 2003. JQ: You're referred to by some of the people we know as the whale rescuer or the whale doctor. Do you actually rescue and save the whales? EL: Yes, but I'm not alone in this effort. If located, we have an excellent chance of freeing the whale, but it takes a big group of people including first responders, to make it happen. JQ: Who are the first responders? EL: Those are people who first spot the entangled whale, or are trained to respond, and hopefully can stay with it until we get out there to help. It's a community-based Network ED LYMAN THE WHALE RESCUER involving the sanctuary, NOAA Fisheries, Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources, Ocean Safety, U.S. Coast Guard, the on-water community and others that find & help assess entangled animals. It's a real team effort. JQ: How do you actually free the whales? EL: It's sort of like catch and release. We get a hold of the whale by grappling into the entangling gear and then we use hooked, "flying" knives that are delivered from the end of long poles, in order to maintain distance and avoid injury. Recently we've been using cameras attached above the knives and live-streamed to glasses to help us make more accurate cuts. JQ: Have there ever been any injuries or deaths in attempting to rescue a whale? EL: Injuries happen but they're usually minor. Until recently, we had no fatalities in our global Network. Unfortunately, just this last July of 2017, Joe Howlett, a seasoned whale responder, lost his life freeing an entangled North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence from a web of fishing gear. JQ: How many whales do you think get entangled, injured and die, that you never see or have the opportunity to save? EL: For some population of whales it has been estimated that for every one animal found dead from entanglement, nine others actually fall victim. That's why when we're not working to free the whales, we're working on prevention. Things like gear modifications, changes in fishing practices, and acoustic LYMAN Large whale entanglement response is dangerous and coordinated by Lyman, working for the HIHWNMS, and under the authority and oversight of NOAA Fisheries' Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program. " " If located, we have an excellent chance of freeing the whale. ABOVE | Exterior, Humpback Whale Visitor Center BELOW | Interior, Humpback Whale Visitor Center 4 THINGS EVERYONE CAN DO TO 1 2 3 4 Call the hotline immediately if you see a whale or other marine animal in distress. The number is 888-256-9840. Take photos and videos. You'll be asked to upload them after calling the hotline. Stand by at a safe and legal distance until the authorized team arrives. If unable to, see if someone else can take over. Reduce what we put into, or gets into, the ocean. Anything and everything can entangle whales, especially plastics. alerts may reduce the rate and/or severity of entanglement. JQ: Do you free other types of sea animals besides humpback whales in Maui? EL: Yes, we have helped free other species of whales, many sea turtles, and a manta ray. We have tried to free entangled dolphins, but their speed and agility has made it challenging. JQ: Anything else you'd like to say? EL: Just a big Mahalo to this huge, wonderful, dedicated and amazing ohana that cares so much about our ocean wildlife. Your contribution and friendship are greatly appreciated. So is yours James, and that of Maui Whale Watch Magazine. JQ: Thanks Ed. And thanks to everyone else who is part of this Network effort to reduce entanglement threat! ABOVE | Ed Lyman, attempting to free an entangled whale. Photo by Eden Zang/HIHWNMS/NOAA Fisheries MMHSRP Permt #932-1905 HELP INTERVIEW

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