This time, they had to pull out when it became obvious that continuing the pursuit would disturb the whale.

There is still much to understand about the life cycles and habits of humpback whales. How do they behave in Niue’s waters? How do they interact with other humpback populations? And where else do they travel? If the humpbacks are to be protected, they need to be afforded protection throughout their range, not just in Niue.

Good decisions are based on good information. Support high-quality scientific research and get clued up yourself—read deeply, think hard, and listen carefully to the experts.