A survey of whale and dolphin species present in Samoa's waters has been completed by a Samoa government ministry and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

A two-week survey by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and SPREP, which was done in line with the Samoa government's Samoa Ocean Strategy 2020–2030, was recently completed successfully according to a media release issued by the regional body on Monday. The survey documented humpback whales as well as other whale and dolphin species in waters around Upolu and Savai'i.

Vitolina Ah Kau, who is the marine conservation officer who also participated in the survey, said it was her first time seeing the mammals close up.

“I was really excited to participate in this survey because it was my first time encountering whales and dolphins up close and I was amazed to see the different dolphin species as well as observing their unique and various behaviours," she said.

SPREP acting marine and coastal adviser, Juney Ward said they weren't able to get pictures of the humpback whales but did document dolphins and short-finned pilot whales.

“Although we were not able to photograph humpback whales this year, we were still able to document spinner dolphins and short-finned pilot whales and build the capacity of the MNRE team to identify the different species, observe their behaviours as well as show the team what to photograph when working with these species."

The survey was implemented with funding support through the United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP) on Safeguarding Samoa’s Ecosystem Services (SSES) and from Conservation International.

According to SPREP, humpback whales in the Oceania region are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. They travel to the warmer waters of the Pacific from the months of July to November to give birth and breed before migrating back to the Antarctic waters to feed. During this time, humpback whales can be seen close to the reefs mainly along the southern coasts of Upolu and other parts of the island.

"The survey primarily focused on documenting humpback whales through photo-identification to enhance the understanding and knowledge of whales, dolphins and their populations and habitat in Samoa’s waters," reads the SPREP statement. 

"Furthermore, the survey provided valuable hands-on training in the methodology, species identification and data collection techniques, with the aim of equipping local personnel and trained volunteers with the expertise needed to conduct cetacean surveys.

"Sightings of large pods of spinner dolphins, short-finned pilot whales and possible humpback whales were recorded during the survey."