U.S. #5713c
2022 60¢ National Marine Sanctuaries – Humpback Whale
Issue Date: August 5, 2022
First Day City: Santa Cruz, CA
Type of Stamp: Commemorative
Printed by: Ashton Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Pane of 16
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 38,000,000
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is located off the coast of Hawaii and includes 1,400 square miles of protected waters. It includes Penguin Bank, the Maui Nui region, Kaua'i, Ni'ihau, Hawai'i, and O'ahu. The sanctuary was established to protect the humpback whales that gather in the area every winter through spring.
Each November, approximately half the North Pacific humpback whale population migrates to Hawaiian waters to breed, give birth, and nurse their young calves. Thousands of animals swim in the relatively shallow waters (less than 600 feet deep) during this time. The national marine sanctuary takes advantage of these migrations and conducts various research projects to study population, behavior, and human impacts.
Interestingly, much about humpback whale behavior has yet to be understood. For example, scientists are not completely certain why humpback whales breach or slap their tails and flippers on the water. There are also many questions about the nature of their songs. With so many humpback whales traveling to Hawaii every year, perhaps researchers there may one day be able to discover the truth of these whales' mysterious behaviors!