Tagging whales from the sky: New methods revolutionize research

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Video news release (details below): https://go.hawaii.edu/7ARhttps://go.hawaii.edu/7AR

NOTE: "NOAA NMFS 27548" must be on all whale video and still photos

Marine mammal research has attained new heights as scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa are deploying noninvasive suction-cup tags onto humpback whales using drones. Traditionally, researchers from the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) in the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology approached animals closely via boats, deploying tags using a seven-meter carbon fiber pole. Now, technological advances are allowing the team to tag whales from the sky, dramatically shifting how marine data is collected.

During their February 2026 field season off the coast of Maui, the MMRP team successfully utilized drones to deploy Customized Animal Tracking Solution (CATS) accelerometer tags. This innovative method provides a safer, less invasive tag deployment system for both the marine mammals and the human researchers. The team can deploy tags from several hundred meters away from their research vessel-greatly minimizing human intrusion.

"We do not need to get close to the whales to tag them, so we don't disturb them," said Lars Bejder, MMRP researcher. "Additionally, we are able to tag whales that we previously were not able to approach and get close to. This opens up many new opportunities for low-impact research on whales and dolphins to inform on their conservation and management."

A prime example of this success occurred when the team successfully drone-tagged a skittish, singing male humpback whale during its final surfacing bout-a feat that would have been impossible using traditional pole-tagging methods.

Critical data collection

In total, the expedition deployed 22 tags on lactating females, a calf and adult males.

The high-resolution data collected-including fine-scale movements and energy expenditures-is critical for wildlife management. It allows researchers to quantify the biological consequences of disturbances, such as changing climatic events, vessel traffic or military activities, ultimately helping forecast population trajectories and establish vital evidence-based mitigation strategies to protect these marine species.

The fieldwork was supported by the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Navy's Living Marine Resources program, Dolphin Quest and philanthropic donations.

Read more at MMRP.

VIDEO: TRT 2:11

NOTE: "NOAA NMFS 27548" must be on all whale video and still photos
BROLL: 1:40

:00-:09 SOT (whale) split screen of whale being tagged and drone

:10-:39 drone launch and whale tagging

:40- 1:14 Lars Bejder with drone and suction cup tagging device

1:15-1:40 more overhead shots of whales being tagged

SOUND:

Lars Bejder, Director UH Mānoa Marine Mammal Research Program (:20)

"So this new technology is opening up new doors for our research. It's allowing us to tag species that are usually shy. It's also allowing us to tag new species that we typically can't get close to. So some of these unanswered questions that we haven't been able to address, we can now suddenly address with this new technology."

Bejder (:06)

"It's a complete game changer, and it makes me feel comfortable. We're putting less pressure on the animals. We don't have to get close to them."