Least Concern· population increasing· assessed 2018

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Sighting evidence at Aleipata Islands Outer Reef, Apia, Samoa

Between July and October humpback whales from Antarctic feeding grounds transit through the Aleipata channel on their way to Tonga breeding grounds, and their distinctive song is audible underwater throughout that season. Boat-based in-water encounters are not formally permitted in Samoa as they are in Tonga, but divers on the outer reef regularly hear and occasionally see whales passing at distance.

Evidence at this site

0 records within 25 km

Confidence: low

No date on file

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Humpback Whale

Evidence at this site

Also seen at other sites