As part of the high school-university collaboration project, Associate Professor Hiroto Murase and two students from the cetacean research laboratory of the university participated in the project, and jointly with teachers (three) and students (seven) from Tokyo Metropolitan Oshima Marine International High School. A whale sighting survey was conducted in the Izu Islands.The survey was conducted over two days, March 2th and 3th, on the Oshima Maru (7 tons), the high school training ship.This is the first attempt to conduct a whale sighting survey by the Oshima Maru.

　A 1 nautical mile (approximately 1.8 km) shoreline course was set for Mikurashima, Miyakejima, Kozushima, Shikinejima, Niijima, and Toshima, and circumnavigated each island.The weather was tough for whale sighting surveys, with strong winds and occasional rain, but we found 1 humpback whales in 2 groups, 3 in 8 group on Miyakejima and 4 in 10 groups on Kozushima. Did.

　In the Izu Islands in recent years, there have been reports of discoveries on Miyakejima in addition to Hachijojima, which is being jointly researched by the Cetacean Laboratory of the University and the Hachijomachi/Hachijojima Tourism Association. We were able to confirm that humpback whales are widely distributed in the Izu Islands.In addition, Associate Professor Hiroto Murase gave a lecture while on board, and the high school students who participated in the survey deepened their knowledge of cetaceans.

　
　Whaling in the Izu Islands

　
　Onboard lecture

　
　Tokyo Metropolitan Oshima Marine International High School training ship Oshima Maru

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