THE
HUMPBACK HEIST
The ocean’s biggest thieves plan the perfect underwater heist!
The actions of humanity have changed the world around us, but marine life is not taking it lying down, in fact to our surprise, in many places it is fighting back.
​We aimed to portray the current state of Our Oceans through a modern lens, highlighting the impact of human activity wherever we found it. From coral bleaching through more frequent heat waves to marine life caught in fishing gear, the human footprint on ocean ecosystems was starkly visible wherever we went, highlighting rapid and troubling changes which we felt were imperative to document. Yet, amidst these challenges, we also witnessed awe-inspiring responses from marine life that sometimes seemed almost unbelievable!
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Humpback whales have historically traveled vast distances from Hawaii to feast in Alaska's nutrient-rich waters, a ritual dating back millennia. But today they are forced to compete with our fishing fleets who are targeting the same fish stocks as the humpbacks.​
​Faced with this competition, two humpback whales, known lovingly as Pelican and Hobo by scientific researchers, have devised a cunning way to find fish in an entirely new environment: stealing fish from the coastal salmon hatcheries waiting to release fish into the wild! It’s the perfect appetiser for them before the annual herring run takes center stage.
Enter the ocean’s biggest thieves - two humpback whales orchestrating the perfect underwater robbery in Alaska!
“IT MAY BE HARD TO GET PAST SECURITY WHEN YOU’RE 50 FT LONG, BUT EACH HAD THEIR OWN APPROACH, AND TOGETHER THEY WERE THE PERFECT TEAM.”
- JUSTIN MAGUIRE, OUR OCEANS SERIES DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
CAUGHT IN THE ACT
This narrative isn’t just about clever whales - it's a testament to adaptability and resilience in the face of changing oceans wrought by human actions. It also underscores the need for sustainable coexistence in our shared ocean spaces. The Hidden Falls Hatchery, since acknowledging the whales' presence, has collaborated with marine biologists to refine release strategies ensuring adequate salmon return to the wild for population sustainability. While currently only four whales exploit the hatchery's resources, there is an increased risk of entanglement in mooring lines and nets, so the hatchery is working with researchers to find ways to safely deter the whales.
CAPTAIN'S LOG
Led by Pacific Field Producer Alex Warham, our team collaborated with hatchery experts and whale researcher Madison Korma from the University of Alaska to capture this ingenious feeding behavior. Over five immersive weeks, we unraveled that like us, the whales each had their own unique personality. While Pelican was very timid and kept his distance from the film team and hatchery staff, Hobo was described as a big bruiser, and with no fear of the crew and no respect for hatchery rules, he would happily storm the hatchery.
Photos by Our Oceans team ©Netflix 'Our Oceans'