Whale count to go ahead despite shutdown

An annual humpback whale count in Hawaii will take place despite the federal government shutdown. West Hawaii Today reported that volunteers from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will co-ordinate this season’s Ocean Count, a community citizen science project that occurs during the peak of whale season. The survey is usually conducted by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Although removed from the endangered species list in 2016, most humpback whales remain federally protected.