HONOLULU — Researchers are convening this week to discuss a significant decline in the number of sightings of North Pacific humpback whales in their traditional breeding grounds off Hawaii.

Fewer sightings doesn’t necessarily mean the iconic giants are dying off, or that they’re not still migrating to the islands. But the apparent disappearance of many whales from a historically predictable location is causing concern and some researchers believe there’s a link between warmer ocean temperatures in Alaska and the effect that has on the whales’ food chain.

While scientists say it’s too early to draw any conclusions about the phenomenon, the decline has sparked enough interest that a consortium of whale specialists will meet Tuesday and Wednesday in Honolulu in a bid to better understand what’s happening and what to do about it. The drop in sightings is estimated at 50 percent to 80 percent over the past four years.

Associated Press