A groundbreaking study has confirmed that humpback whales are the only baleen whale species capable of performing bubble-net feeding, a complex hunting strategy that allows them to corral fish using spirals of bubbles.
The research, led by Cameron Nemeth, a recent marine biology graduate from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. The findings highlight the unique role of humpback whales’ large pectoral flippers, which give them the exceptional agility required for this specialized foraging behavior.
What Is Bubble-Net Feeding?
Bubble-net feeding is a cooperative or solitary hunting strategy where humpback whales release streams of bubbles to trap schools of fish, such as Pacific herring. Once the prey is concentrated, the whales lunge upward with mouths wide open to capture large quantities in a single strike.
Nemeth’s team combined drone footage and suction-cup tags to measure the turning performance required for this behavior. Surprisingly, the study found that out of seven baleen whale species studied, only humpbacks demonstrated the precise turns necessary for bubble-net feeding.
The Role of Pectoral Flippers in Hunting
Humpback whales are well-known for their long, wing-like pectoral flippers. This research showed that these flippers generate nearly half of the turning force needed for bubble-net feeding, making the maneuver highly energy efficient.
Other baleen whales could theoretically attempt similar turns, but the energy cost would be too high, making the strategy unsustainable. This evolutionary advantage allows humpbacks to hunt smaller or scattered prey groups successfully.
Infographic: Key findings of Nemeth et al. (2025). Credit: Anaïs Remili and Zoltan Nemeth
Importance for Hawaiian and Alaskan Ecosystems
Humpback whales migrate between Alaska and Hawaiʻi, fasting during their stay in Hawaiian waters and relying on energy reserves built during Alaskan feeding seasons.
Understanding their foraging efficiency helps scientists assess the whales’ overall health, survival, and migration success. This is especially critical in the face of climate change and shifting fish populations.
“This project combined data from 28 research organizations across six countries,” said Lars Bejder, research professor at UH Mānoa and co-author of the study. “Collaborations like these allow us to answer ecological questions that would otherwise remain unresolved.”
A Step Forward for Hawaiian Language in Science
In addition to his biological research, Nemeth made history by working with the journal to include a Hawaiian-language abstract in the publication. This effort promotes the use of indigenous language in scientific literature and sets a precedent for future marine biology studies from Hawaiʻi.
Nemeth will continue his research with UH Mānoa’s Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) as he begins his PhD in 2026, focusing on humpback whale behavior and conservation.
Reference
Nemeth, C. et al. (2025). The key to bubble-net feeding: how humpback whale morphology functionally differs from other baleen whales. Journal of Experimental Biology. DOI: 10.1242/jeb.249607