Sheening off Hilo, Hawaii; Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean | 2026-Mar-30

Initial Notification: On March 27, 2026, the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) for Oceania was notified by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in Honolulu of a sheen observed via satellite. No products were requested from NOAA; this was for notification only. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) was also notified of the satellite observation and investigated using aircraft. The sheening was determined to be caused by a dead, decaying whale off the coast, which the USCG was able to visually verify.