Review of the increase in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) records in the northern coast of the Argentine Sea: trends, seasonality and anthropogenic mortality

GIARDINO G; GANA J; DE LEON C; MANDIOLA MA; DASSIS M; TARABORELLI PAULA A

NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH

RSNZ PUBLISHING

Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2022 vol. 58 p. 73 - 88

0028-8330

Humpback whale used to be sporadic along Buenos Aires Province coast (Argentina), but since 2018 sightings and strandings have a noticeable increased, reaching a 97% more strandings compared to the previous years. Here we review their trends, seasonality and anthropogenic-derived mortality. Most of the humpback whales found dead were young animals and 31% of the total had clear signs of anthropogenic interaction. The information collected in Buenos Aires Province over two decades, clearly indicates that Humpback whales are frequent and are growing along Argentinean coast, for this reason, is needed to implement governmental regulations for protection as soon as possible.