Reencounter with the past: occurrence of sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) in an old hunting area in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean

By

Cisterna-Concha, Andrea
Calderón-Quirgas, Camila
Silva-Andrades, Fernanda
Muñoz, Richard
Norambuena, Heraldo V.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023

Original Publication

Nature conservation

Volume

51

Pages

1--12

Subjects

Balaenoptera borealis , Caleta Chome , Chile , Sei whale , South-eastern Pacific

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers 2012-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.51.95690

 

Abstract

The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) was intensively exploited throughout its range, with about 110.000 individuals hunted by pelagic fleets in Antarctic waters between 1960 and 1970. In addition, basic information on its distribution, migratory routes, and feeding grounds in the southeastern Pacific, has been poorly documented. In the case of Chile, recent information consists mainly of accidental records. This research presents the first sei whale photo-identification catalog for south-central Chile. From November 2019 to January 2020, 88 individuals were recorded from land-based and boat surveys at Caleta Chome. Of these, 12 individuals were photo-identified through scars or distinctive notches in the dorsal fins. The peak of sightings occurred during December 2019; two individuals were sighted on more than one occasion.