No abstract

Peninsula, 74 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in 24 sightings and 11 Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) in 6 sightings were recorded. The overall encounter rate (number of sightings/survey effort in nautical miles) was 0.333 (0.266 for humpback whale, 0.066 for Antarctic minke whale). According to the sighting distribution, the Lemaire Channel and Penola Strait are important migration and feeding habitats for whales. Five humpback whales were photo-identified individually by natural features on their flukes; one of them had a match in the Antarctic Humpback Whale Catalogue. The matched individual was first recorded on 30 August 2007 at Salinas, Ecuador.

In August 2020, a total area of 38000 m2 around Gökçeada has been scanned to determine the current population status of Pinna nobilis. 9 stations (Yıldızkoy, Manastır, Marmaros, Gizli Liman, Laz Koyu, Kapıkaya, Karaçavuş, Karaçavuş shore and Kefalos) have been detected by means of SCUBA and ABC diving techniques. All specimens were found dead (total mass mortality of 100%). The total length range of P. nobilis was between 30.8 – 38.3 cm.