Fin Whales (&lt;I&gt;Balaenoptera physalus&lt;/I&gt;) Feeding on &lt;I&gt;Euphausia mucronata&lt;/I&gt; in Nearshore Waters off North-Central Chile

Pérez, Marı́a José; Thomas, Felipe; Uribe, Flor; Sepúlveda, Maritza; Flores, Marcelo; Moraga, Rodrigo

doi:10.1578/am.32.1.2006.109

Cited by 30 publications

(35 citation statements)

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“…North Atlantic Ocean off Norway and near the Faroe Islands; Jonsgard, ) and the Southern Hemisphere (near South Georgia; Edwards, Hall, Moore, Sheredy, & Redfern, ; Mackintosh, ). On the other hand, the presence of fin whales in the summer months at lower latitudes has also been reported, in both the Northern Hemisphere (Notarbartolo Di Sciara et al, ; Oleson, Širović, Bayless, & Hildebrand, ) and the Southern Hemisphere (Pérez et al, ; Sepúlveda et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

From whaling to whale watching: Identifying fin whale critical foraging habitats off the Chilean coast

Sepúlveda

Pérez‐Álvarez

Santos‐Carvallo

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

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Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) have been documented along the coast of Chile since the early 20th century; however, information on their ecology and movement patterns remains poorly known. In the spring of 2015, six implantable satellite tags were deployed on fin whales around the marine reserves of Isla Chañaral and Islas Choros‐Damas (approximately 29°S) to evaluate their movements and habitat use off the coast of Chile. A switching state–space model was used to estimate the predicted track of the whales as well as behavioural modes classified as ‘transiting’ and ‘area‐restricted search’ (ARS). Whales were tracked for periods ranging between 4 and 162 days (mean = 68 ± 52 days), covering an average distance of 3225.7 ± 2871.6 km. Five of the six whales remained at middle latitudes for prolonged periods of time, moving in a north–south pattern near the coast, and spending most of their time in ARS behaviour (72.5% of the locations). Only one individual showed a clear southbound migratory behaviour, and remained in transit behaviour for most of the period it was followed. These results suggest that some of the fin whales that are observed in Chile do follow a migration to high latitudes, whereas others remained at middle latitudes, probably using critical habitats as feeding grounds during the summer. This information not only contributes new information on the behaviour and foraging patterns of this species, but is also of particular interest to promote the growing whale‐watching activity, and also to better inform conservation and management efforts for this species in Chile.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

From whaling to whale watching: Identifying fin whale critical foraging habitats off the Chilean coast

Sepúlveda

Pérez‐Álvarez

Santos‐Carvallo

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

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“…However, fin whales may also enter relatively shallow, neritic areas with localized high productivity. Pérez et al (2006) observed fin whales feeding on the euphausid Euphausia mucronata in the vicinity of the 3 aforementioned coastal islands during the austral summer. Even though we were not able to directly record feeding or the presence of prey in Mejillones Bay, the observed non-directional milling of whales in a circumscribed area was strongly suggestive of feeding behavior.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The species has previously been documented during summer in neritic waters surrounding Chañaral, Damas and Choros Islands (centered ~29°S) which are located on the continental shelf relatively close to the coast (5-10 km from the shore), in an area of ca. 50 m depth (Capella et al 1999, Pérez et al 2006, Van Waerebeek et al 2007). Our results differ from the latter observations because Mejillones Bay is located on the mainland, 680 km further north and supports intense port activity, while the 3 coastal islands are located within a Marine Protected Area, in a less-populated zone.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mejillones Bay and particularly Punta Angamos are located in front of the strongest and most persistent (i.e., year-round) upwelling center in northern Chile (Escribano & Hidalgo 2000, Escribano et al 2010, which supports large populations of E. mucronata , Antezana 2010). As euphausids constitute the primary prey of fin whales globally (Aguilar 2009) and also in some areas of Chilean waters (Isla Chañaral and Isla Choros-Damas, Marine Protected areas) individuals have been observed feeding on E. mucronata (Pérez et al 2006) it appears reasonable to hypothesize that this highly productive micro-habitat may serve as a focal feeding ground for the observed fin whales. On the other hand, their nearshore presence in the Mejillones area in September-November theoretically could also be related to calving or breeding and a need for shelter.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), fin whales have been sighted principally in the oceanic realm (Clarke 1962, Aguayo et al 1998aAcevedo et al 2012), while several individuals have also been recorded in neritic waters surrounding three coastal islands at ~29°S (Capella et al 1999, Pérez et al 2006. Apart from these few observations, no further information is published regarding fin whale distribution in Chilean waters during post-ban years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Presence of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in Mejillones Bay, a major seaport area in northern Chile

Pacheco

Villegas

Riascos

et al. 2015

Rev. biol. mar. oceanogr.

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Abstract.-In this paper we report the apparently seasonal presence of fin whales in Mejillones Bay (23°S), in northern Chile.We compiled a total of 19 sightings representing 95 whales, including 2 mother-calf pairs, between July and October 2006-2014. We observed groups of 1-10 individuals (mean 5 ± 2.7 ind.) principally in nearshore waters, 30-1000 m off the southwestern tip of Mejillones Bay in austral winter/spring. Fin whales came close to, and potentially overlapped with, the main port access routes of large cargo vessels. Information from real-time monitoring of whale presence relayed to Port Authorities is suggested as to avoid collisions.

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Interactions Between Spatially Explicit Conservation and Management Measures: Implications for the Governance of Marine Protected Areas

Cárcamo

Gaymer

2013

Environmental Management

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Marine protected areas are not established in an institutional and governance vacuum and managers should pay attention to the wider social-ecological system in which they are immersed. This article examines Islas Choros-Damas Marine Reserve, a small marine protected area located in a highly productive and biologically diverse coastal marine ecosystem in northern Chile, and the interactions between human, institutional, and ecological dimensions beyond those existing within its boundaries. Through documents analysis, surveys, and interviews, we described marine reserve implementation (governing system) and the social and natural ecosystem-to-be-governed. We analyzed the interactions and the connections between the marine reserve and other spatially explicit conservation and/or management measures existing in the area and influencing management outcomes and governance. A top-down approach with poor stakeholder involvement characterized the implementation process. The marine reserve is highly connected with other spatially explicit measures and with a wider social-ecological system through various ecological processes and socio-economic interactions. Current institutional interactions with positive effects on the management and governance are scarce, although several potential interactions may be developed. For the study area, any management action must recognize interferences from outside conditions and consider some of them (e.g., ecotourism management) as cross-cutting actions for the entire social-ecological system. We consider that institutional interactions and the development of social networks are opportunities to any collective effort aiming to improve governance of Islas Choros-Damas marine reserve. Communication of connections and interactions between marine protected areas and the wider social-ecological system (as described in this study) is proposed as a strategy to improve stakeholder participation in Chilean marine protected areas.

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Fin Whales (<I>Balaenoptera physalus</I>) Feeding on <I>Euphausia mucronata</I> in Nearshore Waters off North-Central Chile

Cited by 30 publications

References 5 publications

From whaling to whale watching: Identifying fin whale critical foraging habitats off the Chilean coast

From whaling to whale watching: Identifying fin whale critical foraging habitats off the Chilean coast

Presence of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in Mejillones Bay, a major seaport area in northern Chile

Interactions Between Spatially Explicit Conservation and Management Measures: Implications for the Governance of Marine Protected Areas

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