Coast of SP has record viewing of humpback whales – 07/11/2023 – Environment

The north coast of São Paulo registers a record number of passages of humpback whales this year. According to the network of collaborators of the Baleia à Vista Project (ProBaV), about 330 of them were seen from June until this Sunday (9) — the best period for viewing is until mid-August.

According to researcher Julio Cardoso, 75, one of those responsible for ProBaV and advisor to the Baleia Jubarte Institute, on average, 30 of them have been viewed, photographed or filmed, between Ilhabela and São Sebastião, every day in recent weeks.

The project has an information network made up of researchers, biologists, fishermen, tour operators, inn owners and restaurant employees throughout the region, among others.

According to the City Hall of São Sebastião, just last week (until Friday, the 7th), 56 specimens of humpback whales were sighted, in addition to a right whale.

Last year, around 200 humpback whales were recorded during the entire transit period, says the institute. “However, by the end of June, the number was much smaller, around 20, because they were late”, points out the researcher.

“Then it shot up in July [de 2022]but it’s already much bigger this year”, he says.

During the winter, humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to the south coast of Bahia, mainly to the Abrolhos archipelago region, in search of warmer waters for reproduction and breastfeeding. The north coast of São Paulo is part of the route.

The population of these animals on the Brazilian coast has skyrocketed in recent years. According to data from the Instituto Baleia Jubarte, approximately 25,000 of them passed through the country in the second half of 2022.

The growth, for experts, reflects the end of hunting, banned in 1966, a period in which the population was reduced to less than 5%, something between 600 and 800 individuals.

Since 2016, when he turned the hobby into a citizen science project and founded Baleia à Vista, Cardoso has cataloged more than 400 specimens of humpback, killer whale, tropical (bryde), southern right and dwarf sperm whale in Ilhabela bay. The experience was recorded in nine scientific publications.

According to Cardoso, this Monday (10), a calf was recorded swimming alongside its mother and another humpback near the channel that is close to where the ferries that connect São Sebastião to Ilhabela cross or large ships pass by.

The channel usually attracts whales because of its depth and because it is on an updraft route, which favors the presence of schools, the main food for these animals.

“It may be an indication that [o filhote] was born around here”, he says.

The three animals were filmed using a drone by a tour operator.

“Alerts were given to vessels, as the whales were on the ship routes”, he explains, citing the Petrobras terminal in São Sebastião, where oil tankers dock.

This year, he says, many females are being seen, apparently in mating season, with males nearby. “The image provided by these whales is wonderful.”

The end of hunting, associated with measures such as the reduction of being run over by boats and accidental entanglement in fishing equipment, created conditions for an increase in the number of whales of this species.

Even so, on the last 27th of June, the Instituto Agronauta, of environmental conservation, focused mainly on coastal and marine ecosystems, claims to have helped in the rescue of a humpback whale that got stuck in a fishing line in Ilhabela.

According to the institute, the whale, which was enmeshed, was approximately eight to nine meters long.

The animal was dragging a nylon cable with a poita (weight), attached to its tail, measuring about 80 meters, and 8 to 10 mm thick, when the institute was alerted.

Two biologists participated in cutting the humpback’s cable, which was accompanied by another smaller whale, measuring six to seven meters.

“It is not the objective of the fishermen that the whale becomes entangled, as they end up losing their gear, but it is one of the great challenges in the management of marine areas”, says biologist Carla Beatriz Barbosa, from Agronautas.

“They can still be run over by speedboats, boats or ships, and there are also people who do not respect the norms of sighting, and who can cause the harassment of these animals”, he also says, in a note.

The whale passing season has attracted tourists to the north coast of São Paulo. The Municipality of São Sebastião has carried out campaigns to promote responsible whale watching tourism, with actions at sea, among other programs.

Signs were also installed in the city and graphic materials with whale watching regulations were distributed.

Among the rules is not to chase any whale with the engine running for more than 30 minutes, even if the minimum distance of one hundred meters is respected.

It is also prohibited to practice diving or swimming with any species of whale.

“The humpback season is a good alternative for promoting tourism in the low season”, says the city hall.

At this time of year, tour operators organize tours around Ilhabela for this purpose, usually with day visitors.