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SC/69A/NH/03
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Resource ID
20030
Access
Open
Document Number
SC/69A/NH/03
Full Title
Modern distribution of the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in poorly-studied areas of the northwest Atlantic
Author
Jaime Bolaños Jiménez, Angiolina Henríquez, Dagmar Fertl, Lilián Flórez-González, Jolanda Luksenburg, Yurasi Briceño, Leonardo Sánchez-Criollo, Claire Pusineri, Ludivine Martinez, Isabel C. Avila
Authors Summary
Most current humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) research in the Caribbean has focused on the Dominican Republic due to the greater abundance of whales in that area, while the remainder of the Wider Caribbean Region remains poorly studied in contrast. Bolaños Jiménez et al. reviewed published and gray literature, online biodiversity platforms (OBIS SEAMAP, GBIF), social media, news sites, and their own field books for records of humpback whales in the Southern Gulf of Mexico, Southern Caribbean, South-eastern Caribbean, Central America, and The Guianas. A total of 228 records were compiled for 1913-2023. These included sightings (60.1%), intentional takes (20.2%), strandings (3.9%), acoustic detections (15.4%), and bycatch (0.4%). Scientific activities and citizen-based contributions generated 81.1% and 18.9% of the records, respectively. Most of the records (82.8%) were concentrated in the Southern (54.6%) and South-eastern Caribbean (28.2%). The presence of humpback whales in the ABC islands, Venezuela, and French Guiana in the period August-November was consistent with the presence of humpbacks from the Southern Hemisphere on their breeding grounds in tropical waters. Documented threats to the humpback whale in the study area included bycatch, direct takes, and disturbance from maritime traffic and oil and gas activities. The authors found evidence that humpback whales from both the northern and southern Hemispheres may utilize the waters of the Guianas region, the ABC Islands, and Venezuela, during their respective wintering seasons, which they concluded highlighted the need for increased monitoring and research efforts.
Publisher
IWC
Publication Year
2023
Abstract
Most current humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) research in the Caribbean has focused on the Dominican Republic due to the greater abundance of whales in that area, while the remainder of the Wider Caribbean Region remains poorly studied in contrast. For the Southern Gulf of Mexico, Southern Caribbean, South-eastern Caribbean, Central America, and The Guianas, we reviewed published and gray literature, online biodiversity platforms (OBIS SEAMAP, GBIF), social media, news sites, and our field books. A total of 228 records were compiled for 1913-2023. These included sightings (60.1%), intentional takes (20.2%), strandings (3.9%), acoustic detections (15.4%), and bycatch (0.4%). Scientific activities and citizen-based contributions generated 81.1% and 18.9% of the records, respectively. Most of the records (82.8%) were concentrated in the Southern (54.6%) and South-eastern Caribbean (28.2%). The presence of humpback whales in the ABC islands, Venezuela, and French Guiana in the period August-November is consistent with the presence of humpbacks from the Southern Hemisphere on their breeding grounds in tropical waters. Documented threats to the humpback whale in the study area include bycatch, direct takes, and disturbance from maritime traffic and oil and gas activities. Our findings provide evidence that humpback whales from both the northern and southern Hemispheres may utilize the waters of the Guianas region, the ABC Islands, and Venezuela, during their respective wintering seasons, highlighting the need for increased monitoring and research efforts.