azwhalesTo learn more about these whales and other cetaceans, our Biologist Rui Santos is currently at the Mingan Island Cetacean Study a research station in Canada, a center with which we have collaborated for several years. Rui has joined the Mingan team to better understand the natural history of blue whales, that are also present in the Azores in the spring. Last Saturday August 10, Rui observed his first right whale. This right whale is well-known to New England Aquarium right whale photo-ID catalog and is named Aphrodite, the well-known Greek goddess of Love. Unfortunately, our love for these animals is difficult to ascertain, because of the negative impact we have on them due to entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships, which causes a high mortality in this species.
This year 8 have died already, while 3 years ago 17 were killed by entanglement in fishing gear and ship collisions. And these are the ones that we found, how many more died without our knowledge. If we think we are not to blame, how many of us are upset when an order of merchandize takes too long to arrive. If an item we have ordered comes by ship and the vessel moves at more 15 knots the risk of collision increases exponentially, while at slow speeds it is negligiable. Is it in fact so important that the package takes longer to arrive? This is just one example of so many things we have to change to reduce the impact we have on these animals.
Aphrodite is just one of many whales that has been trapped in lines, that has survived for the moment, but for how long?
azwhales
Equipa de Biólogos da Futurismo
Sandrina Rodrigues
