The Pectoral Fins of Humpback Whales
Cover Image:
Humpback showing off their fins!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback whales have long pectoral fins or flippers. For an adult Humpback whale which can be up to 17-meters in length, the pectoral fins will be about 5-meters long. The pectoral fins are used in variety of ways, including for maneuvering, for protection, assisting in foraging, and for communication such as when they slap them on the surface of the water. When you do see a Humpback whale, see what behaviour the whale is displaying and how the whale is using its pectoral fins.
Over half of the sightings we received were of Humpback whales. A few Humpbacks were observed breaching, some were lunge-feeding and others were observed to be bubble-net feeding. Some of the Northern Resident Orca were observed in the upper Georgia Strait and Sutil Channel area in the second half of August. Many pods of Transient Orca were observed, including a large group of them in Howe Sound on August 26th. Rounding our report are sightings of Pacific White-Sided dolphins, Dall’s porpoises, and Harbour porpoises.
As a reminder that if you are boating and out on the water, please be aware of the presence of whales and dolphins. Signs of their presence may include blows of the Cetaceans and other boats stopped or moving slowly in an area. Boats and other water craft (e.g. kayaks) must remain at least 400-meters away from Orca and at least 100-m away from other species. See the full government regulation in the paragraph below.
PLEASE NOTE: IF our links still show as broken, they will work, but rest assured we are in the process of fixing them! Thank you for your patience.
The Federal Government (DFO) issued the following statement about watching Orca in the wild: “Vessels must stay 400-m away and may not position a vessel in the path of killer whales in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet until May 31, 2025.” For all other areas of B.C. outside of the area indicated above, a minimum distance of 200-m must be maintained when viewing Orca OR while viewing any Cetaceans that are resting or with a calf. When viewing whales, dolphins, and porpoises under other circumstances not described above, a minimum distance of 100-m must be kept. A great resource for up to date Canadian or US regulations: Be Whale Wise Guidelines
WOWs works throughout the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Society News & Events
Donatons:
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Websites:
Whales and Dolphins BC is our educational website where these reports are also published and our Wild Ocean Whale site is our Society website. Information on our Feral Cat Initiative will be updated again soon.
Instagram and Twitter: Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter (on hold for now) at WhalesDolphins
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Thank You to our Volunteers and Contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us? Updates on current availabilities and revised links will be posted here.
Review our previous Volunteer Job Postings Job Postings are slowly being revamped (we're volunteers too, so sorry for the delays) and not yet on our web sites.
Data For Research:
For research access to 33,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2024-015
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Fri Aug 16 2024
10:31 • est. 7-8 Biggs Orca heading south bertween Dinner Rock and Mace Point, Malaspina Strait.
Josette Dalsin, Savary Island, BC
11:39 • est. 5+ Biggs Orca heading south off Johnstone Bluff, Calm Channel. Two families together.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
14:03 • Biggs Orca off Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Aug 17 2024
12:34 • Biggs Orca off Curme Islands, Desolation Sound.
13:34 • Biggs Orca hunting, by Otter Island, Desolation Sound.
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Aug 19 2024
09:20 • Biggs Orca ◦T055s◦ moving quickly, heading north off Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
10:26 • Biggs Orca ◦T055s◦ by Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.
10:35 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south between Refuge Cove and Teakerne Arm, Lewis Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:45 • Biggs Orca ◦T055s◦ at Hole in the Wall. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue Aug 20 2024
08:22 • Biggs Orca heading south close to the west side of Raza Island, Raza Passage.
Graham Evans, Stowaway Adventures
Wed Aug 21 2024
09:30 • 3 Biggs Orca between Curme Islands and Otter Island, Desolation Sound. Heading into Homfray Channel.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
Thu Aug 22 2024
14:42 • Biggs Orca just below Ajax Bank west of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
16:04 • Biggs Orca off Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Aug 26 2024
12:10 • est. 10+ Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading north close to Cates Bay, Bowen Island, Queen Charlotte Channel. Reportedly over 20 Orca in the group. Observed from Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
Tue Aug 27 2024
11:55 • Biggs Orca by Refuge Cove, West Redonda Island, Lewis Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:14 • 5 Biggs Orca heading north past Junction Point, close to the shore off Cortes Island, Lewis Channel. One of the Orcas was observed to have a large dorsal fin.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whlaes off Cortes Island, Lewis Channel
Tue, 27 Aug 2024 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whlaes off Cortes Island, Lewis Channel
Tue, 27 Aug 2024 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:26 • Biggs Orca just above Teakerne Arm, Lewis Channel.
17:10 • Biggs Orca by Deer Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Aug 28 2024
10:49 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s◦ heading south off Tyee Spit, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
11:58 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s◦ heading south past the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:13 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s◦ taking long dives, heading south between Mitlenatch Island and Salmon Point, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales travelling together
Wed, 28 Aug 2024 – 6 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales travelling together
Wed, 28 Aug 2024 – 6 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:31 • Biggs Orca ◦T046s◦ heading north-west just north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
17:02 • Biggs Orca ◦T046s◦ heading north by Big Rock, Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Aug 29 2024
08:20 • Biggs Orca, Nodales Channel.
14:56 • Biggs Orca heading south by Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Fri Aug 30 2024
10:00 • 1 Biggs Orca ◦T046s◦ by Oyster Bay, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sat Aug 17 2024
12:55 • 8 NRKW Orca ◦A42s, A94 Mystery◦ by Dogfish Bay at the southeast end of Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:35 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ spread out, heading north close to the shore of the Quadra Island cell tower, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sun Aug 18 2024
12:19 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s, A94 Mystery◦ heading south-west off Center Islet, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Aug 19 2024
10:26 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s, A94 Mystery◦ heading north off Dogfish Bay at the southeast end of Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:42 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading north, north of Quadra Island cell tower, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Northern Resident Killer Whales
Orca travelling in Sutil Channel
Mon, 19 Aug 2024 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Northern Resident Killer Whales
Orca travelling in Sutil Channel
Mon, 19 Aug 2024 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
17:40 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ off the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Aug 20 2024
12:25 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading south, just south of Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
13:45 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ spread out, heading south near Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:54 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ foraging, between Marina Reef and Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Aug 21 2024
09:30 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s, A94 Mystery◦ heading east by Melville Island, Homfray Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Aug 24 2024
12:45 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ spread out, heading south passing Hole in the Wall close to Maurelle Island, Calm Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:17 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s, A94 Mystery◦ at the top of the Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Aug 27 2024
15:06 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ between Mitlenatch Island and Baker Passage, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Aug 28 2024
11:56 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading north, Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:03 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ milling, 1.5-NM off Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:41 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading north to the west of Savary Island.
Radio, overheard or call out
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Mon Aug 26 2024
14:01 • est. 10+ Orca heading south by Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
HUMPBACK WHALES
Fri Aug 16 2024
09:08 • 1 Humpback Whales off Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. Large whale.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
10:35 • 4 Humpback Whales foraging, by Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:45 • est. 5-6 Humpback Whales heading north off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. In two groups.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
11:47 • 3 Humpback Whales off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:22 • 1 Humpback Whales out from the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
16:15 • est. 5-6 Humpback Whales foraging, around Sentry Shoal and Montgomery Bank, Georgia Strait. Widely seperated, feeding and a couple of breeches.
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
Sat Aug 17 2024
07:52 • 4 Humpback Whales back and forth, out past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
09:00 • est. 3+ Humpback Whales sighted in multiple locations between Coho (Kiddie) Point and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
09:12 • 2 Humpback Whales off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
11:37 • 2 Humpback Whales bubble netting, by Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:42 • 5 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait. The Humpbacks were sighted within one mile of each other.
15:03 • 4 Humpback Whales heading south-west, north-west of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
17:04 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, south of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. The humpbacks were observed to be a mom and calf pair.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sun Aug 18 2024
09:38 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off Whiskey Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ From Ferry
13:50 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0565 Nick◦ milling, south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Mother and calf pair.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:56 • Humpback Whales around the Breton Islands, Sutil Channel. Near the entrance to Hoskyn Channel.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
Mon Aug 19 2024
09:54 • Humpback Whales out from Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:53 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales off Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
12:35 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, north side of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel. Mum and calf.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:21 • 2 Humpback Whales off Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
17:40 • Humpback Whales off the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. In with the A42s.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Aug 20 2024
13:06 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north, south of Grilse Point at the north end of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
13:45 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north, west side of Plumper Islands, Weynton Passage.
Karin & Gavin Miller, Texada Island, BC
15:40 • 3 Humpback Whales taking long dives, between Hernando Island and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. 5 mins dive.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
16:07 • Humpback Whales breaching, heading south off Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs), Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Aug 21 2024
09:30 • 9+ Humpback Whales on Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
09:30 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales by McMullen Point, Discovery Passage.
12:50 • Humpback Whales breaching, at Spilsbury Point, Baker Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Aug 22 2024
08:19 • 1 Humpback Whales by Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
08:19 • 2 Humpback Whales by the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
14:42 • Humpback Whales on Ajax Bank west of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
15:34 • 4 Humpback Whales on the west side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel. In a one mile radius of one another.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
17:49 • Humpback Whales just dove towards Texada Island cell tower, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
19:38 • Humpback Whales ◦BCX Achilles,BCY1178 Nova◦ lunge feeding, south of Ajax Bank west of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Fri Aug 23 2024
09:16 • est. 2-4 Humpback Whales by Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
11:26 • est. 10 Humpback Whales north of Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:15 • 3 Humpback Whales by the Pinnacles south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Tails!
Fri, 23 Aug 2024 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpback Tails!
Fri, 23 Aug 2024 – 4 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
17:00 • 6 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, on and NW of Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. Herring and krill visible and audible at the surface sometimes.
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
Sat Aug 24 2024
09:00 • est. 4-6 Humpback Whales breaching, on Wilby Shoals with one closer to Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:06 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south between the Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs) and the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait. One calf in the group.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:13 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales bubble netting, between the Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
17:07 • 1 Humpback Whales resting, just south of the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. A few pectoral slaps.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sun Aug 25 2024
09:47 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales heading south in front of Powell River Viewpoint. Surfacing with big blows.
SW, Powell River, BC
09:48 • est. 2 Humpback Whales seen by Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
10:56 • 2 Humpback Whales outside of Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Aug 26 2024
14:01 • Humpback Whales off Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Tue Aug 27 2024
09:30 • Humpback Whales by Hill Island.
09:30 • Humpback Whales off Francisco Island, Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:55 • Humpback Whales in Gillies Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
14:26 • 2 Humpback Whales in front of Quartz Bay, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:50 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales South of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. The Humpbacks were seen swimmng close to shore.
14:59 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales at the entrance of Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait.
14:59 • est. 2 Humpback Whales swimming towards Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
15:45 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, in front of Westview, Malaspina Strait.
SW, Powell River, BC
17:23 • Humpback Whales heading south outside of Marble Bluff, Malaspina Strait.
Craig Johnson, Powell River, BC
19:00 • 2+ Humpback Whales off the south-east side of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Wed Aug 28 2024
08:27 • 2 Humpback Whales between Big Rock and Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge, Georgia Strait.
Stephen Gabrysh, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:09 • est. 3+ Humpback Whales off Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:03 • 2 Humpback Whales west of Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:45 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north in front of Westview, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Thu Aug 29 2024
11:20 • Humpback Whales by Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
11:20 • Humpback Whales above Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:15 • est. 4-5 Humpback Whales foraging, between Grant Reefs and Mystery Reef, Malaspina Strait.
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
14:53 • Humpback Whales south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Numerous Humpbacks.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks diving
Thu, 29 Aug 2024 – 8 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks diving
Thu, 29 Aug 2024 – 8 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Fri Aug 30 2024
10:06 • Humpback Whales by Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. Lots of whales.
Radio, overheard or call out
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback breaching midchannel
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback breaching midchannel
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 – 5 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Aug 21 2024
11:50 • PWS Dolphins at the entrance to Frederick Arm.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Aug 22 2024
09:47 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins in Okisollo Channel.
12:58 • PWS Dolphins in Big Bay, Yuculta Rapids.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:00 • 12 PWS Dolphins milling at Yuculta Rapids.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling at Yuculta Rapids
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling at Yuculta Rapids
Thu, 22 Aug 2024 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins leaping through the air!
Thu, 29 Aug 2024 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins leaping through the air!
Thu, 29 Aug 2024 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
DALLS PORPOISE
Wed Aug 21 2024
09:30 • est. 6 Dalls Porpoise south of Surge Narrows, Hoskyn Channel.
09:30 • est. 6+ Dalls Porpoise by Venture Point, Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Aug 29 2024
11:34 • Dalls Porpoise outside of Frederick Arm, Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Fri Aug 16 2024
18:15 • 1 Harbour Porpoise off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
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The Magazine
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RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
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PHYS ORG
Research by Wageningen Marine Research and partners on the relationship between sea ice and the Southern Ocean food web investigates various components of that food web, including the so-called “top predators,” or seabirds and marine mammals. To map their numbers and distribution, observers count these animals during Antarctic expeditions. During the latest expedition, on board the German icebreaker Polarstern in the southern autumn of 2022, an unusual species of whale was observed: the Arnoux’s beaked whale….
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