Scientific Expedition Registers 216 Southern Right Whales Along the Coast of SC and RS

A recent scientific expedition conducted on September 16 and 17, using helicopter flights, recorded 216 southern right whales along the coast of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Among the whales spotted, 214 were mothers accompanied by their calves, and two were solitary adults. The expedition covered the stretch between Cidreira, in Rio Grande do Sul, and Florianópolis, in Santa Catarina.

In Santa Catarina, the largest concentration of whales was observed between Ribanceira and Ibiraquera beaches, in Imbituba, with 46 whales. Additionally, 36 more were spotted between Itapirubá and Praia da Vila, also in Imbituba. In Florianópolis, Moçambique Beach stood out with 26 whales sighted. In Rio Grande do Sul, Imbé had the highest count, with eight whales.

The observations were made during the peak of the southern right whale’s seasonal visits to the Brazilian coast. This initiative is part of a joint effort between the Southern Right Whale Monitoring Program, coordinated by SCPAR Porto de Imbituba, and the Austral Right Whale Project, led by the Australis Institute, with sponsorship from Petrobras.

According to Eduardo Renault, research manager at ProFRANCA, “Aerial monitoring is essential for understanding how southern right whales are responding to conservation efforts. This type of monitoring allows us to gather valuable data on population size and growth rates.” He also highlighted that the large number of whales spotted this year provides a unique opportunity to identify previously known individuals, which is critical for population studies.

During the flyover, a team of two observers and a photographer conducted the census and recorded the location and photographs of the whales. Karina Groch, director of ProFRANCA, explained that “the photos are used to identify adult whales, as the callosities on their heads function like fingerprints.”

Mariana Favero Silvano, biologist and coordinator of the Cetacean Monitoring Program at Imbituba Port, also participated in the expedition. She noted the significant increase in whale sightings this season. “The growing number of whales over the years is a positive sign of population recovery, especially after centuries of hunting in these waters,” the biologist stated.

This monitoring underscores the importance of ongoing conservation efforts and raises hopes for a brighter future for the species along the Brazilian coast.

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