Last month, the first tracking of humpback whales using satellite technology was launched in Argentina.
In particular, the operation was carried out in the Patagonia Azul Provincial Park, in Chubut.
There, three specimens were tagged with tracking devices, which will reveal their migratory routes and feeding areas.
The initiative represents a significant advance for Argentine marine science. Although satellite tracking of cetaceans has precedents in the region, this season marked an unprecedented turning point.
“It is the first time that humpback whales have been tagged in the country,” confirmed Lucas Beltramino, a biologist from the Patagonia Azul Project of Rewilding Argentina.
Five years of preparation
The tracking of humpback whales culminated a five-year research process. Before being able to tag the specimens, scientists had been using photo-identification since 2021 in the Patagonia Azul Park.
At the time, the team took photos particularly of the tail of each whale, whose rough profile and spots create unique patterns.
This allows for the identification of each individual, similar to what happens with the human fingerprint.
Thanks to this, individuals were observed consuming lobsters and schools of anchovies during spring and summer, thus recording their feeding techniques.
Additionally, the technique also allowed for the detection of individuals that returned season after season, including some reported in Brazil or Antarctica.
These images were uploaded to an international database and provided information on 14 individuals that had never been recorded before.
Now, the team of the Patagonia Azul Project was able to take a further step in the tracking of humpback whales by tagging these three specimens for satellite monitoring.
With this technique, researchers will be able to answer where the whales are when they are not in Chubut, where they travel, and what challenges they face during their oceanic journeys.
“Identifying, monitoring, and tracking each individual allows us to learn more about the abundance and migratory patterns of the humpback whale in the area, and then develop strategies to help conserve it,” said Beltramino.
The precision operation for whale tracking
The campaign was conducted with researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz, United States.
The operation requires approaching within about five meters of the animal to place the device using a pneumatic rifle.
The device is inserted into the blubber layer, which is over 20 centimeters thick. Thanks to this, when the whale surfaces to breathe, the antenna sends the location with a margin of error of just hundreds of meters.
“During all that time, we obtain very valuable information about the areas of use, where they feed, and for how long,” detailed the specialist.
Then, the whale’s body naturally expels the device after weeks or months.
The revealing results of whale tracking
Two of the three instrumented individuals showed permanence in areas that overlap with the Patagonia Azul Park.
However, much of the time they circulate outside the formal boundaries of the protected area.
The third specimen moved towards Rocas Coloradas, north of Comodoro Rivadavia.
“This behavior highlights the importance of creating protected corridors between marine protected areas,” analyzes Beltramino.
Preliminary data indicate that the whales remain for long periods feeding in relatively small areas, about 300 square kilometers.
Threats and conservation
When leaving the safe zones, humpback whales face threats such as collisions with vessels, competition with industrial fishing, and acoustic pollution.
“Knowing the areas of use and the time of permanence can help us detect the priority sites to protect,” said the biologist.
The presence of these cetaceans provides nutrients to the ecosystem and benefits the feeding of seabirds.
Humpback whales choose these waters to feed intensively, save energy, and avoid unnecessary migrations before returning to the reproductive areas.
“With more energy, reproductive success for this population will improve, and that is very encouraging,” concluded Beltramino. Over time, more specimens are expected to appear in the area.
Key project data:
- First time tracking devices are placed on humpback whales in Argentina
- Three specimens instrumented in the Patagonia Azul Provincial Park
- Five years of photo-identification preceded the satellite tagging
- The devices operate with low orbit satellites
- The whales remain in areas of approximately 300 square kilometers
