In the face of the increasing presence of whales in the vicinity of beach areas in Mar del Plata, the Argentine Naval Prefecture (PNA) reiterated the validity of preventive measures aimed at protecting this protected species and ensuring the safety of sports and commercial vessels.
Simultaneously, the National Maritime Authority is carrying out various actions aimed at preserving cetaceans, as well as other marine mammals that may be found in the region.
During patrols carried out within the framework of the Operative of Safety of Recreational Navigation (Senade), radiofrequency warnings are issued to vessels to alert about the presence of whales, minimizing collision risks.
This Sunday, a communication was received on the Emergency Nautical Hotline (106) from a citizen reporting a possible stranding of a cetacean in the area of beach No. 5 in Punta Mogotes, near the coast. Technical personnel went to the site and verified the presence of two specimens swimming normally, without requiring intervention.
Current regulations for vessels and water activities in the presence of whales
Current regulations include a series of mandatory guidelines for both recreational and commercial nautical vessels as well as for those practicing water sports —such as kitesurfing, kayaking, windsurfing, rowing, sport fishing, paddle boarding, among others— in areas near the coast.
Key points include:
- Maintain a minimum distance of 200 meters when sighting cetaceans.
- Reduce speed without stopping completely, paying special attention to avoid collisions, especially in the months with a higher presence of whales (May to December).
- Immediately report any incident or sighting of specimens with injuries to the Mar del Plata Traffic Management Center “Estación Costera L2U”, either through VHF channels or by dialing 106.
- Completely restrict approach during diving activities, both commercial and recreational.
Through the Mar del Plata Maritime Traffic Management Center, the Naval Prefecture constantly disseminates this information through VHF channels 9 and 16 of the Maritime Mobile Service, ensuring that all vessels and nautical clubs operate under rules that promote the protection of marine mammals in jurisdictional waters.
