With the start of the **sei whale season 2025**, **Rada Tilly** consolidates as a [key point for sighting and studying](https://noticiasambientales.com/turismo/la-temporada-de-avistaje-de-ballenas-en-puerto-madryn-comienza-el-14-de-junio/) these cetaceans in the **Golfo San Jorge**.
Since April, approximately **2,800 sei whales** remain in the region, with April and May being the months of greatest abundance.
## A sanctuary for Sei whales
The sei whales (**Balaenoptera borealis**), the **third largest rorqual in the world**, have been **classified as endangered** due to [intensive hunting](https://noticiasambientales.com/animales/japon-y-la-caza-de-ballenas-un-conflicto-ambiental-sin-resolver/) in the last century.
Currently, their global population is only 50,000 individuals, but the **ban on hunting** has allowed for their **progressive recovery**, favoring **sighting in Patagonian waters**.
One of the main concentration points for these cetaceans is the **Punta Marqués Protected Natural Area**, where marine conditions create a suitable habitat for their **feeding and resting**.
From Pico Salamanca to 50 kilometers south of Caleta Olivia, this area concentrates a significant **population of sei whales**, becoming a **focus of research and conservation**.
## Research and tracking technology
Since 2013, researchers from **CONICET** and the **University of Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB)** have been conducting **observations and studies** on the sei whale in **Punta Marqués**.
In 2024, the team, led by **Mariano Coscarella and Marina Riera**, for the first time placed **satellite tracking devices**, with funding from **National Geographic** through the **Pristine Seas Program**.
For 2025, the installation of **10 new satellite trackers** is planned, some with **more advanced technology**. The research involves experts from the **National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)**, with the aim of understanding **migrations and feeding habits** of the species.
Unlike southern right whales, which migrate south to reproduce, scientists seek to confirm whether the **sei whale moves towards southern Brazil**. Another key aspect of the research is to evaluate how sei whales respond to the presence of vessels, which will help define **regulations and guidelines for tour operators**.
## Punta Marqués: a conservation space
For 39 years, the **Punta Marqués Protected Natural Area** has worked on **environmental preservation**, initially focused on the **colony of sea lions** located on the cliff.
Today, the region has also become the **epicenter of sei whale studies**, with the support of various institutions, such as the **Municipality of Rada Tilly, the municipality of Comodoro Rivadavia, Pan American Energy, the AZARA Foundation, the Maimónides University (UMAI), and National Geographic**.
This commitment to the conservation of the **sei whale** and its natural environment reinforces the role of Rada Tilly as a **reference center** in the protection of marine species.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet? Subscribe now!
