The whale season in Puerto Madryn is being experienced with an unprecedented presence of specimens along the entire coast. Residents and tourists were able to observe a massive number very close to the shore, confirming an exceptional year for whale watching in the region.
According to the survey by the Marine Mammal Laboratory of CESMAR-CONICET, the first aerial census recorded 2110 Southern Right Whales in the waters of Península Valdés and the San Matías Gulf.
The breakdown includes 77 mating groups, 381 solitary individuals, 826 mothers, and the same number of calves.
A census with over 25 years of history
The whale census has been carried out almost continuously since 1999 thanks to the work of researchers from CENPAT-CONICET and the funding provided by whale watching companies.
The first flight of this season covered from the mouth of the Chubut River to Puerto Lobos, passing along the edge of Península Valdés, the Nuevo and San José gulfs, and the coast of the San Matías Gulf.
Researcher Mariano Coscarella highlighted to local media that 2025 marks an absolute record: “We found 826 calves, the highest number in 26 years of surveys. Until now, the maximum had been in 2018 with 711 calves”.
Whale season in Puerto Madryn: emphasizing the sustained population growth
Historical data shows significant progress. “When we started between 1999 and 2000, we counted only 150 calves and about 500 whales in total. Since then, there has been sustained growth, stronger between 2012 and 2018, then a plateau, and in recent years, a resurgence in the number of births,” explained Coscarella.
Although the flights for the season are not yet complete, everything indicates that 2025 will be a year of high whale concentration in the Patagonian gulfs, something that can be clearly seen from the coast.
Importance of whale monitoring
Aerial surveys serve multiple functions:
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Allows real-time monitoring of the entry and distribution of whales in the region.
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Provides key information for tourist whale watching companies.
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Contributes data to the Chubut province regarding the evolution of the natural resource.
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Contributes to scientific research, developing predictive models on the population of Southern Right Whales in the Southwest Atlantic.
Historical concentration zones
Since 2000, the census has identified three main areas of high whale accumulation: El Doradillo, Puerto Pirámides, and Colombo in the San José Gulf. These regions continue to be strategic points for observation and conservation.
With this new record, the 2025 season reaffirms Puerto Madryn and Península Valdés as one of the most privileged destinations in the world to enjoy Southern Right Whale watching in their natural habitat.
