Rev. biol. mar. oceanogr. 50(2): 383-389

Research Note

Presence of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in Mejillones Bay, a major seaport area in northern Chile

Aldo S. Pacheco¹, Viviana K. Villegas², José M. Riascos¹ and Koen Van Waerebeek³

¹Instituto de Ciencias Naturales Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad de Antofagasta, CENSOR Laboratory, Climate Change Ecology Group, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta 02800, Antofagasta, Chile

²Programa Doctorado en Ciencias Aplicadas Mención Sistema Marinos Costeros, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile

³Centro Peruano de Estudios Cetológicos (CEPEC), Peruvian Centre for Cetacean Research, Lima-20, Perú

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In this paper we report the apparently seasonal presence of fin whales in Mejillones Bay (23°S), in northern Chile. We compiled a total of 19 sightings representing 95 whales, including 2 mother-calf pairs, between July and October 2006-2014. We observed groups of 1-10 individuals (mean 5 ± 2.7 ind.) principally in nearshore waters, 30-1000 m off the southwestern tip of Mejillones Bay in austral winter/spring. Fin whales came close to, and potentially overlapped with, the main port access routes of large cargo vessels. Information from real-time monitoring of whale presence relayed to Port Authorities is suggested as to avoid collisions.

Key words: Balaenoptera physalus, neritic waters, upwelling center, seasonality