Southern right whale on the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: conflict between conservation and human activity

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Lodi, Liliane, Rodrigues, Marcelo Tardelli
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2007
• Subjects: Aquatic Science; Southern Right Whale
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315407055051; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315407055051

Between 1993 and 2005, 68 sightings of southern right whales were recorded along 400 km of coastline between Paraty Bay (23°13'S 44°42'W) and Macaé (22°22'S 41°47'W), Rio de Janeiro State, south-eastern Brazilian coast. Mother/calf pairs represented 66.1% of sightings. Only solitary individuals showed a distinct pattern of occurrence. Females with calf did not show a distinct pattern of occurrence suggesting their widespread distribution in the area. Analysis of the records and detailed accounts of the sightings of southern right whales reveal that there exist conflicts between the animals and human activities such as harassment and collision with boats during attempted rescues, accidental entanglement in fishing nets and intentional mortality, which may have a bearing in the conservation of the species in Brazilian waters.