IWC / SC/55/E20 OBSERVATIONS ON THE IMPACT OF THE PETROLEUM ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTH OF THE PROVINCE OF SANTA CRUZ, ARGENTINE PATAGONIA

• Main Author: J. Cristián De Haro
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Argentine; Gallegos; Patagonia; Orca; Orcinus orca; Southern Right Whale
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.567.7700; http://cethus.org/pdf/observation_on_the_impact_of_the_petroleum_activity_santa_cruz_argentina_sc_55_e20.pdf

Santa Cruz coast has areas of important ecological and touristical value, among which is the Gallegos River estuary with an important bird species richness, and towards the south, the Cabo Virgenes Provincial Reserve (52°20´W and 68°21´S). Cabo Virgenes presents optimum conditions for the reproduction of the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus), conforming the world's australmost continental penguin colony with a population of approximately 200.000 individuals. A large kelp forest has also been observed, which is mainly composed by Macrocystis pyrifera, with a smaller presence of red algae like Porphyra sp., brown algae (e.g. Fucus vesiculus) and microalgaes such as Diatoms. This intertidal ecosystem presents an enormous biodiversity, with the presence of fishes, octopus, squids, spidercrabs, starfish and polyps, as well as other species associated with marine and coastal birds. Regarding to marine mammals, the Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), Commerson´s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) and Killer whales (Orcinus orca) can be sporadically seen in this area. Meanwhile, some Southern sea lions (Otaria byronia) and Peale´s dolphins (Lagenorhynchus australis) can be found in a stable manner. The development of an insipient