Expedition report: Photo-identification and surveys of cetaceans in the central group of the Azores islands (March/April 2023) ...

• Main Authors: Steiner, Lisa, Machete, Miguel, Hammer, Matthias
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Zenodo 2024
• Subjects: Blue whale; Fin whale; Iceland; Sei Whale
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10775900; https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.10775900

ABSTRACTIn 2023 Biosphere Expeditions concluded its 17th year of cetacean photo-identification and distribution studies in the Azores. The expedition was based in Horta on the island of Faial and work was conducted around the three islands of Faial, Pico and São Jorge. The expedition ran from 20 March to 20 April 2023. 172 sightings of ten different species of cetacean and eight loggerhead turtles were recorded during the expedition period.Baleen whale photo-IDBlue Whale: The expedition recorded six blue whales in four encounters. Photos of individuals were shared with catalogues in Spain, Iceland and Canada. One blue whale matched to Pico, 2009, another to Pico, 2008. There were no international matches. Matches were made by Richard Sears of Mingan Island Cetacean Society. Fin whale: Three fin whales were recorded in two encounters. Identification photos were shared with catalogues in Spain, Iceland & Canada. No matches were found. Sei whale: Fourteen sei whales were recorded in eight encounters. There ...