New scientific study confirms that fin whales are making a strong comeback in the Southern Ocean.
“This is great news and clearly indicates that there is no lack of krill availability for these predators in the Antarctic ecosystem”, says Pål Skogrand, VP Policy and Impact, Aker BioMarine.
Marine scientists have observed fin whales in the Southern Ocean and can confirm the "comeback", particularly in the Scotia Sea region of the Southwest Atlantic. Recent whale counts revealed a encouraging population of over 50,000 fin whales in the area, more than triple the previous estimates for the entire Southern Ocean. This resurgence follows decades of uncertainty stemming from extensive industrial whaling in the early 20th century, during which over 700,000 fin whales were caught. As for the krill populations, krill surveys conducted in 2000 and 2019 have shown consistent biomass levels, indicating a stable ecosystem. The whale counts, conducted using line transect distance sampling methods, provide valuable insights into the recovery of fin whales in the Southern Ocean and were presented at the recent meeting of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission. Read more about the study here: INSTITUTE OF MARINE RESEARCH
