A vessel collision report for Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera brydei) off the northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Vessel collisions are an important threat to several cetacean species, both large and small. In addition to negatively affecting the animals themselves, collisions can also damage or sink vessels, threatening both human safety and marine industry economics. Larger cetaceans seem to be the most affected by vessel collisions, and vessel strikes with Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera brydei/Balaenoptera edeni) have been reported worldwide. Long‐term photo‐identification research on Bryde's whales off the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, has been continuing since 2016. Of the 67 individuals that were photo‐identified between 2004 and January 2022, three (4%) presented scars compatible with injuries from vessel propellers. These data contribute towards an understanding of the long‐term effects of collision injuries on the behaviour and survival of Bryde's whales. This report is intended to help inform the future evaluation of the conservation status of B. brydei off Brazil.

Movements and social behavior of killer whales (Orcinus orca) off the Brazilian coast

“…The sighting data and images of killer whales in this study were recorded opportunistically from 2005 to 2021 by 3 different contributors: (i) from Baleia à Vista Project (ProBaV), a citizen science project that monitors the waters off the north coast of São Paulo, Brazil, around the region of Ilhabela Archipelago (23°48.735' S, 45°22.019' W) (Cardoso et al, 2019a;Cardoso et al, 2019b;Athayde et al, 2020;Siciliano et al, 2020;Marcondes et al, 2021;Athayde et al, 2022), (ii) from Argonauta Institute, an institution dedicated to the conservation of coastal and marine ecosystems that also monitors the same region as ProBaV since 1998; and (iii) from occasional contributors: wildlife photographers and enthusiasts, divers, sailors, and others who had opportunistically encountered killer whales during their professional or recreational activities. Most of these contributor's records were reported from southern and southeastern Brazil, except for five records that were made in La Paloma, on the coast off Uruguay (Figure 1).…”