Digging into Our Whaling Past: Addressing the Portuguese Influence in the Early Modern Exploitation of Whales in the Atlantic

Brito, Cristina; Vieira, Nina; Jordão, Vera; Teixeira, António

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-41139-2_3

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The available data from West and Central Africa are limited, but recent records indicate small cetaceans are consumed as food in Benin (Sohou et al, 2013), Cameroon (Ayissi et al, 2011(Ayissi et al, , 2014, Guinea (especially Atlantic humpback dolphin, Sousa teuszii, and common bottlenose dolphin; Van Waerebeek et al, 2003, 2017Bamy et al, 2021), Guinea-Bissau (Leeney et al, 2015), Nigeria (Uwagbae and Van Waerebeek, 2010;Van Waerebeek et al, 2017), Republic of the Congo (Collins et al, 2010(Collins et al, , 2019, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Collins et al, 2019), Senegal and The Gambia (Maigret, 1994;Murphy et al, 1997;Van Waerebeek et al, 2000Leeney et al, 2015;Keith-Diagne et al, 2017), and Togo (Segniagbeto et al, 2014). Historically whaling was important on the Cape Verde Islands (Brito et al, 2016), and some consumption of cetacean meat remains. However, while a recent review (Segniagbeto et al, 2019) indicates instances of consumption of pilot whales and stranded melon-headed whales, and use of teeth for manufacture of local jewellery, there are no signs of any systematic utilisation on the Cape Verde Islands.…”

Section: Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Widespread Use of Migratory Megafauna for Aquatic Wild Meat in the Tropics and Subtropics

Ingram

Prideaux²,

Hodgins³

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Wild animals are captured or taken opportunistically, and the meat, body parts, and/or eggs are consumed for local subsistence or used for traditional purposes to some extent across most of the world, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. The consumption of aquatic animals is widespread, in some places has been sustained for millennia, and can be an important source of nutrition, income, and cultural identity to communities. Yet, economic opportunities to exploit wildlife at higher levels have led to unsustainable exploitation of some species. In the literature, there has been limited focus on the exploitation of aquatic non-fish animals for food and other purposes. Understanding the scope and potential threat of aquatic wild meat exploitation is an important first step toward appropriate inclusion on the international policy and conservation management agenda. Here, we conduct a review of the literature, and present an overview of the contemporary use of aquatic megafauna (cetaceans, sirenians, chelonians, and crocodylians) in the global tropics and subtropics, for species listed on the Appendices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). We find that consumption of aquatic megafauna is widespread in coastal regions, although to varying degrees, and that some species are likely to be at risk from overexploitation, particularly riverine megafauna. Finally, we provide recommendations for CMS in the context of the mandate of the Aquatic Wild Meat Working Group.

show abstract

Section: Cetaceansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Widespread Use of Migratory Megafauna for Aquatic Wild Meat in the Tropics and Subtropics

Ingram

Prideaux²,

Hodgins³

et al. 2022

Front. Mar. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Early written references to cetaceans in the Gulf of Guinea include observations of "big fishes such as porpoises" (Dias 1934in Brito 2009 and "many whales, large and small, that it is a wonderful thing to say" (Anonymous 1812). As with other Atlantic islands and the coast of the African mainland, cetaceans stranded on the shore were probably used by local people and settlers, who consumed the meat and transformed blubber into fuel (Brito et al 2017;Vieira 2020).…”

Section: Background On Historical Whaling In the Gulf Of Guineamentioning

confidence: 99%

Cetaceans of São Tomé and Príncipe

Carvalho

Pereira

Martinho

et al. 2022

Biodiversity of the Gulf of Guinea Oceanic Islands

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Gulf of Guinea is a marine biodiversity hotspot, but cetacean fauna in these waters is poorly studied and our knowledge is documented mostly from opportunistic (sightings and strandings) and whaling data. This chapter presents a short review of historical whaling in the Gulf of Guinea and an update of cetacean biodiversity in the waters of São Tomé and Príncipe. Observations since 2002 have confirmed the presence of 12 species of cetaceans, 5 of them new to the region (Striped Dolphin, Rough-toothed Dolphin, Risso’s Dolphin, Pygmy Killer Whale, and Dwarf Sperm Whale). The archipelago seems to be an important area for cetaceans, with some species (Bottlenose Dolphin and Pantropical Spotted Dolphin) being present throughout the year. The volcanic origin of the archipelago produces great depths very close to the coast, which may favor the approach of pelagic species like Sperm Whales, Killer Whales, and Short-finned Pilot Whales. Bays and shallow waters may also serve as protection or rest areas for particular groups, like mother and calf pairs of Humpback Whales. Major anthropogenic threats to cetaceans in São Tomé and Príncipe include habitat degradation due to overfishing, fisheries interactions, possibly some occasionally directed takes and, more recently, oil and gas prospecting. Consistent and dedicated research to inform national legislation, together with increasing environmental awareness and local engagement, would help to identify effective cetacean conservation strategies in the archipelago.

show abstract

“…The coeval travel literature confirms the occurrence and abundance of whales of "incredible magnitude", on one occasion most probably a humpback whale due to its description of a "large back and superior body that was greatly curved and prominent" (Figueroa 1624). It was possible that such large animals, when stranded on the coast, were used by local people and their meat was included into their diet as a rich source of animal protein (Brito et al 2016).…”

Section: The Whale In the History And Literature Of Cape Verdementioning

confidence: 99%

The Whale in the Cape Verde Islands: Seascapes as a Cultural Construction from the Viewpoint of History, Literature, Local Art and Heritage

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cultural constructions of landscapes, space and environments, and of people’s relationship with nature, have in the Cape Verde Islands a perspective of their own and might have been mediated by the whale. To address perceptions about these marine mammals, historical sources, literature, art, memory and heritage were considered. Whaling influenced history and diaspora and is reflected in literary productions. Remains of whales are found in museums and used as decorative pieces and local art. We found the Cape Verdean seascapes as being culturally and naturally constructed and the whale occupies a true ‘place’ of convergence.

show abstract

Digging into Our Whaling Past: Addressing the Portuguese Influence in the Early Modern Exploitation of Whales in the Atlantic

Cited by 5 publications

References 6 publications

Widespread Use of Migratory Megafauna for Aquatic Wild Meat in the Tropics and Subtropics

Widespread Use of Migratory Megafauna for Aquatic Wild Meat in the Tropics and Subtropics

Cetaceans of São Tomé and Príncipe

The Whale in the Cape Verde Islands: Seascapes as a Cultural Construction from the Viewpoint of History, Literature, Local Art and Heritage

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About