FIN WHALE PROJECT (2011 VELL MARÍ ROUTE)

The CRAM Foundation, within the 2011 Vell Marí Route 2011, financed by the Social Work of "La Caixa", has been embarked on a study project of the Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in the Sea of Liguria, where it carries out a photographic atlas of this species based on photo and bioacoustics methods of identification. This cetacean, recently declared endangered species at global level by the UICN, is considered by the Agreement for the Conservation of the Cetaceans of the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS), as a priority species for the development of studies in order to understand their population's structure and therefore, be able to evaluate the possible strategies to help guarantee their conservation..

This sea mammal, of the suborder of the misticetos (also known as whales or cetaceans with beards), is the second biggest whale of the world, after the blue whale. The females usually measure between 19 and 22 m and usually weigh up to 75 tons, although individuals of more than 24 meters have been described in the Northern Hemisphere. In general, the males present a smaller size, about 2 m less that the females..

Their distribution is cosmopolitan. They can be found in almost all the oceans of the world, the Mediterranean Sea included, although it's commonly found in temperate waters up to polar areas and less frequently in the tropics. It is usual to observe the Fin Whale in the coastal zones, but this species also lives in open sea.

In the Mediterranean Sea Fin Whales can be easily observed in the area of the Sanctuary of Pelagos (Sea of Liguria). The abundance of B.Physalus in this area can be explained thanks to the biological wealth that offers optimal conditions for a high production of krill. This small crustacean is the main component of the Mediterranean diet of the whale and that is the reason why a high number of individuals congregate in summer in the sea of Liguria.

The goal of this project is focused on the study of the Fin Whale basing ourselves on methods of photo identification. The development of this project will allow us to estimate their population density in the particular areas of study and, if the observed individuals frequent these feeding and breeding areas anually.

The project consists also of a study of this species through bioacoustics methods as the CRAM Foundations owns two hydrophones (one specific for dragging or immobile use in detection of sounds of very low frequency known as EARS and the other one a long-term self-recorder) to be able to compilate acoustical material and to preserve it for future studies.

The CRAM has recently incorporated to its team Ricardo Sagarminaga, who will provide the campaign with his experience in the field of photo identification together with the collaboration of Fabrizio Borsani, who has a valuable career in the field of the bioacoustics and in the study of populations of sea mammals that live in the Mediterranean.

The team of investigators of the CRAM will be embarked on the Vell Marí from the beginning of April up to the end of May, carrying out seeing and acoustic registrations in predetermined areas of the Sea of Liguria and the Tirreno.