441
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
M.R. Rossi-Santos, C.W. Finkl (eds.), Advances in Marine Vertebrate Research
in Latin America, Coastal Research Library 22,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56985-7_16
Chapter 16
Conservation Advances for the Southern Right
Whales in Brazil
Karina Groch
Abstract During the austral winter/spring time southern right whales occur in
coastal waters of Brazil. The species was historically distributed between the southern and northeastern coast of Brazil but was severely depleted by commercial whaling until 1973. In the early 1980s, whales were ‘rediscovered’ in this region and
have been studied there since then by the “Right Whale Project”, a research and
conservation program created with the aim of ensure the survival and recovery of
the right whale population in Brazilian waters. Their main aggregation area is in the
shallow and protected bays of the central-southern coast of Santa Catarina State.
This area is marine protected area – Right Whale Environmental Protection Area
(RWEPA). This chapter provides information on the species research techniques
and conservation advances in Brazil.
16.1 Southern Right Whales: Where Are They Found?
The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) (Desmoulins 1822) has circumpolar distribution in the Southern Hemisphere occurring between 20° and 60° latitude
(Townsend 1935; Cummings 1985). The species spend the summer and early
autumn in offshore high latitude feeding grounds and migrate to coastal waters of
continents and oceanic islands during the austral winter/spring time seeking for
shallow and protected areas to give birth, nurse their calves and mate (Payne 1986;
Best 1988; Bannister 1990; Patenaude and Baker 2001).
Feeding grounds are regions between the subtropical and Antarctic convergences
(IWC 2001). The evidence comes mainly from whaling records (Townsend 1935).
One direct link between a nursery and feeding ground comes from five whales identified at Península Valdés, Argentina, that were resighted on feeding grounds off
South Georgia and Shag Rocks (ca 53°S) (Best et al. 1993; Rowntree et al. 2001).
Another direct link was found in Australia, where two right whales identified in the
K. Groch (*)
Projeto Baleia Franca/Instituto Australis, CP 201, Imbituba 88780-000, SC, Brazil
e-mail: karinagroch@gmail.com; karina@baleiafranca.org.br
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
M.R. Rossi-Santos, C.W. Finkl (eds.), Advances in Marine Vertebrate Research
in Latin America, Coastal Research Library 22,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56985-7_16
Chapter 16
Conservation Advances for the Southern Right
Whales in Brazil
Karina Groch
Abstract During the austral winter/spring time southern right whales occur in
coastal waters of Brazil. The species was historically distributed between the southern and northeastern coast of Brazil but was severely depleted by commercial whaling until 1973. In the early 1980s, whales were ‘rediscovered’ in this region and
have been studied there since then by the “Right Whale Project”, a research and
conservation program created with the aim of ensure the survival and recovery of
the right whale population in Brazilian waters. Their main aggregation area is in the
shallow and protected bays of the central-southern coast of Santa Catarina State.
This area is marine protected area – Right Whale Environmental Protection Area
(RWEPA). This chapter provides information on the species research techniques
and conservation advances in Brazil.
16.1 Southern Right Whales: Where Are They Found?
The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) (Desmoulins 1822) has circumpolar distribution in the Southern Hemisphere occurring between 20° and 60° latitude
(Townsend 1935; Cummings 1985). The species spend the summer and early
autumn in offshore high latitude feeding grounds and migrate to coastal waters of
continents and oceanic islands during the austral winter/spring time seeking for
shallow and protected areas to give birth, nurse their calves and mate (Payne 1986;
Best 1988; Bannister 1990; Patenaude and Baker 2001).
Feeding grounds are regions between the subtropical and Antarctic convergences
(IWC 2001). The evidence comes mainly from whaling records (Townsend 1935).
One direct link between a nursery and feeding ground comes from five whales identified at Península Valdés, Argentina, that were resighted on feeding grounds off
South Georgia and Shag Rocks (ca 53°S) (Best et al. 1993; Rowntree et al. 2001).
Another direct link was found in Australia, where two right whales identified in the
K. Groch (*)
Projeto Baleia Franca/Instituto Australis, CP 201, Imbituba 88780-000, SC, Brazil
e-mail: karinagroch@gmail.com; karina@baleiafranca.org.br