466
stranding network has been established with a protocol to improve notification and
response to strandings along the RWEPA.
Entanglement of right whales have been recorded in Southern Brazil. Between
1999 and 2014 a total of 38 cases are reported (Groch et al. 2015). All records were
of live animals, mostly adult females accompanied by a calf (74%) The majority of
the entanglements consisted of parts of monofilament gillnet, which attach to the
whales callosities when they swim through a fishing net (Fig. 16.20). No deaths
were reported due to these cases and photo-identification enabled a follow up of 16
whales, from which nine (56%) were free of fishing gear when resighted. Strandings
associated to entanglement in fishing gear, have been reported mostly in southeastern Brazil, where a total of 7 cases have been recorded (Gomes 2005; Lodi and
Rodrigues 2007). In Santa Catarina artisanal fisheries are an important income
source for local traditional communities, resulting in the use of gillnets close to
shore as well as whale entanglements (Zappes et al. 2013).
In September 2016 a disentanglement training workshop was conducted by an
expert of the International Whaling Commission, in the SRWEPA. The aim was
training teams to rescue whales in cases when entanglement may poses risk to the
whale survival, using the best technique available. While entanglements reported
for right whales off southern Brazil so far have not been at a survival risk level, there
is a concern on the number of cases reported. However it has been emphasized that
a priority must be given to work on prevention measures.
Whalewatching activity is another potential threat to the species, because of the
coastal habits of mother-calf pairs (Palazzo and Groch 2011). In Santa Catarina, the
activity started in 1999 stimulated by the regular presence of right whales. In this
area boats must operate in agreement to the national legislation. In Brazilian waters,
Southern right whales are protected from whaling and harassment since 1987
(Federal Decree No. 7643), and were declared a State Natural Monument of Santa
Catarina in 1995. In 1996, considering the need to regulate the recently emerged
whalewatching tourism, the Ordinance IBAMA no. 117/1996 (amended by n°
24/2002) established several regulations for the activity. From 1999 to 2008, the
number of whalewatching cruises increased 13 times, and the number of passengers
engaged in the cruises increased 14.6 times (Groch et al. 2013). There was one boat
operating in 1999 and a total of six boats were registered in the RWEPA by 2008,
though not all of them operating regularly.
Preliminary results from an analysis of movement patterns of right whales in
relation to boat approaches collected in 2002 found no clear evidence of immediate
disturbance to this right whale population (Groch et al. 2005). Analysis of respiration rates sampled in 2006 found no significant changes related to boat approaches
(Corrêa and Groch 2007). Despite the increasing overall interest by the whalewatching activity in the RWEPA, the number of boats operating in the region never
exceeded six boats and usually two boats operated regularly. In 2013 the activity
was suspended by a judicial decision as a precautionary measure after complaints of
harassment resulting from the whalewatching activity. A control plan was developed by the RWEPA and should be implemented if the activity resumes. Because
right whales approach the coast, shore-based whalewatching has also been conK. Groch
stranding network has been established with a protocol to improve notification and
response to strandings along the RWEPA.
Entanglement of right whales have been recorded in Southern Brazil. Between
1999 and 2014 a total of 38 cases are reported (Groch et al. 2015). All records were
of live animals, mostly adult females accompanied by a calf (74%) The majority of
the entanglements consisted of parts of monofilament gillnet, which attach to the
whales callosities when they swim through a fishing net (Fig. 16.20). No deaths
were reported due to these cases and photo-identification enabled a follow up of 16
whales, from which nine (56%) were free of fishing gear when resighted. Strandings
associated to entanglement in fishing gear, have been reported mostly in southeastern Brazil, where a total of 7 cases have been recorded (Gomes 2005; Lodi and
Rodrigues 2007). In Santa Catarina artisanal fisheries are an important income
source for local traditional communities, resulting in the use of gillnets close to
shore as well as whale entanglements (Zappes et al. 2013).
In September 2016 a disentanglement training workshop was conducted by an
expert of the International Whaling Commission, in the SRWEPA. The aim was
training teams to rescue whales in cases when entanglement may poses risk to the
whale survival, using the best technique available. While entanglements reported
for right whales off southern Brazil so far have not been at a survival risk level, there
is a concern on the number of cases reported. However it has been emphasized that
a priority must be given to work on prevention measures.
Whalewatching activity is another potential threat to the species, because of the
coastal habits of mother-calf pairs (Palazzo and Groch 2011). In Santa Catarina, the
activity started in 1999 stimulated by the regular presence of right whales. In this
area boats must operate in agreement to the national legislation. In Brazilian waters,
Southern right whales are protected from whaling and harassment since 1987
(Federal Decree No. 7643), and were declared a State Natural Monument of Santa
Catarina in 1995. In 1996, considering the need to regulate the recently emerged
whalewatching tourism, the Ordinance IBAMA no. 117/1996 (amended by n°
24/2002) established several regulations for the activity. From 1999 to 2008, the
number of whalewatching cruises increased 13 times, and the number of passengers
engaged in the cruises increased 14.6 times (Groch et al. 2013). There was one boat
operating in 1999 and a total of six boats were registered in the RWEPA by 2008,
though not all of them operating regularly.
Preliminary results from an analysis of movement patterns of right whales in
relation to boat approaches collected in 2002 found no clear evidence of immediate
disturbance to this right whale population (Groch et al. 2005). Analysis of respiration rates sampled in 2006 found no significant changes related to boat approaches
(Corrêa and Groch 2007). Despite the increasing overall interest by the whalewatching activity in the RWEPA, the number of boats operating in the region never
exceeded six boats and usually two boats operated regularly. In 2013 the activity
was suspended by a judicial decision as a precautionary measure after complaints of
harassment resulting from the whalewatching activity. A control plan was developed by the RWEPA and should be implemented if the activity resumes. Because
right whales approach the coast, shore-based whalewatching has also been conK. Groch