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Photo-identification of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus L.) off the south coast of Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2011

Pádraig Whooley ,
Simon Berrow  and
Colin Barnes
Pádraig Whooley
Affiliation:
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland
Simon Berrow*
Affiliation:
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland
Colin Barnes
Affiliation:
West Cork Marine Tours, Ballycahane, Castletownshend, County Cork, Ireland
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: S. Berrow, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Merchants Quay, Kilrush, County Clare, Ireland email: simon.berrow@iwdg.ie
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Abstract

Photo-identification of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus L.) was carried out off the south coast of Ireland between 2003 and 2008. During 79 research trips, mainly on-board a whale watching vessel, 62 individual fin whales were identified using a variety of marks, including notches in the dorsal fin, blotches and scars. Forty (65%) of these whales were only seen once but eleven whales (18%) have been recorded within a year on up to four occasions within a season and eleven whales (18%) re-sighted between years with one recorded in four and one in five of the last seven years. Re-sighting rate varied depending on the marks used to identify whales but was 17.7% overall. The mean interval between the first and last reported sighting was 33.2 days, with a minimum of one day and a maximum interval of 165 days. The south coast of Ireland is an important site for fin whales and provides excellent research opportunities due to their close proximity to land.

Keywords

fin whalephoto-identificationsite fidelityinter-annual
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 4 , December 2011 , e8
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2011

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