World Ocean Day 2023
June 8, 2023
03.06.2023 – Atlantic ocean newbie
June 13, 2023
Big cetacean species tend to be the ones most anticipated by our guests! We can’t blame them, experiencing the sheer size of ocean dwellers such as the enormous Blue whale (Balaenoptera m. musculus) or the mighty Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is enough to leave both guests and crew truly humbled at the fact that we share the planet with such magnificent creatures. The smaller cetaceans, however, also have an incredible way of instigating admiration for our oceans. The Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) belong to the most charismatic and curious of all cetaceans visiting our waters. These seasonal dolphins reach a maximum length of 190cm, making them one of the smallest whales visiting the archipelago’s waters. What they lack in size, however, they definitely make up for in attitude! We usually meet medium sized groups of 25-30 animals here in Madeira and they accompany our boat for the entire duration of the sighting almost every time!
The spotted were nowhere to be found in the afternoon but our team managed a sighting with another small but typically extremely shy cetacean species. After a long search, our spotter lead us to a young Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) travelling near the coastline. The minkes are rorquals, a taxonomic group that includes larger baleen whales such as the Blue whale, but unlike its enormous relatives it is much shorter, reaching a maximum length of around 8m. This has earned it the name “lesser rorqual” and its size as well as its timid nature often makes identification a little difficult at sea. Today, however, the smooth surface of the ocean and the animals surprisingly curious behaviour towards the boat allowed us to see its characteristic feature, the two white bands stretching along its flippers. The minke whales visiting Madeira are generally evasive towards approaching boats, which may be due to the fact that they are either tired from their travels or even injured. Our last sighting even involved a young Minke entangled in a fishing line and dragging a buoy, which our crew managed to remove. Minke whales belong to the most frequently hunted species by whalers in Japan and Norway, simple proof that they deserve as much admiration and protection as the larger baleen whales.
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Loggerhead turtle
13:30 Minke whale, Loggerhead turtle
