Short-term effects of whale watching boats on the movement patterns of southern right whales in Península Valdés, Patagonia, Argentina

• Published in: Marine environmental research 2020-05, Vol.157, p.104927-104927, Article 104927
• Main Authors: Chalcobsky, Ailen, Crespo, Enrique A., Coscarella, Mariano A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Marine ecology; Patagonia; Southern right whales; Whale watching; Whale watching boat effects
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2020.104927

Whale watching in Patagonia began in 1973, with the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) as a target. Thus far, only short-term effects of whale watching on behaviour have been evaluated. The southern right whale population is increasing locally and expanding to adjacent areas. We evaluated boat effects on the biological system through the analysis of breathing rate, linearity, reorientation rate and total distance travelled. Short-term movement patterns of SRW in the area are not severely affected by whale watching operations in Puerto Pirámide at this level of activity. However, significant changes in breathing rates in the presence of boats deserve further attention considering that whales return the same location. In light of the present work, the whales that breed at Península Valdés may be tolerant to whale watching boats. •No significant short-term effects of boat presence were observed on the whales' movement indices analysed.•There is a decrease in the breathing rate that could be related to the whales' tendency to remain underwater close to boats.•The whales around Puerto Pirámide may be tolerant to whale watching boats.