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Blue and fin whale sightings on the rise in the South East Atlantic
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1129036News Release 22-May-2026
Blue and fin whale sightings on the rise in the South East Atlantic
Results “point to resilience”, following the cessation of commercial whaling, however both species remain vulnerable to human pressures such as climate change and pollution
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Taylor & Francis Group
More than 40 years after the end of commercial whaling, new research reveals a recent increase in sightings of the world’s two largest whale species in the southeastern Atlantic.
The findings, published in the peer-reviewed African Journal of Marine Science, compiled more than 60 years of confirmed sightings and strandings from Namibia and South Africa’s west coast. Although overall numbers remain low, sightings of both species have increased markedly in recent years – with 95% of observations recorded since 2012.
“Our results provide important evidence that these giants of the ocean are slowly recovering from the devastating impact of 20th century commercial whaling, which pushed them to the brink of extinction,” says lead author Dr Bridget James, from the Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
“Sightings remain rare, but they are becoming more frequent than in previous decades – and with sustained protection, there is reason to believe this recovery can continue.”
…
James, B., Gridley, T., Radford, M., Paterson, J., Roux, J. P., & Elwen, S. (2026). Recent increased presence of blue whales Balaenoptera musculus and fin whales B. physalus in the southeastern Atlantic: evidence of recovery? African Journal of Marine Science, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2026.2626591Blue and fin whale sightings on the rise in the South East Atlantic
Results “point to resilience”, following the cessation of commercial whaling, however both species remain vulnerable to human pressures such as climate change and pollution
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Taylor & Francis Group
More than 40 years after the end of commercial whaling, new research reveals a recent increase in sightings of the world’s two largest whale species in the southeastern Atlantic.
The findings, published in the peer-reviewed African Journal of Marine Science, compiled more than 60 years of confirmed sightings and strandings from Namibia and South Africa’s west coast. Although overall numbers remain low, sightings of both species have increased markedly in recent years – with 95% of observations recorded since 2012.
“Our results provide important evidence that these giants of the ocean are slowly recovering from the devastating impact of 20th century commercial whaling, which pushed them to the brink of extinction,” says lead author Dr Bridget James, from the Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
“Sightings remain rare, but they are becoming more frequent than in previous decades – and with sustained protection, there is reason to believe this recovery can continue.”
…