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Indian Express
13-08-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Whale strandings along India's southwest coast rose tenfold in past decade
There has been a tenfold increase in the stranding of whales along India's southwest coast in the last decade, a study conducted by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has found. CMFRI said the increase underscored the urgent need for region-specific conservation strategies in the face of climate change. It said stranding of whales, which was just 0.3 per cent per year during 2003-2013, grew to 3 per cent per year during 2014-2023, following a range of issues including changes in ocean ecosystems and anthropogenic factors. Besides, the latest primary survey conducted in 2023 alone registered nine whale strandings, the highest in recent years, mainly reported between August and November. The study was led by Dr R Ratheesh Kumar, the principal investigator of the national research project on 'Marine Mammal Stock Assessments in India'. It was published in Regional Studies in Marine Science. Kerala, Karnataka and Goa emerged as the key hotspots for whale stranding, accounting for most of the reported events. High vessel traffic, fishing activity, environmental factors and shallow coastal shelves were identified as contributing factors. Increased social media attention and citizen reporting also increased reporting of such events. The study highlighted that noise pollution, ship strikes, and habitat degradation are elevating risks for this endangered fauna. The study identified Bryde's whale as the most commonly stranded species, with blue whales also found occasionally. It also observed the genetic complexity of Bryde's whales along the Indian coast, confirming that two distinct forms of the species are present in Indian waters. On the link between whale stranding and environmental indicators, the study found that chlorophyll-a concentration, a marker of ocean productivity during the southwest monsoon, had a positive correlation to whale stranding. This suggests that whales are drawn closer to coastal feeding grounds during the monsoon when nutrient upwelling increases plankton and fish abundance. Sea surface temperature and rising ocean temperature were causing ecological disruptions that increased stranding, and strong converging currents also drag the weak or dead animals to shore, said the study. The study called for building robust marine mammal conservation infrastructure, especially in biodiversity hotspots like the southwest coast. It recommended real-time alerts, marine megafauna conservation networks, training for fishers and officials, and improving citizen science platforms for data collection.
News18
12-08-2025
- Science
- News18
Whale strandings increased tenfold in a decade, says CMFRI study
Kochi, Aug 12 (PTI) Scientists at the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) have found a ten-fold increase in whale stranding along the southwest coast of India over the last decade, emphasising the urgent need for region-specific conservation strategies in the wake of climate change. Covering the data from 2004 to 2023, the study revealed a sharp spike in strandings of whales from just 0.3 per cent per year during 2003-2013 to three per cent annually during 2014-2023, due to a range of issues including changes in ocean ecosystems and anthropogenic factors, a CMFRI release here said on Tuesday. Kerala, Karnataka and Goa emerged as the key hotspots for stranding reports, together accounting for the majority of the reported events. High vessel traffic, fishing activity, environmental factors and shallow coastal shelves were identified as the contributing factors. The study highlighted noise pollution, ship strikes, and habitat degradation are elevating risks for this endangered fauna. Social media attention and citizen reporting also helped the increased reporting of the stranding events, it said. The CMFRI study identified Bryde's whale as the most commonly stranded species, with blue whales also occasionally found. The research also observed genetic complexity of Bryde's whales along the Indian coast, confirming that two distinct varieties of the species are present in Indian waters. Shedding light on the worsening trend, the latest primary survey conducted in 2023 alone registered nine whale strandings, the highest in recent years mainly reported between August and November. On the link between whale stranding and environmental indicators, the study found that chlorophyll-a concentration, a marker of ocean productivity during the southwest monsoon, had a positive correlation to whale stranding. This suggests that whales are drawn closer to coastal feeding grounds during the monsoon when nutrient upwelling increases plankton and fish abundance. Sea surface temperature (SST) and rising ocean temperature were causing ecological disruptions that increased the stranding, the study found. Strong converging currents also drag the weak or dead animals to shore. The scientists who carried out the study stressed the need for predictive models that incorporate satellite data on phenomena like chlorophyll, wind pattern and SST to anticipate stranding events, allowing for pre-emptive conservation measures. 'Region-specific conservation strategies are required to address this marine biodiversity threat in one of the country's richest oceanic zones," said Dr R Ratheesh Kumar, lead author of the study which was published in the 'Regional Studies in Marine Science.' Ratheesh is the principal investigator of the national research project on 'Marine Mammal Stock Assessments in India.' The study lays stress on the urgency of building robust marine mammal conservation infrastructure, especially in biodiversity hotspots like the southwest coast. The study recommended real-time alerts and marine megafauna conservation networks, training for fishers and officials and improvement of citizen science platforms for data collection, the release said. PTI MVG MVG ADB view comments First Published: August 12, 2025, 14:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Express Tribune
16-06-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Blue whale found dead in Gwatar Bay
A blue whale measuring about 35 feet long was recorded dead at a remote area in Gwatar Bay between Pakistan and Iran on Monday. A local fisherman, Ahmad Baloch, who was fishing in the area, reported the incident of a dead whale floating near Kuntani, Balochistan. It is likely that the whale may have died a few days back in the open seawaters between Pakistan and Iran, and it drifted towards the Gwatar Bay under the influence of a rough sea and strong currents, a news release said. Although the cause of the death is not ascertained so far, it seems the animal might have gotten entangled in gillnets that are used for catching fish in the coastal and offshore waters in the area. Blue whale, scientifically called Balaenoptera musculus, is one of three baleen whales reported from Pakistani waters. The other two whales are the Bryde's whale and the Arabian humpback whale. There are four subspecies of blue whales, of which two include the pygmy blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) and the Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) found in the Northern Indian Ocean. Considering its small size, this dead blue whale sighted at Kuntani may be a pygmy blue whale. Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor, WWF-Pakistan, expressed concerns over the mortality of the blue whale and termed it sad news for the conservation community around the world. He shared that the blue whale is known to be distributed in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Khan emphasized that although this whale is categorized as an endangered species, urgent steps are required for its conservation. Now all cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, are protected under the wildlife and fisheries legislations of Sindh and Balochistan.
The South African
03-06-2025
- Science
- The South African
Blood in the water: Why the sardine run is a predator's paradise
Every year, the eastern coastline of South Africa transforms into one of the most explosive feeding frenzies on Earth. Billions of sardines – driven by cold water currents and ancient instinct – form massive shoals stretching for miles. To the casual observer, it's a shimmering silver ribbon in the sea. To predators, it's a buffet with no end in sight. Welcome to the sardine run: a high-stakes spectacle where blood hits the water and nature's most efficient killers gather for a feast. The sardine run typically kicks off between May and July, when ocean temperatures drop along the coast. Pilchard sardines, scientifically known as Sardinops sagax, migrate northward from the southern tip of Africa in staggering numbers, following the nutrient-rich cold water of the Agulhas Bank. It's not just a migration, though, – it's a trigger. The moment those sardines move, a chain reaction starts. Dolphins, sharks, whales, seabirds, and even humans gear up to intercept the moving mass. What makes the sardine run unique is the sheer density and diversity of predators. Common dolphins work in coordinated teams to herd sardines into tight balls – called bait balls – that make for easier pickings. Once the bait balls are formed, all hell breaks loose! Sharks – usually bronze whalers, blacktips, and duskies – charge through the chaos with mouths wide open. Bryde's whales also lunge from below, swallowing tons of sardines in a single gulp. Cape gannets are known to divebomb from the sky at 97kph, folding their wings mid-air to pierce the ocean like living missiles. Even seals and game fish like tuna and king mackerel join the frenzy. The ocean turns into a swirling storm of fins, beaks, teeth, and blood. Despite their numbers, sardines have little to no defense once the predators close in. Their main strategy is to stick together and rely on safety in numbers. But in the face of such a coordinated and varied assault, it often just delays the inevitable. Nature doesn't play fair, and the sardine run is proof. The predators aren't just hunting; they're optimising. Dolphins push, sharks scatter, birds pick off stragglers, and whales clean up what's left. It's a study in efficiency – an oceanic assembly line of death. When it happens, the sardine run is unmatched – a primal display of life and death, speed and precision. It's not just a feeding event; it's a revelation. In those chaotic, bloody waters off South Africa, you see nature without filters: brutal, brilliant, and real. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Miami Herald
19-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Elusive sea creature seen on Canada coast. See why officials are ‘deeply concerned'
An elusive whale recently washed ashore in Canada, leaving local officials 'deeply concerned.' The deceased marine mammal was found on Port McNeill Bay — located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia — on May 14, according to a news release from the 'Namgis First Nation, a local government office. In photos, it can be seen laying on its stomach amid a vast stretch of wet sand. Its mouth was agape, revealing rows of white bristles. The creature was initially thought to be a Minke whale, but officials at the site later confirmed it was a young Bryde's whale — 'a species rarely seen in these northern waters.' Bay Cetology, a conservation non-profit that helped identify the whale, described the animal in a Facebook post as 'a very unusual visitor.' The organization added that, 'This is British Columbia's first record of a Bryde's whale that we are aware of.' As a result, officials said they were disturbed by the finding. 'The Nation is deeply concerned by the death of any whale, but the rarity of this species appearing so far north makes this event particularly significant,' 'Namgis First Nation said. Officials were dispatched to the site to educate onlookers and to ensure the carcass was treated with respect. A necropsy was conducted May 16, but the cause of death has not been revealed, according to the Whale Interpretive Center, another conservation non-profit, which described the finding as 'a surprise.' Bryde's whales — pronounced 'broodus' — are a baleen species named after Johan Bryde, an early 20th century whaler, according to the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA). The animals, which can grow up to 55 feet and weigh up to 90,000 pounds, are typically found throughout warmer parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. 'They are rarely seen in waters north of 35° latitude,' according to 'Namgis First Nation, which is 'roughly the same latitude as Los Angeles, California.' This means the recently discovered whale was found about 1,000 miles outside the species' typical range. The solitary creatures consume upwards of 1,000 pounds of food per day, with their diet largely consisting of shrimp, krill, crabs and schooling fish, according to NOAA. The population of the species is unknown becuase of a lack of data, and the species is protected throughout its range by the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
