Records point to more blue and fin whale sightings in the southeast Atlantic
A study compiling verified records from Namibia and South Africa’s west coast found that 95% of documented blue- and fin-whale observations occurred after 2012. The dataset covers 1964 to March 2025 and is consistent with a gradual return to the southeast Atlantic after commercial whaling, although the authors stress that records remain sparse and increased observation may explain part of the rise. They recommend stronger monitoring and the use of whale-distribution data in marine planning.
The story
Researchers reporting in the African Journal of Marine Science compiled more than six decades of verified blue- and fin-whale sightings and strandings from Namibia and South Africa’s west coast. Their dataset spans 1964 through March 2025 and focuses on the Benguela upwelling ecosystem in the southeast Atlantic. It found that 95% of observations of the two species were recorded since 2012, a pattern the authors say is consistent with gradual recolonization of part of their historical range after commercial whaling ended. The records remain limited. The team documented 12 sightings and one stranding of Antarctic blue whales, alongside five additional published blue-whale records. Fin whales were reported more often, with 76 sightings and six strandings. Blue whales were most often observed from late spring through autumn; fin whales appeared to be present year-round. The study does not claim a complete recovery or provide a local population estimate. Instead, it brings dispersed records together to describe recent presence in a region where migration routes and possible breeding areas have received limited study. Its authors say expanded passive acoustic monitoring, trained observers in commercial sectors and marine spatial planning could improve both evidence and protection.
Why it matters
A clearer record of whale presence can be used in decisions that affect offshore waters, including where and when commercial activity occurs. The study identifies ship strikes, fishing-gear entanglement, underwater noise, pollution and climate-driven ecosystem change as continuing risks. Mapping seasonal occurrence and collecting systematic data could allow managers to target monitoring and safeguards where whales are most likely to be encountered. That matters especially for Antarctic blue whales, which the report says remain at a small fraction of their pre-whaling population, and for fin whales whose recovery is also incomplete.
Evidence and context
Commercial whaling heavily targeted Antarctic blue whales and fin whales between 1913 and 1978; the source cites estimates of 350,000 blue whales and 725,000 fin whales killed in that period. Antarctic blue whales remain listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, while fin whales are listed as Vulnerable, according to the report. The Benguela upwelling ecosystem off Namibia and South Africa’s west coast is nutrient-rich, but the animals’ movements through this part of the southeast Atlantic have been poorly consolidated in recent decades. Historical whaling records suggest the area may once have served as a nursery area, though the new study does not establish that it does so today.
Limits and unknowns
The record is too sparse to measure population size or prove that local numbers have risen. Researchers assembled verified sightings and strandings rather than conducting a continuous, standardized population survey, and just 12 blue-whale sightings and one blue-whale stranding were documented over the study period. More recent records may partly reflect greater offshore observation and reporting, including observations by marine-wildlife observers on seismic survey vessels. Migration routes, breeding areas and the share of sightings attributable to returning whales rather than observation effort remain unresolved.
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Story timeline
Commercial whaling period
The source says industrial whaling killed an estimated 350,000 blue whales and 725,000 fin whales.
Recent-record concentration
The study found that 95% of its verified blue- and fin-whale observations were recorded from this year onward.
Data collection endpoint
This was the endpoint of the verified sightings-and-strandings dataset compiled for the study.
Records point to more blue and fin whale sightings in the southeast Atlantic
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Highlights
- Whale sightings surge since 2012
- Six decades of whale data compiled
- Seasonal patterns of whale presence
- Enhanced protections through monitoring
Transcript
Since 2012, verified records show a significant increase in blue and fin whale sightings off Namibia and South Africa.
Scientists compiled over six decades of whale observations, revealing 95% of sightings occurred after 2012.
Blue whales appear mostly in late spring through autumn; fin whales are present year-round in this ecosystem.
Improved monitoring and marine planning can help protect whales from ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement.
Better data guides safer commercial activity, supporting recovery of these vulnerable whale populations in the region.