A survey conducted aboard the research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen identified more than a thousand humpback whales in the waters of Mozambique. The records were obtained while traversing more than 2,000 kilometers of the Mozambican coast, extending from Ponta do Ouro in the south of the country to the north of Sofala in the center.
This survey allowed for the collection of detailed data on the distribution not only of whales but also of dolphins, dugongs, seabirds, and other forms of marine life.
Humpback whales have an annual migratory pattern, moving from feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean to the warmer waters of the Western Indian Ocean, where they spend the austral winter reproducing and feeding their young.
The investigation, which was expanded this year, aims to create a more complete picture of how this species utilizes the coastal and oceanic ecosystems of Mozambique, which contributes to enriching scientific knowledge about national marine biodiversity.
According to information released by the scientific mission, this expanded research is helping to outline a broader view of the use of coastal and offshore habitats by these whales.
In addition to humpback whales, scientists also documented the presence of dolphins, dugongs, seabirds, and other marine mammals, recording field observations, photographs, and geographical coordinates.
The note adds that the combination of these observations, photographs, and GPS positions will strengthen scientific knowledge and may guide future marine conservation and management plans.
The work is being carried out as part of a scientific campaign organized by the Institute of Marine and Fisheries Research (IIMP), in collaboration with the FAO's EAF-Nansen Program and the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research.
This mission integrates efforts to monitor marine biodiversity within Mozambique's Exclusive Economic Zone and also seeks to track any changes in species distribution and environmental conditions along the country's coastline.
Last month, researchers involved in the campaign advocated for the need to increase national capacity for studying and preserving marine life, even suggesting the inclusion of some collected specimens in the collection of the Maputo Natural History Museum.