Humpback Whales Spotted Near Valencia
April 26th, 2011
Oceanographers from the Department of the Environment have this week, identified a specimen of Humpback (Megaptera novaengliae), also known as humpback whale, and six specimens of common finback whales, swimming off the coast of Valencia, near Sagunto.
According to a Government statement, this finding was reported by a fisherman in the Burriana (Castellón) fishing association, who found a finback whale entangled in a trammel net eight miles off the coast of Sagunto, triggering the stranding protocol in Valencia.
Due to the possible complexity of the operation, many technical experts were called upon to participate in the rescue, from the Department of the Environment, Oceanografic City of Arts and Sciences (Valencia), Department of Veterinary Research, as well as professional divers and representatives from the Maritime Service and Guardia Civil underwater activities section (GEAS).
After following the coordinates provided by the fisherman, the experts spotted the blowing of a great whale and found that it was a type of humpback, a very strange occurrence in Mediterranean waters. The animal was behaving normally, so they presumed this was a different whale to that seen by the fisherman.
They continued searching and three miles later found another whale on its own, and a group of three others, this time of the finback species (Balaenoptera physalus). All looked to be in good health. The experts later located another two specimens.
Related Posts
- Gray Whale Sighted off the Coast of Barcelona
- Valencia, We Have A Problem
- Illegal Drug Contamination in Valencia National Park Waters
