The waters of the Marina Alta, between Dénia and Xàbia, have once again been the site of one of the largest fin whale sightings in recent years. A team from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) counted 127 specimens of this species , the second largest in the world after the blue whale , during a research campaign that began on May 25 and lasted until July 6.
The work, part of the MYSTICMED project, combined observations from land and sea, achieving a number of sightings that the researchers themselves describe as an "unprecedented success." In addition to the 127 fin whales seen, more than 80 individuals were photo-identified using drones , which will allow for expanding the scientific catalog of the species and facilitating its monitoring in future campaigns.
Biological samples and offspring detected
One of the most significant new features of this year's study was the collection of six breath samples from the animals. To do this, researchers used a drone equipped with a Petri dish that captured biological material expelled during respiration. These samples, obtained completely non-invasively, will be used to determine the sex of the specimens and analyze their hormonal status —key information for understanding the health of the Mediterranean population.
Aerial observations have also detected several females accompanied by young during active migration. According to scientists, this data is especially encouraging, as it indicates that the species may be recovering in the area. “We have seen more young than in any other campaign,” highlights Víctor Gallego, a researcher at the Institute of Animal Science and Technology (ICTA) of the UPV.
A team coordinated from land and sea
The campaign was organized with two working groups. At sea, Eduardo Belda (IGIC) and Víctor Gallego himself accumulated more than 30 days of sailing and 250 hours aboard a small vessel following the cetaceans. Their work consisted of approaching the animals once located, recording their course and speed, taking photographs, and collecting samples.
On land, Xavi Giménez and Maria Giovanna positioned themselves at Cabo de San Antonio, a spot between Dénia and Xàbia. From there, approximately 90% of the initial sightings occurred. “Observing the blows of the fin whales from the cliffs is the first step in the study,” they explain. In fact, they believe that the Marina Alta region is probably the best place in Europe for whale watching from the shore , as binoculars alone offer a unique spectacle.
Collaborations and project projection
The UPV has thanked the various entities that made the campaign a success: Marina el Portet (Dénia), Martin Germann, Héctor Villar, Cruz Roja Ondara, the Subdirectorate General of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity of MITECO, the Marine Surveillance Service and the Wildlife Service and Natura 2000 Network of the Valencian Government, Wewhale, and all the spotters who helped in the detection.
The MYSTICMED project, led by the UPV and co-financed by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), focuses its research on three strategic areas: the southern Levantine-Balearic demarcation, the Alboran Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Atlantic waters off Galicia. Following the results obtained in the Marina Alta region, the next campaigns will focus on Galicia and the Strait of Gibraltar to continue monitoring these giants of the ocean.
The fin whale, listed as “Endangered” by the IUCN in the Mediterranean, plays a vital role in nutrient cycling and climate change mitigation. The data collected during this campaign will help design more effective marine species conservation measures and better understand the migratory routes of a species that chooses the Spanish coast as a passage corridor each spring.