50 years of cetacean strandings in Chile reveal a worrying increase in Patagonia.
- Published in: Scientific Reports (Nature), 2020
- Authors: Alvarado-Rybak, M. et al. (Andrés Bello University, University of Minnesota, Whalesound, among others)
- Download the full study here
What does this study show?
For more than five decades (1968–2020), scientists collected all available records of cetacean strandings on the Chilean coastThe result was a worrying finding: stranding events have increased considerably in number and magnitude, especially in the region of Chilean Patagonia.
They identified themselves 441 stranding events, affecting 1,607 individuals of at least 35 species of cetaceans, which represents more than 85% of cetacean biodiversity registered in Chile.
Main findings
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Growing trend: strandings have increased significantly since 2008.
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Critical location: More than half of the stranded individuals were recorded in the regions of Aysén and Magallanes.
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Seasonality: The months with the most events were January, February, March and July.
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Mass events: were detected 9 mass strandings with more than 25 cetaceans involved. The largest occurred in 2015 with 367 Sei whales dead in Gulf of Penas.
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Most affected species: Sei whales, false killer whales, sperm whales, and Burmeister's porpoise.
Why does this happen?
Although the study fails to determine the exact causes of the strandings, it proposes multifactorial causes such as:
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Changes in ocean and climate conditions
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Increase in coastal human activity (fishing, maritime traffic)
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Noise pollution (sonars, explosions)
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Toxic algal blooms (like the one that caused the 2015 event)
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Increased citizen surveillance and reporting in recent years
Why is it important?
Cetaceans are sentinel species the health of marine ecosystems. Studying their strandings allows:
Detect contaminants and diseases
Evaluate the impacts of climate change
Generating early warnings for marine conservation
Key proposal of the study
The authors suggest creating a national stranding monitoring network that integrates:
Scientific institutions, Sernapesca and the Navy
Aquaculture companies as coastal observation points
Geospatial tools and temporal analysis
Conclusion
This study represents the most comprehensive analysis of cetacean strandings ever conducted in Chile. Its conclusion is clear: The events are increasing, especially in Patagonia, and must be monitored urgently and systematically..
Whalesound and its role in marine science
The experience of decades of work in the Strait of Magellan has allowed Whalesound Be an active part of this great compendium of marine biodiversity. Our work not only contributes to sustainable tourism but also to scientific knowledge of our species.
