'Whaletrack' project tracks humpback whales all the way from Arctic feeding grounds and to tropical breeding areas and back again!

Emer Keaveney, MSc Marine Biology. • 2 November 2019

Researchers at the Arctic University of Norway's (UiT) "Whaletrack" project have successfully satellite tagged humpback whales and tracked their migratory movements from Arctic feeding grounds to tropical summer breeding areas and back again and the results are astonishing!

Satellite tagged humpback whale comes close to Ireland. Photo source: O.R.C.Ireland screenshot of Whaletrack project: Arctic University of Norway. July 2019.

For the last few years, the Arctic University of Norways's "Whaletrack" project has been mapping the various aspects of whale migration and behaviour of humpback whales ( Megaptera novaengliae ) and killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) during and after their arrival to the coast and fjords of Northern Norway. In recent years, spring spawning herring have attracted overwintering whales to the area in an event described as a "whale feast", providing excellent opportunity for a research team led by Professor Audun Richardsen to conduct important research using satellite tagging, photo Identification and biopsy sampling.

Rikardsen and his research team satellite tagged ten humpback whales in the Barents Sea in September 2018 during a research expedition organised by the Institute for Marine Research. You can follow these tagged whale's migrations in real-time here.

The research team that attended the Barents Sea research cruse in September 2018. From left to right: Kjell-Arne Fagerheim (IMR), Nils Øien (IMR), Lisa Kettemer (UiT), Audun Rikardsen (UiT) and Lars Kleivane (Lkarts).

"Last year one of the whales only stayed in the Caribbean for a couple of hours, following a three month migration, before heading back north. Maybe it was happy with just a "quicky"," says professor Audun Rikardsen.

Up to six humpback whales were successfully tracked all the way to their breeding grounds off the Caribbean island Guadeloupe, where they arrive around March every year. Some come to look for their "soul-mates" while others are just looking for a "one night stand", or to give brith and rear their newborn calves.

The satellite tagging is revealing many insights into whales migratory behaviour in great detail and already the data has shown that humpbacks are using a greater area than previously estimated, with one whale venturing into Russian waters, another heading to Newfoundland, Canada and another that detoured around Iceland before heading south.

Even better, one humpback whale which was tagged in waters off Tromso, Norway was noted to come into Irish waters in 2017, passing by the south-west coast.

Now a whale called "Theresia" (83278) who was tagged by Rckadsen and his team last year has provided set the record for longest continuous track-line of a humpback whale recorded for the first time. It was seen north of Bear Island (75° North) having stopped after six months on the move. You can follow Theresia's movements live here :

Humpback whale 83278's photo I.D. of fluke and dorsal fin with longest ever recorded trick-line to and from breeding and feeding grounds. Source: Audun Rickardsen Photoraphy Facebook.

The most recent update on this individual whale is that after 300 days of tracking, Prof. Rickardsen met 83278 again in the same place he first satellite tagged her back in January. The great news is, is not only has this whale returned and been tracked full circle, it has also returned with a new calf, having given birth in the Caribbean back in May. All the way from the Dominican Republic, via Iceland and then the northern Barents Sea up to 78 degree north, this whale has guided her new calf. Along the way she has taught her calf to feed on capelin during late summer and autumn and now she is finally back in the North Norwegian fjord (Kvænangen) teaching her calf to forage on herring.

Humpback whale 83278 has returned to Northern Norway with a calf. Date: 2nd of November 2019. Photo source: Audun Rickardesen Facebook.

  • © Ocean Research & Conservation Ireland (ORCireland) and www.orcireland.ie , est. 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ocean Research & Conservation Ireland and www.orcireland.ie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.


SHARE THIS ARTICLE

by ORCA SciComm Team 5 September 2022
Bird Flu is a serious threat to Irish Gannet Colonies. ORCA SCI-COMM TEAM | 04 September 2022 ORCA Ireland are deeply concerned about the severe epidemic of bird flu of the H5N1 strain, which is highly pathogenic in cases of pelagic seabirds and has now hit seabirds in Irish waters. According to top scientists at the University College Cork (UCC), avian influenza has now reached Irish Gannet colonies. Recent reports from Irish scientists and members of the public have indicated a huge increase in the numbers of dead northern gannets off the Irish coasts. These increases in seabird deaths may be linked to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1).
by ORCA SciComm Team 14 July 2022
PCB Pollution Threatens Global Killer whale ( Orcinus orca ) Populations. ORCA SciComm Team | 14th July 2022 Global killer whale population are predicted to collapse due to pollution with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A scientific report which used individual-based models combined with globally available data on PCB concentrations found that PCB-mediated effects on reproduction and immune function threaten the longterm viability of >50% of the world’s killer whale populations.
by ORCA SciComm Team 29 April 2022
Russian Navy Trained Dolphins Deployed in Crimea ORCA SciComm Team | 29th April 2022 Russian Navy Trained Dolphins may have been deployed in Crimea, with two sea pens having been spotted at one of their bases in satellite imagery since the start of the Ukraine invasion in February, according to the US Naval Institute.
by Danielle Brennan | Communications Officer 15 March 2022
FEMALE KILLER WHALES FACE GREATER IMPACT FROM NOISE POLLUTION Danielle Brennan | Communications Officer | 15th March 2022
by ORCA SciComm Team 1 March 2022
A solitary common dolphin can speak porpoise language! ORCA SciComm Team | 1st of March 2022 A new paper published in “ Bioacoustics - The International Journal of animal sound and its Recording ” has detailed how a solitary common dolphin in Scotland has learned to speak porpoise language!
by ORCA SciComm Team 4 February 2022
Iceland to end whaling in 2024 with drop in demand for whale meat. ORCA SciComm Team | 4th February 2022 Iceland have announced an end to commercial whale hunts in 2024, after a government minister commented there was "little justification for the practice". Whaling in Iceland is no longer profitable, due to a decrease in the consumption of whale meat and since Japan re-commenced whaling operations after a three decade hiatus in 2019.
by ORCA SciComm Team 25 January 2022
RUSSIAN MILITARY TESTS THREATEN WHALES IN IRISH WATERS ORCA SciComm Team | 25th of January 2022
by ORCA SciComm Team 11 December 2021
Shell Oil & Gas Seismic Surveys Threaten Whales off South Africa ORCA SCI-COMM TEAM | 11th of December 2021 Across the globe there is public outrage due to the planned seismic surveys to search for oil and gas deposits off South Africa's Wild Coast by energy company Shell. Environmental NGO's, Human Rights Organisations and local fishing communities are trying to stop the seismic surveys through litigation, due to the harmful impact seismic surveys can have on marine wildlife. South Africa is home to 37 species of whales and dolphins, but these anthropogenic activities threaten the survival of wild whales off Africa's south coast. Let's dive deeper to investigate what seismic surveys are and how they can harm whales!
by ORCA SciComm Team 9 December 2021
How to Create a Sustainable Wardrobe! ORCA SciComm Team - 9th December '21 The idea of creating a sustainable or ethical wardrobe from scratch is, without a doubt a challenging task. You may not be able to wear the brands you are used to, limiting your choices in terms of trends, not to mention having to spend a little more than you would normally. All of these are valid concerns, but creating a sustainable wardrobe isn't as hard as you may think. Read on to find out tips and tricks to help you transition from a "fast fashion" foe to a "slow fashion" soul sista!
by ORCA SciComm Team 4 December 2021
Russian “Whale Jail” finally Abolished. ORCA SciComm Team | 3rd of December 2021 The incommodious confined pens in Russia’s infamous “Whale Jail” have finally been abolished to ensure marine mammals will not be held in these captive facilities in the future!
Show More