Migrations of Blue whales in the Eastern South Pacific connect multiple South American jurisdictions with the High Seas

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a cosmopolitan migratory species which takes part in complex migration patterns that are much less understood than other baleen whale species’ movements.

Baleen whales are traditionally understood to migrate long distances between their summer feeding and winter breeding grounds; many exceptions to this pattern have however been recorded throughout the years, such as individuals that forgo migration to take advantage of abundant resources on the feeding grounds or even records of individuals performing longitudinal inter-oceanic exchanges. A deeper understanding of migratory species and their transboundary connections is thus important to underpin regional and national management.

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a cosmopolitan migratory species which takes part in long term cyclical movements, although these are much less understood than other baleen whale species’ movements. Moreover, blue whales are the world’s largest animal – in some cases measuring more than 30 meters in length and weighing over 150 tons. The high energetic requirements of these huge animals require them to forage frequently, in contrast with other baleen whales which fast for extended periods of time. Subsequently, to meet this high energetic demand while migrating or even while nursing and breeding, their movements are thought to be influenced by oceanographic processes such as upwelling that produce abundant prey sources (Figure 1).

Understanding population distribution

One of the lesser studied blue whale populations in the world is the Eastern South Pacific (ESP) population, which is possibly (though still debated) a unique subspecies, with a distinct distribution, and migratory, genetic and acoustic patterns from the closely related Antarctic subspecies (B.m. intermedia). However, the ESP population is currently managed as part of the Antarctic subspecies. Blue whales in the Southern hemisphere greatly suffered the effects of whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries, which reduced their populations to 3% of their original numbers, and resulted in the later listing of the Antarctic subspecies as “Critically endangered” on the IUCN Redlist.

Blue whales from this population have been recorded feeding and nursing off the coast of Chilean Northern Patagonia during the austral summer. This area is considered to be one of the most important feeding and nursing ground for blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere, encompassing a complex system of glacial ice-melt and river run-off that influences phytoplankton blooms in the summer (Figure 2).

Complex migratory patterns

Similar to many marine migratory species, the migration patterns of the ESP population appear more complex than a single back and forth movement, and their migratory patterns are different from patterns observed in other blue whale populations. The presence of blue whales in the Galapagos Archipelago have been recorded for decades, but only recently have studies been able to confirm conjectures regarding their migratory behavior. Torres-Florez et al. (2015) demonstrated a direct connection when the same female was identified genetically in both the Galapagos Archipelago and the Chilean Northern Patagonia (Figure 2). Other studies also support this link through acoustic and genetic evidence although it was not until 2018 that telemetry evidence was presented showing movement of five whales migrating from the Chilean North Patagonia to the Galapagos Archipelago (Figure 3). These blue whales were tracked to their wintering ground in Galapagos confirming migration timing and the specific route used.

Further, information on their diving behavior indicated that at least one animal increased its diving-depth when approaching the Galapagos Archipelago (surpassing 330m), suggesting that foraging in mesopelagic zones might also be taking place in this wintering area. This vertical movement has also been recorded in the Southern California Bight for the Eastern North Pacific population of blue whales. Further evidence is needed to confirm use of the mesopelagic zone by the ESP population.

Finally, one of the animals swam towards Peruvian waters after visiting the Galapagos Archipelago, where blue whales have been reported consistently throughout the years, (peaking from December – March; Figure 3; Donovan 1984). Blue whales have been regularly sighted from 60 nautical miles off the coast of Peru to areas 1200 nm offshore, in areas beyond national jurisdiction, suggesting that these waters might also be important for this population. The current hypothesis is that the animals from this population travel through Peruvian waters to return to the CNP feeding ground again the following summer.

Better understanding of the complex migratory patterns of this population is needed, particularly, direct evidence of the hypothesized return migration routes. However, the existing evidence of this population of blue whales migrating, feeding, breeding and nursing in the waters of several CPPS (Comisión Permanente del Pacífico Sur) countries and adjacent areas in ABNJ, highlights the importance of developing a strong regional and transboundary management scheme. Incorporating considerations of migratory and vertical movements will be an essential step towards reducing the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on this already threatened migratory species.