March 21st-23rd, Cadiz, Spain. CW Azores founder, Enrico Villa and company biologist, Justin Hart attend the European Cetacean Society Conference, presenting CW's first published piece of research; a poster entitled 'Fin whales feeding on Northern krill off Pico Island (Azores) during spring migration'. Our first steps into research, the poster represents an important milestone for the company and its research aims. It is well received, attracting comments and interest.

The CW Azores poster presentation.

The European Cetacean Society (ECS) was established in January 1987 and aims to promote and advance the scientific studies and conservation efforts of marine mammals and to gather and disseminate information about cetaceans to members of the Society and the public at large. This year's talks revolved around the theme of the conference 'Long-term datasets on marine mammals: learning from the past to manage the future'.

 

 

 

Cadiz, the location of the 2011 European Cetacean Society Conference (photos by Justin Hart/CW Azores).

Our poster contributed to the limited but increasing growth in knowledge concerning the use of the North Atlantic by the baleen whales and their movements within the ocean. Every spring baleen whales pass close to the Azores on their migration to more northerly feeding grounds. Our positive identification of the krill that was being fed upon by the whales in spring 2010 was a noteworthy first from the Azores. It also helped to highlight both the opportunistic feeding behaviour of migrating baleen whales as well as the potential importance of the Azorean archipelago as a temporary feeding ground.

 

Delegates from the ECS conference take a break inbetween talks and Enrico gets a chance to discuss CW's poster (photos by Justin Hart/CW Azores).  

2010 was a special year. Very high levels of chlorophyll-a early in spring promoted super-blooms of primary and subsequent secondary plankton (such as krill), see Blog entry May 15th 2010 'Ocean Arithmetic', and these fed many passing whales. Blue whales, Fin whales, Sei whales and Humpback whales were seen in unusually high numbers and in turn forged what was to be a spectacular whale watching season. 

Until recently local data has shown a steady warming of the oceans around the Azores and consequent decline in chlorophyll-a production each spring. However, the latest data suggests the pattern has reversed and a cooling trend now prevails. This should promote greater spring blooms of plankton and better feeding opportunities for the whales. If true, it will surely make for spectacular whale watching and let's hope another great spring passage to remember in 2011.

CW Azores Research: it's not about us it's about them; cetaceans, seabirds, marine life.