Fin whales summering in the Pelagos Sanctuary (Mediterranean Sea): Overview of studies on habitat use and diving behaviour

Abstract

This paper presents a review and summary of data on fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) in the recently established Pelagos Sanctuary for the Conservation of Mediterranean Marine Mammals. The data presented were collected by the Tethys Research Institute during summers of 1990–1999 during a long-term study on the habitat use and preferences of fin whales in this area, described as their major feeding ground in the Mediterranean. Data on the presence, distribution, habitat use, and diving behaviour are reviewed. The data presented here emphasize the crucial role that the pelagic portion of the western Ligurian Sea plays in the ecology of Mediterranean fin whales and provide impetus for the expeditious implementation of conservation and management measures in the area.