Cruise report for a survey of cetaceans in the Azores, Portugal, conducted from R/V Song of the Whale, 5th April – 8th May 2012

Abstract

The IFAW research vessel Song of the Whale (SOTW) visited the Azores in April and May 2012 whilst en route from the UK to the USA. The aim of the visit was to build upon recent research effort on the vocalisations of both baleen and beaked whales as part of on-going work to develop acoustic detection systems. The Song of the Whale team conducted 34 days of survey effort in the Azores between 5th April and 8th May during which 10 cetacean species were encountered; bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus, blue whale Balaenoptera musculus, short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis, fin whale Balaenoptera physalus, Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus, sei whale Balaenoptera borealis, short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus, Sowerby’s beaked whale Mesoplodon bidens, sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus and striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba. Common dolphins were encountered most often and their distribution appeared to be relatively uniform. Other species were encountered less regularly, with numerous cetacean sightings being made to the south of the island of Pico; it should be noted, however, effort levels here were higher. A more detailed analysis of the acoustic data is currently underway