Humpback Whales Spotted of the Gironde Coast
A rare sight in the area off the Atlantic coast near to Arcachon
The whale was spotted by fishing boat at the weekend, and although dolphins are a common sight, this was particularly unusual for the fishermen of Arcachon.
Olivier Van Canneyt of the Observatoire Pelagis in La Rochelle told Sud Ouest they get “one or two” reports of humpback whale sightings along the Atlantic coast every year but they seem to be increasing. They are typically young whales, not yet adults, looking for favourable habitats for feeding in.
One of the larger 'rorqual' species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms. Their lifespan is between 45 to 50 years.
In this situation the fishermen were able to catch some amazing footage of the whales as the played in the water close to the boat.
The Observatory records all sightings such as this and are always looking for people to send in details if they spot any type of whale, seal or dolphin. This will help them build a better picture of sea life around the French coast. You can get in touch with them on their website.
