The Humpback Whale Project was created in 1988 aiming to protect this particular species in the Abrolhos region, most important breeding ground of the species in the South Atlantic Ocean. The Humpback Whale Institute is a non-government and no profit organization and was created in 1996 aiming to give administrative and financial support to the Project as well as helping with the development of social and educational activities in local coastal communities

On the north coast of Bahia the Institute has been developing activities since 2000 with the objective to research the number of humpback whales as well as evaluate reproductive activity by the species in the region. The main research guidelines developed by the Project are photo-identification, behavioural studies, generic and pollution analysis, monitoring of whale watching activities, registry and rescue of stranded animals, population estimates and distribution of humpback whales in the region and studies of the River Dolphin.

Characteristics of the Species

(Megaptera novaeangliae) – The Humpback Whale is a cosmopolitan species, spread to all oceans. They are migratory animals that travel annually from their feeding area in high latitudes to breeding ground in the tropics and sub-tropics. They breed and give birth in the warm waters of Brazil, while spending summer in the proximities of Antarctica, feeding on krill – a small type of crustacean. They can measure up to 16 meters in length and weigh up to 40 tons. They are easily recognized by their large white pectoral fins, which are 1/3 of the animal’s total body length. After a pregnancy of approximately 11 months, they give birth to a single calf that will feed for almost a whole year. In general an adult humpback whale gives birth every 3 years only. The calf is born about 3 meters in length and can weigh up to 3 tons. It will drink approximately 200 liters of milk a day.

Hunting V Tourism

It was in 1987 that hunting was prohibited in Brazil after more than a decade of campaigning, when organizations finally defended the whales and turned against the interest of many entrepreneurs and politicians related to the whale hunting industry. The old concept that a whale was only valuable dead was substituted by the recognition of the whale’s ecological importance and its value as an important source of income to the tourism industry. Nowadays whale watching tourism results in the generation of economical benefits to the local communities in the region where the activity occurs, valuing whale preservation as a live natural resource.

According to the IUCN and the Action Plan for Marine Mammals in Brazil (IBAME – 97/2001), the humpback whale is listed as threatened of extinction (IBAMA Decree 1522 of 10/12/1989). Of the original population estimated in over 250 thousand in all oceans only approximately 35 thousand are left today.

The Institute and the activity of Whale Watching

On the one hand whale watching can be an efficient tool in the preservation of the species, creating economical value to their protection and generating environmental education, however it is necessary that monitoring of the activity remains constant in order to ensure animals are not disturbed, especially the calves, as the activity happens in a reproduction zone.

The main objectives of the Humpback Whale Institute in this activity are:

Develop and maximize responsible tourism directly related to the conservation of the species in its natural habitat. Allow monitoring and orientation of whale watching vessels. Collect scientific data. Act on environmental information and education and generate economical benefits to local communities.

Humpback Whale Behaviours to be observed

	Tail up: One of these behaviors precedes the dive and in the other the whale keeps its head down and remains in this position during a period of time that can vary between a few minutes and many hours.
	Pectoral fin exposition: Observed when a whale positions the body sideways, moving the pectoral fin up and down repetitively or turning it over itself, alternating and flipping the right and left pectoral fin.
	Spy hopping: The head is lifted vertically on the surface with the eyes above the line of the water.
	Lob tailing or Tail fluke slap: The animal is observed in a dorsal or vertical position (always with the head completely below the surface) with the tail high and slapping back and forth on the surface.
	Breach: The whale projects 2/3 or more of its total body length out of the water. Generally a total or partial rotation of the body occurs in a vertical direction.
	Rest: A behavior observed when the whale is resting, that is, practically doing no activity, breathing on the surface allowing the sighting of the blow hole and dorsal region.