Pod of Blue Whales Lingers off Bahia Papalote – One Caught in Fishing Net

May 6, 2024

Last week Punta Banda residents and visitors were graced with a visit by a pod of blue whales, who lingered offshore from Bahia Papalote for several days. Their spouts could be seen throughout the days by La Bufadora residents. Kayakers paddled out and found themselves surrounded by these gentle giants. The blue whales were identifiable by their tiny dorsal fins and sleek, blue-grey backs as their colossal forms rose from the ocean with explosive sprays as they exhaled mere feet from the comparatively tiny kayakers.

The whales fed on krill offshore from Bahia Papalote for 3 or 4 days, then began to head north along their migration route. Sadly, on May 1 one of the whales became entangled in a fishing net. PROFEPA was contacted and the Harbor Secretary came to free the entangled whale, according to reports on the Punta Banda Community FB page. Apparently, they were able to free the whale but were unable to remove all the netting: local kayaker Donna Sylvester reports seeing the rescue boat near the point twice on May 2, and speaking with the rescue captain, who indicated that the whale was still moving and pulling the net with it  when last sighted.

Fishing nets are one of the primary threats to the ongoing survival of blue whales. Entanglement can cause severe physical trauma, including cuts, bone deformations, or amputation of flukes. It can also restrict the whale’s ability to breathe, eat, and swim.