MUSCAT: A field study for tracking the Arabian Sea Humpback Whale via satellite in Al Wusta Governorate registered 11 sightings of a humpback whale, 4 sightings of a Bryde’s whale and 1 sighting of an Indian Ocean humpback dolphin.
The study, conducted by a team from the Environment Authority, aims to assess the risks of bycatch and reduce ship accidents as well as learning more about whale migration paths and habitats.
The study was carried out in Masirah Bay via satellite during the mating season of the current year in cooperation with a group of internationally accredited experts to install tracking chips. The Ocean Alliance took part in the study by installing tracking devices with visible sensors. Experts from Environment Authority and experts from Future Seas Company which is undertaking fieldwork and data analysis.
The team installed a tracking chip on Arabian Sea humpback whales which is one of the whales that was sighted for the first time in November last year in the same area. This helped understand the behaviour and movement of the whale for a period between one month and 6 months while determining its location with an accuracy of up to hundreds metres up to 5 times per day.
In addition, the team installed 4 devices with additional sensors that last 8 hours which help record the whale’s diving characteristics by watching the whale’s movement and hearing the singing sounds it produces. The Arabian Sea humpback whale is considered the most unique and rare with only about 100 whales having been sighted. — ONA
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