Journal
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
Volume 47, Issue 2, Pages 235-248Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/00288330.2013.773919
Keywords
blue whale; distribution; foraging ground; New Zealand; Nyctiphanes australis; seabed mineral exploration and extraction; ship traffic
Categories
Funding
- OMV NZ Ltd
- NIWA
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Blue whale distribution in the Southern Hemisphere is poorly understood. Their survival is dependent on the ability to reliably encounter large aggregations of euphausiid prey. Therefore, documenting and protecting blue whale foraging grounds is fundamental to enhancing their recovery. Various data sources are compiled here to support the hypothesis that the South Taranaki Bight, between the north and south islands of New Zealand, is used as a foraging ground by blue whales for a common euphausiid prey that aggregate as a function of a nearby coastal upwelling system. The distribution of blue whales is compared with ship traffic density and the distribution of seabed mining activities in the region, and reveals close proximity between whales and these potential threats. This paper presents evidence that the South Taranaki Bight is a blue whale foraging habitat and calls for a greater understanding of their habitat use patterns to manage anthropogenic activities effectively.
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