report of activities in 2009 - Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES IN 2009
PROTECTING WHALES AND THEIR
ENVIRONMENT
Argentina:Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas 011-54-11-4785-6009 / [email protected]
USA: Whale Conservation Institute 801-581-8478 / [email protected]
INDEX
Research
Aerial photographic surveys to monitor the right whale population at Península Valdés
1
Aerial survey data analyzed through 2008
2
Monitoring the frequency of kelp gull attacks on right whales and participating in a management
meeting
2
The Southern Right Whale Health Monitoring Program in its 7th year
3
Evaulating the health of mothers and calves by recording how long they hold their breath
4
Genetics and the foraging behavior of right whales
5
Pilot flight of a remote controlled camera for aerial observtions of whales
5
Collaboration with the Alfaguara Project in Chile
6
Julieta Martino and Carina Marón, doctoral students and ICB researchers
7
Participation in IWC Scientific Committee meetings in Madeira, Portugal
8
Participation in Scientific Conferences and Meetings
9
Publications and presentations at scientific meetings
11
Education and Outreach
“A Little Giant needs your help”, a Campaign
12
Publication of Roger Payne’s talk “Is there a future for whales?”
13
The Education Program “Bringing whales to your school”
13
Talks presented by Dr. Mariano Sironi at National and Foreign Universities
14
Participation in the 2nd meeting “To Communicate about Sustainable Development”
15
An ICB Photograph wins First Prize in a British Contest
15
ICB in the Media
16
Social Networks and ICB on the Internet
18
Our Channels of Communication: Lista Franca and Lista Franca Junior.
18
Conservation
ICB joins the “Forum for the Conservation of the Patagonian Seas and Areas of Influence”
19
A Collaboration to create a new law to regulate whale watching and to obtain licenses to operate
whale-watch boats
19
An Ocean free of Whaling, ICB participated in International Whaling Commission meetings where it
promoted the end of whaling
21
Joining forces regionally to promote whale conservation
22
The Group of Buenos Aires
23
Coordination of the request to reject Japan’s killing of whales
23
Participation in the International Whale Network coordinated by the PEW Charitable Trust
24
Voluntary Enlistment
The common good motivates them, the environment and the whales unite them
24
Volunteers and the Team in action
25
INDICE
Fund Raising
New challenges… awakening ingenuity and strengthening bonds
28
Individual Donations
28
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The Right Whale Adoption Program, people’s commitment makes the difference!!
28
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Give Hope
30
Donations and Agreements with Companies
ƒ
A Giant needs your Help
30
31
Donations from International Foundations
32
Donations and services received from the Government
32
Financial Report
Income - Cash and In-kind Contributions
33
Distribution of Income and Expenses
34
Grateful Acknowledgements
Organizations and Institutions
35
Companies
36
Individuals
36
RIGHT WHALE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN 2009
WHALE CONSERVATION INSTITUTE/INSTITUTO DE
CONSERVACION DE BALLENAS
Research
AERIAL SURVEYS TO PHOTOGRAPHICALLY MONITOR THE POPULATION OF
SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES AT PENÍNSULA VALDÉS, ARGENTINA
The crew of the Porter Pilatus including officers
Carlos Falcone, Fernando Gigena and Martín
Baumgartner, and assistant officers José Tolaba
and Jorge Noell and WCI/ICB researchers John
Atkinson, Mariano Sironi and Marcos Ricciardi.
On September 22-23, 2009 we conducted our
39th year of aerial surveys of the right whales
at Península Valdés with the assistance of the
Argentine Armada through an agreement established
between the Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas
and the Armada in 2002. The Armada team that
flew the Porter Pilatus in 2009 included officers
Carlos Falcone, Fernando Gigena and Martín
Baumgartner, and assistant officers José Tolaba and
Jorge Noell. As always, each member of the team
was exemplary in their professionalism both in the
air and on the ground and continued to make a
significant contribution to the work of photoidentifying the whales during the flight and
improving the safety for all on board compared to
earlier years when surveys were conducted using a
small CESSNA. Diego Taboada coordinated the
logistics of the surveys, John Atkinson and Mariano
Sironi were the photographers and notetakers with
the assistance of volunteers Sofía Benegas and
Marcos Ricciardi.
The two days of surveys were sunny with little
wind, and we took over 6,500 photographs of all
whales sighted along the perimeter of Península
Valdés, between Puerto Lobos and Punta Ninfas in
the mouth of Golfo Nuevo. These photographs
show the distinctive pattern of callosities on each
whale’s head. Vicky Rowntree and Cari Maron will
later analyze the photographs at the University of
Utah to determine which individuals were present
at the Peninsula in 2009. During the 2009 survey,
we counted 530 whales including 241 calves. More
mothers and calves were counted than any other
age class and many more whales were counted in
Golfo Nuevo than in Golfo San Jose.
We found Asterisk during the survey, the whale on
the cover of the report. She was named for pattern
of white marks on her back. In 2009 she was at least 31 years old and accompanied by her 6th calf.
Another whale had a rope around its tail stock (see photo above). In 2004 we photographed a
young whale with a similar type of rope entanglement that had wounded its tail. A comparison of
the callosity patterns of these two whales showed they were two separate animals. These types of
1
observations of known individuals allow us to monitor the impact of human activities on the whales
and show the importance of continuing the surveys to minimize the consequences of man-made
disturbance to the health of the animals.
The thousands of photographs of individual whales that comprise our database allow us
to create life histories of many individual whales and determine the population’s size,
growth rate and health.
AERIAL SURVEYS DATA UPDATED THROUGH 2008!
Vicky Rowntree, Director of the Right Whale Program of the Whale Conservation Institute/Ocean
Alliance and Cari Marón, right whale researcher with the Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas
(WCI/OA’s counterpart in Argentina) completed the analysis of aerial survey data from 2003-2008
A photograph showing the names of
the callosities on a right whale’s head
that are used to tell individual whales
apart. The number, shape and
placement of the callosities are
different in each individual, as can be
seen in these two whales.
at the University of Utah with support from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
Previous models of the population were based on data from 1971-2002 but now with eight more
years of data, our population modeler, Justin Cooke will make a new estimate based on 38 years of
data. The new model will allow us to reassess the size and growth rate of the population and
investigate the effect of the high mortalities of calves in recent years. With the updating of the
aerial surveys our catalogue now contains over 2,600 known individuals!
MONITORING THE FREQUENCY OF KELP GULL ATTACKS ON RIGHT
WHALES AND PARTICIPATING IN A MANAGEMENT MEETING
% intervalos 5 min con ataques
Kelp Gulls eat the skin and
Frecuencia de ataque en el Observatorio del Golfo San Jose y en Playa La
blubber of living right whales at
Adela / Punta Piramide del Golfo Nuevo
40
Península Valdés, altering the
whales’ normal behavior,
interrupting nursing and
30
reducing the amount of time
the whales spend resting and
20
increasing their swimming
speeds. WCI/ICB have
collected data on the frequency
10
of gull attacks on the whales
since 1995 and thus have been
monitoring this problem
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
systematically and for longer
Obs GSJ
La Adela / Piramide
than any other organization in
Lineal (La Adela / Piramide)
Lineal (Obs GSJ)
Argentina. We provide annual
updates of the data to governmental authorities responsible for wildlife management and
conservation to assist them in developing the most effective strategies for reducing the frequency
of gull attacks on the whales and the effects that the attacks are having on the whales. The long
2
data base on attack frequencies will allow us to document the success or failure of managment
procedures that might be implemented.
In September of 2009, under the direction of
Mariano Sironi and Vicky Rowntree, ICB volunteers
and researchers María Laura Marcías, Lorena
Barranco, Macarena Agrelo, Lucrecia Lipoma,
Carolina Ulvedal, Ricardo Giuffra and Julieta
Martino recorded the frequency of gull attacks from
two different observation sites at the Península.
They followed 134 mother/calf pairs and recorded
934 gull attacks. The gulls attacked the whales in
21% of the 5-minute intervals they were followed
in Golfo San José and in 23% of the intervals in
Golfo Nuevo. The graph shows the changes in
frequency of gull attacks from 1995 through 2009.
At both sites, gull attack frequency was 12% in
1995 which doubled to a mean of 23.3% in Golfo
San José and 24% at Punta Piramide in Golfo Nuevo in 2007-2009.
On September 28, 2009 Mariano Sironi participated in a technical meeting at Centro Nacional
Patagónico (a national research center based in Puerto Madryn). The meeting was convened by
the Director of Fauna y Flora Silvestres de Chubut and included representatives from the
government and all of the environmental NGOs (non-governmental organizations) that are working
in the region. During the meeting it was agreed that a group of researchers should conduct a pilot
project of gull removal to reduce the impact the birds were having on the behavior and health of
the right whales at Península Valdés.
THE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE HEALTH MONITORING PROGRAM
CONDUCTED ITS 7TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR OF RESEARCH
WCI/ICB continued its collaboration with
other local NGOs (the Wildlife
Conservation Society, Fundación
Patagonia Natural and Fundación
Ecocentro) to conduct the seventh field
season of the Southern Right Whale
Health Monitoring Program (SRWHMP)
which examines the whales that die
along the coast of Península Valdés. The
Program is directed by Marcela Uhart
(WCS) and Vicky Rowntree (WCI/OA)
with the assistance of Mariano Sironi
(ICB). The Field Coordinator is
veterinarian Andrea Chirife.
Mariano Sironi (ICB), Marcela Uhart (WCS), Vicky Rowntree
(WCI), Andrea Chirife and Nicolás Acosta (SRWHMP) with
the truck that was purchased through generous donations
to the SRWHMP.
Examining the health of each
whale that dies is essential for
understanding the health of the
population
More right whales die at Península Valdés each year than anywhere else in the world. The
information generated by this study is important for understanding the causes for death of all right
whale populations and could be critically important for the northern hemisphere populations where
3
Number of dead whales
only 500-600 whales remain. A broad stranding network
of over 80 people reports most of the strandings.
Others are found by cliff-top surveys of beaches in
regions where the whales concentrate or through aerial
surveys. The date when every dead whale is found is
recorded along with its age and location. If the whale is
accessible, its body is photographed, examined
externally for signs of injury or wounds and measured.
A complete necropsy is conducted, if the body is in fresh
enough condition, and many tissue samples are
collected for later analyses to determine pathologies,
health status, evidence of toxins or pollutants, genetic haplotype and foraging locations. The
analyses are revealing interesting new information about the behavior, distribution and population
dynamics. Hopefully they will allow us to determine the causes for the recent high calf mortalities.
So far, many analyses have been performed but no consistent cause of death has been found
despite the efforts of some of the world’s best wildlife veterinarians. In 2009, 79 whales died at
Península Valdés, 91% of which were calves. A complete technical report of the SRWHMP in 2009 is
available upon request.
100
Calves
Juveniles
Adults
80
Number of dead right whales recorded at
Península Valdés from 1971-2009 (from
the 2009 Report of the SRWHMP). The
high mortalities in 2005 and 2007-2009
are of great concern.
60
40
20
2007
2004
2001
1998
1995
1992
1989
1986
1983
1980
1977
1974
1971
0
EVALUATING THE BODY CONDITION OF RIGHT WHALE MOTHERS AND
CALVES BY MONITORING HOW LONG THEY HOLD THEIR BREATHS
Vicky Rowntree continued to evaluate the
body condition and health of the living right
whales at Península Valdés in 2009.
Assuming that whales that hold their
breaths for longer periods of time are in
better physical shape (as is true for
humans), Vicky follows individual
mother/calf pairs for about 45 minutes and
keeps a records of the time of every blow
(exhalation) of a mother or her calf. As well
as recording the time of blows, she keeps a
continuous record of the whales’ behavior,
and notes the size of the calf and the height
of the roll of fat behind the mothers’
blowholes. A high neck roll indicates that a
mother has enough blubber reserves to feed
its calf through the nursery season, a period
when the whales are primarily fasting.
The cumulative record of the time intervals between each
blow of all mothers in a year. Each line represents a
different year of the study. The differences in breath
holding ability between years are particularly broad for
blow intervals lasting 1-3 minutes.
4
The graph shows the data collected from 1997-2009 and the finding that mothers held their
breaths for shorter periods of time in 2008 and 2009 compared to other years, indicating that they
may have been in poorer body condition. This difference could indicate that the high calf mortalities
in those years could be related to their mother’s body condition.
GENETICS AND THE FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF THE PENÍNSULA VALDÉS
RIGHT WHALES
After defending his doctoral thesis, Dr. Luciano Valenzuela, research scientist with ICB and the
University of Utah, published one of the principal results of his doctoral research on the genetics
and stable isotopes in skin samples collected from right whales at Península Valdés. His article
titled Isotopic and genetic evidence for culturally inherited site fidelity to feeding grounds in
southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) generated many responses in the worlds’ media and
press.
Right whales show site fidelity to their nursery grounds in winter and spring, but where they travel
to feed on massive quantities of copepods and
krill remains unknown. A combination of genetic
and stable isotope analyses from 131 skin
biopsies show that the whales from Península
Valdés also show site fidelity to their feeding
grounds and that calves inherit their foraging
locations from their mothers. This “conservatism”
in use of feeding grounds could limit the
exploration of new areas and could explain why
this population has fewer calves than expected in
years following sea surface temperature
anomalies such as El Niño events, that raise the
water temperatures off South Georgia and
reduce krill abundance. Four right whales
previously identified at Península Valdés have
been resighted feeding off the Island of South
Georgia, the area in the western South Atlantic
Dr. Luciano Valenzuela processing a biopsy
with the highest abundance of krill in the
sample of skin from a right whale at Península
Southern Ocean and one of the major feeding
Valdés.
grounds for all whales in the South Atlantic.
PILOT FLIGHT OF A REMOTE-CONTROLLED CAMERA FOR AERIAL OBSERVATIONS
OF WHALES
Aerial surveys are recognized throughout the world as
the best way to estimate the abundance, growth rate
and the distribution of right whale populations. Other
wildlife researcher use similar techniques for studying
populations of wild animals such as elephants and
giraffes. The costs and dangers to human life associated
with the use of small pilot operated airplanes and
helicopters are high and only a few governments and
organizations can afford to conduct these very necessary
surveys.
A robotic camera developed by researchers at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
5
Researcher Daniela Rus of the Massachussetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) in collaboration with
Dr. Roger Payne (Whale Conservation Institute) and
MIT students Daniel Gurdan and Jan Stumpf,
developed a remote controlled flying camera system
that will fly over the whales, take identification
photographs and allow observations of whale
behavior without the need to have human pilots and
photographers in the air, thus greatly reducing the
danger and costs of such surveys.
The images obtained during a pilot
trial over the PV right whales to
adjust and perfect the system.
An image of a right whale taken by the
robotic camera. The red dots are used to
mark the silhouette of the whale and the
location of callosities.
ICB assisted in a pilot trial of the flying camera at
Península Valdés. It runs on batteries which makes it
very quiet and causes no disturbance to the animals
it is photographing. Once the flyng camera is fully
developed, it can be used not only to study the right
whales at Valdés, but also for studies of elephant
seals, guanacos and other species, as well as for
other studies requiring aerial observations that are of
interest to researchers and government agencies.
COLLABORATION WITH THE ALFAGUARA PROJECT (BLUE WHALE) IN CHILE
Since 2004, the Centro de Conservación Cetacea (CCC) of Chile has had great success in
developing the Alfaguara (Blue Whale) Project in the waters to the northeast of Chiloé Island. This
region of the Southeastern Pacific is an important feeding ground for a variety of species of whales
and has the biggest abundance of blue whales in the Southern Hemisphere, its protection is critical
to the conservation of this emblematic species.
In February of 2009, both organizations began a new scientific collaboration when Dr. Mariano
Sironi, Scientific Director of ICB, was invited by CCC to participate as a researcher on CCC’s Blue
Whale Study in Chiloé. Together with
Bárbara Galletti and Elsa Cabrera, who
developed the Project Alfaguara, they
worked with assistance of research
associates Dr. Robert Brownell of the
Southwest Fisheries Center (NOAA) and Dr.
Carole Carlson of the Center for Coastal
Studies, both US researchers who are well
recognized for their research and
conservation work on cetaceans.
For the past six years, the Instituto
de Conservacion de Ballenas and
CCC have worked together on a
variety of marine conservation
projects in Latin America
Blue whale (Photo: Elsa Cabrera – CCC).
6
Blue whales can be individually identified by the pattern of mottled pigmentation on the sides of
their bodies near the dorsal fin. The primary purpose of the Alfaguara Project of CCC since its
inception, has been to photo-identify and
record the dates and locations of individual blue
whales encountered in the area. To date, the
catalogue has 250 known individuals. In
February, research objectives expanded to
collecting skin biopsies of the whales for genetic
identification. This was a total challenge given
that these ocean giants have such fast
swimming speeds and rapid evasive behavior,
and their preference for living in the open
ocean where the waves are high. Nevertheless,
the result of long days by the team of
researchers from CCC and ICB was the
collection of the first 12 skin biopsies from blue
whales from the waters northeast of the Island
Mariano Sironi and Bárbara Galetti processing a skin
of Chiloé, which will be analyzed to determine
biopsy sample from a blue whale of Chiloe (Photo:
Elsa Cabrera – CCC).
the genetic composition of this population
CARINA MARÓN AND JULIETA MARTINO, ICB RESEARCHERS AND DOCTORAL
STUDENTS
Best wishes to Cari Maron as she
begins her career as a graduate
student studying the nutrition of the
right whales at Península Valdés!
We would like to introduce Carina Marón, a graduate from
the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina and an ICB
researcher. In 2009 Cari became a graduate student in the
Department of Biology at the University of Utah, working
under the direction of Vicky Rowntree, Mariano Sironi and
four faculty members that compose her graduate
committee. Cari is interested in studying the feeding ecology
of the right whales at Península Valdés, and in creating a
better understanding of the nutritional properties of whales’
primary prey - copepods and krill. Cari describes the
hypothesis of her research as follows: “the nutritional state
of the Patagonian right whale population could be one of the
reasons why so many right whale calves have died at
Península Valdés in recent years. We know that right whales
have fewer calves than expected in years when krill
abundance is reduced on the whales’ feeding grounds off
South Georgia. The whales also feed on copepods on the
Patagonian Shelf, but the nutritional value and the
abundance of this prey item has not been investigated. In
my research I will collect samples of the predominant
copepod species found in at least 3 different locations along
the Patagonian Shelf and compare their nutritional value
and abundance to those in krill, whose values have already
been determined.”
Part of Cari’s research will involve comparing the fatty acids, C/N ratios and caloric value of
copepods and krill to evaluate which is a better food resource for the whales. Some fatty acids
(essential fatty acids) that are important for gestation and lactation cannot be made by mothers
but come only from their diet. The mothers store essential fatty acids in their blubber and transfer
them to their calves through milk while nursing. These essential fatty acids have been found in
krill, but there are no studies on fatty acid analysis in Patagonian copepod species. Cari will also
7
examine the blubber collected from the calves that died at the Peninsula to determine whether
their mothers fed primarily on copepods or krill.
ICB researcher Julieta Martino, on the
other hand, is completing her third year of
doctoral research in Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology at the University of
Southern Maine, in the United States. In
2009 she passed her comprehensive exams
and has begun her doctoral research. Under
the direction of Dr. John Wise, professor of
Toxicology and Molecular Epidemiology, she
is investigating how metals damage cells in
a variety of species of cetaceans. She is
specifically interested in how metals may
damage the genetic material and the cell
cycle and how these changes relate to
carcinogenesis.
The laboratory in which Julieta is working
Julieta is specializing in studies of toxicology of
focuses on studies of how metals, such as
cetaceans for her doctoral degree.
chromium, cause lung cancer. Part of her
thesis is a comparison of marine mammal
and human cells. Her data show that some species of marine mammals, such as bowhead whales
(cousins of right whales) have very low levels of genetic damage when exposed to carcinogenic
metals. Another interesting characteristic of this species is that they have a very low incidence of
tumors. Julieta is studying the mechanisms at the cellular level that are responsible for this
resistance.
In addition to her thesis research, Juieta is collaborating on a project financed by NASA that will
assist governmental organizations establish occupational exposure limits for astronauts that go on
lunar missions.
PARTICIPATION IN SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS HELD BY THE INTERNATIONAL
WHALING COMMISSION AND OTHERS
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) is an organization of over 80 countries whose
members decide the future of the use and conservation of the worlds’ whale and dolphin
populations. The presence of Latin American countries, including Argentina, in the IWC has been
fundamental in strengthening the block of conservationist nations who work to put a stop to the
commercial interests of Japan and their allies in favor of killing whales.
The annual meeting of the IWC in 2009 was held on the Portuguese Island of Madeira. Thanks to
the help of the Cetacean Society International, Animal Welfare Institute, the World Society for the
Protection of Animals and the Centro de Conservación Cetacea – Chile, Dr. Mariano Sironi attended
the meeing of the Scientific Committee which occurs just before the Plenary Meeting of the IWC.
Mariano presented the results of three research projects on the right whales at Península Valdés
that were conducted in collaboration with researchers from a variety of institutions in Argentina and
the United States and one paper on the blue whales of Chiloé in collaboration with the Centro de
Conservación Cetacea. The papers were presented in the Whalewatching (WW), Bowhead - Right –
Gray Whale (BRG) and the Environmental Concerns (E) sub-committees .
8
One of the presented papers updated the continuing high mortalities of right whale at
Península and raised concern among the international scientific community. As a
consequence, the IWC included the right whale population at Península Valdés as a
priority for research and conservation.
The committee report stated that: “The databases developed by research projects in Argentina and
Brazil are the longest for this southern right whale population, and have been highlighted as very
relevant to monitor the population dynamics and health of the species. For this reason, and given
the situation described in the previous papers, the sub-committee strongly recommends the
uninterrupted continuation of the monitoring surveys of the population off the east coast of South
America.”
The attendance of representatives from official delegations of conservationist countries,
non-governmental organizations that fight to protect the world’s whales, and researchers
that study whales using non-lethal techniques at IWC meetings, becomes more urgent
each year. These meetings decide whether thousands of whales will be transformed into
meat for human consumption by Japanese industries, or whether humans will be allowed
to enjoy the whales presence in the oceans.
In February of 2009, Mariano Sironi was
invited by the Centro de Conservación
Cetacea of Chile to participate in an
International Seminar on Responsible
Whalewatching in Ancud, during Blue
Whale Week. He spoke in the session on
“Research for Conservation: how we study
whales to understand their conservation
needs”. Mariano especially thanks Elsa
Cabrera, Bárbara Galletti and all of the
members of the Centro de Conservación
Cetacea of Chile for their unequaled
hospitality. He also thanks the people of
Puñihuil and Ancud and congratulates
them for their efforts to protect the
Members of the Subcommittee on Whalewatching at the
end of the 2009 IWC meeting on the Island of Madeira.
culture and natural history of the Isla
Grande of Chiloé.
In March of 2009, Mariano participated in a technical meeting of the Southern Ocean Research
Partnership (SORP) that was held by the Australian Government. The Southern Ocean Research
Partnership is “an integrated, collaborative, non-lethal
whale research consortium that aims to maximize
conservation outcomes of Southern Ocean whales
through an understanding of the status, health,
dynamics and environmental linkages of their
populations and the threats they face.” The objectives of
this partnership are to establish a framework for
integrated and collaborative research that is strategically
based on international research efforts in response to
the needs of the Scientific Committee of the
International Whaling Commission. The workshop was
Rodrigo García (OCC Uruguay), Miguel Iñíguez (Fundación
Cethus – Argentina), Bárbara Galletti (CCC – Chile),
Karina Groch (PBF – Brasil) and Mariano Sironi (ICB)
during the SORP meeting in Sydney, Australia.
9
held in the National Maritime Museum in Sydney and included researchers and specialists from
Argentina, Australia, Brasil, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Italy, México, New Zealand, Perú,
South Africa and the United States. The result of the meeting was a preliminary proposal for nonlethal research of whales that was presented at the annual meeting of the IWC in Madeira.
In February of 2009, Vicky Rowntree attended an IWC workshop in Siena, Italy that discussed
‘Cetaceans and Climate Change’. The meeting of 30 people was held in a monastery, Certosa di
Pontignano owned by the
University of Siena. Regions and
species that were considered
included the Southern
Hemisphere (humpback and
Southern right whales), the
Pacific Arctic Region (bowhead
and eastern North Pacific gray
whales), waters offshore West
Greenland (bowhead, minke,
beluga and narwhal), and
cetaceans in the riverine and
shallow waters of Bangladesh
(Ganges River and Irrawaddy
dolphin). The Patagonian right
whales’ calving failures in years
IWC workshop on Cetaceans and Climate Change was held at the
of low krill abundance makes
Certosa di Pontignano Monastery in Siena, Italy.
them important indicator species
for climate change. The melting of ice sheets due to global warming reduces the ice algae that is
the food source for the larval stages of krill, and important prey species for right whales.
The Southern Ocean Working group (SWG) section of meeting emphasized in the report “the great
value of long-term datasets and recommended that funding be provided to ensure their
continuation. In particular, the SWG recommended emphasis on cetacean studies that allow
comparisons between contrasting regions where data on a wide range of ecosystem components
are available. The SWG noted that regionally comparative studies on southern right whales and
humpback whales from Eastern Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia are likely to
be particularly informative, and recommended their continued development and implementation.
The SWG recommended that studies on humpback and southern right whales in these regions be
developed, with a focus on determining measurable responses to climate change in these
contrasting environments.” Statements such as these in IWC reports are instrumental in focusing
governmental attention on existing problems and in directing funds toward recommended actions.
In October, Vicky Rowntree and Luciano Valenzuela attended the XVIII Biennial Conference of
the Society for Marine Mammalogy in Quebec, Canada. This conference is the biggest
scientific meeting in the world devoted to research on whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions, polar
bears and manatees. The topics discussed are incredibly diverse and include acoustics, anatomy,
behavior, conservation, ecology, genetics, neurobiology, strandings, pathology and evolution. The
studies are presented in plenary sessions as talks or posters. ICB and OA made presentations at
the meeting including an oral presentation by Luciano Valenzuela on Site fidelity to feeding grounds
in southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) revealed by combined isotopic and genetic evidence,
and many posters on the results of the Voyage of the Odyssey presented by members of Ocean
Alliance and John Wise’s laboratory at the University of Southern Maine.
10
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS IN 2009
The following papers were published or presented at scientific meetings by the research team from
the Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas / Whale Conservation Institute IN 2009:
Valenzuela LO, Sironi M, Rowntree VJ, Seger J. 2009. Site fidelity to feeding grounds in
southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) revealed by combined isotopic and
genetic evidence. Oral presentation. 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine
Mammals, Quebec, Canada. 12-16 October 2009
Valenzuela, Sironi, Rowntree, Seger. 2009. Isotopic and genetic evidence for culturally
inherited site fidelity to feeding grounds in southern right whales (Eubalaena
australis). Molecular Ecology 18(5): 782-791
Sironi, M. Rowntree, V.J., Snowdon, C.T., Valenzuela, L. and C. Marón. 2009. Kelp Gulls (Larus
dominicanus) feeding on southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) at Península
Valdés, Argentina: updated estimates and conservation implications. SC/61/BRG19
presented to the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee, Portugal, June
2009 (unpublished). [Available from the IWC Office]. 12pp
Sironi, M., Leske, N., Rivera, S., Taboada, D. and R. Schteinbarg. 2009. New regulations for
sustainable whalewatching at Península Valdés, Argentina. Paper SC/61/WW10
presented to the International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee, Portugal, June
2009 (unpublished). [Available from the IWC Office]. 10pp.
Uhart, M., Rowntree, V.J, Sironi, M., Chirife, A, Mohamed, N., Pozzi, L., Franco, M., and D.
McAloose. 2009. Continuing southern right whale mortality events at Península
Valdés, Argentina. SC/61/BRG18 presented to the International Whaling Commission
Scientific Committee, Portugal, June 2009 (unpublished). [Available from the IWC Office].
10pp
Galletti Vernazzani, B., Cabrera, E., Carlson, C., Sironi, M. and R. Brownell Jr. Blue Whales off
Isla de Chiloé, Chile: update of the 2009 field research season from Alfaguara
Project. SC/61/SH22 presented to the International Whaling Commission Scientific
Committee, Portugal, June 2009 (unpublished). [Available from the IWC Office]. 2pp
11
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
CAMPAIGN: “A SMALL GIANT NEEDS YOUR HELP”
From May 29th to June 6th, ICB
carried out a campaign in the city of
Buenos Aires with a full sized replica of a
right whale made by the artist Fernando
Pugliese (creator of Santa Land in
Buenos Aires).... “So Big, So Fragile,
help us protect them ADOPT A
WHALE”, was the message that ICB
transmitted with the goal of encouraging
the people to become actively involved in
protecting the whales and their
environment.
The calf traveling through Palermo in Buenos Aires.
The campaign began on the 29th of May
which is the day that the Province of
Chubut began the whale watching season
and celebrated the return of the whales
to the coastal waters of Península
Valdés.
The symbolic display of a right whale calf in the city of Buenos Aiares, had as
its objective to capture the attention of the public about whales not only as a
object of admiration but also as a vulnerable species that needs a
collective effort to assure its survival.
Along the route through different barrios of
Buenos Aires, the little calf was displayed
on the 29th of May in the Plaza Juvenilla,
on the corner of Florida and Marcelo T. De
Alvear. On Saturday the 30th of May, it
was exhibited at the entrance of the Alta
Alto in Palermo and on Sunday the 31st in
the Plaza Recoleta. During these days the
volunteer team of ICB used ICB’s
educational panels and explained the
problems confronting whales and why they
need our help.
Most of the children were fascinated by
comparing their own size to that of a right
Tango y Ballenas en Plaza Recoleta
whale calf. Many of the people who
surrounded the calf never knew of the
possibility to travel to see the whales in their natural environment. The sculpture allowed them
to understand the true dimensions of a recently born right whale calf.
The campaign closed on June 6th, marking the celebration of Environmental Week,
organized by Argentina’s Secretary of the Environment and Sustainable Development and the
Prefectura Naval Argentina, in Puerto Madero.
12
ICB is grateful for the help it received for this campaign from Southern Spirit S.A., IDentity,
Lumia, GartenGroup, Prefectura Naval Argentina, the Government of the city of Buenos Aires,
Ximena Ciavaglia and ICB’s team of volunteers.
PUBLICATION OF THE CONFERENCE: IS THERE A FUTURE FOR
WHALES?
Thanks to the collaboration of the Argentina’s Library of
Congress (Biblioteca del Congreso de la Nación) and
help provided by its Dirección de Servicios
Complementarios the talk given by Dr. Roger Payne on
May 28, 2008 “Is There a Future for Whales?” has
been published
We give special thanks to Sr. Alejandro Santa, Sr. Miguel
Ángel Fernández Muñoz and their entire team for the
excellent quality of the final volume and also Graciela Lier
and Verónica Naves Manildo for the volume’s beautiful
graphic design.
In the words of Dr. Payne, “If we fail to protect
whales, and they disappear, with their
disappearance humanity would loose not only
the physical presence of the whales in the
oceans, but also the emotion of listening to
their songs. And thus, we will go forward in
silence and alone.”
THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM “BRINGING WHALES TO YOUR SCHOOL”
CONTINUES IN 35 SCHOOLS IN THREE ARGENTINE PROVINCES.
Bringing Whales to Your School is a modular educational program that provides content
and actiivities to teachers through which they can bring whales to students in Argentina no
matter how far or near they are living from the ocean. The program was developed by the
Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas in participation with Hilda Suárez y Liliana Durandeu de
San Gil. Its purpose is to increase students understanding of the biology of right whales and
how they interact with their marine ecosystem. The program helps the students learn about
the threats that confront the whales and the need for their participation in the conservation of
Argentina’s ocean ecosystems.
13
The program was delivered to 35 schools in the Provinces of Chubut, Córdoba
and Buenos Aires. Over 4,000 students have worked with the program since
it was launched in 2007.
Students of the Cruz del Sur School (Southern Cross)
in the city of San Fernando, of Buenos Aires Province,
explaining to their class what they learned from
“Bringing Whales to Your School”.
Because of geographic distance or financial
inability, many students in Argentina have
never seen the ocean or whales. For this
reason, it has been the goal of our
educational program to bring the whales
to the students so they can discover
the wonders that they can find along
the coast of Argentina. As part of this
discovery, they will understand the
importance of protecting a species not only
for its ecological value but also for its
social and economic value, in the same
way that the presence of right whales
along Argentina’s coast has generated an
important activity centered on tourism and
whale watching. ICB’s educational program
has been delcared of “Educational Interst”
by the Minister of Education in the
Province of Chubut and of Interst by
Argentina’s Honorable Chamber of
Deputies.
TALKS GIVEN BY DR. MARIANO SIRONI AT SOUTH AMERICAN
UNIVERSITIES
In January, Dr. Mariano Sironi was
invited by the College of Biological
and Environmental Sciences of the
University of San Francisco in
Quito, Ecuador, to give a talk on
right whale research and its
application to the whales
conservation. In her invitation, Dr.
Stella de la Torre, the dean of the
College, said that “this invitation is
in recognition of your valuable work
in research and the conservation of
whales, that we hope our students
will get to know and appreciate
through your talk.”
As part of his work as an Adjunct
Professor in the National University
of Córdoba, Mariano teaches in a
Mariano Sironi talking at the University of San Francisco in
Quito, Ecuador.
course on Animal Diversity that is a
requirement for all biology majors.
In November he spoke about the research, education and conservation programs of ICB. A
large number of enthusiastic students were interested in the programs. Some of them, later
joined the group of volunteers who are collaborating in a variety of ways to contribute to the
conservation of whales and their habitat in Argentina.
14
SECOND MEETING “TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT”
Roxana Schteinbarg, general coordinator of
ICB participated in the Second Meeting “To
Communicate about Sustainable
Development” which was held on May 12
in Ecocentro in Puerto Madryn. The event
was organized by Fundación Patagonia
Natural as part of the Project ARG/02/G31
GEF-PNUD “The Consolidation and
Implementation of the Integrated
Management Plan for the Patagonian
Coastal Zone for the Conservation of
Biodiverstiy.
Representatives from 16 organizations participated in the meeting: Fundación Mundo Marino, FARN,
CeDePesca, Fundación Cethus, Ecocentro, Proteger / UICN, SSPyPA / Proyecto GEF Patagonia,
Greenpeace, FPN, Aves Argentinas, Fundación Aquamarina, Taller Ecologista, Instituto de Conservación de
Ballenas , FVSA and Periodismo Social / Red de Diarios.
This meeting build upon the advances made at the group’s first meeting which was held to
create a network of communication about the environment. The meeting generated a great
sinergy among the participants as they discussed their organizations experiences, strengths
and weaknesses.
AN ICB PHOTOGRAPH WINS FIRST PRIZE IN ENGLISH CONTEST
The Hilda Canter-Lund Prize was established
by the British Phycological Society in recognition
of her stunning photographs. The Society states
that “her photomicrographs of freshwater algae
combined high technical and aesthetic qualities
whilst still capturing the quintessence of the
organisms she was studying.” Each year, the
Society offers an “annual award (currently £150)
for a photograph on a phycological theme that
best combines these informative, technical and
aesthetic qualities. In 2009 Dr. Mariano Sironi,
the Scientific Director of ICB, submitted the
adjacent photograph and won first prize. The
judges commented that “this picture had a
“simple yet elegant composition, which illustrates
how microscopic organisms may have an impact
that belies their size.” The winning photograph
was taken from the Argentine Armada’s Porter
Pilatus plane at 150 m during the annual
photoidentification survey of the whales. It shows
a right whale with her calf swimming through a
“green tide”, composed of the non-toxic algae
Lepidodinium sp., in Golfo Nuevo.
http://www.brphycsoc.org/Hilda_CanterLund_Prize.lasso
The photograph that won the first prize along with the five other finalists can
be seen at http://www.brphycsoc.org/Hilda_Canter-Lund_Prize.lasso
15
ICB IN THE MEDIA
The Argentina media is responding positively to information generated by ICB by broadcasting
and educating the general public about whales and their needs. They also work with ICB to
alert the public of decisions that are being made on topics that require the public’s attention
and action.
Through the ability of the media to
communicate with massive numbers of
people, ICB is working to reach people
and inform them about the world of
whales and their need for conservation.
In 2009, ICB was reported in 18
articles in the national and
provincial newspapers, 5
articles in national and
international magazines, 15
inverviews and news reports on
television and 15 interviews on
radio.
Mariano Sironi being interviewed by Sergio Elguezabal
during his Program TN Ecología – May 2009
Highlights from 2009 are shown below:
A Note “Whales in
Danger (Ballenas en
Peligro), published in
the Magazine of
Aerolíneas Argentinas
that is distributed to
children on cabin
class flights.
Diario Clarín – November 27, 2009 - "Expertas en Ballenas"
www.clarin.com/suplementos/mujer/2009/11/28/m-02050320.htm
16
Diario Jornada – October 11,
2009 – “How Climte Change
affects Southern Right
Whales” (“Cómo afecta el
cambio climático a la Ballena
Franca Austral”).
http://www.diariojornada.com.ar/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22440:el-cambioclimatico-tambien-amenaza-a-las-ballenas-de-la-peninsula-valdes&catid=36:informaciongeneral&Itemid=63&viewDate=2010-02-21%2015:33:27
Diario El Chubut – July 8, 2009 – “Three out of every four whales have lesions from attacks
of gulls” (“Tres de cada cuatro ballenas ya tienen las marcas de los ataques de gaviotas”.
www.elchubut.com.ar/despliegue-noticias.php?idnoticia=598
Diario de Madryn – May 17, 2009 –“The whales return to Chubut – Yesterday afternoon, a
juvenile whale was seen in Golfo Nuevo” (“Llegaron las ballenas a Chubut - Durante la tarde
de ayer un ejemplar joven recorría el golfo nuevo”).
www.diariodemadryn.com/vernoti.php?ID=104911
Diario La Nación – March 15, 2009 – “Calves learn where to eat from their mothers” (“ Las
crías aprenden de sus madres dónde comer”).
www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1100018&high=ballenas
Revista Selecciones – June 3, 2009 - “All for the whales”(“Todo por las ballenas”): Por
Sergio Elguezabal
www.rdselecciones.com/contenido/a542_Todo-por-las-ballenas#votar
Channel 7 - Buenos Aires – May 29, 2009
Campaign “A little giant needs yoru
help” (Campaña “un pequeño gigante
necesita de tu apoyo”). Interview with
a Roxana Schteinbarg by el Noticiero.
TN Ecología – May 2, 2009 – interview
with Mariano Sironi about his collaboration
with the Alfaguara Project of Centro
Conservación Cetacea of Chile, his
participation in the Southern Ocean
Research Project (SORP) and WCI/ICB’s
Right Whale Program.
Radio LU 17/ AM 540 – May 4, 2009 “100 Whales Strand at Península Valdés”
www.lu17.com/a/2009/5/4/ec5eefce-38ba-11de-956d0013203d3072/____ballenas_varadas_en_pen__nsula_vald___1241464728
Ecos de la Patagonia - http://www.ecosdelapatagonia.com.ar
Marine Science Today – February 10, 2009 - Right Whale Mothers Teach Babies Where to
Eat.
http://marinesciencetoday.com/2009/02/10/right-whale-mothers-teach-babies-where-to-eat
BBC June 24, de 2009 - Gulls' vicious attacks on whales
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8116551.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ciencia_tecnologia/2009/06/090625_video_ballena_gaviota_vh.shtml.
17
CONSERVATION
ICB JOINS THE FORUM FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE PATAGONIAN SEA
AND AREAS OF INFLUENCE
ICB has joined the Forum for the Conservation of
the Patagonian Sea and Areas of Influence. The
Forum is a group of organizations that are recognized
for their environmental work and experience and share
the vision of “An ecologically healthy and diverse
Patagonian Sea, meeting the needs, wishes and
aspirations of people whilst maintaining one of
the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles and most
productive marine ecosystems, through a genuine
partnership amongst all interested sectors”.
The Forum is “integrated by non-profit, nongovernmental organizations, and by international
conservation organizations of a mixed nature
(governmental/ non-governmental) with an outstanding
experience in biodiversity and marine resources
conservation, and with an interest in the conservation
and sustainable use of the Patagonian Sea and areas of
influence.”
ICB joined the Forum with the hopes of contributing to
the group information gathered from over 40 years of continuous research on the right
whales of Península Valdés.
The following link provides more information about the Forum and access to its invaluable
resources http://www.patagoniansea.org/about.shtml
A COLLABORATION TO IMPLEMENT A NEW LAW ON WHALE WATHCING
AND APPLICATIONS FOR OBTAINING LICENSES FOR WHALE WATCH BOAT
COMPANIES
The non-lethal use of whales for tourism,
scientific research and to provide educational
and cultural experiences is growing in most
countries of the world. Whale-watch
industries generate over 2,000 million dollars
annually in over 150 countries and territories.
Whale watching improves the quality of life in
the coastal communities where it occurs,
particularly in developing countries. At the
regional level, the number of whale-watch
companies has grown in Argentina, Brazil,
Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, México and
Uruguay as well as in South Africa, and has a
great potential to develop in other regions.
18
With the approval of the Decree 167/08, the Province of Chubut enacted new
legislation with the objective of minimizing the impact of whale watching on
individual whales and their populations and making regulations more relevant to
the local conditions and right whales in particular.
ICB collaborated with many other groups in the processing of the new legislation which
when passed the Govenor of Chubut to award new licenses to six whale watch companies in
Puerto Pirámides. Within the regulations and guidelines “Whale watching of high quality” are
considered those that incorporate educational and social values and/or assist with research
projects of non-governmental organizations (ngo’s).
As a contribution to the distribution and technical analysis of this process, ICB presented a
paper on the “New regulations for sustainable whalewatching at Península Valdés, Argentina
(Paper SC61/WW10 Sironi, Leske, Rivera, Taboada and Schteinbarg) to the Subcommittee
on Whale Watching at the 2009 Scientific Committee meeting of the International Whaling
Commission (IWC). The paper described the history of whale watching at Peninsula Valdes,
the statistics on whale watching there from 1991-2008, the process that led to the awarding
of the new licenses, the principals of a new Provincial Law 5714 and the Decree 167/08 with
respect to the conservation of right whales and the positive advances in creating legislation
that included the participation of agencies in the government and tourist companies, whale
watch boat captains, the academic and scientific community, and non-governmental
foundations and associations. The IWC’s Scientific Committee “congratulated the new
regulations and praised the collaborative focus and the broad participation achieved by the
Governor of the Province of Chubut through the cooperative effort of all parties involved in
the awarding of new liscenses and improving the regulations of whale watching at Península
Valdés.”
AN AD HOC COMMISSION CREATED BY THE DEPARTMENT 0F FAUNA AND
FLORA SILVESTRE OF THE PROVINCE OF CHUBUT TO PROMOTE COMMON
CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
In 2009, the Department of Fauna and Flora Silvestres (DFyFS), under the direction of
Dra. Silvana Montanelli, convened periodic meetings of all groups studying right whales in
Chubut Province and governmental organizations such as the Administración del Área
Natural protegida Península Valdés, la Dirección General de Conservación and Prefectura
Naval Argentina. The objective of these meetings was to generate common conservation
strategies between the organizations and the government. The meetings were held to
discuss conservation problems and the implementation of research projects on whales in
Chubut Province.
A Network of Coastal Fauna was proposed, prompted by the authorization of Law 103 of
the Civil Defense for reporting the discovery of stranded marine mammals, the coordination
of collecting biological samples between different research groups, the coordination of
activities with the Laboratory of the Ministry of the Environment, Cenpat, the National
University of Patagonian San Juan Bosco and the Argentine Coast Guard. ICB congratulates
the Department of Fauna and Flora Silvestres of Chubut for coordinating this initiative.
ICB participated in most of these meetings and was particularly involved in meetings
concerning gull harassment of the whales that included specialists from Cenpat, the
University and other non-governmental organizations. The objective of these meetings was
to develop concrete actions to reduce the frequency of gull attacks on the whales. At the
third meeting, held on September 28, 2009, the group agreed to a plan to control the gulls
that was presented by researchers Dr. Marcelo Bertellotti and Lic. Daniel Pérez. The plan will
19
be initiated in 2010. We will continue to monitor the frequency of gull harassment to
document the plans effect.
AN OCEAN FREE OF WHALING, ICB PARTICIPATION IN
INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION MEETINGS
As part of the procedural process of
negotiations to define a new future for
the International Whaling Commission,
an intersessional meeting was held on
March 10-11 in the headquarters of the
FAO in Rome and as well as during the
Plenary Session of the IWC’s 61st
Meeting on the Island of Madeira in
Portugal. Roxana Schteinbarg
represented ICB at both of these
meetings as an accredited observer.
Imagen de la Reunión Plenaria durante la
intervención de Joshi Morishita, que encabeza la
delegación de Japón.
The meetings failed to define a new future for the IWC and as a result the 88 members of
the IWC decided to extend the period of negotiations until the its 62nd meeting in 2010 in
Agadir, Morocco.
The whales in the oceans of the world are facing serious problems such as climate
change, entanglements, ship collisions, acoustic and chemical contamination.
These are the topics that should be discussed by the Commmission to assure the
correct management ad conservation of whales. It is true that the IWC was
created to manage whaling operations but the world has changed and all efforts
should be focused on resolving these problems tht are confronting not only the
whales but an infinite number of other species that live on the Earth.
The opening statement that ICB
presented in written form at the meetings
were based on the reasons why the IWC
should oversee the conservation of
whales and leave whaling operations
behind because today they are conducted
by only a few nations.
Roger Payne attended the IWC meeting and
gave a press conference that was organized
by the Whaleman Foundation where he spoke
about the problem of contamination in the
meat and blubber of whales. Included in the
photo: Roxana Schteinbarg (ICB), Elsa
Cabrera (CCC) with Roger Payne and Sidney
Holt. Both men are recognized throughout the
world for their important work in defense of
whales.
20
During the meetings, Roxana and other NGOs, had important conversations with
governmental delegates and, in particular, representatives from the Argentine Chancellery,
to discuss the outcomes of sessions and above all to encourage caution among the
governmental delegates. Actually, despite the moratorium on whaling since 1986, over
20,000 whales have died from harpoons. Many of them died under the protecton of Article
VIII of the Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, which established that governing
members could take whales for scientific purposes. ICB believes that an agreement will
only be possible when an alternative has been found to killing of whales for scientific
purposes and when no whaling is allowed in whale sanctuaries.
JOINING FORCES REGIONALLY TO PROMOTE WHALE CONSERVATION
Over the past five years Latin American countries have become an important block of votes
in the International Whaling Commission and as such, an international strength to limit the
killing of whales and promote their conservation. In actuality, Latin American countries
represent 26% of the block for conservation and 14% of the IWC membership. During most
of these years, Latin American NGOs played an important role through the actions of the
Grupo de Buenos Aires, promoting its continuity and participation of their national
delegations. (The Grupo is formed of the commissioners and ngos of some Latin American
countries that attend IWC meetings.) The integration of the public (through the NGOs) and
the governments (through their IWC commissioners), is essential for maintaining this
strong block.
Some representatives of the IWC Network
of Latin America: Elsa Cabrera of CCC Chile, Vanesa Tossenberger of Fundación
Cethus - Argentina, Rodrigo García Pingaro
of OCC –Uruguay, Laura Rojas of Comarino
– México, Roxana Schteinbarg of ICB Argentina, Rafael Estrada of Club de
Jóvenes Ambientalistas – Nicaragua and
Javier Rodríguez Fonseca of Fundación
Promar –Costa Rica
In line with this, ICB promoted the
creation of an email Network of Latin
American NGOs (IWCLatam) which is
dedicated to whale conservation and
provides a way for the principal NGOs of
13 Latin American countries to coordinate strategies directed towards their governments
and participation in the IWC.
The Network (IWCLatam) is working to encourage the Latin American countries that are
members of the IWC to become involved in defining the “Future of the IWC” by increasing
so it will increase the importance of conservation agenda, including the recognition of nonlethal uses of whales as a viable option for whales, particularly in South America.
21
THE BUENOS AIRES GROUP
On the 22-23rd of September, the Group of Buenos Aires, composed of the commissioners
to the IWC from Latin American countries, met in Buenos Aires to strengthen their efforts,
as a group, to protect whales. Commissioners from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica,
Equador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay and 21 NGOs
dedicated to the research and conservation of whales in these countries attended the
meeting.
The Grupo was established in 2006 and includes members from Latin American
countries who support the conservation of whales. The Grupo includes countries
that are members and non-members in the IWC. Successive meetings of the Grupo
have generated important declarations that reaffirm their agreement to support
the moratorium on commercial whaling and the sovereign right of the countries in
the region for the non-letal use of whales, the respect for Whale Sanctuaries
established by the IWC and the creation of new sanctuaries, particularly the the
South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.
At the end of the meeting, Roxana Schteinbarg as a representative of ICB and the 21 other
NGOs presented the commissioners with a declaration to end scientific whaling throughout
the world, maintain a close watch on the moratorium on commercial whaling, not allow any
new category of whaling, consider the rights of communities that benefit from the non-lethal
use of whales (whale watching), maintain the right to create, implement a South Atlantic
Whale Sanctuary, continue to strengthen the Latin American block of members in the IWC,
support the attendance of Latin American researchers in the Scientific Committee, promote
transparency, access to information and full participation of NGOs in the different
institutional processes of the IWC, and continue to support the development of whale watch
industries within Latin America that are responsible and of the highest quality.
ICB is extremely grateful to the Argentine Government for promoting the meeting of the
Grupo de Buenos Aires, to the cohesive an coordinated efforts of the Latin American
Commissioners to the IWC to have their ideas on these topics presented to the IWC and to
the Chancellry for opening the doors of the Palacio San Marin to let this meeting happen.
COORDINATION OF A REQUEST TO REJECT JAPAN’S KILLING OF
WHALES
In November of 2009, ICB joined 40 Latin American NGOs dedicated to the conservation of
whales and their environment in sending a request to the governments of the region to
make a diplomatic request to reject Japan’s killing of whales under the guise of scientific
whaling.
In the message the NGOs reported that “while completing the negotiations to define the
future of the International Whaling Commission, whaling continues under the guise of
scientific permits, an unacceptable tool that undermines forces to pass an agreement that
would benefit the conservation of whale populations over the long term andthe governability
of the International Whaling Commission. For this reason, the block of conservationist
countries in Latin American that form the Grupo Buenos Aires (GBA), has begun diplomatic
actions that will allow the saving of the lives of hundreds of whales in the Southern
Hemisphere.
22
Since the implementation of
the moratorium on commercial
whaling, the Japanese
Government has captured over
8,000 whales in the Southern
Ocean Whale Sanctuary for the
alleged purposes of scientific
whaling under the guise of the
Japanese Research Program of
the Antarctic (JARPAII) which
began in 2005. The annual
quota for minke whales in the
Antarctic reaches levels
similar to the annual quota for
commercial whaling of minkes
before the implementation of
the moratorium.
The request was later followed by a press release that was signed by over 25 Latin
American NGOs which reinterated the request to the regional governments to make a
diplomatic protest against “scientific whaling”.
As a result of the request the Argentine Government presented its offical concerns to the
represntative of the Japonese Embassy about reinitiating the capture of whales for the
puposes of research and asked it to reconsider capturing whales and to collaborate to safe
guard the conditions for continuing a political dialogue about the future of the International
Whaling Commission.
PARTICIPATION IN AN INTERNATIONAL WHALE NETWORK
COORDINATED BY THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUST
Roxana Schteinbarg continued her paricipation as the focal person for Latin America in the
International Whale Network created by the Pew Charitable Trust’s Whale Project
(http://www.pewwhales.org) in 2008 and coordinated by Leslie Busby. The Network
provides a way for members to exchange regional activities in relation to the International
Whaling Commission with the principal objective of increasing the participation of
conservationist countries in the International Whaling Commission.
VOLUNTEERS
THE COMMON GOOD MOTIVATES THEM, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE
WHALES UNITES THEM
“When we are convinced of the importance of contributing to change, to take on
“something” as a cause and there add our grain of sand, is when we make the first
step in collaboration to improve our environment, the community or “something” as
precious as nature and its non-human inhabitants.”
Diego Taboada, Presidente del ICB
23
Volunteerism in its essence represents the social principle that can change
something. In its conception, it is the moment when collaboration is transformed by
the work of execution, with objectives and planned goals. With time and talent or
professional determination, volunteers allow an organization to go beyond its
mission. Their participation converts and multiplies the ideological concepts of an
organization. Annually ICB’s institutional needs and goals are met with the
assistance of volunteers who contribute their time.
ICB volunteers participate in all areas of ICB’s work depending on the needs of the
different programs. Their work includes: graphic design and programming,
translations, editing news articles and electronic bulletins, updating websites and
social networks, following and recording the repercussions of the press, responding
to questions about whales received over the phone or by email, giving talks at
schools, creating teaching materials, maintaining the adoption program, attending
to administrative tasks, dealing with legal issues, institutional relationships,
scientific field work, processing of research and analyzing data, organizing reports,
scientific publications, books, and videos, etc.
We extend special thanks to all of our volunteers who selflessly contribute
to the mission of improving the conservation of whales and their
environment through research and education.
VOLUNTEERS AND TEAM IN ACTION
Sofía Benegas assisting with the aerial survey of the
whales at Península Valdés
Carina Marón and Lorena Barranco recording the
frequency of gull attacks on the whales.
Marcos Ricciardi during a necropsy of a stranded whale
24
Carolina Ulvedal helping with the 2009 field season
Evangelina Minuzzi, Mariano Sironi, Carina Marón , Hilda
Suárez and Carolina Ulvedal during a planning session in
in Córdoba
Noelia Vigliola and Verónica Ambroa helping with the
design of the float of the right whale calf.
Macarena Agrelo talking to students of a school Puerto
Madryn
María Laura Marcias helping with the “So Big, So Fragile”
campaign
Roger Payne with Christian Bau and Florencia Vilches
who are responsible for the Right Whale Adoption
Program
Ricardo Giufra, Ximena Ciavaglia, Javier Huerta Bustos,
María Laura Marcias, Macarena Agrelo , Dulce Gioia and
Florencia Vilches always ready to help
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MEMBERS OF ICB’S VOLUNTEER NETWORK
Alejandro Santa
Macarena Agrelo
Carina Marón
Marcos Ricciardi
Carolina Diller
María Laura Marcias
Carolina Ulvedal
Maria Teresa Mendieta
Christian Bau
María Storey
Claudia Mabel Sardi
Noelia Martino
Daniel Bardelli
Noelia Vigliola
Denise Ledesma
Ricardo Giuffra
Evangelina Minuzzi
Sandra Buccicardi
Javier Huerta Bustos
Silvia Resnik
José Carracedo
Sofia Benegas
Julieta Martino
Sol Herszkovits
Laura Heritier
Verónica Naves
Liliana San Gil
Verónica Ambroa
Lorena Barranco
Ximena Ciavaglia
Lorena Echague
Macarena Agrelo
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DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES
ICB succeeds with its programs thanks to the help of all those who join the Right
Whale Adoption Program and to the companies, foundations, institutions and
individuals whose support has permitted us to achieve our mission of proecting
whales and their habitat through research and education.
NEW CHALLENGES... AWAKENING INGENUITY AND STRENGTHENING
TIES
An increase in resources allowed ICB to accomplish its proposed objectives in 2009, but in
addition it created a great challenge in relation to its management capacity. Our ability to
meet this challenge was greatly helped by ICB’s volunteers who have played a fundamental
role by contributing their time and above all their professional services and organizational
skills.
An aspect to emphasize with respect to fund raising is the importance of diversification of
funding sources. Following this fundamental concept has strengthened the financial stability
of our organization. ICB has opened its door to all who want to become involved with its
programs from the child who adopts a whale with help from his parents to international
foundations with the goal of protecting wildlife. Individuals, companies, organizations,
NGOs and/or branches of government, each in its own way has helped with funds, goods or
services. To each you we extend grateful appreciation.
RESULTS OF FUND RAISING
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS
The committment and contributions of this group of collaborators has been growing and has
made a great difference. We extend special thanks to:
Sarah Haney of the Canadian Whale Institute, for
her continued support of the Right Whale Research
Program.
Aldo Karagozian, whose support allowed the making
of las Bolsas Ecológicas.
Graciela Keindasky, who has continued to show her
committment to ICB.
Paula Fontao for the donation of handmade whale
sculptures that are sent to participants of the Right
Whale Adoption Program.
Our gratitude to Stephen Johnson and Oliver
Resnik for their special bond and support of ICB.
Also to all people who have contributed to our programs by helping to distribute our
educational materials.
27
And very specially to Victoria Rowntree and Jon Seger who in addition to working
tirelessly for the conservation of whales have also contributed personally to the
strengthening of ICB’s operations.
THE RIGHT WHALE ADOPTION PROGRAM, PEOPLE’S COMMITTMENT
HAS MADE ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE!!
By the end of 2008 and in 2009 the great world
recession caused the end of economic support from
many companies and foundations that had
previously contributed to ICB, nevertheless the
security of individual donations in times of crisis
were strengthening, as was also demonstrated in
2000/2001, it has given us strength and driven the
growth of the “Right Whale Adoption Program” along
with streamlining the coordination and management
of the program.
The improvements to the Program under the special
management of Christian Bau, coordinator of the
Program, and Florencia Vilches by organizing the
processes, along with the current and future
potential activities, resulted in almost a 45% growth
in income. The growth was also realized with the
help of specific campaigns such as “A Little Giant
Needs Your Help” or “Give Hope” and constant work
to modernize and renew existing memberships and
developing new members.
Give Hope
Thanks to the help of Lumia, ICB launched the Campaign “Give Hope” at the end of the
year. In this campaign, people were invited to give through their end of year celebrations to
support the conservation of whales. To this end an Ecokit was designed composed of
educational materials such as the Southern Right Whales of Argentina DVD and children’s
book that is part of the program Bringing
Whales to Your School, a whale-tail
necklace and an ICB Sticker all within an
Ecological Shopping Bag with ICB’s logo.
www.regalaesperanza.com.ar
“A little awareness and care
can make a big difference in
the future of our planet”
28
DONATIONS AND AGREEMENTS WITH COMPANIES
For the fourth consecutive year the tourist service company,
Argentina Visión has supported ICB activities by providing
adoptions from The Right Whale Adoption Program to
student groups. In this way they have contributed to our
resources and collaborated with our goal of raising awareness
and educating young children. The
materials of the Adoption Program
are distributed to the students by the
guides of the Agency at the end of their
whale-watch trip Puerto Pirámides,
Península Valdés.
The Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas (ICB) and
Southern Spirit S.A. have made a cooperative agreement
with the goal of contributing to scientific researcher and
technology, spreading awareness and education.
Southern Spirit is a whale watch company
in Puerto Pirámides that provides ICB with
an opportunity to carry out research
projects from boats and in doing so increase
ICB’s message to tourists that go on whale
watches. During the field season, ICB
volunteers give talks to the tourists on
board the boats as well as at the companies
office in Puerto Pirámides. Through this
opportunity ICB is able to present its
message, educational materials and Right
Whale Adoption Program which can also be
accessed on the company’s web page
www.southernspirit.com.ar
María Laura Marcias and Macarena Agrelo, giving a
talk about right whales to a group of studetns from
Córdoba before they go on a whale watch trip
As part of the cooperative agreement,
southern Spirit has contributed funds and
logisitcal support during the annual field
season of the Right Whale Research Program at Península Valdés. In this way joining forces
with those who have the enormous responsibility of showing the whales to the tourists to
those who work for the conservation of this natural wonder.
29
A Little Giant Needs Your Help
ICB developed this campaign to inform and educate people
about the whales and their natural environment, and to
increase donations from individuals, companies and
foundations that allow ICB to accomplish its mission to protect
the whales through research and education.
The collective strength of ICB’s working team, volunteers and
collaborators allowed us to make this campaign.
We give special thanks to the support of Southern Spirit,
IDentity, Lumia, GartenGroup and the Estudio Pugliese.
All of them allowed us to transform the city of Buenos Aires,
from the 29th of May to the 5th of June into a symbolic ocean
with a right whale calf passing through its streets.
Urbano Express, for the past 6 years has continued to
support ICB by delivering the materials of the Adoption
Program to each person who applies to adopt a whale within
Argentina.
A large number of companies in Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn and Puerto Pirámides
collaborate with ICB providing services at no cost or special discounts in recognition of the
importance of our activities. These contributions are extremely valuable and allow us to
put more resources in the research and conservation activities.
We would like to extend special appreciation to the Grupo
Piren for its unconditional support of our team by providing
lodging in Puerto Madryn.
DONATIONS FROM INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
In 2009 International Foundations and Organizations made direct contributions that
enabled ICB representatives to participate in International Meetings and Conferences,
particularly International Whaling Commission Meeting. We extend special thanks to the
following for this assistance:
30
DONATIONS AND SERVICES RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONS
In 2009, we continued to receive help from governmental organizations which join us in our
activities, understanding the existing need for research, education and conservation. We are
grateful for the help provided by:
continuamos recibiendo la cooperación de organismos
gubernamentales que acompañaron nuestras acciones, haciendo
eco de las necesidades de investigación, educación y conservación
existentes. Agradecemos la colaboración destacada de:
The Argentine Armada, which for the 7th year and as part of a joint
activity resulting from a Cooperative Agreement signed in October
2001 with the Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas, allowed us to
conduct our 39th aerial photo-identification survey of the right
whales of Península Valdés with the Navy’s Porter Pilatus
pland and crew. As always, each member of the crew showed
outstanding professionalism in the air and on land, assisting greatly
to the work of photo-identifying the whales present at the Peninsula
in 2009.
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INCOME 2009
Income in Cash (efectivo), and In-kind contributions (bienes y servicios)
Income by area
Individuals (Adoption
Program, Merchandising)
Companies
$38,472
$47,680
Cash
International Foundations
Governmental Organizations
In-Kind
Total Income
$USD
%
$57,849
67
$8,118
9
$19,000
22
$1,184
1
$86,152
100
EVOLUTION OF ANNUAL INCOME
Annual Income USD 2000 / 2009
( Cash + In-Kind Donations)
$ 140,000
$ 35,365
$ 120,000
$ 100,000
$ 20,000
$-
$ 47,680
$ 40,000
$ 35,365 $ 28,457
$ 104,005
$ 60,000
$ 38,472
$ 80,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Cash
In-Kind
32
Income and Expenses 2009
- Cash (Efectivo) and In-kind donations (Bienes y Servicios)
Areas
Income USDollars
%
Individuals
$
57,850
67%
Companies
$
8,118
9%
International Foundations
$
19,000
22%
government Organizations
$
1,184
1%
$
86,152
100.00%
Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas
Distribution of Income 2009
67%
1 - Individuos
2 - Empresas
3 - Fundaciones Internacionales
9%
1%
4 - Org. Gubernamentales
22%
Areas
Expenses USDollars
%
Administration
$
-18,904
21%
Research Program
$
-16,899
19%
Education and Outreach
$
-16,984
19%
Conservation Program
$
-18,525
20%
Fundraising
$
-19,685
22%
$
-90,996
100.00%
Instituto de Conservacion de Ballenas
Distribution of Expenses 2009
20%
22%
Gtos Administrativos y Fijos
Programa de Investigacion
Educacion y Difusion
19%
Programa de Conservacion
21%
19%
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Fundraising
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas could only have success in its programs
with help of all who contribute to the Right Whale Adoption Program and the
Companies, Foundations, Institutions and Individuals who join us on our mission
to protect the whales and their habitat with research and education
Organizations and Institutiones
Administración del Área Natural
Protegida Península Valdés
Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina
Administración Nacional de Aviación
Civil Argentina
Idealistas.org
Animal Welfare Institute
Maine Center for Toxicology and
Environmental Health , University of
Southern Maine
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y
Culto
Armada Argentina
Biblioteca Del Congreso de La Nación
Argentina
Municipalidad de Puerto Pirámides
Canadian Whale Institute
National Marine Fisheries Services /
NOAA
Cetacean Society International
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Biology Department
Centro de Conservación Cetácea
Ocean Alliance/Whale Conservation
Institute
Colegio Balmoral
Prefectura Naval Argentina
Dirección de Fauna y Flora – Ministerio
de Agricultura, Ganadería y Minería de
Chubut
University of Utah / Department of
Biology
Pew Environment Group
Fundación Compromiso
Subsecretaria de Turismo y Áreas
Protegidas Dir. Gral de Conservación de
Áreas Protegidas
The Pennsylvania State University
Fundación Ecocentro
Secretaria de Ambiente y Desarrollo
Sustentable de la Nación
34
Fundación Patagonia Natural
World Society for the Protection of
Animals – WSPA
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Wildlife Conservation Society
Companies
Aeropuertos Argentinos 2000
Mandrágora - Diseño Grafico
Argentina Visión
Madryn.com
Del Nómade Hostería Ecológica
Patagonia Clothing & Gear
Duke
Patagonik Film Group
Doc Station GMBH Medien Produktion
Posada Pirámides
Estudio Beccar Varela
SAS – The power to Know
Forza Films
Southern Spirit
Hostería ACA Puerto Pirámides
Tn & Platex
Identia
Urbano Express
Identity – Comunicación Visual
Villa Pirén Apart Hotel
Lumia – Agencia Interactiva
Whales Argentina
Individuals
Adoptantes, Protectores y Benefactores
del “Programa de Adopción Ballena
Franca Austral”
Aldo Karagozian
Iain Kerr
Ariel López
John Atkinson
Alejandro Balbiano
Kim Marshall Tilas
Barbara Galleti
Laura Otero
Bob Haskell
Marcelo A. Taboada
Emilio Ferro (Estancia La Adela)
Miguel Iniguez
Emiliano Buranello
Pablo Carone
José Truda Palazzo
35
Elsa Cabrera
Paula Fontao
Gines Gazquez
Raquel Pompas
Graciela Keidansky
Sarah Haney
Graciela Lier
Sergio Elguezabal
Guardafaunas y Agentes de
Conservación de Península Valdés
Hugo Eppens
Sergio Butinof
Hilda Suárez
Stephen Johnson
Victoria Rowntree
Jon Seger
Sergio Cesari
36