Fin whales making waves: Portugal's coastal visitors on the rise
Biologists, whose comments are quoted by local media, note that Atlantic whales can increasingly be observed near famous beaches in Portugal, such as Meco Beach near Lisbon.
Radio Observador, one of the Portuguese media outlets, determined that in late May and early June, at least six fin whales appeared on the west coast of Portugal. Among them was a young whale.
This information was also confirmed in the "Publico" daily. It pointed out that the group of these marine mammals, the second-largest animals in the world and can reach lengths of up to 89 feet, swam near the beaches of the Lisbon metropolitan area for several days.
Whales increasingly seen near beaches in Portugal
Biologists stressed that since 2019, there has been a significant increase in the number of large marine mammals near the shores of mainland Portugal. The year 2023 was particularly notable in this regard, bringing the most reports of fin whales appearing near local beaches.
Experts reminded that, so far, the presence of these animals in Portuguese waters had been common only in the Atlantic region of the Azores archipelago.
Reason for the presence of whales near the beaches?
Sidonio Paes, a biologist from Lisbon, points out that with the rising water temperatures off the coast of Portugal, the presence of zooplankton, which serves as food for fin whales and other cetacean species, is increasing. "More and more of these animals can be found near the coast. However, this hypothesis still needs to be confirmed during scientific research," Paes explains.
Another biologist, Bernardo Queiroz, observes that the number of cetaceans, sharks, and dolphins visiting the Portuguese mainland coast has increased. In his opinion, the increase in these animals' visits is likely due to the warming of the Atlantic near the Portuguese coast and the improving cleanliness of the local waters.
