Dear MARMAM community,
We would like to report an extremely rare sighting of a humpback whale
(_Megaptera novaeangliae_) recorded in the semi-enclosed Pagasitikos
Gulf (Central Aegean Sea, Greece) on 25th January 2026.
A single individual was observed exhibiting unusual swimming behaviour,
raising concerns about a possible interaction with fishing gear,
although entanglement has not been 100% visually confirmed. The animal
is currently being monitored by ARION - Cetacean Rescue and
Rehabilitation Research Center, which is the National Coordinator of
Cetacean Strandings in Greece (Ministry of Environment and Energy) and
the Marine Mammal Monitoring Unit of the University of Thessaly, in
cooperation with the Port Authorities of Volos.
Also, a juvenile humpback whale was reported near Kalymnos Island (SE
Aegean Sea) on 8th January 2026. While individual identity cannot be
confirmed, the temporal proximity and rarity of the species in the
region suggest that the two sightings may potentially involve the same
individual, with movements consistent with the Aegean Sea oceanographic
circulation patterns.
We kindly request colleagues to share any photo or video material
(photo-ID, dorsal fin) of recent humpback whale sightings in Greek or
adjacent Eastern Mediterranean waters. Any photo-ID data could be
crucial for assessing individual identity, movement patterns, and
possible links between recent sightings.
Please note that any approach or disentanglement attempts must only be
carried out by trained and authorised teams, following established
safety protocols. Suspected entanglements should be reported and handled
through a coordinated response.
Further updates will be shared as new information becomes available. We
thank the community in advance for any information, data, or insights
that could contribute to a better understanding of this rare occurrence.
Kind regards,
ARION - Cetacean Rescue & Rehabilitation Research Center
Marine Mammal Monitoring Unit, University of Thessaly (Volos, Greece)
https://arion.org.gr/ , https://www.instagram.com/arion.cetaceans/,
https://www.facebook.com/ARION.org/
[1]https://www.instagram.com/marinemammalmonitoringunituth/
--
Elena Akritopoulou
Marine Mammal Biologist MSc PhD
ARION's representative in ACCOBAMS
RAC/SPA Expert
+306942236682
Links:
------
[1] https://www.facebook.com/ARION.org/
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