Last week staff from the Húsavík Whale Museum ventured to Eyjafjörður to take a closer look at a whale carcass on the beach below the farm Neðri-Dálksstaðir, as reported by mbl:
https://www.mbl.is/200milur/frettir/2024/03/26/hvalshrae_i_fjorunni_nordan_svalbardseyrar/.

After hiking down to the beach accompanied by some locals, the whale carcass was clearly visible, although the high-tide had submerged it.

The weather was cold and snowy, and a  flock of northern fulmars could be seen sitting around it, occasionally pecking at the dead body.
The carcass was of a small humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), discoloured from the decomposition.

It seems more than likely that the carcass is the same one spotted in Hrísey island last March, as reported by Vísir: https://www.visir.is/g/20242541562d/hrae-hnufu-baks-i-hris-ey-legid-lengi

The winds and currents seem to have brought it further into the fjord, and it could end up traveling more before breaking down completely. But only time will tell.

Humpback whale carcass

Pectoral fin of the whale

The Parliamentary Ombudsman has submitted his opinion regarding the complaint from Hvalur hf. regarding the postponement of whale hunting. He argues that the regulation on the postponement of the initiation of whale hunting lacks clear legal basis and has not adhered to the requirements of moderation. The Ombudsman points out that when the laws on whale hunting were enacted in 1949, their main objective was the protection and maintenance of the whale population. He emphasizes that these laws have not been revised in light of recent plans for animal welfare, as outlined by the International Whaling Commission.

The opinion includes a timeline of events from the inspection report by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST) in 2022 to the recent opinion in January 2024. The Ombudsman sought information from the Ministry of Fisheries regarding the regulation on the temporary postponement of the initiation of whale hunting, which came into effect on September 1st of the previous year. He calls for a review of whale hunting regulations and directs the ministry to consider the perspectives outlined in his opinion for the future. The opinion does not specify conflicts or further actions, but the Ombudsman agrees with the explanations provided by the ministry regarding animal welfare considerations in whale hunting. However, he points out that moderation and the protection of the whale population should be the foundation of legislation in this area.

Read more here:
https://www.stjornarradid.is/efst-a-baugi/frettir/stok-frett/2024/01/05/Umbodsmadur-Althingis-skilar-aliti-vegna-frestunar-hvalveida/

Picture from Hafró

Umboðsmaður Alþingis hefur skilað álitinu sitt vegna kvörtunar Hvals hf. um frestun hvalveiða. Hann telur að reglugerð um frestun hvalveiða hafi ekki nógu skýra stoð í lögum og hafi ekki uppfyllt kröfur um meðalhóf. Umboðsmaður bendir á að lög um hvalveiðar hafi ekki verið endurskoðuð í ljósi áætlanir um dýravelferð, sem fram koma í Alþjóðahvalveiðiráðinu.

Álitinu fylgir tímalína atburða frá eftirlitsskýrslu MAST árið 2022 fram að nýlega álitinu í janúar 2024. Umboðsmaður óskaði eftir upplýsingum frá matvælaráðuneytinu um reglugerð um tímabundna frestun á upphafi hvalveiða. Hann býður upp á endurskoðun á reglugerðum um hvalveiðar og beinir til ráðuneytisins að hafa sjónarmiðin í áliti hans í huga til framtíðar. Álitinu fylgja ekki sérstök átök eða framhaldsátak, en umboðsmaður fellst á skýringar ráðuneytisins um dýravelferðarsjónarmiði við hvalveiðar, hins vegar bendir á að meðalhóf og verndun hvalastofnsins ætti að vera grundvöllur laga á þessu sviði.

Lesið meira hér:
https://www.stjornarradid.is/efst-a-baugi/frettir/stok-frett/2024/01/05/Umbodsmadur-Althingis-skilar-aliti-vegna-frestunar-hvalveida/

Mynd frá Hafró

In July 2023, researchers from the Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute spotted a rare striped dolphin in the Gulf of Corinth with deformed flippers resembling thumbs. The dolphin, part of a unique mixed-species society in the region, was observed swimming and interacting with its pod despite its unusual flipper morphology. Experts believe the deformity is likely a genetic defect acquired in the womb, possibly resulting from constant interbreeding among the isolated population of around 1,300 striped dolphins in the Gulf. The abnormal flipper shape, resembling thumbs, is considered a rare expression of irregular genes, with the defect affecting both flippers. While cetaceans, including dolphins, possess finger-like bones within their flippers, the photographed dolphin’s unique deformity suggests a deviation from the typical developmental process, leading to the absence of certain fingers and associated tissue. Despite this anomaly, the dolphin appears to be thriving in its environment.

Read more about it here:
https://www.livescience.com/animals/dolphins/extremely-rare-dolphin-with-thumbs-photographed-in-greek-gulf

Í júlí 2023 fundu rannsakendur frá Pelagos Hvalrannsóknarstöðinni sérstakann rákahöfrung með afmynduð bægsli, sem líktust þumlum. Höfrungurinn sást synda með hópnum sínum og virtist þessi útlitsgalli ekki há honum.
Sérfræðingar telja að afmyndunin sé líklega erfðagalli þar sem bæði bægslin líta svona út. Þrátt fyrir að hvaldýr, þar á meðal rákahöfrungar, hafi fingurbein inn í bægslunum, sem leyfar af þróunarsögu hvala frá landgengum spendýrum, virðist eitthvað af þeim beinum vanta í þennan tiltekna höfrung. Þrátt fyrir þetta afbrigði, virðist höfrungurinn vera við góða heilsu.

Lesið meira hér:
https://www.livescience.com/animals/dolphins/extremely-rare-dolphin-with-thumbs-photographed-in-greek-gulf

Í Alaska tókst hópi sérfræðinga að bjarga ungum hnúfubaki sem flæktist í stóra og þunga krabbagildru. Björgunarleiðangurinn, sem átti sér stað 11. október, var kölluð til af íbúum á staðnum sem höfðu komið auga á hvalinn í neyð nálægt bænum Gustavus. Íbúarnir greindu frá óvenjulegri hegðun hvalsins, þar á meðal að elta tvær baujur og átti bersýnilega erfitt með að hreyfa sig eðlilega. Björgunarsveitin, þar á meðal starfsmenn þjóðgarðsins og meðlimir samtakanna Large Whale Entanglement Response, komust að þeirri niðurstöðu að flækjan væri lífshættuleg hvalnum. Björgunarsveitin notaði drónaupptökur til að meta ástandið og eftir margra klukkustunda vinnu tókst að losa hvalinn með því að skera á línurnar. Samtökin munu fylgjast með ástandi hvalsins næstu vikurnar.

In Alaska, a young humpback whale entangled in a 300lb crab pot was successfully rescued by a team of experts. The rescue mission, which took place on October 11, was prompted by local residents who had spotted the distressed whale near Gustavus, close to Glacier Bay National Park. The residents reported the whale’s unusual behavior, including trailing two buoys and struggling to move freely. The rescue team, including National Park Service personnel and members of the Large Whale Entanglement Response network, determined that the entanglement was life-threatening. The whale was found to be swimming in a tight clockwise circle, intermittently anchored by the heavy crab pot. The rescue team used drone footage to assess the situation and, after hours of effort, successfully freed the whale by cutting the entangling lines. They plan to monitor the whale’s condition in the coming weeks.

Read the full story at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/30/rescuers-free-humpback-whale-hog-tied-crab-pot-alaska

The whale watching companies North Sailing and Gentle Giants have posted on their facebook pages that a blue whale had been spotted in the bay yesterday, the first one of the season.

A pod of orcas was also spotted yesterday, as have other species in the last few days, which tells us that the whale watching season has a great start this year.

Hvalaskoðunarfyrirtækin Norðursigling og Gentle Giants lýsa því á fésbókarsíðu sínum að í gær hafi sést til steypireyðar í flóanum. Er það í fyrsta skipti á vertíðinni sem það gerist.

Einnig sást hópur af háhyrningum, auk þess sem aðrar tegundir hafa sést síðustu daga, svo segja má með sanni að hvalaskoðunarvertíðin sé farin vel af stað.