Mass Stranding of Beaked Whales in the Galapagos Islands, April 2000

摘要

This stranding of beaked whales in the Galapagos Islands in 2000 was first reported to NMFS on October 24, 2002 by Dr. Bruce Mate of Oregon State University. Dr. Mate, Mr. Daniel Palacios, and Dr. Jorge Urban of the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur were discussing the stranding of two beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) in the Gulf of California on September 24, 2002. When it was mentioned that the NSF-supported R/V Maurice Ewing had been conducting a seismic airgun survey in the area at the time, Mr. Palacios recalled that the same vessel had been conducting a seismic survey off the Galapagos Islands in April 2000 when four Z. cavirostris stranded on Santa Cruz Island. He had not previously mentioned this coincidence to anyone, he did not notify the R/V Maurice Ewing at the time, and the stranding was never reported publically. The three decided to report this event to NMFS in view of a legal action then pending against NSF for continuing the R/V Maurice Ewing's survey of the Gulf of California. They reported it to Dr. Roger Gentry at the NMFS Office of Protected Resources who compiled this report.