• ECOBAC
  • ABOUT US
  • RESERCH
    • PROJECTS
    • FIBB CATALOG
  • ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
  • ECOTOURISM
  • CONSERVATION
• DONATIONS
• NEWS
  • HUMPBACK WHALE IN BANDERAS BAY, PREVENTION, INFORMATION AND MONITORING PROGRAM BEGINS!
  • BOATS AND/OR COMPANIES AUTHORIZED BY SEMARNAT TO DO WHALE WATCHING ACTIVITIES
  • BANDERAS BAY ANIMAL PRINTS
  • ENTOMOLOGICAL MYTHOLOGY
  • THE DOLPHINS IN BANDERAS BAY
  • HUMPBACK WHALES AND WHALE WATCHING IN BANDERAS BAYS
  • THE CRAZY YELLOW ANT
• GALLERY
• LINKS

Reserch

FIBB Catalog

Photoidentification of humpback whales is very important for research and conservation of the species, through photoidentification we can estimate population abundance, study behavior patterns, migratory routes, and much more, hence its importance. Since 1996 the institutions: Instituto Tecnológico de Bahía de Banderas and Centro Regional de Investigación Pesquera-INP Cruz de Huanacaxtle and the whale watching tour operators: Cielo Abierto, Discover Pacific Tours, Ecotours de México, Ocean Friendly and Vallarta Adventures, have done photoidentification projects with Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), in Bahía de Banderas, Jalisco-Nayarit, México. In an effort to obtain more complete information in behalf of the research, conservation and protection of the species, all the photos and data were gathered in the Banderas Bay Humpback Whale Photoidentification Catalog, known as FIBB Catalog. Since the different collaborators launch from different harbors within Banderas Bay (Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta de Mita), at least 60% of the Bay is covered daily, with a navigation effort of minimum 12 hours, during the whale watching season (December 8 to March 23). Every season an average of 600 good quality photos are gathered and at least 5 hours per photo are needed in order to incorporate the photo to the catalog.

In 2010 we are proud to have 2 college students doing their thesis using the information from the catalog in order to get their bachelor degree in Marine Biology:

1) Population Tendecies and Fidelity of Humpback Whales to Banderas Bay from 1996-2007. Angie Zepeda Rojas. Universidad del Mar. Puerto Angel, Oax. México

2) Multitemporal analysis of the relative abundance of Humpback Whales in Banderas Bay. Fernando Noriega Betancourt. Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana. México D.F.

We have a printed version of the catalog that includes photos of 10 years of field work. The book includes 2 chapters, one devoted to the biology and behavior of humpback whales and the other includes the flukes of 991 different whales. If you want a copy please write to fibbcatalogo@yahoo.com. The Catalog has a cost of $25USD plus shipping. Proceeds benefit our humpback research and conservation projects.