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RESERCH
Since 1996 we work in the Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Banderas Bay Photoidentification Project, known as FIBB Catalog. Until the season 2007-2008 the catalog has 1,342 different individuals photoidentified and a database of 3,268 registers. Right now we are working with the 690 registers obtained during the last season 2008-2009. We expect that at least 150 of this registers to be new whales.
In 2004, 2005 and 2006 we participated with the international research project SPLASH (Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpback Whales in the North Pacific), and with the NOPP OBIS SEA MAP (Maping and Distribution of the Humpback Whales in the North Pacific).
We also collaborate on the Humpback Whale National Catalog with the National University of Mexico, UNAM and the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, UABCS.
We participate in the Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) identification project of the Technological Institute of Banderas Bay and with Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) protection and conservation projects in Jalisco and Nayarit.
Since the season 2006-2007 we started the Humpback Whale in Isabel Island, Nayarit, Photoidentification Project. The results of our first field season will support the Mexican National Park System (CONANP) to establish a protected maritime area of 5 to 10 km around the Isabel Island National Park. In the near future we expect to compare the behavior of the humpback whales around Isabel Island, an area almost free from navigation, with the behavior of humpback whales in Banderas Bay.
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 Pacífic 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 15 to March 30). 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 2006 a printed version of the catalog was published. This edition has 991 different individuals identified.
If you want to acquire a catalog that includes the results of 10 years of research, a section about the biology and behavior of humpback whales with photos and a section with the flukes of 991 whales please write to fibbcatalogo@yahoo.com. The Catalog has a cost of $30USD plus shipping.
* We want to thank the October Hill Foundation and Cascadia Research Collective for their invaluable collaboration with this project.
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Direactor Creativo: Alonso Reyes | Diseñado por David Grywniak