A blue whale around Tenerife is not uncommon, but rather exceptional after having disappeared from the radar for several years.
The sighting was captured on film by the owner of a company that organizes excursions to observe dolphins, whales, and other marine animals in their natural environment. The footage was shared on Facebook and quickly went viral.
Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth – they can grow up to 30 meters long and weigh 150 tons – and are quite rare in the warm waters of the Canary Islands. Most individuals travel long distances from feeding areas around the poles to breeding grounds near the equator. They reflect a turquoise color when they surface, hence their name.
Marine Reserve
The surprising encounter took place in the waters off the west coast of Tenerife, an area rich in certain species of cetaceans. This includes pilot whales, sperm whales, turtles, and humpbacks, which either reside there or visit occasionally. Since 2020, these waters have been designated as the only whale sanctuary in the European Union and the third worldwide.
The area is also known as the Teno-Rasca marine reserve, covering nearly 70,000 hectares and bordering the coastal areas of the municipalities of Buenavista del Norte, Santiago del Teide, Guía de Isora, Adeje, and Arona.
Since September 2011, this area has been declared a Special Conservation Zone (ZEC), part of the Natura 2000 network, which aims to ensure the survival of endangered species in natural habitats across Europe. The program also seeks to halt biodiversity loss due to the negative impact of human activities.
Fonsalía
However, there is a small piece of land not included in the reserve, precisely where the Canary Islands government planned to build a new commercial port. The proposed Fonsalía port infrastructure covers more than 222,000 square meters, with a quay offering five berths for large ships, a harbor section for 200 fishing boats, and 467 mooring spots for recreational boaters.
In this maritime area, traffic is intense, which has led to several accidents involving both humans and animals. Regulations exist for the proper approach to cetaceans, but they are not always followed, especially by boats and jet skis rented without proper permits.
Research conducted by various European universities, including the University of La Laguna, and published in 2021, revealed that the increased noise from the petrol engines of excursion boats has a negative impact on pilot whales. The findings showed that louder engines negatively affect the behavior of marine mammals.
Unknown © Photography
A blue whale around Tenerife ©
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