The researchers are back on board our boats to continue their work on cetaceans in Faxaflói Bay for the 2012 field season. Like previous years, the research team led by Chiara Giulia Bertulli, a marine biologist that has been involved in the research since 2007. She is currently working on her PhD which focuses on establishing abundance of minke whales and white-beaked dolphins in the coastal waters of Faxaflói Bay using mark-recapture techniques and biological sampling. Since 2007, in collaboration with Elding whale-watching and the University of Iceland, she created the first photo-ID catalogue of the area counting around 400 minke whales, 300 white-beaked dolphins, 52 humpback and 8 orcas. Chiara´s 2012 field assistants are Sara Lawrence and Richard Mardens for the months of April and May, which you might notice on our tours ‘equipped’ with their cameras and distinctively taking notes of the surroundings.

Even though we haven't had many minke whale sightings this year so far there have been quite a few Humpback Whales keeping the researchers busy. The humpback whales have been absolutely great so far this season and it seems that every day now we're seeing more and more minke whales. The first puffins have even been spotted the last week on our tours and soon they'll start settling on the islands. Chiara, Sara and Richard have been so kind to share some of their photos with us, and most likely you'll see more of their work this summer.

They've always kept us up to date with interesting findings. On board, our guests can also look at the photo-ID catalogues of whales and dolphins and at the past research newsletters.

 

Photographs are taken by researchers of the Faxaflói Bay Cetacean Project