In August, Argentina’s Valdés Peninsula welcomed 2,100 southern right whales—a 15% increase from last year and a historic high. This phenomenon stems from the region’s 40-year fishing ban and marine reserve development, yet it also brings challenges like strained food resources and heightened conflicts with fisheries. Each whale consumes 1.5 tons of krill daily, potentially threatening other marine species. While whale-watching tourism generates tens of millions of dollars, collisions between fishing vessels and whale pods have increased by 30% year-on-year. Argentina’s National Institute of Oceanography is advocating for expanded marine reserves and establishing a whale population monitoring and early warning system to balance conservation and sustainable use.
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