A day on the Reine

Yesterday some of our team was fortunate enough to join Andenes Whalesafari on their ship, the M/S Reine to make underwater recordings and photograph spermwhales.

M/S Reine

On the trip met this resting spermwhale.

This individual is recognizable by a hole in its fluke.

The trip was a success and the M/S Reine is a thing of beauty! Thank You Whalesafari Andenes for a great day!

Whale sounds

Here is our recording of the spermwhale we encountered yesterday. The clicking sound is the whales way of navigating the deep dark ocean.

Whales

Today we sighted four spermwhales off the coast of Andenes. We also made sound recordings of the whales.

Longline fishing

The fishermen from MS Triton took our team member Fred on board their vessel to show him how longline fishing is done. They also provided us with information on whale sightings.

A longline ready for deployment.

The skipper, Magnar Haraldsvik, is evaluating the currents according to the direction of the high-riser buoys that are attached to the longline.

The skipper and crew having chowder before the harvest.

 

Deckhand Anders Johansen preparing the line.

 The anchor connected to the line is being lifted from a depth of 305 fathoms (approx. 560m).

 

Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), that's what's on the menu.

The trip was successful and we gained a great deal of knowledge about how the fishing is done. There where no whale sightings in the viscinity of the boat which is an important observation in itself. Fair Winds and thank you for a good trip!

Getting to know the people

Lauri introduced us to the local long line fishermen of Stø as they were baiting the longlines for the next trip.

Brandaris

Antti and Anne Peuna from Finland have given us the opportunity to use their fantastic vessel, Brandaris, in the beginning of the halibut season. Wonderful boat and wonderful people!


 

Launch

Long line fishing for Greenland Halibut started 23/5! We are in Vesterålen with MV Brandaris to establish contact with fishermen, who will be our important allies in documenting interactions between the fishery and sperm whales. We have met great people here in Stø and are looking forward to working together.

First report of sperm whales taking fish from long lines reported off Andøya 23.5….
 

Lauri Pietikäinen, the “General of Stø”, alerted us to the fact that sperm whales have started taking Greenland Halibut from long lines and has done a great job introducing us to this fishing operation and the fishermen involved. Thanks Lauri!