Inshore occurrence of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) at Subantarctic Marion Island

Abstract

Opportunistic shore-based sightings of southern right whales Eubalaena australis for  Marion Island (46°54’S, 37°45’E) were documented at five different times between 1974 and 2009. Whales were sighted between May and September and exclusively on the eastern lee side of the Island. Notwithstanding some observer biases over this time frame, the species appears to be an infrequent visitor to the inshore marine environment of Marion Island.

Key words: Eubalaena australis, Marion Island, shorebased sightings; Southern right  whale, vagrants.