Incredible! A Beluga and humpback sighted in Bodø!

Marine jackpot for our field team! On a recent field trip we were lucky to encounter a beluga (which is rare in Bodø area) AND a young humpback whale. 

We only got to see them due to the amazing work of our land observers. We therefore would like to give a big thank you to Anders Dannesboe Larsen, Henry Güthenke and Riccardo Comelli for reaching out when they saw these incredible animals. 

Belugas do not have a dorsal fin, making them difficult to spot from the RIB. Luckily for us, we had a great team consisting of Ellyne and Riccardo, who guided us to the beluga. 

The young humpback whale, unfortunately, shows signs of confusion, by showcasing strange fluke behaviour. Additionally, we also saw it almost getting caught in a net between some buoys (see video below). This just further proves how important it is to be considerate of marine life and not to leave out nets. 

Entanglement in fishing gear is a serious threat to whales. Fishing lines and nets can cause severe injuries and sometimes lead to death. If you see a whale nearby, please avoid fishing in the area and never leave unattended nets where marine mammals may be travelling. Small actions like these can make a big difference in protecting the incredible wildlife.

🐋 Have you seen a whale? Share your sightings with Ocean Sounds to help support ongoing marine mammal research and conservation.

*Beluga video credits: Riccardo Comellj
*Humpback video credits: Anna Kildeberg & Syra Reese