A Minke whale has been spotted off the coast of Wales in a special conservation area for more than a decade. On June 15 and 16, 2023, a team of marine researchers from Sea Watch Foundation were greeted with sightings of two of the whales during surveys in the area.
The Minke whales were sighted around ten nautical miles off the coast of Cardigan Bay, in an area teeming with shearwaters. The Sea Watch Foundation said that the whales were observed engaging in deep dives, which is indicative of foraging behavior. They also said that the whales are considered an indicator species, meaning that their presence indicates that the ecosystem is healthy.
Minke whales are slender with a pointed triangular head and single central ridge. They can grow to as big as 28ft for an adult and has a relatively tall dorsal fin, sickle-shaped and situated nearly two-thirds along the back.
