Bahía de Banderas welcomes humpback whales

Humpback whales arrive in Bahía de Banderas for reproduction and raising their young. Dolphins and other marine mammals are resident species in the bay, which is also a key survival area for manta rays.

Various species of sea turtles use the bay to feed, mate, and nest on its beaches. The bay has considerable richness and biodiversity of marine megafauna species. Marine megafauna species play an essential role in the region’s ecosystem and economy.

For visitors, that wildlife presence is part of what makes a day on the bay potentially unforgettable: a humpback arrival, dolphins in resident waters, manta rays in a key survival area, and sea turtles using beaches to nest. Humpback whales arrive in the bay for reproduction and raising their young.

The arrival of whales also brings a serious safety concern. A collision with a whale can put people’s lives at risk. An average of three whales are struck by vessels per year in the bay, and two whales died there from the impact of collisions. Calves make up 64% of the recorded whales struck by vessels, and calves struck by vessels have very little chance of surviving. Four whales were struck by vessels during the previous year’s season.

Many more animals are seen with healed wounds from collisions they survived. One calf struck by a vessel lost the tip of its tail fluke. Astrid Frisch Jordán has statistics and photographs of whale collisions, injuries, and deaths in Bahía de Banderas. ECOBAC’s first recorded whale collision was in 1997.

Authorities have called on residents and visitors to keep their distance from marine wildlife and to immediately report any wildlife sightings to emergency lines. Authorities have also called for conservation actions that address both the species and their habitat.

Puerto Vallarta’s municipal council approved implementing a program focused on harmonizing the relationship between the population and wildlife. The program will use prevention, monitoring, and outreach actions, with special attention to crocodiles sighted on beaches and in bodies of water in the municipality. Its stated aim is to promote responsible coexistence with wildlife species.

For a visitor, the practical response is simple: enjoy the wildlife from a distance, keep marine animals clear of boats, and report sightings through emergency lines.