Nature published our short correspondence on the enironmental impact of salmon farming in southern Chile!
Please find PDF’s here
We hope to be able to contribute to a better practise of aquaculture in Chile and for conservation of the prestige and vulnerable marine ecosystem of Patagonia.
Here are pictures that show some of the impacts of the salmon farming for nature:
Have a look:
our center is next to te white big Bryggehotell, in a small red bulding, up the stairs! and our grey zodiac is in front of the hotel..
The season of 2010 couldn’t have started better!
Already the day after the boat was put in the water for the season, we went out to see what the situation in the Vestfjord-area looked like, and already on the way out from the harbour of Henningsvær we found the water to be full of zooplankton, which is the main food for many fish and whales, so the dinner table was served and we had high excpectations on our first trip of the season.
A bit further out from Henningsvær the situation was the same; the water was almost boiling with large zooplankton including amazing amounts of copepods and different comb-jellies that all reflected the sunlight in the different colours of the rainbow. We immediately stopped and put out our hydrophone to listen for whales in the area and already at the first stop we heard faint whistles of pilot whales!
We were now actively looking for any signs of the whales, and with two marine biologists onboard we scanned the area with our binoculars, but the whales proved difficult to find, and the Vestfjord is big but we could still hear them, so we knew they had to be around somewhere. While we were searching, we encountered most of the sea-birds that can normally be seen in the area, including puffins, razorbills, arctic terns, sea-eagles, skuas and one of the true giants of the open ocean – the large and very characteristic gannet with a wing-span almost as large as the sea-eagles.
After getting out on deep water and systematically searching the fjord for some time using binoculars and our hydrophone, we encountered several groups of pilot whales! They were difficult to find in the beginning, but it was well worth the waiting! and we had an amazing encounter with several smaller family groups involving also some sightings of young calves that were swimming in close contact with their mothers. With the engine off, all we heard was the sounds of the whales breaking the water surface and the communication between the animals and the rustling of the faint wind. All together, it was an amazing experience of the wildlife in Vestfjorden that will last for a very long time!
Welcome to Henningsvær!
Best regards, Fredrik
Please visit this link to view a well made movie about whaling in Norway. Chris Fedor and Chris Hanson made “Chasing Giants” last year and came by to interview whalers, politicians, activists, guides, restaurant chefs (hhmmm) and .. myself…. enjoy! H.
We managed to renovate the center and it is now open! come and visit us upstairs of the old “Damperiet” next to Henningsvaer Bryggehotell, the entrance is at the waterfront.
we are there every day from 14-18 o clock and safaris will start on Tuesday.
I want to thank all the people that helped me: Einar, Bettina und Manfred, Peter, Rob and Gert-Jan, Helge, Frank and Odd Petter.
Hope to welcome you soon, Heike
Pictures from the renovation:
I am sorry but it takes longer to renovate our new location next to Bryggehotel in Henningsvaer. we hope we can open next Saturday 05.06.2010.
Excursions, lectures and exhibtions will be available thereafter. I will keep you updated.
If you feel like swinging a painting brush, come by!
Welcome to Henningsvaer!
Best wishes, Heike
After 4 months of cruising around and discovering the beautiful wildlife of the fjord system of Aysen in Chile, I have now selected the best pictures (90) for you. The project was organised by the Center for Scientific Tourism at CIEP in Coyhaique and Ocean Sounds in Norway. We used different boats and crew members to cover an area from Puerto Montt to Laguna San Rafael. We encountered 8 different species of whales and dolphins and many seals and birds during our excursions. I took pictures for identification and to create Photo-ID catalogues to monitor the biodiversity and study the acoustic communication of whales. I recorded many hours of sounds of blue whales, sei whales, bottlenose, peale’s and chilean dolphins as well as pilot whales.
Enjoy!
saludos, Heike
the amount of farms, the resulting impact on the marine ecosystem and amount of the garbage floating around in the fjords of Aysen is huge!
Please read this article on the national geopgraphic to learn more and we will update you with our information soon..
After 10 days searching the fjords and channels of Aysen on a boat I am back at the Institute for Scientific Tourism in Coyhaique.
We had some problems with the boat and crew on our first day, but then we quickly found a new boat and crew and off we went. We found many islands with breeding birds and seals and some species where familiar (e.g. common and arctic tern..), but others I have never seen before (pelicans).
In the channels we often encounters Peale’s and Chilean dolphins that came to the boat for a short time. Out on the Moraleda channel we encountered 2 different groups of Bottlenose dolphins and we could take Photo-ID and sound recordings of these animals. They were as usual very inquisitive and showed themselves perfectly for pictures. It wasn’t the same group we encontered last year. A little further away we saw Blue whales and Humpback whales feeding on plankton and krill.
It feels good to know that Whales are protected in Chile and no whaler comes around the corner. However, the salmon inustry has covered most of the fjords with their farms and the first impression of wild and untouched nature is destroyed. On remote wild beaches you will find plastic garabage from the farms, but also from our zivilisation.
Well, for now enjoy the pictures:
We just received good news, Ocean Sounds has found a new place to continue in Henningsvaer, Lofoten next year!
The Bryggehotel offered us a new place to have our center. It is the largest hotel in Henningsvaer, right at the entrance at the big parking place. We will move into a small building called “Trandamperiet” after our break in May. More to that and pictures will follow later.
I will be working in Chile / Patagonia with CIEP until the end of April, then visit the Max Planck Institute in Goettingen in May and return to Norway thereafter. News will follow as they come…..
We look very much forward to working together with the people from the “Bryggehotel” and to see you all next summer!
Have a wonderful New Year!
Best wishes,
Heike
