Journal Article
Temporal Trends in Fin Whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ) Vocalizations Off the West Coast of South Africa
Emma Swanepoel; Fannie W. Shabangu; Marcel A. van den Berg; Tarron Lamont; Ken Findlay; William Froneman
Marine Mammal Science · Vol. 42, Issue 3 · 2026
Abstract
Long‐term acoustic monitoring of whale vocalizations offers valuable information on cetacean population biology and ecology and has become an essential tool for stock management. This study investigated seasonal and interannual variation in fin whale call characteristics off the west coast of South Africa using passive acoustic data across two periods: July 24, 2014 to January 13, 2017, and March 3, 2023 to September 27, 2024. Fin whale call presence along the west coast increased during austral autumn ( p = 0.027). Social calls exhibited a peak frequency decline from 19.00 Hz to 18.75 Hz ( p p p p