YEAR OF THE WHALE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
The Pacific Islands are home to almost half of all known whale and dolphin species, but just as here in Skjálfandibay the humpback whale ist the best known one.
The South Pacific humpback whale population migrates to the Pacific Islands to give birth to their calves.
The Atlantic humpbacks - which we get to see here throughout our whale watching season - are coming to our bay for feeding, whilst having their breeding grounds along West Africa and in the Caribbean Sea.
In the Pacific Islands, every two years the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) designates a key theme to focus their work on.
Yesterday it has been announced that for 2016/17 it will be the "Year Of The Whale". Whales play a central role in the legends and art of many of Pacific Island cultures and are often regarded as being tapu (sacred). The above mentioned Government Organisation aims for the protection and a sustainable management of the environment.
You can read more about it here: http://whaleheritagesites.org/2016-the-year-of-the-whale-i…/
- Sarah
Source of photo: whaleheritagesites.org
