Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Sightings of blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) along the southeastern Arabian Sea

Volume 67 Issue 2

G. Kuberan and Sherine Sonia Cubelio

doi:10.6024/jmbai.2025.67.2.2607-17

Abstract

Observations on the sighting of blue whale, Balaenoptera musculus, in the wild are infrequent and serve as key indicators of oceanic ecosystem health. Here, we document three live blue whale sightings in the southeastern Arabian Sea, based on the visual observations from the Fishery Oceanographic Research Vessel, Sagar Sampada, during March-June 2024. The coordinates of the sightings were: 09° 06′ N, 74°18.84′ E; 08° 59.58′ N, 65° 0.18′ E and 08° 32.16′ N, 73° 28.48′ E. Two solitary adult whales were observed in the first two sightings, while a group of three adults were recorded in the third. These observations enhance our knowledge of blue whale distribution in this region, helping to address the scarcity of data on this species 

Keywords

Baleen whale, Balaenoptera musculus, cetacea, ship-based observation, Indian EEZ

Date : 27-11-2025