Aside from a long-term study in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence (Sears et al. The blue whale ( Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest baleen whale, and the largest creature ever to inhabit the earth (Jefferson et al. ![]() These sightings contribute to the small body of information existing for the late winter/early spring distribution of blue whales in waters of the western North Atlantic. For the aerial sighting, the blue whale was seen feeding among at least 15 fin whales in an area approximately 4 km 2. At the time of the vessel observation, numerous fin whales ( Balaenoptera physalus), humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae), and North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis), were observed within the same approximately 8 km 2 area as the blue whale. These observations mark the first time this endangered species has been documented with photographs off the coast of Virginia, and represent the southernmost confirmed sightings in waters of the United States Atlantic Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). On 10 February 2019, another single blue whale was recorded during an aerial survey approximately 135 km east-southeast of Virginia Beach. On 11 April 2018, during a vessel survey off the coast of Virginia, a single blue whale was observed approximately 100 km east-northeast of Virginia Beach. ![]() We report on two sightings of individual blue whales ( Balaenoptera musculus) off the coast of Virginia during marine mammal surveys.
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