Synchronized Fin Whales

Composed of 13 adults swimming eastbound off the coast of Sept-Îles, the group was observed by the Sept-Îles Education and Research Centre (CERSI). Second largest mammal in the world, the fin whale is quite impressive even when alone. A group of 13 individuals therefore makes for a rather jaw-dropping observation!

Anik Boileau, researcher and co-founder of CERSI, was on the water at the time of the event. She says the group of fin whales reminded her of a passing train. “They were always moving in the same direction,” she adds. The sighting was captured on video. We see the fin whales coming to the surface to breathe while moving for a little over a minute and a half. The individuals then dive as a single entity.

This synchronized breathing and diving behaviour was observed on two other occasions by the research team. The gathering of fin whales eventually swam away and resurfaced for another breather sequence. Given the distance of the individuals and the shifting weather conditions, the scientists chose to leave the area.

During the entire observation, the whales were synchronized in their movements, in their dives and in their breathing. According to video analysis and notes taken during the sequence, there are believed to have been three “leaders” in the pod. These individuals were always at the front of the group and swam parallel to each other with a spacing of approximately one body length between each of them. The other individuals swam behind these whales, always parallel and in groups of no more than six. No other whales were recorded in the area during this event, allowing the scientists to conclude that it was a single group.

When they were spotted in the summer of 2021, the fin whales seemed to be “travelling from Point A to Point B,” explains Anik Boileau. It is possible that the individuals were heading toward an area with high prey density,adds the researcher. Since whales feed in summer in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, it is possible that the group was moving toward a feeding ground where food was relatively plentiful.

Additionally, this behaviour might also be a way for whales to better orient themselves spatially. Even if their hearing and vision are well suited to their deep sea environments, evaluating distance and direction is not always so straightforward. Travelling together might therefore be a way to overcome the obstacles they face.