A fisherman from Bình Định Province encountered a whale approximately 10 meters long surfacing for prey while fishing in the waters off Nhơn Lý commune, Quy Nhơn City.
On June 7, Mr. Lê Văn Tư (57 years old, from Nhơn Lý commune, Quy Nhơn City, Bình Định), reported that around 5 PM on June 5, his boat was anchored near the tip of Sẹo Island, in the waters off Nhơn Lý, waiting for schools of mackerel and anchovy when he suddenly spotted the whale.
“I saw the whale (commonly referred to by coastal fishermen as ‘Ông fish’) surface 5-7 times to hunt for prey,” Mr. Tư said, sharing that this was the first time he had seen a large whale appear in the waters of Nhơn Lý.
According to Mr. Tư, the whale was about 10 meters long and was only visible for approximately 5 minutes before moving on to another location.
It is noteworthy that for two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023, Bryde’s whales (scientific name: Balaenoptera edeni) have been sighted in the De Gi waters (Phù Cát District, Bình Định) during July and August.
According to representatives from the Bình Định Fisheries Department, the presence of whales near the waters of Bình Định indicates that the coastal marine environment in Bình Định is improving, providing ample food. If well-managed and protected, whales are expected to return regularly each year to Bình Định.
A whale surfaces in the waters of Bình Định (Image taken from a clip).
The Bình Định Fisheries Department also noted that the whale’s hunting behavior, characterized by its head lifting out of the water, resembles that of the whales previously spotted in the De Gi waters (Phù Cát District, Bình Định) in 2022.
“This species tends to follow food sources and ocean currents while hunting. This confirms that the coastal waters of Bình Định are improving, with a clean environment and abundant food sources,” a representative from the Bình Định Fisheries Department added.
