13-metre whale found on beach in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
A young fin whale was found on a beach on Île de Ré, prompting an investigation into how it died and why it was in the area
The fin whale was still young, weighing nearly 12 tonnes
RadekSzymczakPhoto/Shutterstock and Mairie de Rivedoux-Plage Facebook page
A 13-metre whale which beached itself on Île de Ré (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) before dying was found by walkers on Saturday, May 30. Local experts were aware of its presence just off the coast on Friday but were unable to intervene at night.
The fin whale is the second-largest whale after the blue whale. The one found at Rivedoux-Plage on the island weighed almost 12 tonnes. It was removed for autopsy.
It is unusual for fin whales to be present near the island, according to Grégory Ziebacz, a member of the Ré Nature Environnement, speaking to INF La Rochelle. He explained that the animal was young and would normally migrate across the Atlantic Ocean; it should not have been in the area. It would typically remain with its mother, from whom it may have become separated.
The whale has now been transported to Pelagis, (Observatoire PELAGIS, CNRS / La Rochelle Université) which coordinates the French National Stranding Network, where it will be examined to determine the cause of death. However, visible injuries suggest it may have been struggling for some time before dying.
According to the mairie of Rivedoux-Plage, children from the area came to place flowers next to the whale.
This is the third whale to have washed up on the island since 1920, with the second recorded case occurring in 2017.
Whale watching in France
Whales and dolphins are protected under French law and international agreements, including regulations enforced in French Mediterranean waters.
Under a national law introduced in 2011 and enhanced in 2021 it is prohibited to intentionally disturb marine mammals, including approaching them within 100 metres.
The code of good conduct for whale watching, sets out specific guidelines to minimise disruption. If a whale or dolphins is sighted, boats must maintain a slow and steady approach only when necessary, avoid sudden movements and limit observation time to around 30 minutes.
Additionally, only one vessel should be within 300 metres of the animal at any time.
It is forbidden to touch, feed, or attempt to swim with marine mammals. The safest course of action is to observe from a distance, avoid altering the animal’s natural behaviour and leave the area calmly if the animal shows signs of disturbance.
