From the southern right whale hunting decline to the humpback whaling expansion: a review of whale catch records in the tropical western South Atlantic Ocean

摘要: Historical catch records from whaling activity are crucial for assessments of whale populations. However, several gaps in the exploitation history many populations before twentieth century create limitations that may lead to overestimates recovery these The modern along Brazilian coast is relatively well known. questions relating pre-modern period, during and nineteenth century, remain unanswered. For example, level humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae southern right Eubalaena australis this period unknown. Pre-modern Brazil began 1602 lasted until 1920s. Whales were captured using manual harpoons either rowing boats or sailing boats, processed at land stations called ‘armacoes’. A review oil production indicates substantial catches occurred. Pre-modern also indicate collapse population western South Atlantic Ocean. Increasingly rare reports sightings closing last armacao breeding grounds off collapsed by 1830. Armacoes operating north-eastern remained active through 1800s, targeted techniques introduced early 1900s. It estimated between approximately 11000 32000 individuals species coastal 1830 1924.