Blue and Fin Whales Returning to African Waters After 100 Years

After decades of absence, blue whales and fin whales are being spotted again in the waters off Southern Africa, giving scientists hope that these ocean giants are slowly recovering from near extinction.

Between 1913 and 1978, industrial whaling killed an estimated 350,000 Antarctic blue whales and 725,000 fin whales in the Atlantic Ocean. The slaughter pushed both species to the brink of disappearing forever from these waters.

Now, researchers from the University of Cape Town have documented a remarkable shift. While only 17 blue whale and 76 fin whale sightings were recorded between 1964 and early 2025, nearly all of them happened in just the past 13 years.

The whales are returning to the Benguela ecosystem, a nutrient-rich stretch of ocean along the coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. Deep ocean currents bring nutrients to the surface here, creating massive blooms of krill, the tiny crustaceans these whales depend on for food.

Lead researcher Bridget James explained that the area serves as a migration corridor between the whales' breeding and feeding grounds. Blue whales appeared most often during late spring and autumn, while fin whales showed up year-round.

The Bright Side

The increasing sightings offer genuine hope, but the recovery journey remains long. Current Antarctic blue whale populations sit at just 3% of their pre-whaling numbers, while fin whales have bounced back to about 30% of historical levels.

Scientists consider 50% recovery the benchmark for success. Whales reproduce slowly with long gaps between births, which means rebuilding populations takes generations rather than years.

Blue whale expert Asha de Vos, who wasn't involved in the study, noted similar recovery patterns emerging worldwide since commercial whaling ended. The trends show whales gradually reclaiming their historical habitats across multiple ocean regions.

The modern ocean presents new challenges these returning giants never faced before. Increased ship traffic poses collision risks, and one blue whale off Namibia likely died from a ship strike. Industrial noise and vessel activity now fill waters that were once quieter.

Still, every new sighting represents a small victory in one of conservation's longest comeback stories.