IMIS - Marine Research Groups

This dataset presents killer whale records off Peru taken during 23 pelagic surveys conducted by the Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE). Sightings data were collected during three kinds of surveys conducted by IMARPE between 1995 and 2003: 1) Pelagic surveys for evaluating the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens) population, and other pelagic resources, covering the entire Peruvian Sea, from the coastline to 200n.m. offshore; 2) Demersal surveys to evaluate the hake (Merluccius gayi) population off Northern Peru; and 3) oceanographic surveys to monitor ocean conditions covering the entire Peruvian sea out to 300 nm offshore. Records of the killer whale (Orcinus orca) in Peruvian waters are scarce and mostly anecdotal. Despite reports of many artisanal fishermen of occasional sightings of killer whales, these records have not been confirmed, resulting in a limited number of reliable reports of this species off Peru during the last century. To date, no records of strandings of killer whales are known for Peru. Due to the high concentration of its potential prey (cetaceans and pinnipeds) in the Peruvian waters this species would be expected to be more common than previously recorded.