Southern Right Whale Season Launches in Uruguay, Boosts Marine Tourism

Uruguay opened its southern right whale (Ballena Franca Austral) watching season and unveiled a new Marine Fauna Route along the coast. The initiative, highlighted by tourism sub‑secretary Ana Claudia Caram and Rocha mayor Valentín Martínez, aims to strengthen nature tourism, promote marine biodiversity conservation and provide sustainable opportunities for local communities.

Around the same time, two southern right whales were recorded swimming side‑by‑side off Miramar, Argentina, in a drone video captured by photographer Matías Tortora. The sighting adds to a series of recent observations along the Atlantic coast as winter brings the whales closer to shore, underscoring the need for responsible viewing distances to protect the protected species.