10 June 2025: New study highlights key winter areas for bowhead whales around Svalbard

A new study by Wams and colleagues, titled “Singers of the high Arctic; Seasonal acoustic presence of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) around Svalbard, Norway”, was published in Scientific Reports in April 2025. The study used underwater recordings to investigate when and where bowhead whales are most vocally active during the ice-covered months.

Between 2017 and 2022, acoustic recorders were placed at six sites around the Svalbard Archipelago. Bowhead whale calls and songs were detected at all sites, but most consistently west and east of Svalbard. These areas likely serve as important overwintering and breeding grounds for the population. In contrast, areas north of Svalbard had more sporadic detections and are thought to act as movement corridors between key habitats. The study also found that bowhead whale presence and singing activity were closely linked to sea ice, with most vocal activity occurring during periods of high ice cover.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98302-7

Photo credit: Fernando Ugarte