Report of the incidental capture of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) by the traditional Chilean krill trawler Antarctic Endeavour in CCAMLR Subarea 48.2 during the 2023/24 fishing season

This document reports the incidental capture of a male humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) by the Chilean fishing vessel Antarctic Endeavour on February 1, 2024, during haul number 133 in CCAMLR Subarea 48.2. The incidental capture was recorded on the vessel C2 form and in the report and logbook prepared by the SISO scientific observer and sent to the CCAMLR Secretariat. Importantly, the whale was released alive from the net, although it sustained some injuries and exhibited signs of lethargy. The Chilean delegation and the fishing company are taking this incident very seriously and are working to explore options for developing new monitoring and alert systems, such as video cameras, stretch sensors, and new prototype devices for cetacean exclusion, with the main goal of preventing future incidents.