Gracilaria (Gracilaria gracilis) is a seaweed native to Patagonia that forms extensive meadows that cover the soft mobile seabeds, which are not generally covered by other seaweed species. It prevents erosion and provides shelter for fish and marine invertebrates such as crabs, starfish and snails.

Until about 20 years ago it was a seaweed of high economic interest, from which a gelling and thickening product known as agar, used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries was extracted. Initially it was harvested in large quantities when it detached naturally and washed ashore in events called arribazones. As these events diminished, it was harvested directly from the sea, and over time its abundance diminished so severely that it was no longer economically viable to process it, which led to the disappearance of this activity.

Currently, our team is working to regenerate gracilaria meadows by replanting it in sites where it is sparse, in a slow and laborious process that must be done manually by divers. Worldwide, it is one of few projects aimed at restoring algae meadows for conservation purposes.

The South American fur seal (Arctophoca australis) is a marine mammal with distribution along the coasts of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Males are larger than females: they can measure two meters and weigh 200 kilograms, and have a small mane around their neck.

Their name in Spanish, lobo marino de dos pelos (two-haired sea lion) refers to the fact that their fur has two layers. Their pelts were highly valued from the 16th century until the beginning of the 20th century by the fur industry, which decimated their population. As a consequence, its original distribution was reduced to small, scattered colonies within the limits of the area it once occupied. Today, the extensive overlap of the areas used by sea lions and fisheries is their greatest threat.

In Argentina, the most populous colony is located on Isla Rasa, near Camarones, in Chubut. This island plays a key role in the population recovery of the species as it contains 60% of the total breeding population in Argentina; however, it is not protected due to its distance from the continent. Extending the protection of the coastal-marine zones of Patagonia Azul to include Isla Rasa and the sea that surrounds it is a pending matter.

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a large marine mammal that can measure up to 16 meters and weigh 30 tons. It is found in all of the world’s oceans, however, depending on the availability and quality of food, it is more commonly found in particular areas, such as Patagonia Azul.

Here, since 2021 in the spring and summer, individuals have been observed consuming lobsters and schools of anchovies, We began to record these events to observe their feeding techniques in the area and take photos, particularly of their tails, whose rough profile and spots generate unique patterns that can be used to identify each individual, much like a human fingerprint. These images were uploaded to an international database and provided information on 14 individuals that had never before been recorded.

In addition to continuing to record this information, we are preparing to record and research their extensive, complex songs, which are used during mating and feeding. Identifying and monitoring each individual allows us to learn more about the abundance and migratory patterns of the species in the area, to later develop strategies to help conserve their numbers.

The Minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) belongs to the fin whale family, one of the most abundant and diverse of the cetaceans, and is easily recognized by its large body size with small dorsal fin, flat head and grooves in the throat and chest that expand when they swallow water to feed on plankton, which is filtered by their baleen.

The minke whale was intensively hunted until the middle of the 20th century by whaling fleets in expeditions that captured thousands of individuals. Although hunting it now is illegal, it does happen on occasion. In addition, these fin whales face other threats such as noise pollution in the seas and the reduction of sea ice sheets due to global warming. Krill, the main food source of Minke whales, reproduces in these ice sheets.

Although the minke whale is an oceanic species that migrates between the Antarctic and southern Brazil, it is sometimes sighted in the coastal waters of Patagonia Azul. Moreover, in recent years it has begun to be observed there more frequently, sometimes in groups, but also solitary individuals. Because of this, there is much uncertainty about the species. It is not known how many individuals exist, the conditions of the population, nor where in the Argentine Sea it most commonly circulates.

The Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) is a fin whale found around the world and has two subspecies, one in the Northern Hemisphere, and one in the Southern Hemisphere. The southern sei whale is found seasonally along the coast. It migrates through the Argentine Sea from subpolar areas where it feeds in the summer, to the south of Brazil, where it breeds in winter.

Like the Minke, the Sei whale was heavily hunted until a few decades ago. It is considered endangered because the world population has declined by more than 80% within the last three generations. Today, its recovery depends on its protection. Although there is no formal data on current population trends, the latest records indicate that the population is slowly increasing along the Argentine coast.

Its variable migratory routes and intermittent presence during some months of the year make it difficult to monitor the population. Since 2019 their presence has been recorded in Patagonia Azul, mainly during autumn in moderately deep coastal areas, where they have been observed feeding or resting. From these records, we hope to gain a better idea about their abundance, behaviors and habitat use in the Patagonia Azul area.

The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) can measure up to 16 meters and weigh about 40 tons. It inhabits the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere; the Atlantic population usually migrates between feeding areas near Antarctica in summer and breeding areas further north in winter, where they concentrate mostly in the Valdes Peninsula and reach as far as Uruguay and Brazil. On these migratory journeys, Patagonia Azul is a regular stop for the southern right whale.

It is a very trusting and curious species and therefore frequently approaches vessels. In the past, this characteristic made the southern right whale an easy target and it was heavily hunted.

With its global population decimated, the southern right whale slowly recovered once commercial whaling was banned in the 1980s. Today its use as a resource for whale watching depends on the existence of a healthy population. These friendly encounters between these giants of the ocean and humans occur by chance in the transit waters that bathe the coasts of Patagonia Azul.

The broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) is one of the large sharks that inhabit the Argentine Sea. It can reach up to three meters in length, weigh more than 100 kilograms and has numerous white and gray spots, which give it its name in Spanish tiburón gatopardo (leopard shark).

It plays a fundamental ecological role as an apex predator in the Patagonian marine ecosystem. Its diet is varied: it consumes fish, invertebrates and crustaceans; it also consumes animal remains and is capable of preying on dolphins, sea lions, elephant seals and even other sharks.

Even so, this species is vulnerable: its population has decreased by 60% in recent years and its conservation state is critical. The main reason for this is their capture, both in unregulated sport fishing in coastal areas and as bycatch in offshore commercial fisheries.

Our team is working to compile information through underwater cameras and collect data on its distribution and use of Patagonia Azul’s coasts, in order to protect its breeding sites and ensure its survival.

Nuestro equipo trabaja para recopilar información mediante cámaras subacuáticas y obtener datos sobre su distribución y el uso que hace de las costas de Patagonia Azul, y así proteger sus sitios de reproducción y garantizar su supervivencia.

At over five tons in weight and nine meters long, the orca (Orcinus orca) is the largest existing dolphin, although little is known about the species. Although there are populations all over the world, each family maintains fidelity to a site that it usually patrols throughout the year. They swim long distances, and return to feeding sites just when their food sources are most abundant.

The orca is a family-based, social species in which immediate offspring and grandchildren are guided by a female leader. Their ability to communicate with specific dialects and the transmission of their songs from generation to generation reveal a cultural education similar to that of humans.

These cetaceans play an important role as top marine predators that help maintain healthy populations of their prey, which they capture together by coordinating different behaviors. In Patagonia Azul there are several islands that host prey populations, where visitors can experience a wild encounter with orcas.

The southern dolphin (Lagenorhynchus australis) is a robust dolphin that is found only along the southern coasts of South America, weighing up to 115 kilograms and measuring slightly over two meters. Its dark coloration with grayish bands on its sides and its dark head, which ends in the shape of a short rounded “beak” differentiate it from other dolphins. In the Atlantic Ocean its range reaches Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands; it appears frequently on the coasts of Patagonia Azul, although it is usually sighted offshore on the continental shelf.

The southern dolphin is commonly found in small groups, swimming among kelp forests or in areas of fast moving waters such as channels and straits, which they often leave to follow boats, jumping at full speed. However, when they are with their young they tend to stay close to the coast, in safe, shallow bays, and avoid socializing.

The presence of this marine predator is essential to fulfill its ecological niche and promote a new restorative economy based on wildlife sighting tourism in Patagonia Azul.

The Commerson’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii) is a small cetacean that does not exceed 1.5 meters in length and weighs a maximum of 60 kilograms. Its range is from the north of the province of Chubut in Argentine Patagonia, including the waters of the Islas Malvinas/Falkland Islands, to the southernmost fjords of Chile, including the Strait of Magellan. Patagonia Azul is one of the sites where most of the individuals are concentrated.

In groups ranging from five to 20 individuals, these charismatic and active animals repeatedly breach and jump when they encounter a boat. Due to their trusting and sociable behavior, they tend to interact with fisheries, where they are caught in nets as bycatch.

This elusive species has not yet been studied like other Patagonian marine mammals. Undoubtedly, the development of nature tourism activities and the contributions of citizen science, such as filming and photography during recreational boat outings, can provide valuable information for certain biological studies on their distribution patterns, site fidelity, and life history.

Although it is known as the “Patagonian hare”, the mara (Dolichotis patagonum) is not part of the lagomorph family to which hares and rabbits belong, but to that of rodents; in fact, it is the second largest rodent in the world after the capybara. Although it resides only in Argentina and has a broad distribution, its populations are vulnerable because of habitat loss due to the advance of agricultural and livestock activities and competition with introduced herbivores, such as sheep and the European hare. For this reason, mara sightings are rare throughout their range.

One of the most striking characteristics of this terrestrial mammal is that it digs burrows that it shares with other pairs of maras during the breeding season and that function as shelters for other species. In addition, its presence in the ecosystem favors seed dispersal throughout its wide range, which contributes to the regeneration of the habitat.

Since 2020, at Patagonia Azul we have begun to monitor the mara in sites where cattle ranching has been withdrawn. Despite the short period of time that has elapsed, we have already observed changes in their behavior: human presence is increasingly unnoticed and it is easy to spot pairs with their young. Monitoring these individuals provides us with useful, essential information, since there is little long-term data on the species over time.

The white-headed steamer duck (Tachyeres leucocephalus) is a robust seabird that inhabits only the coasts of the province of Chubut and northern Santa Cruz, mainly at Patagonia Azul. Due to its declining population status, it is considered a vulnerable species.

Its name refers to the way it moves through the ocean: it uses its small wings, which cannot lift its heavy body, to propel itself through the water, reminiscent of the paddles of a steamship. This is how it is able to move swiftly across the water’s surface when it feels threatened or to defend its mate or its territory.

The islands of Patagonia Azul have exclusive breeding sites for the white-headed steamer duck away from mainland predators. The ducks build their nests on the ground, well-hidden among the vegetation, where the chicks are born and protected to ensure the success of each breeding season. Because of its reduced range and small population size, conserving these areas of Patagonia Azul is crucial for the species’ population recovery.

Starting from Comodoro, passing through the “sea town” of Caleta Cordova, visitors cross the Rocas Coloradas Gateway, entering a world of contrasting colors and fragile geological formations that bear witness to the powerful natural forces at work in this ancient landscape. The route winds through the steppe, the natural habitat of the guanaco, the rhea, the mara and the puma. The views open to reveal huge green shoals with seagulls, terns and oystercatchers, cliffs and islets full of sea lions and cormorants, the open sea, where petrels coast, and whales can occasionally be seen spouting. A can’t-miss stop is the petrified forest with the remains of coniferous trunks and palm trees dating back more than 60 million years.

Arriving at Bahía Bustamante Gateway, the hills flatten out and the blue sea takes center stage. The cliffs disappear to give way to immense protected, shallow bays which are best visited at low tide and are feeding grounds for countless shorebirds, seagulls, terns and ducks. The islands offshore can be reached by boat to observe docile, photogenic fauna, such as sea lions and Magellanic penguins. At Malaspina Cove, the catshark is often seen. This cove, due to its natural characteristics, is the most biodiverse and productive location on the coast of Chubut and offers a true natural spectacle. This abundance and natural productivity gave rise to the exploitation of seaweed here, and the abandoned infrastructure and the stories of the old settlers of the historic place still remain.

After passing Arroyo Marea (Marea Creek), La Ruta Azul continues through the Patagonian steppe, inhabited by numerous guanacos, rheas and maras. The Isla Leones Gateway is an old cattle ranch that was reimagined for nature tourism to provide public access to the Southern Patagonia Interjurisdictional Coastal Marine Park and the mythical Isla Leones, which is accessed by boat from Arredondo Bay, a natural harbor. The old lighthouse on the island is iconic in Chubut history, as is Caleta Hornos (Hornos cove), known by sailors around the world though it is less known by local communities. A natural shelter, Caleta Hornos was the site of one of the first attempts to colonize Argentina, led by Simón de Alcazaba y Sotomayor, who in 1535 wanted to found the province of Nueva León there.

The traditional town of Camarones, located on the coast, has access to pristine, unpopulated beaches and the ANP Cabo Dos Bahías, which protects a significant colony of Magellanic penguins. In the navigation within Bahía Camarones towards the Islas Blancas Archipelago, an unparalleled spectacle of a resident group of about 50 very friendly Commerson’s dolphins can often be seen.

The Ruta Azul continues to the north before arriving at historic Cabo Raso, a paradise for surfers and adventurers. Isolated and wild, rebuilt by skilled hands and nostalgic souls, this abandoned village makes for an idyllic encounter between self and sea. The break is surfable, smooth stone beaches are endless and a shipwreck and bunker from the times of the Islas Malvinas/Falkland Islands war add a drop of history to this voyage.

The Punta Tombo Gateway is the last stop of the trip along the Ruta Azul. It has an interpretative center that takes visitors on a virtual journey from the sea bed up to the surface, where one of the largest penguin rookeries in Argentina is located. Visitors can walk along the 3 km path and to different viewpoints and observe the behavior of the friendly Magellanic penguins during breeding season. In addition, there is a colony of elephant seals on a nearby beach that returns every year and is habituated to visits from wildlife watchers.