Iberian killer whales assess deep-set fishing lines to detect hooked Atlantic bluefin tuna. First video trial.

(142.3MB, 00:03:57)
Shot Date: 2023/08/12
Shot Location: Las Bajas, Strait of Gibraltar

* species
Orcinus orca

Key Words
Killer whale–fishery interactions
Bluefin tuna depredation
Line fishing behavior



Manu Esteve
2026/06/07 submitted



Animalia >Chordata >Mammalia >Cetartiodactyla >Delphinidae >Orcinus >

Four whales were video-recorded swimming repeatedly along the fishline, intermittently interacting with it by placing it on their backs or pressing, holding, or pushing it with the fins, snout, melon or belly. These interactions are consistent with assessing line tension or weight to detect the presence of a hooked fish at depth.

Below is the abstract from the article containing this video:

A foraging-related behavior potentially allowing killer whales (Orcinus orca) to identify fishing lines with hooked Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is described from the Strait of Gibraltar. On two days, four whales were video-recorded swimming repeatedly along the fishline, intermittently interacting with it by placing it on their backs or pressing, holding, or pushing it with the fins, snout, melon or belly. These interactions are consistent with assessing line tension or weight to detect the presence of a hooked fish at depth. Digital video images related to the article are available at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo260512oo01a and at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo260512oo02a

Manu Esteve (2026) Iberian killer whales assess deep-set fishing lines to detect hooked Atlantic bluefin tuna. J. Ethol. 10.1007/s10164-026-00890-y

(Data No.momo260512oo01a)

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