The Southern Right Whale and Its Conservation as a Natural Resource for a Town

Abstract

Puerto Pirámides is the only population center within the Valdés Peninsula, in the province of Chubut. This area is listed by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site for its importance in the conservation of certain marine mammals, including the southern right whale. Boat-based whale watching is currently the driving force of the town's economy, playing a key role in the life of the community, which celebrates a popular festival in its honor every September 25th, commemorating the successful rescue of a calf that occurred on its shores in 2002.

In recent years, the number of dead whales that have appeared on its shores has concerned residents due to the close daily connection they maintain with whales and their habitat. Through an ethnographic approach, with participant observation in the field, open-ended interviews, and analysis of various documents, we will seek to analyze the impact of the life and death of these specimens on the village of Puerto Pirámides and the daily lives of its inhabitants.