Fin Whale Swallows Thousands of Gallons of Water During Feeding Off Pembrokeshire Coast

According to a report from BBC UK, videographer Rhys Morgan captured footage of a fin whale off the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales, showing the mammal opening its large jaws to consume thousands of gallons of water while feeding. The fin whale's expandable pleats were observed taking in as much as 18,000 gallons of water and krill. Morgan stated that capturing the whale feeding and swimming alongside dolphins using his drone while he was fishing with a friend was a matter of complete luck.

As the second largest animal after the blue whale, the fin whale is recognized as one of the largest creatures ever to exist, capable of reaching lengths of up to 24 meters and weighing as much as 70 tonnes. Despite its massive size, the fast-swimming animal is described as elusive, spending much of its existence in the open ocean and often only surfacing briefly before submerging.

The mammal can be located across the world's oceans, though it is most comfortable in cooler waters. Morgan, who is from Houghton, Pembrokeshire, works at an oil refinery during the day and mentioned that he developed an interest in marine videography after using his friend's drone to record sea creatures on the ocean's surface. He commented that the experience was quite incredible and made him feel very small.

Regarding the recording process, Morgan noted that to prevent causing harm to the whales while filming at sea, they try to maintain distance from the boat, although he acknowledged that nature sometimes acts independently. He recounted instances where they were anchored fishing with no activity nearby, and a whale would appear next to them, suggesting that wildlife sometimes approaches them.

Dr. Marianna Chimienti, a lecturer in marine top predator ecology at Bangor University, characterized Morgan's experience as a rare and fortunate encounter. Chimienti, who specializes in animal behavior, added that it is typical for fin whales to feed at the surface as part of the species' foraging strategy, but being in coastal waters is quite spectacular, noting that they should theoretically have migrated.

Information regarding fin whale migration is limited, but their movements are thought to differ from other baleen whales, such as humpbacks and blues. Scientists have observed that fin whales are more numerous in higher latitudes during warmer months and more abundant in lower latitudes during colder months, though this pattern can vary.

Fin whales maintain a relatively simple diet, which typically consists of squid, small schooling fish, and krill. Because its prey is small, fin whales must consume a large quantity to sustain themselves, potentially spending several hours daily feeding and ingesting up to 2,000 kilograms of food.