Santa Catarina Nursery
Santa Catarina is a state located in the southern region of Brazil. This area is a significant breeding ground for Southern right whales, which migrate from their feeding grounds in the South Georgia Islands to the southern part of Santa Catarina every year and stay in the coves between May and November for their breeding season.
The Whale Heritage Area include the municipalities of Garopaba, Imbituba, and Laguna. These areas are considered epicentres of the whale nursery and form part of the Right Whale Environmental Protected Area, which was created in 2000 and covers 150,000 hectares.
Most of the nursery is in an Environmental Protection Area, while the wider region has a rich heritage, attractions for sports and nature lovers, as well as opportunities to enjoy the local culture and cuisine.
Right whales, which used to be hunted off the coast of Santa Catarina, are now a source of pride for the local population. As the whales stay close to the coast, they offer an unforgettable opportunity to connect with nature for locals and visitors, who have the privilege of watching the mother whales interact with their calves from land.
Santa Catarina Nursery was designated as a Whale Heritage Area in December 2025.
KEY FACTS
Location
- Region – Latin America
- Country – Brazil
- Area/State – Santa Catarina
Cetacean species
- Southern right whale
- Humpback whale
- Bottlenose dolphin
When to see them
- May – November
The Destination
Location
The WHA covers the municipalities of Garopaba, Imbituba and Laguna.
Northern boundary -27.9536, -48.6227
Southern boundary -28.6019, -48.8155
It is characterised by coastal bays and inlets, long beaches, rocky coasts and barriers dominated by dune fields. The marine portion of the Right Whale Environmental Protected Area is found on the inner continental shelf, where its outer limits reach maximum depths of between 40 and 50 m. The average width of the marine portion of the RWEPA is approximately 10 km.
Cetaceans regularly seen
Imbituba is considered the national capital of the Southern right whale, with the highest record of sightings of the species. Southern right whales can be seen primarily between July and November, when they use the sheltered coves of Santa Catarina Nursery to give birth and raise their calves.
Humpback whales are also a migratory visitor to the Whale Heritage Area.
Santa Catarina is home to a resident population of bottlenose dolphins, which can be seen all year round, but are especially active during the mullet season from May to July.
Cetacean Heritage
The area’s resident dolphins, as well as Southern right whales, are of exceptional cultural, social, and ecological importance in the region and are deeply embedded in the local community’s identity.
The Whale Heritage Area’s native bottlenose dolphins are known for sharing a unique collaborative relationship with local fishermen in Laguna. During mullet season, the dolphins seem to communicate with the fishermen by signalling the location of the shoal, and even help to push fish into the nets. In turn, any fish that are not caught swim back towards the dolphins and are eaten. This unusual interaction has been certified as intangible cultural heritage and Santa Catarina is only the second place in the world where this behaviour has been reported.
Things to do
- Watch whales from land on the coast and beaches.
- Visit the National Right Whale Conservation Centre in Itapirubá, which provides information and interesting facts about the world of right whales and the research activities carried out in the region by the ProFRANCA Project, maintained by the Australis Institute.
- Attend the annual Whale Welcome Celebrations.
- Visit Garopaba and walk the ecological trails along the Atlantic Rainforest.
- Visit the Quilombola communities, including the Flour Mills, distilleries, fishing ranches, organic farms, and typical handicrafts, among other attractions.
Achieving Whale Heritage Area status
Each Whale Heritage Area has a unique route to meeting the criteria set out by the WCA. Check out some of the highlights from Santa Catarina Nursery Whale Heritage Area:
Encouraging Respectful Human-Cetacean Coexistence
As a popular destination for sun and sea tourism, especially during the summer, governmental and social initiatives are investing to further strengthen responsible tourism in this area, especially during the whale season.
So far, only land-based whale watching is allowed, to ensure that the female whales and calves have refuge areas where they are not disturbed by boats. The regulation restricts nautical and recreational activities by motor boats in these areas.
Land-based whale watching has become an increasingly important type of community-based ecotourism and, gradually, has given rise to local groups of guides, regional governance, public policies, and other strategies to promote this activity. Many tourists walk the trails to spot the whales, which are also used by scientists to carry out cetacean research.
Celebrating Cetaceans
Local communities and socio-environmental stakeholders have been organising the Whale Welcome Celebration since 2016. This is a commemorative day where various entities, local identities, musical bands, art, culture and education groups participate to socialise with the community and celebrate the arrival of the Southern right whales, as well as helping to protect their nursery ground. The celebration is an independent event with support from the public authorities, aimed at bringing the community closer to the presence of these whales and promoting the development of a protected sanctuary, so that the whales can feel safe and keep coming back.
Working Towards Sustainability
The Right Whale Route is a sustainable tourism initiative with the aim of promoting responsible interactions between local businesses and the environment. It develops actions to promote sustainability with the companies that are part of the project, providing lectures about endangered species and environmental protection. The partner companies of the Right Whale Route have implemented sustainability actions such as rainwater collection, waste separation and disposal for recycling, organic gardening, and solar energy, among others.
Since 2011, the region has held a World Beach Cleaning Day, organised by the NGO Association Friends of the Environment, AMA and IMMC, with the partnership of the City Hall, Municipal Schools, Environmental Associations, Surf and Environmental Drivers of Garopaba, in addition to the Scouts Ilha Terceira group.
Developing Research, Education and Awareness Programmes
TobTerra works to bring environmental education and awareness to the local community and stakeholders, as well through partners that develop educational activities both in schools and in the communities.
The Australis Institute is a non-profit created in 2015 to assist in the management of the Right Whale Research and Conservation Programme. Dedicated mainly to scientific research, monitoring and protection of the population of Southern right whales in Brazil, the institute is also involved in public policies, education and public awareness for the conservation of the species, and the enhancement of whales as ecological, economic and touristic heritage. Their research is focused on the distribution, habitat use, behaviour, and population dynamics of the Southern right whale.
The Cetaceans Project is an association that has been working on education and environmental awareness since 2017. In partnership with Terracycle, they develop actions to encourage recycling. They also promote artistic education in schools, give lectures on whales and their ecosystem, courses and scientific expeditions, and participate in events in the region through exhibitions, informative activities and environmental education, among other activities.
Key information
Who is leading the process locally?
Rota da Baleia Franca
Rede de Turismo de Observação de Baleias por Terra (Rede TOBTerra)
The Steering Committee members are:
- Simone Poletto
- Andrea Mierczynski
- Sergio Leite Guimaraes
- Gabriela Lopez Fibeiro
- Luiz Enrique da Silva
- Katiani Pinheiro Dos Santos
- Luciano
Actions and Recommendations
As part of the designation process, the Independent Review Panel (IRP) set out a series of actions and recommendations for the area to complete before or by the end of Year 1 of WHA designated status.
Recommendation 1
Cultural importance and representation
The panel encourages the Steering Committee to strengthen engagement with Indigenous communities and descendants of Azorean whalers. This will deepen cultural representation and broaden inclusion across heritage programmes. Note: the panel acknowledges that the Action Plan already includes engagement with Azorean whaler descendants.
Recommendation 2
Environmental pressures and coastal development
The panel recommends that the Steering Committee continue to monitor and address the environmental pressures associated with coastal development and nearshore industrial activities, including water quality concerns, marine debris, and potential oil and gas exploration impacts. These risks should remain a key focus for community advocacy and management actions.
Recommendation 3
Responsible interaction enforcement and clarity
The judges request clearer communication around enforcement structures for cetacean protection; for example, who implements regulations, how non-compliance is managed, and how private or recreational craft are monitored within nursery areas. The panel encourages continued collaboration with authorities to ensure effective oversight of both motorised and non-motorised vessels.
Recommendation 4
Tourism management and non-motorised craft
As land-based whale watching grows in popularity, the panel recommends assessing whether non-motorised recreational craft (such as kayaks or stand-up paddle boards) have any emerging or potential impacts on mothers and calves, and implementing appropriate strategies if needed.
Image credits: First header (Ana Carvalho); Second header (Gabireli Messias Rodrigues); “Things to do” image (Gustavo Faraco); Third header (MonitoresIMMC); Fourth header (Gustavo Faraco); “Who is leading the process locally” image (Gustavo Faraco). Gallery: First (Southern right whales, Ana Carvalho); Second (Praia do Matadeiro, Ana Carvalho); Third (bottlenose dolphin in Laguna, photographer unknown); Fourth (Welcome to the Whales Festival, Gustavo Faraco); Fifth (Southern right whale, Ana Carvalho).
