Oceanographers claim grainy pictures showing world’s largest animal 250 miles off the coast are first since it was hunted to near-extinction

The great creature surfaced from the murk of a deep-sea canyon, lingered just long enough for observers to grab a few pictures, and then vanished from sight into the fog and rain.

Oceanographers believe these grainy photographs are probably the first to show a blue whale in English waters since the mammals were almost hunted to extinction in the north-east Atlantic.

The blue whale, the largest animal in the world, was spotted by scientists on board RRS James Cook, which is studying the seabed and marine life of the Whittard Canyon, located off England’s south-west coast.

Russell Wynn, a senior research scientist at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton, said he was undertaking his daily marine mammal survey and watching about seven fin whales close to the ship, when his attention was grabbed by a shape surfacing about a kilometre away.

“I had just enough time to secure some conclusive photos before the visibility decreased and the whale disappeared into the gloom,” he said.

One photo shows a glimpse of spray from the whale’s blowhole; in the second the animal’s mottled bluish-grey back and tiny dorsal fin are visible.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A glimpse of spray can be seen from the blue whale’s blowhole. Photograph: National Oceanography Centre

The NOC’s Veerle Huvenne, who is chief scientist of the expedition, added: “There was huge excitement on board as many people got a glimpse of their first blue whale, but only later did we realise that this is probably the first to be photographed within English waters. The Biscay margin is already recognised as a hotspot for whales, dolphins and seabirds – our new data further underlines the importance of this area for iconic marine life.”

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The blue whale was hunted to near-extinction in the north-east Atlantic in the early 20th century, but this sighting, and others from observers on ferries crossing the Bay of Biscay further south, may indicate that the population is slowly starting to recover and move into new areas.

In addition to the blue whale, the expedition has recorded more than 20 fin whales, the second largest animal on Earth, in the waters of the canyon, which acts as a highway for sea life between the shallower waters of the continental shelf and the deep ocean.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Blue sharks have been pictured using the expedition’s remotely operated vehicle. Photograph: National Oceanography Centre

On the same day that the blue whale was seen – 24 August – the survey team, using their remotely operated vehicle (ROV), recorded a broad-billed swordfish several hundred metres below the surface. Swordfish are rarely encountered in UK waters. Up to 12 blue sharks have regularly been seen around the ship and have been captured on ROV video.

The Whittard Canyon lies some 400km (250 miles) off the British coast on the northern margin of the Bay of Biscay. Part of it, including where the blue whale was seen, can be classified as being in English waters as the area falls within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone.