Researchers at the Maurice Kahn Marine Research Station at the University of Haifa have spotted two tadpoles in the deep sea, shortly before they were forced to halt an acoustic survey due to the security situation. This is only the second time since 2022 that tadpoles have been observed in person as part of the project.
Two humpback whales were recorded today, June 8, 2026, in the heart of the deep sea off Israel, about 35 kilometers west of Ashdod. The unusual sighting occurred during a marine survey by the Maurice Kahn Marine Research Station, Kadas Nexus, at the Czerny School of Marine Sciences at the University of Haifa. The survey was interrupted earlier than planned due to the security situation, but just before the researchers returned to shore, characteristic humpback whale sounds were recorded on a hydrophone, and the two individuals were located on the surface of the water.
The humpback whale, Physeter macrocephalus, is the world's largest toothed whale and one of the most impressive animals in the sea. It spends much of its life at great depths, often hundreds of meters or even more than a kilometer below the surface, where it hunts mainly squid in near-total darkness. Because it only surfaces briefly between dives, direct sightings are extremely rare, especially in the eastern Mediterranean.
The survey in which the sighting occurred is the 11th survey of the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station’s Deep Sea Whale Project, funded by the Ministry of Energy. The survey launched yesterday aboard the Adva Yacht Club’s yacht “Naomi” in Ashdod, as part of a broad regional research effort in the Mediterranean Sea under ACCOBAMS – the Convention for the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. The researchers planned to scan Israel’s exclusive economic waters for six days, up to a distance of about 100 miles from the coast, using an underwater acoustic system that listens for the sounds of whales and dolphins.
However, due to the security situation, it was decided to return the ship to shore after only about 24 hours. It was precisely at the early end of the survey that the important observation arrived.
"A few moments before we lifted the hydrophone out of the water, about 35 km west of Ashdod, at a depth of 700 meters, we suddenly heard familiar 'clicks'," said Dr. Aviad Sheinin, the project's principal investigator and head of the superpredators department at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station.
The team followed the acoustic signals, and soon managed to locate two tadpoles on the surface of the water, resting between deep dives. According to the University of Haifa, this is only the second time since the project began in 2022 that the researchers have been able to observe the tadpoles with their own eyes, and only the fifth time that the species has been detected using the acoustic system.
The "clicks" that reveal the presence in the depths
The tadpole uses echolocation – a natural system of emitting clicks and analyzing their reflections from the environment. Similar to bats or active sonar, the tadpole produces loud sounds, picks up the returning echoes, and thus locates prey and navigates the space. For researchers, these sounds are a key tool for identifying the presence of tadpoles even when they cannot be seen.
The importance of acoustic monitoring is particularly evident in the deep sea. These areas are difficult to scan, and direct observations are limited. Without hydrophones, much of the activity of large marine mammals would remain out of sight of researchers. In this case, it was precisely underwater listening that led to the rare visual observation.
The Mediterranean population of tadpoles is isolated from the population in the Atlantic Ocean and is estimated to number only hundreds to thousands of individuals, according to various estimates. It is considered a small and vulnerable population, exposed to threats such as underwater noise, pollution, marine debris, damage from vessels, and changes in marine ecosystems. In Israel, reports of tadpoles are received only a few times a year, so each recording adds important information about their presence in the eastern Mediterranean.
Israeli tadpoles?
One of the project's key questions is whether the tadpoles seen or heard in Israel's exclusive economic zone are just occasional visitors, or do they use the area more regularly. According to the researchers, data accumulated in recent years is beginning to indicate that the tadpoles spend large parts of the year in Israel's deep waters. If so, this means that the deep waters off Israel's coast are a more important habitat than previously known.
Yali Meborach, a doctoral student at the Czerny School of Marine Sciences at the University of Haifa and leader of the deep-sea cetacean project at the station, said: "The Israeli Mediterranean suffers from many human impacts, a lack of food, and a complex climate, so it is not easy for such species to survive in our area. We have been studying them for several years now, with relatively rare identifications. Today we got such an exciting glimpse of their presence here: healthy and beautiful and busy hunting - proof that we have Israeli cetaceans in this country that we need to study and protect."
This is particularly important given previous events in the region. Last February, a young humpback whale washed ashore in Nitzanim and was found dead. Such events highlight the vulnerability of the small population in the region and the need to better understand the movement routes, habitats and main threats to humpback whales in the eastern Mediterranean.
Marine Conservation Science
According to Mevorach, the data collected as part of the project helps map the distribution of cetaceans in Israel's deep waters for the first time. Such mapping is important not only for basic research purposes, but also for decision-making. Israel's economic waters are used for a wide range of human activities, including navigation, fishing, energy infrastructure, communication lines, and security activities. As better information is accumulated about the presence of large marine mammals, it is possible to formulate scientific recommendations for preserving their habitats.
In this sense, the rare sighting is not just an exciting event for researchers. It is part of a broader picture of getting to know Israel’s deep sea – a vast area, relatively close to the coast, but still almost unknown to the public. This sea is not empty. It includes a complex ecosystem, in which apex predators such as the humpback whale also live.
The survey team included Yali Meborach, Dr. Aviad Sheinin, Dr. Yotam Tsuriel, Dr. Lee Kruger, Dr. Mia Elser from the Delphis Association, Eden Barzilai, Kim Kobo, Raz Nitzan, Adi Buskila, as well as skippers Slava Nitzanski and Meir Mizrahi.
On World Oceans Day, the sighting of the two whales reminds us that rare and sensitive marine life also exists off the coast of Israel. To protect them, you must first know they are there.
Short FAQ:
What was recorded in the marine survey?
Two humpback whales were recorded about 35 kilometers west of Ashdod, in a water depth of about 700 meters.
Why is this a rare sighting?
Since the beginning of the Deep Sea Whale Project in 2022, this is only the second time that the station's researchers have been able to see tadpoles with their own eyes as part of the surveys.
How did the researchers locate the headstones?
The researchers used a hydrophone, an underwater acoustic system, to pick up the whales' characteristic "clicks." They then tracked the signals and located the whales on the surface.
Why is the head important for research?
The wrasse is a marine apex predator and deep-sea diver, and information about its presence in Israel's deep waters helps to understand the ecosystem in the region and formulate recommendations for its conservation.
Are there any primates who live permanently opposite Israel?
The research is still ongoing, but the accumulated data indicates that tadpoles may remain in Israel's deep waters for large parts of the year.
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