Adult male sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) depredation on demersal long line fisheries in high latitudes represents a major human-wildlife conflict which threats to intensify as population growth and competition for the same declining resources increase over time. Long term longitudinal data on on both fishery data and photo-identification data was used to explore the spatio-temporal spread of such behaviour in the three Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) longline fisheries (Crozet, Kerguelen Islands, and Heard and MacDonald Islands) over a total study period of 13 years. Spatial spread evidenced to have increased from 57% to 94% was observed a total of 33 cells. The number of cells with depredation per year ranged from of all fishing cells between 2006 and 2018. Social transmission through The-Wave of Advance model tested positive linear regression (r2 = 0.62, p-value = 0.0009). Photo-identification effort let to 12 new individuals (n=314), with connectivity among the EEZ´s in the Kerguelen Plateau. wh The quantitative analysis of these results through the calculation of the The distribution of the maximum distances among individuals that had been sighted (n = 138XX) indicated a predominant high-site fidelity (38.41XX %) however, (4. 34%) evidenced to travel far distances ( maximum distance travellefrom 1000 to 1500+ km range). The results from this study proves the combination of new identified individuals together with the evidence of few individuals travelling longer distances as the drivers behind the evidenced spatial spread. Further research on social transmission is highlighted. The global context of recovering marine population together with increased competition for the same declining resources are discussed, together with the need of locally applying mitigation measures in the Australian fisheries..
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