Species that have been made Natural Monuments and are attractions of the Patagonian coasts: the southern whale known as "southern franca blue whale" (1984) and the "huemul" (1996).

The "southern franca blue whale" used to be a widely hunted cetacean. Fortunately, since it is now being protected, it is under a slow recovery process. It comes near the shore in big groups in order to breed and mate. The coasts harbor important groups of birds and marine mammals in their reproductive time. Among the birds, don't miss the big nesting colonies of Magellanic Penguins, the Dolphin Gull, the Kelp Gull, the South American Tern and five cormorant species.

In the group of marine mammals important groups of seals, one-haired sea lions, and southern walruses are recorded. Along the littoral coast there are other varieties of remarkable cetaceans like the killer whale, and dolphins like the "tonina overa" or the "Franciscan" type.

To the southeast of Santa Cruz province, in Monte Len, there is a site of stupendous scenic beauty and one of the most important posts of marine fauna in the area, where every year thousands of one-haired sea lions meet, close to the Magellan Penguins' nesting colonies.

There are no noteworthy seasonal limitations for fishing in the sea or in the rivers, except for those imposed naturally by the migration of the species.

The fauna in the Argentinean Sea has a wide-ranging submarine platform and is really diverse: fish, crustaceans, mollusks, birds and marine mammals.

Among the varieties of fish found in the Argentinean Sea are to be counted: small anchovy, dorado, tuna, sole, sea bream, hake, "brotola", mackerel, "pejerrey", conger, bass, corvine, bream, dog-fish, prawns and shrimps. There are sport-fishing centers along the entire coast, and various organized fishing excursions are available upon request.

The "huemul" is also an inevitable guest in the Atlantic Patagonian region.

When the settlers came to live in these lands in the XIX century, they brought sheep and rabbits with them.

Apart from typical andean species such as the guanaco, the puma, the red fox and the Lesser Rhea, there are other species like the Cordilleran Canastero, the Shrike-Tyrant, frogs and small lizards.

Equally outstanding in the area are the zones reserved for big-game exotic species. Among the aboriginal species are the "pecar labiado", the "pecar de collar", the "chancho cimarrn", the "carpincho", the puma, the ostrich, the "corzuela", the tapir and the guanaco. Lesser Rheas and wild boars are also prey to the hunters that visit this place.

Sport-hunting is permitted during fall and winter. However, it is advisable to resort to the national or provincial tourist offices in order to get information about the official opening and closing dates for the season.