This dataset represents the sighting histories of 932 individual fin whales (Balaentoptera physalus) photographed along the west coast of the continental United States and northern Mexico, 1987–2018. Because the fin whale is an endangered species, the sighting locations have been generalized. The full resolution sighting location data files and the R code used to conduct the analyses for the associated manuscript may be requested from the authors.

The data collection and processing methods are provided in the associated manuscript.