Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 14
Technical Summary - Pacific Population
Balaenoptera physalus
Fin whale (Pacific population) – rorqual commun (population du Pacifique)
Range of Occurrence in Canada:
North Pacific
Extent and Area Information
Extent of occurrence (EO) (km²)
>20,000 km²
Specify trend in EO:
None known
Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?
No
Area of occupancy (AO) (km²)
>20,000 km²
Specify trend in AO:
None known
Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?
No
Number of known or inferred current locations
Specify trend in #:
Unknown
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?
Unknown
Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat:
None known
Population Information
Generation time (average age of parents in the population):
20–30 years
Number of mature individuals:
Unknown
Total population trend:
Unknown
% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.
Unknown
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?
No
Is the total population severely fragmented?
No
Specify trend in number of populations:
None known
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?
No
List populations with number of mature individuals in each:
not applicable
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
- Collisions with large vessels
- Interactions with fisheries including entanglement in gear
- Noise pollution from industrial and recreational activities
- Chemical pollution
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
Status of outside population(s)?
Similarly depleted
Is immigration known or possible?
Yes, possible
Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?
Likely
Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?
Unknown
Is rescue from outside populations likely?
Yes, likely
Quantitative Analysis
None available
Current Status
COSEWIC: Threatened (May 2005)
Status and Reasons for Designation
Status: Threatened
Alpha-numeric code: A1d
Reasons for Designation: Currently sighted only infrequently on former whaling grounds off British Columbia. Coastal whaling took at least 7,600 animals from the population between 1905 and 1967, and thousands of additional animals were taken by pelagic whalers through the 1970s. Catch rates from coastal whaling stations declined precipitously off British Columbia in the 1960s. Based on the severe depletion and lack of sufficient time for recovery, it is inferred that present population is below 50% of its level, 60–90 years ago. Individuals continue to be at risk from ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear.
Applicability of Criteria
- Criterion A (Declining Total Population): Given the extent of whaling in the Northeast Pacific (the fin whale catch off British Columbia was in sharp decline when shore whaling ceased in 1967 after taking many thousand animals) as well as the low potential rate of increase, the population is likely to be less than 50% of its abundance 3 generations ago (A1d).
- Criterion B (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation): AO and EO > 20,000 km².
- Criterion C (Small Total Population Size and Decline): A small population but no evidence of current decline.
- Criterion D (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution): Numbers migrating through BC waters are unknown.
- Criterion E (Quantitative Analysis): No quantitative analysis has been undertaken.
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