Balaenoptera physalus | COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2005)

Taxa
Balaenoptera physalus | (Linnaeus, 1758)
Balaenoptera physalus | Linnaeus, 1758
NRL Record ID
96570
Location
Countries in Assessment
Canada
Country ISO code(s)
CAN
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Common Names
Fin Whale (English)
Rorqual commun (Français)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Taxonomic Notes
Pacific population
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Pacific Ocean
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Is there a map available in assessment?
Not_assigned
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Threatened; Menacée
Assessment status criteria
A1d
Assessment rationale/justification
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.; L'espèce est actuellement observée seulement de façon peu fréquente dans les anciens lieux de pêche à  la baleine au large de la Colombie-Britannique. La pêche cà´tière à  la baleine a réduit la population entre 1905 et 1967 d'au moins 7 600 individus, et des milliers d'autres individus ont été pris lors de pêches pélagiques durant les années 1970. Le taux des prises des stations de pêche cà´tière à  la baleine a diminué de façon abrupte au large de la Colombie-Britannique au cours des années 1960. En se basant sur l'importante diminution de la population et un délai de temps insuffisant pour son rétablissement, on en a déduit que la population actuelle est inférieure à  50 % de son niveau d'il y a 60 à  90 ans. Les individus continuent d'être vulnérables aux collisions avec des navires et à  l'enchevêtrement dans des engins de pêche.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2005
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. 2008. Environment Canada.
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
NGO
Government
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|NGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Assessment
Criteria system used
Modified_IUCN
Criteria Citation
COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2005)
Endemism
Endemic to region
Yes
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Yes
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
No information available
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The species was considered a single unit and designated Special Concern in April 1987. Split into two populations (Atlantic and Pacific) in May 2005. The Pacific population was designated Threatened in May 2005; L'espèce a été considérée comme une unité et a été désignée ' préoccupante ' en avril 1987. Division en deux populations (population du l'Atlantique et population du Pacifique) en mai 2005. La population du Pacifique a été désignée ' menacée ' en mai 2005.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Balaenoptera physalus Animalia Chordata Mammalia Cetartiodactyla Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera
Balaenoptera physalus Animalia Chordata Mammalia Cetartiodactyla Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera