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NRLD - 93816 | Balaenoptera musculus

Assessment ID
93816
Taxon name
Balaenoptera musculus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Balaenoptera musculus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s)
Blue Whale (English), Rorqual bleu (Français)
Assessed taxon level
Population
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
cetacea
Family
balaenopteridae
Genus
Balaenoptera
Species
musculus
Species authority
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
Atlantic population
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
Canada
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
Canada
Country ISO code(s)
CAN
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Assessed as
Endangered; En voie de disparition
Abbreviated status
EN
Qualifying criteria (if given)
A1bd D1
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
Whaling reduced the original population. There are fewer than 250 mature individuals and strong indications of a low calving rate and a low rate of recruitment to the studied population. Today, the biggest threats for this species come from ship strikes, disturbance from increasing whale watch activity, entanglement in fishing gear, and pollution. They may also be vulnerable to long-term changes in climate, which could affect the abundance of their prey (zooplankton).; La chasse à la baleine a réduit la population initiale. Il existe moins de 250 individus matures, et il y a de fortes indications d'un taux faible de mise bas et d'un taux faible de recrutement au sein de la population étudiée. Actuellement, les plus grandes menaces pour cette espèce proviennent des collisions avec des navires, de la perturbation causée par l'activité croissante de l'observation des baleines, de l'enchevêtrement dans les engins de pêche et de la pollution. Les baleines peuvent aussi être vulnérables aux changements climatiques à long terme, ce qui pourrait avoir une incidence sur l'abondance de leur proie (zooplancton).
Assessment details
Year assessed
2002
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Environment Canada.
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN
Reference for methods given
COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2002)
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Atlantic Ocean
Is there a map available in assessment?
Not_assigned
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Terrestrial
Not_assigned
Freshwater
Not_assigned
Marine
Not_assigned
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
No information available
History
The species was considered a single unit and designated Special Concern in April 1983. Split into two populations in May 2002. The Atlantic population was designated Endangered in May 2002.; L'espèce a été considérée comme une unité et a été désignée ' préoccupante ' en avril 1983. Division en deux populations en mai 2002. La population de l'Atlantique a été désignée ' en voie de disparition ' en mai 2002.
Publication
COSEWIC. 2002. Canadian Wildlife Species at Risk. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Web site: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/wildlife-plants-species/species-risk.html