The National Red List Project

Please note, this National Red List website contains a subset of data whilst we transition to national focal point driven data uploads. We thank you for your patience with this and welcome national contributors to get in touch to update their national dataset. Terms of Use including citation guidance are found here.

The previous dataset is available via: https://archive.nationalredlist.org/. This site is no longer updated but can help with most enquiries whilst we focus on redevelopment.

NRLD - 93941 | Balaenoptera physalus

Assessment ID
93941
Taxon name
Balaenoptera physalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Balaenoptera physalus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name(s)
Fin Whale (English), Rorqual commun (Français)
Assessed taxon level
Population
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
cetacea
Family
balaenopteridae
Genus
Balaenoptera
Species
physalus
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)
B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) C2a(i,ii) D1
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
The size of this population was reduced by whaling during much of the 20th Century. However, sightings remain relatively common off Atlantic Canada and they have not been hunted since 1971. The current abundance and level of depletion compared with pre-whaling numbers are uncertain. The whales face a number of current threats including ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, but none is believed to seriously threaten the population.; La pêche à la baleine a réduit la taille de cette population pendant une grande partie du XXe siècle. Cependant, l'espèce est aperçue de façon relativement fréquente au large du Canada atlantique et n'est pas chassée depuis 1971. Son abondance et son niveau d'appauvrissement actuels comparativement aux niveaux qui existaient avant le début de la pêche à la baleine sont incertains. Les rorquals sont confrontés à un certain nombre de menaces, dont les collisions avec des navires et l'enchevêtrement dans des engins de pêche, mais aucune de ces dernières ne semblent menacer gravement la population.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2005
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 (2005)
URL (link) of redlist assessment or publication
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/wildlife-plants-species/species-risk.html
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Yes
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 1987. Split into two populations (Atlantic and Pacific) in May 2005. The Atlantic population was designated Special Concern in May 2005; L'espèce a été considérée comme une unité et a été désignée ' préoccupante ' en avril 1987. Division en deux populations (population de l'Atlantique et population du Pacifique) en mai 2005. La population de l'Atlantique a été désignée ' préoccupante ' en mai 2005.
Publication
COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2005)
COSEWIC. 2005. 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