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NRLD - 96179 | Megaptera novaeangliae

Assessment ID
96179
Taxon name
Megaptera novaeangliae
Borowski, 1781
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Megaptera novaeangliae
Borowski, 1781
Common name(s)
Humpback Whale (English), Rorqual à bosse (Français)
Assessed taxon level
Population
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Mammals
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
chordata
Class
mammalia
Order
cetacea
Family
balaenopteridae
Genus
Megaptera
Species
novaeangliae
Species authority
Borowski, 1781
Taxonomic notes and synonyms listed
North Pacific 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
Threatened; Menacée
Qualifying criteria (if given)
A1acd; D1
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
Heavily reduced by whaling, the North Pacific population appears to be increasing. The number of animals that use British Columbia waters is probably in the low hundreds. The high-level of feeding ground fidelity suggests that if animals are exterminated from a particular area, it is unlikely that the area will be rapidly repopulated from other areas. Two extirpated British Columbia populations have shown no sign of rescue. Humpbacks are occasionally entangled in fishing gear, though the number entangled is not thought to threaten or limit the population. In summary, humpback whales that use British Columbia waters appear to be well below historical numbers and have not returned to some portions of their former range.; La chasse a beaucoup réduit ses effectifs, mais la population du Pacifique Nord semble être en croissance. Le nombre d'individus qui utilisent les eaux de la Colombie Britannique se situe probablement à quelques centaines. La fidélité élevée aux aires d'alimentation indique que si les animaux sont exterminés dans une aire particulière, il est peu probable que l'aire sera rapidement repeuplée à partir d'autres zones. Deux populations disparues de la Colombie Britannique n'ont pas manifesté de signes d'immigration de source externe. Les rorquals s'enchevêtrent à l'occasion dans des engins de pêche, bien que l'on ne croie pas que le nombre d'animaux enchevêtrés menace ou limite la population. En bref, les rorquals à bosse qui utilisent les eaux de la Colombie-Britannique semblent être bien en dessous des nombres historiques et n'ont pas réoccupé certaines parties de leur ancienne aire de répartition.
Assessment details
Year assessed
2003
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 (2003)
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Pacific 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 ""Western North Atlantic and North Pacific populations"" were given a single designation of Threatened in April 1982. Split into two populations in April 1985 (Western North Atlantic population and North Pacific population). The North Pacific population.; Les populations de l'Ouest de l'Atlantique Nord et du Pacifique Nord ont été considérées comme un tout et on été désignées ' menacée ' en avril 1982. Division en deux populations en avril 1985 (population de l'Ouest de l'Atlantique Nord et population du Pacifique Nord). La population du Pacifique Nord a été désignée ' menacée ' en 1985. Réexamen et confirmation du statut en mai 2003.
Publication
COSEWIC. 2003. 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