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NRLD - 96513 | Megaptera novaeangliae

Assessment ID
96513
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
Western North 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
Not at Risk; Non en péril
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN

(see Assessment details)

Assessment rationale/justification
Although heavily reduced by whaling, this well-studied population seems to have regrown to at least a substantial proportion of its pre-whaling size. The population does face threats (including entanglement in fishing gear, habitat degradation on breeding grounds, possible resumption of commercial whaling), but neither the North Atlantic population, nor any of its feeding sub-populations, is at risk from current activity levels, or levels that may reasonably be foreseen in the next few years.; Bien que la pêche à la baleine ait beaucoup réduit son effectif, cette population bien étudiée semble avoir augmenté au moins à une proportion importante de sa taille avant la pêche. La population subit des menaces (y compris l'enchevêtrement dans des engins de pêche, la dégradation de l'habitat dans les aires de reproduction, la reprise éventuelle de la pêche commerciale à la baleine), mais ni la population de l'Atlantique Nord ni aucune de ses sous-populations d'alimentation n'est menacée par les niveaux actuels d'activité ou les niveaux qui peuvent être raisonnablement prévus pour les quelques prochaines années.
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
Arctic Ocean; 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 ""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). Western North Atlantic popul.; 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 de l'ouest de l'Atlantique Nord a été désignée ' préoccupante ' en avril 1985. Réexamen du statut et inscription à la catégorie ' non en péril ' 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