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NRLD - 93942 | Balaenoptera physalus

Assessment ID
93942
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
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)
A1d
Criteria system used
Modified IUCN

(see Assessment details)

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.
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)
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Yes
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 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.
Publication
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