| |
1. How many different types of whales are there?
2. Which species is the most abundant?
3. How do we know how many there are?
4. Does that mean that populations have halved?
5. Are there exceptions to the rule?
6. Are whales endangered?
7. How are whales protected?
8. Which whales are being hunted?
1. How many different types of whales are there?
Thirteen species are generally considered as "great whales".
They are: Blue, Fin Sei Bryde's,
Northern Minke, Antarctic Minke Humpback, gray
Southern Right, North Atlantic Right, North Pacific Right Bowhead,
Sperm.
Most can be split into further distinct populations - an important factor in the management and protection of whales.
top^
2. Which species is the most abundant?
The two species of minke are the most abundant (with the possible exception of sperm whales of which there are no known estimates). Just how abundant is far less certain - counting whales is a logistically difficult and expensive activity. They roam over vast areas of ocean and spend most of their time under water and out of sight.
top^
3. How do we know how many there are?
Ten years ago the Japanese government, working with figures obtained on IWC surveys in the Southern Ocean, estimated that there are 760,000 Antarctic minkes. This year some scientists have suggested a revised figure of 320,000.
top^
4. Does that mean that populations have halved?
No one can be sure whether there has been a real decline in the number of Antarctic minkes or whether the difference in results simply reflects differences in the application of the survey techniques. The current round of surveys will not be finished until 2004 and the IWC is unlikely to endorse any estimate before then.
For most of the great whales, the story is the same: there are no accurate estimates for abundance of most whale populations. The fact that existing estimates keep changing is probably more indicative of the methods of analysis than actual fluctuations in whale numbers.
top^
5. Are there exceptions to the rule?
Populations with known coastal migration routes or breeding grounds where regular surveys have enabled more accurate assessments - an example being gray whales (estimate: 25-30,000).
top^
6. Are whales endangered?
The lack of reliable population estimates for most species of whales means that an assessment of population trends cannot be attempted. Consequently it is very difficult to predict the likelihood of any given species going extinct.
What is clear is that most whale numbers remain considerably depleted in relation to their pre-exploitation levels and it will be many years yet before their numbers reach former levels. One exception is the East Pacific population of gray whales which is believed to have recovered to its former numbers. In contrast, the West Pacific gray whale is critically endangered with possibly fewer than 100 animals remaining and no sign that their numbers are increasing. The Atlantic population of gray whales went extinct in the 17th century.
top^
7. How are whales protected?
All the great whales are protected by the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling. They are also listed in the IUCN red list of Threatened Species and the following species are categorised as endangered:
Sei, Blue, Fin, North Pacific Right, North Atlantic Right
A number of populations of other species are also listed as endangered, though the species as a whole are not.
top^
8. Which whales are being hunted?
Certain aboriginal peoples are permitted by the IWC to hunt small numbers of whales for subsistence purposes. Two nations hunt whales for other reasons: because Norway lodged an objection to the IWC's moratorium on commercial whaling their commercial hunting of minkes in the North Atlantic is legal; Japan hunts whales as part of its highly controversial scientific research programme.
Norway takes an annual catch of around 600 North Atlantic minkes.
Japan allocates scientific permits to her whaling fleet, giving them permission to take 440 minkes from the Antarctic plus 100 northern minkes, 50 Bryde's whales and 10 sperm whales from the North Pacific. This year they have added an additional 50 Northern minkes and 50 Sei whales to their quota - a move that has provoked outrage amongst conservation groups given the Sei whale's status as an endangered species.
|
|
