Information about North Atlantic Right Whale

North Atlantic Right Whale
North Atlantic Right Whale mother and calf. North Atlantic Right Whale mother and calf.
Conservation status
Endangered (iucn2.3 ) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Cetacea Suborder: Mysticeti Family: Balaenidae Genus: Eubalaena Species: E. glacialis Müller, 1776
Binomial name
Eubalaena glacialis
Range map. Range map.

The North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is a baleen whale, one of three species formerly called classified as the Right Whale belonging to the genus Eubalaena. About 300 North Atlantic Right Whales live in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Like other right whales, North Atlantic Right Whales are readily distinguished from other whales by the callosities on their heads, a broad back without a dorsal fin, and a long arching mouth that begins above the eye. The body of the whale is very dark grey or black, occasionally with some white patches on the belly. The right whale's callosities appear white, not due to skin pigmentation, but to large colonies of cyamids or whale lice.

Whaling

See also:

Main article: History of whaling

Right whales were so named because whalers thought they were the "right" whale to hunt. 40% of a right whale's body weight is blubber, which is of relatively low density. Consequently, unlike many other species of whale, deceased right whales float. Combined with the right whale's slowness through water they were easy to catch even for whalers equipped only with wooden boats and hand-held harpoons.

The Basques were the first to commercially hunt the North Atlantic Right Whale. They began doing so as early as the 11th century in the Bay of Biscay. The whales were hunted initially for their oil but, as meat preservation technology improved, the animal was also used for food. As populations close to modern-day Spain became depleted, the whalers headed steadily further afield. They reached eastern Canada by 1530^[1] and the shores of Todos os Santos Bay (in Bahia, Brazil) by 1602. The last Basque whaling voyages were made prior to the commencement of the Seven Year's War (1756-1763). A few unsuccessful attempts were made to revive the trade, but they all failed. Basque shore whaling continued sporadically into the 19th century.

Basques were replaced by the whalers from the new American colonies: the "Yankee whalers". Setting out from Nantucket, Massachusetts and Long Island, New York, the Americans were able to take up to 100 right whales in good years. By 1750 the North Atlantic Right Whale was as good as extinct for commercial purposes and the Yankee whalers moved into the South Atlantic before the end of the 18th century.

As it became clear that stocks were nearly depleted, a worldwide total ban on right whaling was agreed upon in 1937. The ban was largely successful, although some whaling continued in violation of the ban for several decades. Madeira took its last two right whales in 1968.

Population and distribution

There are about 400 North Atlantic Right Whales, almost all living in the Western North Atlantic Ocean. In spring, summer and autumn, they feed in areas off the Canadian and north-east US coasts in a range stretching from New York to Nova Scotia. Particularly popular feeding areas are the Bay of Fundy and Cape Cod Bay. In winter, they head south towards Georgia and Florida to give birth.

There have been a smattering of sightings further east over the past few decades—several sightings were made close to Iceland in 2003. It is possible that these are the remains of a virtually extinct eastern Atlantic stock, but examination of old whalers records suggest that they are more likely to be strays from further west.^[1] However, a few sightings are regular between Norway, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and even Sicily^[3] and at least the Norway individuals come from the Western stock.^[4]

References

External Links

• and Dolphin Conservation Society"
• "Giants in the Balance: The Race to Save the North Atlantic Right Whale"
• Hear right whale audio (U. of R.I., Office of Marine Programs)
• Watch video of northern right whales