Recent observations of critically endangered North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica) off the west coast of Canada

John K B Ford,Brian Gisborne,James F Pilkington,Timothy R Frasier,Robin M Abernethy,Graeme M Ellis

doi:10.1186/s41200-016-0036-3

John K B Ford, Brian Gisborne + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s41200-016-0036-3

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Abstract

The eastern North Pacific population of right whale (Eubalaena japonica) is considered to be one of the smallest whale populations in the world and is at serious risk of extirpation. During the past century, there have been only six records of North Pacific right whales off the west coast of Canada. All six were taken by whaling operations, the last in 1951. Two independent and extremely rare sightings of North Pacific right whales were made off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, in 2013. We describe observations made of these two whales and include information on prey and genetic identity for one individual. These sightings represent the first time this species has been confirmed in Canadian waters in 62 years, and likely the only time in the last 15 years that the species has been sighted south of the Kodiak Island area, Alaska, in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. It can be concluded that, although extremely rare, the species has not been extirpated from waters off Canada’s Pacific coast.

Highlights

The eastern North Pacific population of right whale (Eubalaena japonica) is considered to be one of the smallest whale populations in the world and is at serious risk of extirpation
Once common in many areas of the North Pacific and Bering Sea, the species was severely depleted by intensive whaling in the mid 19th century (Brownell et al 2001; Scarff 2001; Josephson et al 2008)
Historical whaling data from 19th century whaling catches suggest that the North Pacific right whale is divided into discrete western and eastern populations (Brownell et al 2001; Clapham et al 2004; Shelden et al 2005; Gregr 2011; National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) 2013)

Summary

Introduction

The eastern North Pacific population of right whale (Eubalaena japonica) is considered to be one of the smallest whale populations in the world and is at serious risk of extirpation. There have been only six records of North Pacific right whales off the west coast of Canada. Historical whaling data from 19th century whaling catches suggest that the North Pacific right whale is divided into discrete western and eastern populations (Brownell et al 2001; Clapham et al 2004; Shelden et al 2005; Gregr 2011; NMFS 2013). In waters off western Canada, right whales were taken mostly to the west of Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands), north of 52°N latitude, from May to August (Townsend 1935; Shelden et al 2005). North Pacific right whales generally moved northward as summer progressed and

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