Are Blue Whales Endangered? – AZ Animals

The blue whale is one of the most magnificent creatures on earth. Whales grow up to 100 feet long, and it’s hard to appreciate their sheer size. That’s the length of three school buses connected end to end! The blue whale is the largest animal in the world and has few predators…except humans. This begs the question: are blue whales endangered?

Are Blue Whales Endangered Today?

Yes, blue whales are listed as endangered by the IUCN from 2021. They are also protected by various acts and laws, such as the Endangered Species Act (More on the laws protecting whales below).

Over the years, humans’ impact on whales in general and blue whales in particular has been enormous. Commercial whaling began in 11^day century, and will continue until we as a society agree that the destruction of whale populations needs to stop. early 20’s^day Century governments realized they needed to do something to manage the whaling industry and ultimately protect the whales. After World War II, the nations responsible for most whaling formed the ICRW (International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling), which in turn created the IWC (International Whaling Commission). They made the rules, but they were hard to enforce, and whaling continued for years until the international whaling moratorium came into effect in 1986, which was very effective. Whaling stopped worldwide and remains illegal. However, three countries continued commercial whaling in defiance of the ban; Japan, Norway and Iceland.

According to Greenpeace, “blue whales in Antarctica account for less than 1 percent of their original numbers.” Blue whales — despite their size — have historically been difficult to count and spread over an incredible area. More recently, scientists have begun using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to better count blue whales. While blue whale populations in the southern hemisphere are thought to have rebounded “amazingly” in recent years, it is widely believed that the global population of blue whales will not exceed 25,000 by 2021. As of 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that the population of Antarctic blue whales is still only 3,064 adult whales.

Clearly, commercial whaling has had a devastating impact on whale populations and blue whale populations. The commercial whaling ban had a major impact on their survival and saved the lives of thousands of whales. These species still face many threats and they are still listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and the IUCN. Let’s take a look at why blue whales are endangered, what remains the biggest threat, and what we’re doing about it.

Why were blue whales hunted in the past?

Commercial whaling is responsible for the decline and even extinction of blue whales. The main reason whales are so popular is their oil. at 18^day and 19^day For a century, whale oil has been used as fuel for lanterns in many homes and businesses. It was also used as a lubricant during the Industrial Revolution. The setae (baleen) in the mouths of baleen whales such as bowhead whales are used to make women’s corsets, and the special oil of sperm whales is used to make candles and as a lubricant. The blue whale is the largest whale, has the most mass, the most fat and oil, and is therefore a prized commodity.

Why Blue Whales Are Endangered: The Top 5 Threats Facing Blue Whales Today

1. Ship ramming

The more routes that enter blue whale territory, the more blue whales are killed by ship strikes. According to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), there is a blue whale calving area off the coast of Sri Lanka. Shipping in the area has become busier over the years, which in turn has led to an increase in the number of blue whales killed and injured by ships. As ships get bigger and faster, so does the threat to blue whales. One proposed solution to reduce ship strikes in the region is to move shipping lanes away from the coastline, thereby giving these whales more space.

2. Fishing net entanglement

The World Wildlife Fund is partnering with the International Whaling Commission to help blue whales in Corcovado Bay in southern Chile. There are many salmon farms and industrial fisheries in the area, which poses some problems for blue whales that use this particular area as a feeding ground. In addition to the increase in boat strikes in the area, there are also whales that end up getting tangled in fishing nets. The nets cut off blood circulation, preventing them from surfacing to breathe air, and hampering their ability to get food, leading to starvation. The World Wildlife Fund is tagging whales in the region to see which routes they use the most to limit overlap in fishing industries.

In another part of the world, a recent BBC report said that “up to 60 per cent of blue whales in Canada’s Gulf of St Lawrence have been exposed to fishing ropes and nets, based on scarring seen in drone images.”

3. Climate change

Blue whales are very adaptable in cold waters or warm waters. So why is climate change affecting them? The problem is where their food comes from. Blue whales eat almost exclusively krill, some eating as much as 6 tons of krill a day! Krill populations are declining due to climate change and increased ocean acidity. Acidity in the ocean affects krill’s ability to build their shells. This isn’t just a problem for blue whales; many species from penguins to seals depend on these food sources. Scientists are studying phytoplankton, the food source for krill, to find ways to ensure the continued availability of these tiny players in the ecosystem.

4. Habitat loss

Blue whales are found in waters off Alaska, New/England, the Pacific Islands, the Southeast, and the West Coast. If the areas where blue whales feed, breed and mate change, they are at risk of not being able to adapt to the changes in their new habitat. The location of energy production offshore affects whale populations and, increasingly, the recreational use of the waters they inhabit. The MPA, or Marine Protected Area Program, is helping to set aside areas to protect blue whales and many species from habitat loss.

5. Noise pollution

Whales have sensitive hearing and communication systems. We are familiar with the songs of humpback whales, which are so well produced that they can be recorded underwater. Blue whales also use song and sound systems to communicate and mate. Their groans and groans are the loudest and can travel up to 1,000 miles through water. If whales are communicating with each other to initiate migration or avoid predators, and the message is interrupted by passing ships or naval sonar, then you start to see why this can become dangerous. There have also been incidents of whales being found stranded, which can be caused by ocean noise pollution causing whales to surface too quickly, similar to divers suffering from decompression sickness. Environmentalists are researching ways to reduce noise pollution and respect the acoustic environment of marine animals.

IAN WARKENTIN

I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.

Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.