Balaenoptera musculus | COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2002)

Taxa
Balaenoptera musculus | (Linnaeus, 1758)
Balaenoptera musculus | Linnaeus, 1758
NRL Record ID
96252
Location
Countries in Assessment
Canada
Country ISO code(s)
CAN
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Common Names
Blue Whale (English)
Rorqual bleu (Français)
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Mammals
Taxonomic Notes
Pacific population
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
Pacific Ocean
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Is there a map available in assessment?
Not_assigned
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Endangered; En voie de disparition
Assessment status abreviation
EN
Assessment rationale/justification
Blue whales off the coast of British Columbia are likely part of a population based in the northeastern Pacific. The population was reduced by whaling. The rarity of sightings (visual and acoustic) suggests their numbers are currently very low (significantly less than 250 mature individuals). Threats for blue whales along the coast of British Columbia are unknown, but may include ship strikes, pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, and long-term changes in climate (which could affect the abundance of their zooplankton prey).; Les rorquals bleus au large de la cà´te de la Colombie-Britannique font probablement partie d'une population établie dans la partie septentrionale du Nord-Est de l'océan Pacifique. Leur population a été réduite en raison de la chasse à  la baleine. La rareté des observations (visuelles et acoustiques) semble indiquer que leur nombre est actuellement très faible (beaucoup moins que 250 individus matures). Les menaces qui pèsent sur les rorquals bleus le long de la cà´te de la Colombie-Britannique sont inconnues, mais elles peuvent inclure les collisions avec des navires, la pollution, l'enchevêtrement dans des engins de pêche et les changements climatiques à  long terme (qui pourraient avoir une incidence sur l'abondance de leur proie, le zooplancton).
About the assessment
Assessment year
2002
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. 2008. Environment Canada.
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
NGO
Government
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|NGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) Assessment
Criteria system used
Modified_IUCN
Criteria Citation
COSEWIC- Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (2002)
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
No information available
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
The species was considered a single unit and designated Special Concern in April 1983. Split into two populations in May 2002. The Pacific population was designated Endangered in May 2002.; L'espèce a été considérée comme une unité et a été désignée ' préoccupante ' en avril 1983. Division en deux populations en mai 2002. La population du Pacifique a été désignée ' en voie de disparition ' en mai 2002.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Balaenoptera musculus Animalia Chordata Mammalia Cetartiodactyla Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera
Balaenoptera musculus Animalia Chordata Mammalia Cetacea Balaenopteridae Balaenoptera