rjohnstonA1

The humpback whale (//Megaptera novaeangliae//)

of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres (40–50 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water

The species feeds only in summer and lives off fat reserves during winter. Humpback Whales are omnivores, Humpback whales will only feed rarely and opportunistically while in their wintering waters. humpbacks are very good killers, taking krill and small schooling fish, such as herring, salmon, capelin and sand lance as well as Mackerel (Scomber scombrus), pollock and haddock in the North Atlantic. Krill and Copepods have been recorded from Australian and Antarctic waters. It hunts fish by direct attack or by stunning them by hitting the water with its flukes. The humpback whale is found in all the major oceans, in a wide band running from the Antarctic ice edge to 65° N latitude, though is not found in the eastern Mediterranean or the Baltic Sea. There are at least 80,000 humpback whales worldwide, with 18,000-20,000 in the North Pacific, about 12,000 in the North Atlantic, and over 50,000 in the Southern Hemisphere, down from a pre-whaling population of 125,000. the species is considered endangered in some countries, including the United States. Areas where population data is limited and the species may be at higher risk include the Arabian Sea, the western North Pacific Ocean, the west coast of Africa. One of the first attempts to hunt the humpback whale was made by John Smith in 1614 off the coast of Maine. Killing of the species is likely to have occurred long before, and it continued with increasing pace in the following centuries. By the 18th century, the commercial value of humpback whales had been recognized and they became a common target for whalers for many year. By the 19th century, many nations were hunting the animal heavily in the Atlantic Ocean, and to a lesser extent in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It was, however, the introduction of the explosive harpoon in the late 19th century that allowed whalers to accelerate their take. This, along with hunting beginning in the Antarctic Ocean in 1904, led to a sharp decline in most whale populations. It is estimated that during the 20th century at least 200,000 humpbacks were taken, reducing the global population by over 90%, with the population in the North Atlantic estimated to have dropped to as low as 700 individuals. Commercial whaling begins using sailing ships and hand-thrown harpoons. Serial depletion of whale stocks begins in the Northern Hemisphere, targeting mainly the slower Right, Sperm, and Humpback whales. 1600 – 1850: Depletion of North Atlantic Right Whales late 1700s – mid 1800s: Depletion of Pacific and Southern Hemisphere Right Whales early 1600s – 1900: Depletion of Arctic Right Whales 1700 – late 1800s: Depletion of Atlantic and Pacific Sperm Whales 1750 – 1900: Depletion of Humpback Whales 1910: Introduction of diesel engines, fast catcher boats, and exploding-tipped harpoon cannons allows fast-swimming rorqual whales to be targeted for the first time. Serial depletion of species follows in an even shorter time scale than before, beginning with the largest and most profitable species to hunt. 1900 – 1915: Peak of 20th century Humpback Whale kill (hunt lasting 1900 – 1962) 1932: Whaling nations adopt Blue Whale Unit (bwu) quota, encouraging hunting of larger species. This economic-based quota benefited only the whalers, and gave no consideration to the biology or population size (ie. decline) of different whale species. 1925 – 1935: Peak of 20th century Blue Whale kill (hunt lasting 1910 – 1962) 1935 – 1940: Peak of 20th century Fin Whale kill (hunt lasting 1910 – 1975) 1939: World War II begins. Whales earn a temporary reprieve from the slaughter. 1945: World War II ends. Whaling resumes in earnest – fuelled by post-war industrial boom, new technology, and surplus ships and equipment. 1945 – 1960: Second peak of 20th century Fin Whale kill (hunt lasting 1910 – 1975) 1946: IWC (International Whaling Commission) formed to regulate whaling and maintain whale stocks. 1949: Antarctic “whaling Olympics” race to kill whales begins, fuelled by bwu quota system and limited hunting season. IWC sets first species quota for Humpbacks. 1949 – 1952: Whaling nations exceed humpback quota. IWC lacks enforcement. 1962 – 1967: Peak of 20th century Sei Whale kill (hunt lasting 1910 – 1975) 1960s – 1980s: Massive illegal and unreported whale kill, estimated at over 90,000 whales (including over 46,000 Humpbacks killed by the Soviets alone (while reporting only 8,000) – representing the entire recovery population of that species). 1963: Scientific committee recommends halting Blue and Humpback whaling, and abolishing bwu quota. IWC sets quota of 10,000 bwu instead. 1964: Scientific Committee recommends species quotas for Fin and Sei whales to preserve stocks. IWC cannot agree on quotas so no limit set. Whaling nations informally set quota of 8,000 bwu (deliberately targeting Fin and Sei whales since Blues virtually commercially extinct already). 1965: IWC establishes complete protection for Blue whales. Pirate whalers continue to kill Blue whales, selling to the Japanese markets. IWC lacks enforcement. 1965 – 1970: IWC continues to reduce Fin and Sei whale quotas as stocks decline. 1972 – 1980: Peak of 20th century Minke Whale kill (hunt lasting 1965 – present) 1970 – 1980: Composition of the IWC changes, becoming more conservation-minded. Many ex-whaling nations rejoin the IWC as conservation nations. 1972: IWC finally abolishes bwu quota system. UN resolution calls for 10 year whaling moratorium – rejected by IWC. 1979 – 1981: IWC again rejects moratorium proposals. 1982: Under pressure from conservation nations, IWC finally votes to implement Moratorium on commercial whaling. Japan, Norway, Iceland, Peru, and USSR object so are not bound by it. 1983: Peru withdraws its objection to the moratorium and stops whaling. 1986: Moratorium on whaling supposed to take effect. Japan continues hunting as before, now under the loophole of ‘scientific’ research. Iceland and Korea follow suit. 1987: Soviet whaling finally ceases, followed by Korea. 1987 – 2005: Japan continually tries to overturn the moratorium, repeatedly requesting the IWC set quotas and calling for a vote to allow a return to commercial hunting. Every year Japan loses the vote as the IWC votes to uphold the moratorium. 1988: Norway officially ends commercial whaling, but continues the hunt with a limited “scientific whaling” catch. 1989: Iceland ends its ‘scientific’ whaling program amid concerns its main purpose is to export meat to Japan. Nevertheless, exports continue for another 3 years. 1992: Iceland leaves the IWC. 1993: Norway resumes commercial whaling in defiance of the IWC Moratorium (claiming that since it objected it is not bound by the rules). Japan updates its pelagic whaling fleet with the launch of new whaling ships – making its intentions plain to the world! 1994: Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary created by IWC (the vote is unanimous – except for Japan). Japan ignores the sanctuary and continues its kill under the guise of ‘scientific’ research. Japan expands its ‘scientific’ whaling programme to also include an annual kill of whales in the North Pacific Ocean. late 1990s – present: Japan bribes many small countries to vote with it at the IWC, seeking to overturn the Moratorium on commercial whaling by any means it can. 2000: In addition to Minke whales, Bryde’s whales now hunted by Japan, along with Sperm whales. 2002: Iceland rejoins the IWC, lodging an immediate objection to the moratorium on commercial whaling (despite the fact it had originally agreed to it in 1986), claiming it is also not bound by the rules. 2003: Iceland resumes whaling under the guise of ‘scientific’ whaling, despite the programme having the same aims as its 1986-89 ‘research’ programme – of which no results were ever published. 2006: Japan manages to buy enough votes at the IWC to win the vote declaring a ban on whaling is no longer necessary, and accusing whales of eating “huge quantities of fish”. Japan announces another expansion of its ‘scientific’ whaling programme, including an increased catch of Minke whales plus endangered Fin, Sei, and Humpback whales. Iceland announces a return to full-scale commercial hunting. 2007: In addition to Minke, Bryde’s and Sperm whales, Hunt of endangered Fin, Sei, and Humpback whales begins again. 2007: Japan carries out its expanded ‘scientific’ whaling programme, despite wide international condemnation.
 * What they eat**
 * Location**
 * status**
 * impacts on species numbers**
 * period of being threatened**

Internationally this species is considered least concern from a conservation standpoint as of 2008. This is an improvement from vulnerable status in the prior assessment. Most monitored stocks of humpback whales have rebounded well since the end of the commercial whaling era, such as the North Atlantic where stocks are now believed to be approaching pre-hunting levels. However, the species is considered endangered in some countries, including the United States. ** We Don't really know right now. If this were last year, when only one calf was seen, most researchers would have probably given you a very pessimistic reply. A statistical study gave an estimate of only 190 years until species extinction (if nothing changed). This year, with a final confirmed count (according to the New England Aquarium Right Whale Research Group) of 30 births (and three deaths), researchers are a bit more optimistic. However, these larger birth numbers would have to continue for several years for the population's future to be more secured. We'll have to see over the next few years if the trend is favorable for right whales, or if this is the wrong time for this species. **
 * conservation efforts**
 * future projections**