Species endangered (MS-Blog Series from) VII / 09

Minke Whale

Class: Mammal

Order: Cetacean

Latin name: Balaenoptera acutorostrata / (and)
B. bonaerensis

Range: North Atlantic; N. Pacific (Pacific) / Pacific; Antarctic Seas

IUCN Status: LC (Least Concern) / DD (Data Deficient)

Cites: Appendix I

(probably) 2008 situation.

Having reached whales in our expedition from the endangered species, a few words are prerequisite from the following posts in the series. Since us, like humans usually, probably by instinct feel closeness to mammals as the most 'human-like' species from all the animals, larger part of our examples so far has been focused on them. For all the fairness sake, and because there's (yet) only one from birds, amphibians, [and/or insects], and not one (yet) from fish, either from the less 'defined' cases (marine invertebrates, et similar perhaps), likely we'll in the following posts include more some those 'strange and more distinct from us' (at least seen from evolutionary perspective). However, the couple remaining mammalian examples are presented before that(of course there would be many likewise worth including, but our reserves are rather limited and so these selections only represent individual choices.)

Whales nowadays include many endangered species, that being a direct result from the long history of hunting them by man. Also, as result they have much become a symbol from the overuse of the Oceans rich variety of life. Alternative choices here could have been, if wished - and only from baleen whales like Minke – any of the more endangered ones, well-known species like fx Blue whale (B. musculus, EN), Fin whale (Baleanoptera physalus, EN), North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis, EN). And/or, such like Greenland whale/Bowhead (Balaena mysticetus, VU) and Humpback (LC) that are sometimes mentioned as successful examples from conservation efforts, only make one also reminded from that their recently found 'renewal' may equally be seen as consequence from early date of these species becoming protected (Bowhead as early as in 1930s. Also was in 1930s protected fx the North Atlantic Right Whale, however it's eastern Atlantic population had probably been extinct until that because of whaling. In any case, both species were hunted to low numbers even before spread of the 20^th century commercial whaling techniques, for the reason that they were relatively 'catchable' with more traditional methods. So, the protection was as much the result of these species catches having largely collapsed until the decade.)

The Minke whales we are presenting here as our main subject, (though, these series more or less discuss also other related things/species), were just in the 1990s decided to be consisting two differing species, the arctic and antarctic Minke whales. Species earlier other common name, Lesser Rorqual (more archaic term, it's about synonyme for baleen whale, so it quite describes the species) as they only regularly weight some 5-10 tons (maximum about some 14 tons), which can be compared to Sei whales(EN), third largest from Baleanopteridae that can weight as much as 20-40 tons. Minkes are the second smallest from baleen whales. Like the baleen whales usually Minkes eat large amounts of plankton, but also in various scale fishes, even the octopuses on warmer seas. Their range consist all of the Oceans, the main populations being found on North Atlantic and North Pacific. (Occasionally the individual whales get lost from the more unusual ranges, Minke whales have few times appeared on the Baltic Sea, and also in the 1980s one specimen was found having landed on the bank of Amazon river about 150 km inland the river !) In the southern ranges Minke whale populations are less clearly recognized, partly from difficulty in dividing between the mentioned (co-)species (.acurostrata/.bonaerensis). These whales are estimated to live about 30-50 years, exceptionally even for 60 years age. The gestation period takes about 10-11 months and may occur about in every second year. Also, they tend to have more efficient reproductive probability than the larger whale species usually do.

Comparing to those other whale species mentioned before, Minke Whale may not appear to seem as much threatened. It's not only second smallest from baleen whales, but also the most common one and probably was even before the whaling times. In fact, by any logical reasoning one notices it shouldn't even have become endangered at all if that could have been on the basis of any typical/regular human use of natures resources. More likely, one could expect it to appear as common as the most populous from sharks or comparable in abundance to some widespread terrestrial animals, that in many regions remain rather common, fx moose or rabbits, perhaps. But, whales being large slowly reproducing species even the Minke whales became chased for decline in short time during the latter part of 20^th century commercial whaling. After all, the prolonged period of that over-hunt, starting from the first decades of the century with the invention of exploding harpoons and factory ships continued up to the 1980s – At that point it had to end even on the basis of commercial reasons; the hunt having annihilated largest parts of whale populations from the seas. Also noticeable, the collapses in the catch of particular species repeatedly followed quite parallel with the whalers changing for the next species being hunted extensively (Once the Blue whales were out-whaled, Fin whales populations were next collapsed with the same logic, then Sei whales, and finally even the Minke Whales were taken in use of the whaling market, although they had on preceding periods of hunt been overlooked, since there still was enough larger whales left to take benefit from.)In during this period of time (known from statistics is ca 1930-1980s) also the average weights of the catched whales collapsed: from ca 50 tons in 1930s for 10 tons in 1980 (though the latter number is largely from the reason Minke whales at the time consisted larger part of catch, but the course ,it can be noticed, was all the way same thoughout the decades).

Traditional whaling originates for the early history (fx hand-harpooning at the Norwegian coasts is known from about 9^th century and from Japan at least from the 12^th century), probably it's been practiced (elsewhere too) from as long as other larger animals of the seas have been harvested for their meat. Commercial market and products made from whales also has longer histories. Its origins are perhaps in the 16/17^th century, although the techniques were developed slowly, but at first also the stress it caused on whale populations was limited compared to later times. Fx, if we are to trust supposed time-gap presented in this brief description from formation of one from most famous whaling centers, Nantucket, it took almost 100 years(from 1660-1760) for the earliest market to demolish the Right whale populations from the waters close to that early (whaling) center – And as the catches were relatively numerous in some years it seems also to support estimates that probably preceding this early beginnings the whales on seas were considerably more numerous than often is estimated on basis of the populations still left in the 20^th century. Following the earliest years of whaling, use of boats later changed for longer trips carried on ships.

Profitable businesses more usually appears harmful and rarely beneficial for any animal species, but in the case of whales hunt was at least in the 19^th century based on uses of several products that could be gained from whales in large amounts; whale oil, had been preferred as source for the heating and lighting already since 12^th century when the Basques begun the (whale) market. Also the whale bones have had various uses, fx for piano keyboards. Later, Sperm oil and spermaceti were gained from Sperm whales heads were used in fx cosmetics and lubricant, as well as the ambergris,from the same species and also used in production of perfumes(ironically it could have also been collected easily from the plentiful amounts released by whales and floating to the coastal sites). However, these early commercial uses were gone and replaced with alternative materials by the end of 19^th century and in during the early 20^th century expansion of whaling and commercial market almost only (sole) main product that drove the hunt was whales meat – and so, mostly it went for the uses of human foods, restaurants and canned products (much like tuna fish today), and, for the pet foods. Business generally was then finally stopped in the end of 1980's (though not including the limited catch some countries still maintain for 'scientific purposes' – as that's the usually applied terminology for it). But, in this context we're not presenting more exact histories of commercial whaling since one can fx read more from that in Farley Mowat's Sea of Slaughter (1984) (- the book also tells fx from origins of the whaling, as well fx Spitsbergen, and also from the history of other sea species largely overhunted at arctic/northern seas.) Of course, nowadays that whales are more widely seen as species need of protection (than in the past) there's variety of other books from them, and also from the whaling history preceding the whaling moratorium announced in late 1980s.

In spite of the temporary halt from about the 1987 to the early 1990s the whaling of Minke whales was resumed at 1993, though somewhat limited in numbers if compared to earlier periods. Anyway, at least Japan, Norway and Iceland have continued hunting them until recent times (fx on the basis of mentioned 'scientific' smokescreen). The Minke whales, (Minke populations, Wikipedia 21.8.09) are nowadays around 100 000 in the northeastern Atlantic and considerable more numerous in southern hemisphere. The human caused reduction in their numbers mainly was a result from the hunt only since 1970s - in the 1980s it was estimated that there was about 80 per cent still left from the original populations, which, again can be compared to less than 10 per cent survival margins that at the time was estimated left from some of the larger species, like Blue, Humpback and the Greenland whales. Also, the populations of Sperm whales and Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus, LC) fx were at the time found severely harmed and remain so (Gray whales are usually considered not as threatened largely for the reason that the West pacific/Californian coast population has been found having recovered for some time now). On the basis of precedingly noticed it's also not surprising if it being that species(Gray whale) Atlantic populations had been extinct - with most probability was, and likely proven by current researches - already in the 18th century.

The Antartica as whaling region wasn't at any amount comparable targeted by whaling until the 20th century. The mentioned abundance of Minke species on the antarctic seas has sometimes also been supposed a result from unbalance in the regions (antarcticas) ecology, the populations of whales species having declined more severely and some other species having found increased correspondingly in number, that perhaps also slowing the re-emergence of the larger whale species. As whales eat large amounts of krill, the declined number in the larger ones may have caused amounts of these sources of food having become increasingly available to other species which were found increasing more effectively (like Minkes, but also penguins and seals). As well also human fisheries collect of krill likely affects for that (krill a source of commercial use too). Nowadays of course, other environmental changes noticed on antarctic are more often mentioned.

In addition to the past effects of commercial whaling briefly described in the preceding paragraphs, the Minke whales are nowadays subject to incidental catch on fishing gears, although thats not usually assumed as significant threat on them as whole. Other mentioned threats are mostly found in form of the marine pollution - also, in the same instance one can notice that there's also various pollutants gathered on whale meat (though supposedly that's comparable to some largely fished and eaten species that also gather toxins from their smaller prey, salmon and tuna fish, fx) - not to mention the other junk released to the oceans, marine debris, ao. Over-fishing also is considered as one factor that may affect the whales recovery for the worse.

From the many connections in between man and whales we didn't quite find anything especially from the Minke whales, but fx from dolphins there's plenty famous stories that can be mentioned in this connection; in ancient greek legends the dolphins were often respected animals. Also, Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) who was perhaps earliest natural historian, knew dolphins well. In his writings they are correctly described as mammals and also mentioned capable hearing underwater voices. Likewise, it can be mentioned some dolphins in the aquariums having been taught to understand number of words. And, as is the case that also other whales, not just the dolphins, use sonar for transmitting the messages to each other under waters, it's likely that these species have more sophisticated ways to communicate that even today is known. This has been, also perhaps one of the reasons they've gained in popularity and the whale tourism become favorite hobby (nowadays one can even adopt a whale, as is advertised on the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society page) - By the way, the pages also contain an interactive map from whale populations on Oceans of the world. But intelligent animals as the whales are, probably they still also hold some surprises that have not yet been revealed for the humans.

In the final paragraph, one can then of course speculate from where this earlier fanatic willingness to annihilate these sea giants might have originated/grown from (Already at Moby Dick, 1851, a popular novel written at the time of early whaling, Herman Melville (1819-1891) in his often cited sentences presents expectations that the (Sperm) whale likely wouldn't last very long such an intensive hunt. However, they did until our times, largely from the reason that the whaling after turn of the century merely focused on other species, only later since about half 20th century it returned also on Sperm whales, more intensified than ever before.) An often presented (/psychological reason) interpretation states that in the past human history the Oceans were often feared and indeed found as dangerous places, that having resulted for human 'revengeful' behavior towards them and the whales. That's of course rather controversial view, and anyway, I only find it secondary explanation. More likely, it seems to me, the whole of it just tells from how the profits gained from seas easily did overdrove any other reasonable points-of-view (since it was merely understood that they were there for the taking, consequences from the practice given less thought for or cared from). In principle, at the beginning the whales in their large numbers available likely offered a relatively easy way to make money from trade and perhaps also it appeared as an suitable way to generate also other trade in the coastal towns and people. From todays perspective of course, it only seems surprising that such business wouldn't stop any time earlier (and that last century overexploitation of resources and whales was still in scale and techniques not comparable to any of the overuse seen before).

(G.U.J.)

[This post in our series has dated information as well as not completely verified data, and also contains personal opinions, so the views presented aren't necessary those shared by all participants from us. However, we do share the view that complete whaling moratorium should remain and stay in effect for another 20 years to guarantee the adequate recovery of populations.]

----------
( The latest posts! - @ Mulskinner Blog @ )


----------
Powered by ScribeFire.