Bowhead Whale

Balaena mysticetus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
AMAGJ01020
Common Name: 
Bowhead Whale
Scientific Name: 
Balaena mysticetus
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Marine Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Artiodactyla (Cetacea)
Family: 
Balaenidae
References: 
B001
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

13.5 metres (age approx. 20 years)
References: 
R024

Longevity

possibly up to 200 years
References: 
R024

Economic/Human Considerations

hunted nearly to extinction; commercial hunting haulted since 1937
References: 
B001
Habitat
southern edge of pack ice, especially in highly productive waters
References: 
R024
R026
H135
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Sea Amundsen Gulf
References: 
BSC1

Distribution

Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort population : approx. 200,000 km²
Score: 
G
Marine Distribution Description: 
0.65

Number of Occurrences

3 stocks, several summering areas; bowheads aggregate so poor criterion
References: 
H135

Area of Occupancy

migratory
Score: 
-
References: 
R024
SUC15
Population

Population Size

4118 breeding of total of ~8000 in NWT, at least 700 in Nunavut (number poorly known)
Score: 
E
References: 
R026
SUC2
SUC7
SUC15
Trends

Trends

increasing by 1% per year (R024); increase by estimated 3- 4% per year (DFO 2014)
Score: 
GI
References: 
R024
SUC15
Threats

Threats

hunting, environmental conditions; oil development a threat in NWT not Nunavut
Score: 
C
References: 
R024
H135

Intrinsic Vulnerability

oil development; threat more pronouned in NWT, not relevent in Nunavut
Score: 
-
References: 
R024
H135
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Population may never have been more than 10000 animals, so this number is not necessarily problematic.
S Rank: 
S4
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Arctic Stock Assessment DFO Committee - Freshwater Fishes - Chris Day, Dr. Ross Tallman, Dr. Sue Cosens - - Confirmed by DFO national Committee; Reviewed in 2010; no change; Reviewed in 2015 ;modified from Sensitive to Secure; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 13, 2020
Status Designations

NWT - Assessment by Species at Risk Committee

NWT SARC Assessment: 
Not Applicable
Species under federal jurisdiction

NWT - Species at Risk Legal Status

NWT Status Rank: 
Not Applicable
Species under federal jurisdiction

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Special Concern
as part of the Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort - 2009 ; The "Eastern and Western Arctic populations" were given a single designation of Endangered in April 1980. Split into two populations (Eastern Arctic and Western Arctic) to allow separate designations in April 1986. The Western Arctic population was designated Endangered in April 1986. The population was renamed to "Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort population" and designated Special Concern in May 2005. Status re–examined and confirmed in April 2009. Last assessment based on an update status report. COSEWIC. 2009. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the Bowhead Whale Balaena mysticetus, Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort population and Eastern Canada–West Greenland population,in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. vii + 49 pp.
References: 
R024
R153
R218

Canada – Species at Risk Legal Status

SARA Status: 
Special Concern
2007
References: 
W103

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Mitchell E and Reeves RR (1986) Updated status report on the bowhead whale (Beaufort Sea / Arctic Ocean population ) Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R024 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Mitchell E and Reeves RR (1986) Updated status report on the bowhead whale (Beaufort Sea / Arctic Ocean population ) Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R024 Return
  • Zeh, J.E (1995) Population size and rate of increase, 1978-1993, of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus. . Report of the International Whaling Commission 45: 339-344 Personal Files - Dr. Sue Cosens, research scientist and section head, fish and marine mammals, Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institue, Winnipeg, MB. 501 University Cres.,R3T 2N6 204 983 8838 - SUC15 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Mitchell E and Reeves RR (1986) Updated status report on the bowhead whale (Beaufort Sea / Arctic Ocean population ) Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R024 Return
  • Thomas, Tannis (2005) COSEWIC Update Status Report on Bowhead Whales Balaena mysticetus - interim report. COMMITTEE ON THE STATUS OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE IN Canada - R153 Return
  • COSEWIC (2009) Updated COSEWIC assessment of Bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) in Canada. copy in AGM binder2009 - R218 Return

Economic Status

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Ecozones

  • Forsyth, Adrian (1999) Mammals of North America Temperate and Arctic Regions. Firefly Books RWED Library Call#QL715.F67 - BSC1 Return

Federal Species at Risk Status

  • Government of Canada (2016) Species at Risk Public Registry. http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm - W103 Return

Habitat

  • Mitchell E and Reeves RR (1986) Updated status report on the bowhead whale (Beaufort Sea / Arctic Ocean population ) Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R024 Return
  • Department of Fisheries and Oceans (1980) Status report on the bowhead whale Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R026 Return
  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Mitchell E and Reeves RR (1986) Updated status report on the bowhead whale (Beaufort Sea / Arctic Ocean population ) Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R024 Return
  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Longevity

  • Mitchell E and Reeves RR (1986) Updated status report on the bowhead whale (Beaufort Sea / Arctic Ocean population ) Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R024 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Burns, J.J., Montague, J.J. and C.J. Cowles. (eds.) (1993) The Bowhead Whale. The Society of Marine Mammalogy, Special Publication No. 2. 787 pages - SUC2 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Population Size

Department of Fisheries and Oceans (1980) Status report on the bowhead whale Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R026 Return
,
Burns, J.J., Montague, J.J. and C.J. Cowles. (eds.) (1993) The Bowhead Whale. The Society of Marine Mammalogy, Special Publication No. 2. 787 pages - SUC2 Return
,
DFO (1999) Hudson Bay/Foxe Basin Bowhead Whales. DFO Science Stock Status Report E5-52 (1999). Personal Files - Dr. Sue Cosens, research scientist and section head, fish and marine mammals, Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institue, Winnipeg, MB. 501 University Cres.,R3T 2N6 204 983 8838 - SUC7 Return
,
Zeh, J.E (1995) Population size and rate of increase, 1978-1993, of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus. . Report of the International Whaling Commission 45: 339-344 Personal Files - Dr. Sue Cosens, research scientist and section head, fish and marine mammals, Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institue, Winnipeg, MB. 501 University Cres.,R3T 2N6 204 983 8838 - SUC15 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Mitchell E and Reeves RR (1986) Updated status report on the bowhead whale (Beaufort Sea / Arctic Ocean population ) Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R024 Return
  • Zeh, J.E (1995) Population size and rate of increase, 1978-1993, of bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus. . Report of the International Whaling Commission 45: 339-344 Personal Files - Dr. Sue Cosens, research scientist and section head, fish and marine mammals, Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate, Freshwater Institue, Winnipeg, MB. 501 University Cres.,R3T 2N6 204 983 8838 - SUC15 Return

Taxonomy

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Threats

  • Mitchell E and Reeves RR (1986) Updated status report on the bowhead whale (Beaufort Sea / Arctic Ocean population ) Balaena mysticetus in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) RWED Library Folder - R024 Return
  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return