North Pacific right whale (Eubalaena japonica) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 12
Technical Summary
Eubalaena japonica
North Pacific Right Whale – Baleine noire du Pacifique Nord
Range of Occurrence in Canada:
Eastern North Pacific
Extent and Area Information
Extent of occurrence (EO) (km²)
Unknown
Specify trend in EO
Not applicable
Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?
Not applicable
Area of occupancy (AO) (km²)
Unknown
Specify trend in AO
Not applicable
Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?
Not applicable
Number of known or inferred current locations
Not applicable
Specify trend in #
Not applicable
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?
Not applicable
Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat
Unknown
Population Information
Generation time (average age of parents in the population)
~ 20 years (if similar to other species of right whales)
Number of mature individuals
Perhaps a few tens
Total population trend:
Unknown
% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.
Not applicable
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?
Unlikely
Is the total population severely fragmented?
Unknown
Specify trend in number of populations
Not applicable
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?
No
List populations with number of mature individuals in each:
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
- serious injury and mortality from collisions with vessels (if similar to North Atlantic right whales)
- serious injury and mortality from entanglement in fixed fishing gear (if similar to North Atlantic right whales
- low reproductive rates (if similar to North Atlantic right whales)
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
Status of outside population(s)?
USA: Endangered
Is immigration known or possible?
Yes (western North Pacific)
Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?
Likely
Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?
Uncertain/Likely
Is rescue from outside populations likely?
Low
Quantitative Analysis
Not applicable
Status and Reasons for Designation
Status: Endangered
Alpha-numeric code: A1d; D1
Reasons for Designation: Although there have not been sightings of this species in the last 50 years in Canadian waters, there have been sightings both south and north of British Columbia waters. Therefore it is not appropriate to classify the species as extirpated. The total population in the eastern North Pacific likely numbers a few tens of animals.
Applicability of Criteria
- Criterion A: Declining Total Population: Meets Endangered A1d (suspected greater than 70% reduction over last 3 generations, 75 years; generation time estimated to be about 25 years from data on other right whales).
- Criterion B: Small Distribution and Decline or Fluctuation: Probably large EO and AO
- Criterion C: Small Total Population Size and Decline: Not known to be declining
- Criterion D: Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution: Meets Endangered, D1 (less than 250 mature individuals)
- Criterion E: Quantitative Analysis: Not applicable
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