How many fin whales are there in the world

Fin whales travel in the open seas, away from the coast, so they are difficult to track. There are three named subspecies of fin whale:. In fact, most experts consider the B. The two populations rarely if ever mix, and there are geographical stocks within these ocean basins. Fin whales are migratory, moving seasonally into and out of feeding areas near the poles, but the overall migration pattern is complex and likely varies by region, and specific routes have been documented for some populations.

There may be resident groups of fin whales in some areas, such as the Gulf of California, the East China Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Little is known about the social and mating systems of fin whales.

As with other baleen whales, long-term bonds between individuals are rare. Fin whales have long lives—they reach physical maturity at about 25 years, and their maximum lifespan is about 90 years. Males become sexually mature at 6 to 10 years of age and females at 7 to 12 years of age.

After 11 to 12 months of gestation, a pregnant female gives birth to a single calf in tropical and subtropical areas during midwinter. Newborn calves are about 18 feet long, and weigh 4, to 6, pounds.

Vessel strikes can injure or kill fin whales. Fin whales are probably the most vulnerable species to ship strikes after North Atlantic Right Whales. The projected increase in ship traffic arising from the opening of trans-polar shipping routes as arctic sea ice continues to decline will increase the risk of vessel strike and also increase ambient noise and pollution.

Fin whales can become entangled in fishing gear, either swimming off with the gear attached or becoming anchored. They can become entangled in many different gear types, including traps, pots, or gillnets.

Once entangled, whales may drag and swim with attached gear for long distances, ultimately resulting in fatigue, compromised feeding ability, or severe injury, which may lead to reduced reproductive success or death. Underwater noise negatively affects whale populations, interrupting their normal behavior and driving them away from areas important to their survival.

Increasing evidence suggests that exposure to intense underwater sound in some settings may cause some whales to strand and ultimately die. The impacts of climate change on baleen whales may result from altered oceanographic conditions, as well as the timing and distribution of sea ice coverage.

Changes in prey distribution could lead to changes in foraging behavior, nutritional stress, and diminished reproduction for fin whales. Additionally, changing water temperature and currents could impact the timing of environmental cues important for navigation and foraging.

NOAA Fisheries is committed to the protection and recovery of fin whales. Our work to protect and recover fin whales includes:. Our research projects have discovered new aspects of fin whale biology, behavior, and ecology and helped us better understand the challenges that all fin whales face.

This research is especially important in rebuilding endangered populations. Our work includes:. Report a sick, injured, entangled, stranded, or dead animal to make sure professional responders and scientists know about it and can take appropriate action. Numerous organizations around the country are trained and ready to respond.

Never approach or try to save an injured or entangled animal yourself—it can be dangerous to both the animal and you. Learn who you should contact when you encounter a stranded or injured marine animal. Vessel collisions are a major cause of injury and death for whales. Here are some tips to avoid collisions:. Watch your speed in areas of known marine mammal occurrence. Keep speeds to 10 knots or less to reduce potential for injury.

Keep a sharp lookout. Look for blows, dorsal fins, tail flukes, etc. However, be aware that most captains report never seeing a whale prior to colliding with it. Protect your boat, protect your passengers. Boats can be heavily damaged and even "totalled" after colliding with a large whale. Collisions can also injure passengers. Stop immediately if within yards. Slowly distance your vessel from the whale. Learn more about vessel strikes.

This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in the United States. The fin whale is listed as endangered throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act and as depleted throughout its range under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

This means that it is in danger of extinction throughout all or much of its range. NOAA is working to protect this species in many ways, with the goal to protect them from threat and increase their population size. The recovery plan for the fin whale was published in July Its goal is to recover the species, with an interim goal of down-listing its status from endangered to threatened. Learn more about the recovery plan for fin whales.

NOAA Fisheries is working to minimize effects from human activities that hinder the recovery of fin whale populations in the United States and internationally. Along with our partners, we work to:. A fin whale in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Entanglement in fishing gear is a primary cause of serious injury and death for many whale species, including fin whales.

Learn more about bycatch and fisheries interactions. Collisions between whales and large vessels can injure or kill the whales and damage the vessels, but they often go unnoticed and unreported. The most effective way to reduce collision risk is to keep whales and vessels apart.

Fin whales are the second largest whale species growing up to 85 feet 26 m long and , pounds Fin whales have accordion-like throats that help them gulp up to 4, pounds 1. Fin whales are named for their prominent, hooked dorsal fins found near their tails. Fin whales are the fastest of all great whales capable of swimming up to 23 miles per hour 23 kmph. Click here or below to download hands-on marine science activities for kids.

Protect Habitat. View All. We have already protected nearly 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana. Marine Mammals. Marine Science and Ecosystems. Ocean Fishes. Share The fin whale is the second largest animal to ever live, in the entire history of Earth.

Learn More. Whilst on their left side their lower jaw is black, on the right side it is a brilliant white. Some scientists believe this unusual characteristic may have something to do with hunting strategies, although nothing is certain. Generally found alone or in pairs, fin whales are mostly solitary and are rarely found in groups. Unlike other whales, fin whales are not too fond of the spotlight. They only rarely breach or spyhop, even avoiding raising their fluke out of the water for much of the time.

Despite their seeming shyness, fin whales have no qualms when it comes to mixing with some other species of whales and have even been known to breed with blue whales, giving birth to hybrid calves!

On the whole, life for fin whales has been particularly hard. Relentlessly hunted for their oil, meat and baleen, their numbers have been radically reduced by whalers, though in the earlier days of whaling they were often too fast to be caught by the whale boats. These days, the struggle is ongoing, and the dangers of whaling industries are a constant threat. Despite recognising their vulnerable status, some whalers continue to target fin whales.

Fin whales have a pretty simple diet, consisting of krill, small fish and crustaceans. However, when you are that big and your prey is that small, you have to eat a lot to survive. In order to get their fill, fin whales can spend several hours each day feeding, gulping up to 70 cubic metres of water in one go before it sieving out. With such big tummies to fill, fin whales can consume up to kg of krill every day.

Most at home in the deep, open ocean, they prefer cooler waters and are rarely found in tropical waters. Like other large whales, fin whales are thought to migrate between feeding and breeding grounds. That said, resident populations do exist, and both the Gulf of California in Mexico and the Mediterranean are home to resident populations of fin whales.

Fin whales can live for a really long time. One whale that was killed in Antarctica was discovered to be around years old. You may think that something as big as a fin whale would be a little ungainly in the water, but think again.

The fin whale is an extremely impressive mover and zips through the ocean with ease.