The National Recovery Strategy for the North Pacific Right Whale

0,87
MB in Pacific Canadian Waters

49
stron

4841
ID Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

2004
rok

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary2

List of Tables.6

Table of Figures6

1. INTRODUCTION7

2. BACKGROUND.8

2.1 Current Status.8

2.2 Distribution.9

2.2.1 Global range9

2.2.2 Canadian range.10

2.3 Nationally significant populations14

2.4 Population Sizes and Trends.15

3. FACTORS AFFECTING VULNERABILITY AND CONTRIBUTING TO THREATENED STATUS16

3.1 General Habitat Requirements16

3.1.1.16

Critical Habitat.16

3.2 Ecological Role.17

3.3 Biologically Limiting Factors.17

3.3.1 K-selected Species18

3.3.2 Critically Low Numbers18

3.3.3 Food Supply18

3.4 Historic Threats18

3.4.1 Subsistence/Native Harvest18

3.4.2 Commercial whaling19

3.5 Current Threats.20

3.5.1 Population Numbers and Genetic Diversity (inbreeding depression) 20

3.5.2 Marine Traffic and Ship Strikes.21

3.5.3 Entanglement in Fishing Gear.21

3.5.4 Habitat Degradation.21

3.5.5 Noise.22

3.5.6 Climate Change and Food Supply.22

3.5.7 Pollution.23

3.5.8 Depensation (Allee effect).23

3.6 Socio-economic Considerations.24

3.7 Knowledge Gaps24

3.7.1 Population structure, genetics.24

3.7.2 Life history parameters, population dynamics.25

3.7.3 Current presence, abundance, distribution, and habitat use in BC waters 25

3.7.4 Clarification of threats, human influences25

3.7.5 Critical Habitat.26

4. RECOVERY.26 - 4 -

4.1 Recovery Goal26

4.2 Recovery Objectives26

4.3 Recovery Strategies.27

Scientific Research27

Threats Research.28

Mitigation and Protection28

Monitoring and Evaluation29

Coordination29

Education and Awareness29

4.4 Considerations for Recovery:.29

4.4.1 Recovery Feasibility29

4.4.2 Anticipated Conflicts or Challenges.30

4.4.3 Recommended Approach / Scale for Recovery.30

5. ACTIONS ALREADY COMPLETED OR UNDERWAY.31

5.1 Research in Canada.31

5.1.1 Pacific Canada31

5.1.2 Atlantic Canada.31

5.2 Legal Protection.32

5.3 Listing Status33

5.3.1 Status in Canada.33

5.3.2 Status in the US33

5.3.3 International Status33

5.4 Recovery Strategies.34

5.5 North Pacific Right Whale Recovery Team34

6. ACTION PLANS34

7. POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT IMPACTS FOR OTHER SPECIES OR ECOLOGICAL

PROCESSES.34

8. EVALUATION34

9. REFERENCES CITED.36

10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.46

10.1 Recovery Team Members46

10.2 External Peer Reviewers47

11. RECORD OF COOPERATION & CONSULTATION.47

APPENDIX 1 : SCHEDULE OF STUDIES.48