Status of North Atlantic Common minke whales
North Atlantic common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are abundant in the North Atlantic (see map). Two or three stocks are assumed, stratified longitudinally as eastern, possibly central, and western stocks. These whales are subject to aboriginal subsistence hunting by Greenland with a combined annual limit of 20 strikes (central stock) and 164 strikes (western stock). They are also hunted commercially by Norway. Iceland has also hunted North Atlantic minke whales commercially in some recent years. (Norwegian and Icelandic whaling is conducted outside the IWC and under objection/reservation respectively to the IWC commercial whaling moratorium).
The table below shows current IWC model estimates and 90% uncertainty intervals for 2022 abundance, depletion level, and cumulative 20-year change, for three areas of the North Atlantic. An explanation of the areas and a breakdown of the results by area are available here.
The most recent direct abundance estimates are 104,700 (75,200-145,750) for the eastern area in 2014-2019; 64,000 (43,000-93,000) for the central area in 2015-2016; and 5,100 (2,100-12,000) for the western area in 2015. More information about this species is given here and here.
|
|
Modelled 2022 |
2022 Relative Abundance |
Percent change, 2002-2022 |
||||
|
West |
28,767 |
(21,159 - 34,630) |
0.91 |
(0.82 - 0.97) |
3% |
(2%-4%) |
|
|
Central |
42,221 |
(37,087 - 46,977) |
0.92 |
(0.84 - 0.92) |
2% |
(1%-2%) |
|
|
East |
87,033 |
(77,741 - 94,439) |
0.77 |
(0.65 - 0.89) |
7% |
(3%-11%) |
|
|
Entire population |
157,057 |
(144,395 – 169,081) |
0.83 |
(0.73 - 0.92) |
5% |
(2% - 7%) |
|
Below is a plot of how modelled total abundance has changed over time.
North Atlantic minke whales are generally abundant, mostly recovered, and slowly increasing. Minke whales are least abundant in the western area, and least recovered in the eastern area. Threats include entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes, disturbance from whale watching, ocean noise, and habitat degradation.
Data quality for this population is good (East) or fair (Central and West). The assessment date for North Atlantic minke whales is 2023. Further details about the IWC Scientific Committee (SC) assessment of North Atlantic common minke whales is available here. General information about how the IWC SC assesses stock status is here.
