National Marine Sanctuaries - State of the Sanctuary Report

This is a Grey Whale. Evidently they like people.

Currently the IWC has ruled narrowly against two proposals by Japan. There is a vote on Sunday for the return of hunting. There is a chance it may pass. (click on)

Cetacean Breath Chart (click on)

Cetaceans

Minke Whales were the most recent actively hunted of all the baleens. Due to that there are no accurate figures regarding their numbers.

Minke Whale sounds can be listened to in the above link. They are twenty feet long.

It is stated that the Dwarf Minke Whale's sound was used in "Star Wars" (click on)

The northern estimates of the Humback Whale are about 11,700

Humpback Whales are very vocal. The link above is some of the variety of tones. It is not unusual to find seabirds feeding along with the baleens. Oddly enough these giant mammals feed on the tiniest of organisms. Phytoplanton. They also eat krill and small fish.

Southern Hemisphere Humpback average number is about 10,000

The Humpback Whale is forty feet long. They fit in a camera lens well and are very athletic. They are social. Their song differs from individual to individual. When a male humpback is courting a female it is head down, ninty degrees to the surface of the water.

No current estimates are stated. The Japanese were hunting them heavily a year or so ago.

Sei whale video is at the site when click on the link above. It's there along with the Humpback videos.

The Japanese factory ships can clear out a pod of hundreds of feeding whales in Antarctica in a day or so. They hunt the females and the juveniles. They aren't supposed to but there is nothing to stop them. No one chases the factory ships, no government that is a member of the IWC enforces limits. It is left to activist groups like Greenpeace. These groups also monitor the 'tables' in Japan by running DNA samples of the meat served there. There are 'DNA' records of individuals and it can be discerned if the Japanese are serving endangered species or those approved through the IWC (The International Whaling Commission.) Lack of an accounting of Seis is troubling.

Sei Whale is the 60 foot long baleen. It's name sounds as if saying "Say"

Estimates dating from 1969 ranged as high as 82,000 (click on for sound selection)

North Atlantic Fin Whales populations are believed to be as low as 27,700. Fin whales are 80 feet long and frequent the water of Iceland. In the summer these baleen whales like to attend to colder waters and feed there. While in the winter they swim half way across the globe to breed in the tropics.

The average population for Fin Whales is 47,300 globally

North Atlantic Fin Whale

Globally the number of Blue Whales are up marginally to an average of 400 (click on for Blue Whale Song)

The Blue Whale of the Southern Hemisphere. It's difficult to capture a Blue Whale on film. They are 100 feet long and very powerful swimmers averaging about 30 knots in the open Pacific waters. Some estimates are as high as 1400 but that census comes from the 1980s.

It's Saturday Night

"Whale Song" by Pearl Jam

The sun was in clouds. The sun looked out. Exposed a trail of mist and spouts.

Ships followed the ancient lead. Deceiving friends under the sea.

Wow, imagine that? They won't fight back. I got a theory on that.

A whale's heart is as big as a car. A whaler's thought must be smudged by the dark.

They won't fight back. I'm sure they know how. Means they love or are too proud.

They won't fight back. I'm sure they know how. Means they love or too proud.

They swim. It's really free. It's a beautiful thing to see. They sing.

Hunters of land. Hunters of sea. Exploit anything for money.

I refer to anybody that takes advantage of what that is free.

They won't fight back.

It's only a thought that makes it seem right. What you don't seeis because of your sight.

Take what you want. Kill what you can. That's just one way of the mind of man.

Take their lives. Sell their parts but there is not taking of their hearts.

If I was lost at sea. That harpoon boat in front of me. It's the whale I'd like to be.

They won't fight back.

They won't fight back.

They won't fight back.

They won't fight back.

They won't fight back.



They don't know how.



They won't fight back.

They won't fight back.

They won't fight back.