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North Pacific Right Whale (Eubalaena japonica)

Before right whales in the North Pacific were heavily exploited by commercial whalers, concentrations were found in the Gulf of Alaska, eastern Aleutian Islands, south-central Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and Sea of Japan. During 1965-99, following illegal catches by the USSR, there were only 82 sightings of right whales in the entire eastern North Pacific, with the majority of these occurring in the Bering Sea and adjacent areas of the Aleutian Islands. Sightings have been reported as far south as central Baja California in the eastern North Pacific, as far south as Hawaii in the central North Pacific, and as far north as the sub-Arctic waters of the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in the summer. Migratory patterns of the North Pacific whales are unknown, although it is thought the whales migrate from high-latitude feeding grounds in summer to more temperate waters during the winter, possibly offshore. No calving grounds have been found in the eastern North Pacific. Northern Right Whale adults are about 17 m long and can weigh up to 100 tons. Females are larger than males.

NMML Research Recent NMML Right Whale Publications
  • WADE, P., M. P. HEIDE-JORGENSEN, K. SHELDEN, J. BARLOW, J. CARRETTA, J. DURBAN, R. LeDUC, L. MUNGER, S. RANKIN, A. SAUTER, and P. STINCHCOMB. 2006. Acoustic detection and satellite-tracking leads to discovery of rare concentration of endangered North Pacific right whales. Biol. Lett. 2:417-419. 
     
  • SHELDEN, K. E. W., and P. J. CLAPHAM. 2006. Habitat requirements and extinction risks of eastern North Pacific right whales. AFSC Processed Rep. 2006-06, 52 p. Alaska Fish. Sci. Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle WA 98115. (.pdf, 1.12 MB).   Online.
     
  • SHELDEN, K. E. W., J. M. WAITE, P. R. WADE, S. MOORE, and D. J. RUGH. 2005. Historic and current habitat use by North Pacific right whales, Eubalaena japonica, in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. In T.D. Hooper (editor), Species at risk 2004: Pathways to recovery conference (2004: Victoria B.C.). Proceedings of the Species at Risk 2004: pathways to recovery. Victoria, BC, Canada; 2004., 3 p. (.pdf, 37kb).  Online.
     
  • MATE, B., P. DULEY, B. LAGERQUIST, F. WENZEL, A. STIMPERT, and P. CLAPHAM. 2005. Observations of a female North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) in simultaneous copulation with two males: Supporting evidence for sperm competition. Aquat. Mammals 31(2): 157-160. 
     
  • Search the AFSC database for additional Right Whale publications
Recent NMML Right Whale Posters Right Whale Stock Assessment Reports
NMML Education Web (these pages are targeted toward students!) Management Right Whale Images Other links

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