CONSERVATION

Humpback whales can be found worldwide in all major oceans

IUCN STATUS: LEAST CONCERN

SUBPOPULATION IUCN STATUS:

ENDANGERED (OCEANIA AND ARABIAN SEA)

USFWS STATUS: ENDANGERED SPECIES

Humpbacks have been classified with the USFWS since 1970

Humpback whale populations were on a decline when they were originally classified as Endangered in 1970. Since then, we have seen a large increase (continuing to increase) in humpback whale populations due to conservation efforts worldwide. Fishing net entanglement, noise pollution, tourism, and commercial fishing are still affecting these magnificent animals TODAY. Conservation work for these creatures continues now and should continue until populations have grown to a sustainable level and until humans learn to respect them. Humans and all that we do are the major threats to humpback whales and the time is now to act and save them.

Humpback Whale Song

Sources:

  1. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). FWS.gov. https://www.fws.gov/species/humpback-whale-megaptera-novaeangliae

  2. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (n.d.). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://www.iucnredlist.org/search query=Humpback%20Whale&searchType=species

  3. Making the Sea Safer for Whales. (n.d.). The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/california/stories-in-california/making-the-sea-safer-for-whales/

  4. Humpback whales feeding | Whale and Dolphin Conservation. (2018). Humpback whale - Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA. Whale & Dolphin Conservation USA. https://us.whales.org/whales-dolphins/species-guide/humpback-whale/

  5. Male Humpback Whales Perform This Mysterious Song on Loop Great Blue Wild | Smithsonian Channel. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv4h-DXyeVg&t=8s

Keywords: Endangered, Conservation, Commercial, Entanglement, Sustainable