Common minke whale

Biology and distribution

The common minke whale (Balaenopterus acutorostrata) is smallest of the baleen whales in Icelandic waters, although by most other standards it is quite a large animal. It can reach up to 10 m in length and 10 t in weight. It has a global distribution but is more common in colder waters. Common minke whales do frequently visit inshore waters, where other baleen whales, except humpbacks are rare.

Common minke whales have opportunistic feeding habits compared to the larger baleen whales, their diet ranging from planktonic crustaceans (krill) to large (> 80 cm) cod. In Icelandic waters, sandeels, codfish (mostly cod and haddock), herring, capelin and krill seem to be the most important groups. The annual consumption in Icelandic and adjacent waters has been estimated to be of the same order of magnitude as the total catch of the Icelandic fishing fleet or 2 million tonnes.

Stock size and exploitation

Common minke whales have been hunted in Icelandic waters during most of the 20th century, and still are. Minke whaling is conducted by small boats all around Iceland, in comparison to the hunting of large baleen whales which was conducted in large boats from only one station in the latter part of the 20th century. Official records on minke whaling are only available after 1973. During the period 1975-85 the annual common minke whale catch was about 200 animals. Prior to this, catches were probably in the range of a few tens a year.

Minke whaling was not permitted between 1985 and 2003 when a comprehensive research project on common minke whales in Icelandic waters was initiated. This research is a part of a larger research proposal reviewed by the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in June 2003. During 2003-2007 a total of 200 common minke whales were caught for this research programme in accordance with the original plan. In 2006 commercial whaling on common minke whales was re-established.

The main objective of the present research is to collect basic information on the feeding ecology of common minke whales in Icelandic waters. The multispecies model presently applied at the Marine Research Institute for cod, capelin and shrimp will be further developed and extended by incorporating common minke whales for estimation of the ecological interactions of these species.

According to a sighting surveys conducted in 2001 about 43,000 common minke whales were found within the Icelandic continental shelf area, indicating that here it is by far the most widespread of the baleen whales. In 2007, the number of whales in this area was, however, much smaller, or 10,000-15,000 animals, probably as a result of a shift in distribution due to poor feeding conditions. Preliminary results from a sightings survey in 2008 indicate similar densities of common minke whales as in 2001. A recent assessment by the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO shows that the common minke whale fishery in the past decades has had no significant effect on the status of the stock. It is also concluded that an annual harvest of 400 animals for 20 years would most likely maintain the stock above 70% of the pre-exploitation level. Based on this assessment, the Marine Research Institute has in recent years recommended that up to 400 common minke whales can be caught in a sustainable manner, provided that the catch is spread according to the distribution of common minke whales in Icelandic waters. However, in 2008, an interim advice on a maximum of 100 common minke whales was given due to the low densities observed in the 2007 survey.

References and further information

Refernces: (Anon, 2008), (Sigurjónsson, 1982), (Sigurjónsson, Galan, & Víkingsson, 2000), (Sigurjónsson& Víkingsson, 1997), (Stefánsson, Sigurjónsson, & Víkingsson, 1997), (Víkingsson2004), (Víkingsson, 2004h).

For full citation and further information on the main species in general see this page

Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson, University of Akureyri