Fin whale

Biology and distribution

The fin whale (Balaenopterus physalus) is the second largest animal on earth after the blue whale. The largest individual killed in Icelandic waters reached 22.9 m in length and weighed an estimated 78 t. As the other rorquals the fin whale can be found all over the world. It is rarely found inshore but is most common over the continental shelf slope where the depth is more than 400 m, all around the country.

The fin whale can feed on a variety of pelagic invertebrates and fishes. Research on the food of the fin whale in Icelandic waters did, however, indicate that it almost exclusively feeds on krill, mainly Meganychtiphanes norwegica. This is somewhat surprising, as the food is quite varied in other areas. However, the sampling only covered the whaling grounds west of Iceland but not the entire distribution range in Icelandic waters.

Stock size and exploitation

The fin whale has been an important targeted species during the whole of the 20th century. It was harvested, usually in higher numbers that any other whale species, from the beginning of industrial whaling in Iceland in 1883 until 1985, when the moratorium on commercial whaling took effect. Scientific whaling continued for further 4 years with 70-80 animals taken each year. About 14,000 animals were hunted during these 102 years and 7 more were added in 2006 when fin whale hunting was resumed.

Sighting surveys indicate that there are around 24,000 fin whales in the East Greenland/Iceland and Jan Mayen stock area and 14,000 in the area between Iceland and Greenland. According to a recent assessment, the stock is likely to be close to its pre-exploitation level. On the basis of a recent evaluation by the Scientific Committee of NAMMCO, the Marine Research Institute of Iceland recommends that up to 150 fin whales can be caught in a sustainable manner.

References and further information

References: (Anon, 2008), (Pike et al., 2005), (Stevick et al., 2006), (Víkingsson, 2004g).

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

Hreiðar Þór Valtýsson, University of Akureyri