Megaptera novaeangliae, Humpback whale : fisheries

Megaptera novaeangliae   (Borowski, 1781)

Humpback whale

Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.
Megaptera novaeangliae  AquaMaps  Data sources: GBIF OBIS
Upload your photos 
All pictures | Google image |
Image of Megaptera novaeangliae (Humpback whale)
Megaptera novaeangliae

Classification / Names Populärnamn | synonymer | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Mammalia | Cetartiodactyla | Balaenopteridae

Environment: milieu / climate zone / djupintervall / distribution range Ekologi

Pelagiska; havsvandrande (Ref. 75906); djupintervall 0 - 616 m (Ref. 83346).  Tropical; 90°N - 90°S, 180°W - 180°E

Distribution Länder | FAO områden | Ekosystem | Förekomster | Utplanteringar

Circumglobal. [Arabian Sea population: EN, D; Oceania population: EN, A1ad: IUCN 2010 (Ref. 84930)].

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Könsmognad: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 1,890 cm TL hane/ej könsbestämd; (Ref. 936); publicerad maxvikt: 35.0 t (Ref. 1394)

Biologi     Ordlista (t.ex. epibenthic)

They migrate from tropics (breeding areas) to polar or sub-polar regions, reaching the ice edges in both hemispheres (feeding areas); their migrations take them through oceanic zones (Ref. 1394). Maximum depth from Ref. 122827. Feed and breed in coastal waters, often near human population centres, and this helps make them one of the most familiar of the large whales. Feeds on krill and small schooling fish (Ref. 1394). According to a study in the Philippines, Babuyan Islands (121°36’00", 19°18’00) was verified as a breeding ground for this species, and humpback whale songs were recorded during this season. Social groups observed were lone adult, mother-calf pairs, two adults, mother-calf-escort, and a surface active mating group of 3 to 4 individuals (Ref. 77119). Adults length 1600 cm in Ref. 1394. Threats to this species are dynamite and cyanide fishing, pollution, and intrusion of foreign commercial fishing vessels (Ref. 77119), unregulated fishing activities of Taiwanese vessels, i.e. long-line and drift net fishing, and unconfirmed reports of pirate whaling (Ref. 77118). There were nine distinctive themes of humpback whale songs identified wherein 7 of which were common in the Philippines and Hawaii (Ref. 77118). Feeds and breeds in coastal waters, often near human population centres, and this helps make them one of the most familiar of the large whales. They migrate from tropics (breeding areas) to polar or sub-polar regions, reaching the ice edges in both hemispheres (feeding areas); their migrations take them through oceanic zones (Ref. 1394). They prefer warm shallow waters to breed, usually near offshore reefs, islands, or continental shores. Feeding grounds are characterized by cold, productive, shallow waters (Ref. 122680). Feeds on krill and small schooling fish (Ref. 1394). According to a study in the Philippines, Babuyan Islands (121°36’00", 19°18’00) was verified as a breeding ground for this species, and humpback whale songs were recorded during this season. Social groups observed were lone adult, mother-calf pairs, two adults, mother-calf-escort, and a surface active mating group of 3 to 4 individuals (Ref. 77119).

Life cycle and mating behavior Könsmognad | Reproduktion | Lek | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Babuyan Islands (121°36’00", 19°18’00"), Philippines was verified as a breeding ground for this species. During this season social groups observed were lone adult, mother-calf pairs, two adults, mother-calf-escort, and a surface active mating group of 3 to 4 individuals (Ref. 77119). Associated activities involved cows with young calves escorted by males, aggressive competitive behavior, and singing (Ref. 78067).

Main reference referenser | Koordinator | Medarbetare

Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber. 1993. (Ref. 1394)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 24 March 2018

CITES status (Ref. 108899)


CMS (Ref. 116361)


Threat to humans

Human uses

Fiskeri: kommersiell
FAO - fiskeri: landings, species profile | FishSource | Sea Around Us

Verktyg

Ytterligare information

Trophic Ecology
Food items (preys)
Födosammansättning
Födointag
Predatorer
Ekologi
Population dynamics
Tillväxt
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversion
Abundans
Life cycle
Reproduktion
Könsmognad
Fecundity
Lek
Eggs
Egg development
Larvae
Distribution
Physiology
Syreförbrukning
Human Related
Stamps, coins, misc.
Outreach
Taxonomy
referenser

Internet-källor

BHL | BOLD Systems | CISTI | DiscoverLife | FAO(fiskeri: species profile; publication : search) | Fishipedia | GenBank (genome, nucleotide) | GloBI | Gomexsi | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | PubMed | Tree of Life | Wikipedia (Go, sök) | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 0.2 - 10.2, mean 1.8 (based on 43796 cells).
Resiliens (Ref. 69278): Hög, lägsta populationsfördubblingstid mindre än 15 månader (K=0.25-1.96; tm=6).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): High vulnerability (60 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.