Critical marine mammal habitat in offshore waters: the need for protection.


Faucher, A. and L.S. Weilgart.

pp 75-78 in: Developments in landscape management and urban planning, 7. (Eds: Willison, J.H.M., Bondrup-Nielsen, S., Drysdale, C., Herman, T.B., Munro, N.W.P., and Pollock, T.L.) Elsevier, Amsterdam-London-New York-Tokyo. 1992.

Summary

Certain populations of marine mammals rely on specific offshore areas for their survival. These offshore populations are particularly vulnerable to threats, such as vessel or fisheries interactions or pollution, as these are more difficult to control in remote areas. Examples of offshore "critical habitat areas" for three different whale species are discussed: 1) The Gully, off Sable Island, Nova Scotia, for bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus); 2) Brown's and Baccaro Banks, off Nova Scotia, for northern right whales (Eubalaena glacialis); and 3) Silver Bank, West Indies, for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae ). Of these three, only Silver Bank has been established as marine sanctuary by the Dominican Republic. Canada is encouraged to protect critical marine mammal habitats in its jurisdiction.

Return to bottlenose whale index

Return to main page