Biodiversity Whales and seals

SHAPE of Nature - State of Whales

WCS Canada

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This evaluation reports on the conservation status of whale species in Canada.

Key points

• Over 50% of Canada’s whales are at risk
• BC, Quebec, and Newfoundland & Labrador have the highest number of whale species.
• The greatest threats to Canada’s at-risk whales are habitat loss, ship strikes, noise pollution, and climate change.

Abstract

Over half of Canada’s whales are at risk.

• The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has assessed 54% of Canadian whale species as at-risk. One species is now extinct (Gray Whale – Atlantic population).
• 17% of Canada’s whales are also of global conservation concern and have been ranked as critically imperilled, imperilled, or vulnerable by NatureServe and/or Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• BC (23), Quebec (16), and Newfoundland & Labrador (15) are the provinces with the highest number of whale species.
• 19% of whale species in Canada assessed by COSEWIC have improved conservation status including the Humpback Whale – North Pacific population and the Beluga Whale James Bay population. These recoveries are primarily the result of ending commercial harvesting.
• The main threats to Canadian whale populations vary among species. The most prevalent threats include marine vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, habitat loss or degradation, chemical and noise pollution, natural resource exploration/extraction, and loss of prey availability or quality.
• The effects of climate change on whales are complex and dynamic. Changing sea temperatures have amplified the primary threats for some whales, complicating conservation efforts, while some species are experiencing temporary benefits.

Recommended citation

WCS Canada (2024). SHAPE of Nature - State of Whales. WCS Canada. https://wcscanada.org/resources/shape-of-nature-state-of-whales/