The small population of North Atlantic right whales is in danger of extinction. These whales were hunted nearly to extinction by commercial whalers by the end of the 1700s, but today are at risk from entanglement in...
Pilot Whales
Species:
Globicephala spp.
Photo: Adam Li, NOAA/NMFS/SWFSC
Type:
Mammal
Distribution:
Short-finned pilot whales are circumglobal in temperate and tropical waters. Long-finned pilot whales occur in temperate and polar waters.
Population:
Unknown
Bycatch Threat:
Longlines, gillnets, purse seines, trawls
IUCN Status:
Data Deficient
Bycatch of pilot whales (short-finned) occurs in the pelagic longline fisheries targeting swordfish, tuna, and shark in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic. There are also records of pilot whales (long and short-finned) being taken in gillnet, trawl, and purse seine fisheries.
"Whale-safe" hooks are being tested in the longline fishery that aim to reduce pilot whale bycatch by allowing whales to straighten the hook, while being strong enough to retain target catch.