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Whale,
Dolphins and Porpoises or Cetaceans - Bay of Fundy/Grand Manan Island
The whales or cetaceans which regularly occur in the Bay of Fundy can be divided into two groups, baleen whales or mysticetes and toothed cetaceans or odontocetes. Most are seasonal residents from late spring to early winter, however, some occur in the winter. Occasionally other species venture into the Bay. These species normally occur elsewhere, their occurrence would be considered extralimital and rare. Some records are from a single stranding of a dead cetacean. One species of baleen whale was hunted to extinction - the Atlantic grey whale. Whales are regarded positively by most, including those in the fishing industry, although some conflicts do present themselves. The Grand Manan Whale & Seabird Research Station works with weir operators to safely released entrapped cetaceans without jeopardizing the fishers catch through the Harbour Porpoise Release Program. YOU CAN HELP! You can help us save the North Atlantic right whale by adopting an individual whale, a mother/calf pair, or a whole family! The tax deductible fee will go directly towards our costs for right whale research, conservation and education programs. We can also tailor individual adoptions for class projects. Visit www.AdoptRightWhales.ca. Whale watching is
a popular "Grand Manan Adventure".
Cetaceans
Atlantic
Grey Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) - Extinct
Odontocetes
or Toothed Whales:
Right
Whale (Eubalaena glacialis)
Finback
Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
Sei
Whale (Balaenoptera borealis)
Minke
Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Humpback
Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Atlantic
White-sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)
Harbour
Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
References:
"A
field guide to whales, porpoises and seals from Cape Cod to Newfoundland".
4th ed. Steve Katona, Valerie Rough & David Richardson. 1993. Smithsonian
Press. 316pp
"Marine
Mammals of the Bay of Fundy with a reference summary of the conservation
& protection status of marine mammals in all Canadian waters". David
Gaskin. 1997. Bulletin No. 1, Whale & Seabird Research Station. 121pp.
"A
History of the Mammals of Grand Manan" in "The Other Creatures", L.K.
Ingersoll & S.W. Gorham. 1978. The Grand Manan Historian, No. XX, pp.
31-54.
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Page revised September 30th 2006 GMWSRS 24 Route 776, Grand Manan, NB, Canada E5G 1A1 info@gmwsrs.org |
© Grand Manan Whale & Seabird Research Station Inc.
The
right whale has been protected from commercial hunting since 1937, but
remains endangered with less than 350 in the western North Atlantic. The
right or true whale to hunt, right whales were the first whale to be commercially
hunted beginning in the 1100's. By the 1800's the whale was very rare and
whalers turned to other species. The whales were prized from the amount
of oil rendered from the blubber layer and the baleen which was called
"whale bone" and was used in corsets, buggy whips, umbrellas, etc. Up to
two thirds of the population visits the Bay of Fundy between June and December.
Dive times average 10-20 minutes, longer than the other species of whales
because they capture prey by skimming the water with their mouth open.
The prey remains on the baleen fringes and the water escapes between the
plates.The feeding method extends the dive times. The Bay of Fundy is an
important nursery area for right whale mothers and calves. Right whales
engage in many types of surface behaviour, including breaching, tail lobbing,
spyhopping, flipper waving and slapping. Courtship groups of 2 to 45 whales
are sometimes encountered - one of the worlds greatest wildlife spectacles.
Right whales are not usually seen from shore, preferring deeper water between
Grand Manan and Noa Scotia. A right whale 
The
finback whale is the second largest baleen whale. Dive times vary from
4-12 minutes with the last or terminal dive after a surface period indicated
by a high arch of the back. Finbacks are fast and difficult to follow when
travelling. They are not particularly active at the surface, although on
occasion they do breach or finish a feeding dive lunging at the surface.
Little is known about their social life. Finbacks typically filter by gulping,
krill and small schooling fish such as herring. Finbacks and blue whales
have the deepest, loudest voices in the ocean, letting them communicate
over great distances. Still hunted in the eastern North Atlantic by Norway,
this species is considered "vulnerable" in Canadian waters. Finbacks are
often seen from shore travelling singly or in pairs. In an area southeast
of Grand Manan as many as 50 finbacks have been seen at one time, often
in groups of a dozen or more, feeding close together.
The
sei whale is a recent new comer to the Bay of Fundy on a regular
basis. They feed by skimming small plankton, despite being able expand
their mouth by inflating the throat pleats. They are fast swimmers and
dive for about ten minutes. While at the surface, their path can be tracked
because they leave "footprints" on the water surface. A whaling station
operated at Blanford, NS until 1970, hunting sei whales but the population
is not considered threatened.
Minkes
typically filter small schooling fish such as herring by gulping large
mouthfuls and squeezing out the water. The prey remains in the mouth because
of the baleen fringes which acts as barriers to the prey but not the water.
Minkes have also been seen eating individual fish. They can be seen close
to shore usually singly or in groups less than three. While minkes may
be elusive they are known to breach and approach vessels for a closer look.
Minkes dive without lifting their tails and usually submerge for five minutes
and less but can hold their breath substantially longer. The blow is visible
only in the right conditions of light, humidity or temperature. Minkes
populations are not considered threatened. Norway still hunts these whales
in the North Atlantic. Minkes sometimes swim into herring weirs but with
the aid of the Grand Manan Whale & Seabird Research Station personnel,
weir fishers can release minkes unharmed using a specially designed net
and not lose their fish.
Humpbacks
lift their tail when the dive, dive durations range from four to ten minutes
and sometimes longer. Humpbacks typically feed by gulping. They employ
a number of methods to corral fish including bubble nets, bubble spirals
and their white flippers. Humpbacks are listed as "threatened" in Canadian
waters. Humpbacks are very active at the surface, sometimes called the
"clowns of the sea", they are known to breach, tail lob, spyhop, flipper
wave and slap. Males humpbacks "sing" in the Caribbean mating grounds.
Humpbacks are sometimes seen from shore.
Atlantic
white-sided dolphinactively seek moving vessels and are acrobatic at the
surface. They often travel in groups ranging from less than ten to 500
or more. The typically dive for less than five minutes and usually do not
have a visible blow unless the right conditions of light, humidity or temperature
are present. The dolphins probably move offshore in the winter, arriving
in the Bay of Fundy in the summer. White-sided dolphins are not usually
seen from shore. Dolphin populations are not considered threatened.
Tending
to be elusive, they are not attracted to motorized vessel or are particularly
active at the surface. Porpoises dive for no more than five minutes with
most dives between two-three minutes. In that time they can dive as deep
as the Bay of Fundy 227m (745'). Porpoises are often in small groups and
recent tracking studies indicate that they remain within the Bay of Fundy
and Gulf of Maine throughout the year, many migrating toward Cape Cod in
the winter. Porpoises are sometimes caught in bottom set gill nets and
die. An international group of fishers, conservationists, government officials
and researchers, has been trying to reduce this mortality. Porpoises also
swim into herring weirs but with the aid of the Grand Manan Whale &
Seabird Research Station personnel, weir fishers can release porpoises
unharmed without losing their fish. Porpoises can easily be seen from shore.
Porpoises are considered "threatened" in Canada.