SC/69A/E/08  

Document Number

SC/69A/E/08

Full Title

Update on the Eastern North Pacific Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) 2019-2023 Unusual Mortality Event

Author

Deborah Fauquier Et Al. (+35 Co-Authors)

Authors Summary

From 17 December 2018 through 05 April 2023, a total of 638 Eastern North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) stranded along the Pacific coast of North America across three countries (Canada, Mexico, and United States). Two hundred and sixteen whales were reported in 2019 (including two whales from December 2018), 172 in 2020, 115 in 2021, 105 in 2022, and 30 as of 05 April 2023. On the West Coast of the United States, the 122 stranded whales reported in 2019, 79 in 2020, 55 in 2021, and 47 in 2022 exceeded the annual mean stranding rate of 29 ± 10 whales between 2001-2018. Strandings occurred along the entire range of the Eastern North Pacific gray whale, including in the wintering, migratory, and feeding areas, with most whales recorded in U.S waters documented in spring and early summer when gray whales are near the end of their seasonal fast.

Publisher

IWC

Keywords

Publication Year

2023

Abstract

Update on the Eastern North Pacific Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) 2019-2023 Update on the eastern North Pacific gray whale unusual mortality event 2019-2023