Skip to main content
Unsupported Browser Detected

Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION | U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Mail |
SITE INDEX
CONTACT US
Close Promo Banner
NOAA Fisheries Home Logo
Menu
  • Find A Species
      • Find a Species
      • Managed Species
      • Highly Migratory Species
      • Invertebrates
      • Salmon & Steelhead
      • Sharks
      • Protected Species
      • All Threatened & Endangered Species
      • Corals & Other Invertebrates
      • Dolphins & Porpoises
      • Fish & Sharks
      • Sea Turtles
      • Seals & Sea Lions
      • Whales
      • Species By Region
      • Alaska
      • New England/Mid-Atlantic
      • Pacific Islands
      • Southeast
      • West Coast
      • Helpful Resources
      • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
      • Marine Life in Distress
      • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
      • Species in the Spotlight
  • Fishing & Seafood
      • Sustainable Fisheries
      • Bycatch
      • Catch Shares
      • Fishery Observers
      • Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing
      • Magnuson-Stevens Act
      • Population Assessments
      • Resources for Fishing
      • Commercial Fishing
      • Recreational Fishing
      • Subsistence Fishing
      • Fishery Management Info
      • Permits & Forms
      • Rules & Regulations by Region
      • Sustainable Seafood
      • Aquaculture
      • Commerce & Certification
      • Seafood Inspection
      • Trade
      • Related Topics
      • Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
      • Cooperative Research
      • Enforcement
      • Financial Services
      • International Affairs
      • Science & Data
      • Socioeconomics
  • Protecting Marine Life
      • Endangered Species Conservation
      • Consultations
      • Critical Habitat
      • Endangered Species Act
      • Population Assessments
      • Species Recovery
      • Species in the Spotlight
      • Marine Mammal Protection
      • Health & Stranding Response
      • Marine Mammal Protection Act
      • Population Assessments
      • Take Reduction Plans
      • Marine Life in Distress
      • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
      • Bycatch
      • Ocean Acoustics/Noise
      • Unusual Mortality Events
      • Vessel Strikes
      • Related Topics
      • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
      • Enforcement
      • Funding Opportunities
      • International Cooperation
      • Permits & Authorizations
      • Regulations & Actions
      • Science & Data
  • Environment
      • Ecosystems
      • U.S. Regional Ecosystems
      • Management
      • Science
      • Habitat Conservation
      • Habitat Restoration
      • Habitat Protection
      • Types of Habitat
      • Habitat by Region
      • Science
      • Consultations
      • Climate
      • Understanding the Impacts
      • Responding to Change
  • Regions
      • Our Regions
      • Alaska
      • New England/ Mid-Atlantic
      • Pacific Islands
      • Southeast
      • West Coast
      • Contact Us
      • Regional Offices
      • Science Centers
  • Resources & Services
      • Rules & Regulations
      • Fisheries Rules & Regs
      • Fisheries Management Info
      • Protected Resources Regs & Actions
      • Permits
      • Fishing & Seafood
      • Protected Resources
      • International & Trade
      • Funding & Financial Services
      • Funding Opportunities
      • Financial Services
      • Prescott Grants
      • Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants
      • Habitat Restoration Grants
      • Consultations
      • Habitat
      • Endangered Species
      • Tribal
      • Science & Data
      • Research
      • Surveys
      • Data
      • Maps & GIS
      • Publications
      • Published Research
      • Key Reports
      • Documents
      • Publication Databases
      • Laws & Policies
      • Magnuson-Stevens Act
      • Endangered Species Act
      • Marine Mammal Protection Act
      • Policies
      • Outreach & Education
      • For Educators
      • For Students
      • Educational Materials
      • Events
  • About Us
      • NOAA Fisheries
      • Our Mission
      • Who We Are
      • Where We Work
      • Our History
      • News & Media
      • News & Announcements
      • Bulletins
      • Multimedia
      • Science Blogs
      • Events
      • Video Gallery
      • Careers & More
      • Internships
      • Volunteering & Citizen Science
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Contact Us
      • National Program Offices
      • Regional Offices
      • Science Centers
      • Our Partners
      • Regional Fishery Management Councils
      • Marine Fishery Advisory Committee
      • Federal Partners
      • State Partners
      • Tribal Governments
      • Non-Government Organizations
    • Find A Species
        Back
        Find A Species
          Find a Species
        • Managed Species
        • Highly Migratory Species
        • Invertebrates
        • Salmon & Steelhead
        • Sharks
          Protected Species
        • All Threatened & Endangered Species
        • Corals & Other Invertebrates
        • Dolphins & Porpoises
        • Fish & Sharks
        • Sea Turtles
        • Seals & Sea Lions
        • Whales
          Species By Region
        • Alaska
        • New England/Mid-Atlantic
        • Pacific Islands
        • Southeast
        • West Coast
          Helpful Resources
        • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
        • Marine Life in Distress
        • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
        • Species in the Spotlight
    • Fishing & Seafood
        Back
        Fishing & Seafood
          Sustainable Fisheries
        • Bycatch
        • Catch Shares
        • Fishery Observers
        • Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing
        • Magnuson-Stevens Act
        • Population Assessments
          Resources for Fishing
        • Commercial Fishing
        • Recreational Fishing
        • Subsistence Fishing
        • Fishery Management Info
        • Permits & Forms
        • Rules & Regulations by Region
          Sustainable Seafood
        • Aquaculture
        • Commerce & Certification
        • Seafood Inspection
        • Trade
          Related Topics
        • Atlantic Highly Migratory Species
        • Cooperative Research
        • Enforcement
        • Financial Services
        • International Affairs
        • Science & Data
        • Socioeconomics
    • Protecting Marine Life
        Back
        Protecting Marine Life
          Endangered Species Conservation
        • Consultations
        • Critical Habitat
        • Endangered Species Act
        • Population Assessments
        • Species Recovery
        • Species in the Spotlight
          Marine Mammal Protection
        • Health & Stranding Response
        • Marine Mammal Protection Act
        • Population Assessments
        • Take Reduction Plans
          Marine Life in Distress
        • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
        • Bycatch
        • Ocean Acoustics/Noise
        • Unusual Mortality Events
        • Vessel Strikes
          Related Topics
        • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
        • Enforcement
        • Funding Opportunities
        • International Cooperation
        • Permits & Authorizations
        • Regulations & Actions
        • Science & Data
    • Environment
        Back
        Environment
          Ecosystems
        • U.S. Regional Ecosystems
        • Management
        • Science
          Habitat Conservation
        • Habitat Restoration
        • Habitat Protection
        • Types of Habitat
        • Habitat by Region
        • Science
        • Consultations
          Climate
        • Understanding the Impacts
        • Responding to Change
    • Regions
        Back
        Regions
          Our Regions
        • Alaska
        • New England/ Mid-Atlantic
        • Pacific Islands
        • Southeast
        • West Coast
          Contact Us
        • Regional Offices
        • Science Centers
    • Resources & Services
        Back
        Resources & Services
          Rules & Regulations
        • Fisheries Rules & Regs
        • Fisheries Management Info
        • Protected Resources Regs & Actions
          Permits
        • Fishing & Seafood
        • Protected Resources
        • International & Trade
          Funding & Financial Services
        • Funding Opportunities
        • Financial Services
        • Prescott Grants
        • Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants
        • Habitat Restoration Grants
          Consultations
        • Habitat
        • Endangered Species
        • Tribal
          Science & Data
        • Research
        • Surveys
        • Data
        • Maps & GIS
          Publications
        • Published Research
        • Key Reports
        • Documents
        • Publication Databases
          Laws & Policies
        • Magnuson-Stevens Act
        • Endangered Species Act
        • Marine Mammal Protection Act
        • Policies
          Outreach & Education
        • For Educators
        • For Students
        • Educational Materials
        • Events
    • About Us
        Back
        About Us
          NOAA Fisheries
        • Our Mission
        • Who We Are
        • Where We Work
        • Our History
          News & Media
        • News & Announcements
        • Bulletins
        • Multimedia
        • Science Blogs
        • Events
        • Video Gallery
          Careers & More
        • Internships
        • Volunteering & Citizen Science
        • Diversity & Inclusion
          Contact Us
        • National Program Offices
        • Regional Offices
        • Science Centers
          Our Partners
        • Regional Fishery Management Councils
        • Marine Fishery Advisory Committee
        • Federal Partners
        • State Partners
        • Tribal Governments
        • Non-Government Organizations
Species Directory

Blainville's Beaked Whale

Overview Conservation & Management Science

Blainville's Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon densirostris

Blainvilles beaked whale illustration

Protected Status

CITES Appendix II
Throughout Its Range
MMPA Protected
Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight
1,800 to 2,300 pounds
Lifespan
Unknown
Length
15 to 20 feet
Threats
Entanglement in fishing gear, Ocean noise, Ingestion of marine debris
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
See Regulatory Actions
head of a solitary adult male Blainville’s beaked whale showing the high bottom jaw line and the erupted teeth.

About The Species

Blainville's beaked whales are little-known members of the beaked whale family, Ziphiidae. Sometimes known as the "dense-beaked whale," this species lives in tropical to temperate waters worldwide. It is typically found in deep, offshore waters (656 to 3,281 feet) off the continental shelf and often associated with steep underwater geological structures such as banks, submarine canyons, seamounts, and continental slopes.

There is little information on the abundance of Blainville’s beaked whales worldwide, though they are considered to have the most extensive distribution of any whale in the Mesoplodon genus. The beaked whale family is cryptic and skittish, and distinguishing between species in the field can be challenging. 

Like all marine mammals, Blainville’s beaked whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. They face threats from entanglement in fishing gear, ingestion of marine debris, and human-caused noise. Blainville’s beaked whales are considered “data deficient” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, meaning that there is not enough information to assess their population status.

Status

For management purposes, Blainville's beaked whales inhabiting U.S. waters have been divided into the Hawaiian, northern Gulf of Mexico, and western North Atlantic stocks. The northern Gulf of Mexico and western North Atlantic stocks are considered "strategic" because of uncertainty regarding their size and evidence of fishery-related mortality and serious injury.

NOAA Fisheries estimates population size for each stock of Blainville’s beaked whale in its stock assessment reports. A stock is a group of animals that occupy the same area and interbreed. There are insufficient data to determine the population trends for this species.

Protected Status

CITES Appendix II

  • Throughout Its Range

MMPA Protected

  • Throughout Its Range

Appearance

As adults, Blainville's beaked whales can reach lengths of approximately 15 to 20 feet and weigh 1,800 to 2,300 pounds. Mature males can be easily distinguished from females and juveniles by a pair of large, visible, tusk-like teeth that erupt and point forward from their heavily arched lower jaw. These tusk-like teeth are sometimes covered with barnacles. Females and juveniles also have teeth, but they remain hidden beneath the gum tissue of the mouth, and their jawline is less curved.

Blainville's beaked whales have a medium-sized, round body with a small, wide-based, slightly hooked dorsal fin located far down the animal's back. They also have a low, sloping, indistinct forehead (or melon). Their coloration varies from dark-gray to brownish and bluish. The animal’s face and underside are pale gray or white, giving it a counter shading appearance. The skin may appear wrinkled on the dorsal area and is covered with linear and oval-shaped scars and other markings. Individuals, especially mature males, accumulate scars and scratches with age. Diatom (microscopic planktonic algae) infestation may discolor areas of the skin.

Behavior and Diet

Blainville's beaked whales are usually found individually or in small social groups averaging between three and seven animals, but they have been occasionally seen in larger groups of up to 12 animals. Groups may consist of various combinations of age and sex and/or be segregated depending on age or sex. Adult populations in productive waters over the continental shelf (e.g., the Bahamas) may be grouped in harems that consist of several adult females with a single adult mature male. Males commonly battle over access to females, which is probably the cause of the long, linear scars seen on individuals.
Like other beaked whales, Blainville’s beaked whales are deep divers. Regular dives range from 20 to 45 minutes and commonly reach depths of at least 1,600 to 3,300 feet, but dives of over 54 minutes and up to 4,600 feet have also been recorded. While diving, they use suction to feed on small fish and cephalopods (e.g., squid) in deep water.

Lifespan & Reproduction

The estimated lifespan of Blainville's beaked whales is unknown. They may reach sexual maturity at about 9 years of age. A sexually mature female will give birth to a single newborn calf that is about 6 to 8.5 feet long and weighs about 130 pounds.

Threats

Entanglement in Fishing Gear

Unidentified beaked whales (which may include Blainville's beaked whales) have been entangled or captured in the pelagic drift gillnet fishery off the U.S. Atlantic coast. Japanese fishing boats in the Indian Ocean (off of Seychelles and western Australia) have also incidentally taken Blainville's beaked whales, and they have been occasionally caught as bycatch in hunts targeting small cetaceans.

Marine Debris

Some beaked whales have died from ingestion of marine debris.

Ocean Noise

Deep-diving cetaceans like Blainville’s beaked whales use sound to feed, communicate, and navigate in the ocean. Recently, strandings of this species in the Bahamas because of acoustic trauma have been associated with use of active sonar during naval military activities and exercises. Sound pollution threatens Blainville’s beaked whales by interrupting their normal behavior and driving them away from areas important to their survival, such as breeding and feeding waters.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Cetacea
Family Ziphiidae
Genus Mesoplodon
Species densirostris

What We Do

Conservation & Management

All Blainville’s beaked whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Our work protects this species by:

  • Reducing interactions with commercial and recreational fishing gear.
  • Issuing take reduction plans.
  • Implementing requirements to reduce serious injuries and mortalities.
  • Minimizing the effects of vessel disturbance, noise, and other types of human impacts.
Learn more about our conservation efforts

Science

Our research projects have helped us better understand Blainville’s beaked whales and the challenges they face. Our work includes:

  • Stock assessments.
  • Acoustic monitoring.
  • Satellite tagging and tracking.
  • Photo-identification.
Learn more about our research

How You Can Help

Keep your distance.

Keep Your Distance

Be responsible when viewing marine life in the wild. Observe all large whales from a safe distance of at least 100 yards and limit your time spent observing to 30 minutes or less.

Learn more about our marine life viewing guidelines >

Marine Life In Distress

Report Marine Life in Distress

Report a sick, injured, entangled, stranded, or dead animal to make sure professional responders and scientists know about it and can take appropriate action. Numerous organizations around the country are trained and ready to respond. Never approach or try to save an injured or entangled animal yourself—it can be dangerous to both the animal and you.

Learn who you should contact when you encounter a stranded or injured marine animal >

Report a Violation

Report a Violation

Call the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964 to report a federal marine resource violation. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone in the United States.

You may also contact your closest NOAA Office of Law Enforcement field during regular business hours.


Featured News

6000x4000_Cuviers_beaked_whale.jpg
Feature Story

Beaked Whale Strandings in the Mariana Archipelago May Be Associated with Sonar

Pacific Islands
View More News

Related Species

Gervais beaked whale illustration

Gervais' Beaked Whale

Cuviers beaked whale illustration

Cuvier's Beaked Whale

Illustration of Sowerby's beaked whale

Sowerby's Beaked Whale

Baird's beaked whale illustration.

Baird’s Beaked Whale

In the Spotlight

Management Overview

Blainville's beaked whales, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

750x500-blainville-beaked-whale1.jpg
750x500-blainville-beaked-whale.jpg

Blainville's beaked whale


Conservation Efforts

Reducing Interactions with Fishing Gear

Blainville’s beaked whales are caught as bycatch in fishing gear, leading to deaths and serious injuries. To reduce bycatch, NOAA Fisheries requires the use of acoustic pingers and 6-fathom net extenders in the California/Oregon drift gillnet fishery as part of the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan.

Learn more about bycatch and fisheries interactions

Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, an unusual mortality event (UME) is defined as "a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response." To understand the health of marine mammal populations, scientists study unusual mortality events.

Get information on active and past UMEs

Get an overview of marine mammal UMEs

Addressing Ocean Noise

NOAA Fisheries is investigating all aspects of acoustic communication and hearing in marine animals, as well as the effects of sound on beaked whale behavior and hearing.  For example, the use of some types of shipboard echosounders decreases the acoustic detection rates of multiple species of beaked whales, indicating that they change their behavior when they hear these echosounders. In 2016, we issued technical guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal hearing.

Learn more about ocean noise


Regulatory History

Like all marine mammals, Blainville’s beaked whales are protected under the MMPA.

In 1997, NOAA Fisheries implemented the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan, which requires the use of acoustic pingers and 6-fathom net extenders in the California/Oregon drift gillnet fishery to reduce bycatch of cetaceans, including Blainville’s beaked whales. The Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Team continues to meet and recommend measures to further reduce bycatch and achieve MMPA goals.

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents Incidental Take

Incidental Take Authorization: Scripps Institute of Oceanography Low-Energy Geophysical Survey in the South Atlantic Ocean

NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during a low-energy marine geophysical survey in the South Atlantic…
  • Notice of Final IHA
  • Notice of Proposed IHA
  • Issued IHA (pdf, 16 pages)
  • IHA Application (pdf, 114 pages)
  • References (pdf, 42 pages)
  • Biological Opinion (pdf, 188 pages)
  • Draft IHA (pdf, 15 pages)
Notice
,
Foreign
Published
11/07/2019

Incidental Take Authorization: Low-Energy Geophysical Survey in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean

NOAA Fisheries  issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO) to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment, marine mammals during a low-energy marine geophysical survey in the Southwest…
  • Notice of Final IHA
  • Notice of Proposed IHA
  • Issued IHA (pdf, 13 pages)
  • IHA application (pdf, 115 pages)
  • Draft IHA (pdf, 13 pages)
  • References (pdf, 45 pages)
  • Biological Opinion (pdf, 161 pages)
Notice
,
Foreign
Published
10/11/2019

Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT)

NOAA Fisheries, upon request from the U.S. Navy (Navy), has issued regulations pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the training and testing activities conducted in the Mariana Islands…
  • Final Rule
  • Proposed Rule
  • Notice of Receipt of Application for LOA
  • Letter of Authorization (pdf, 33 pages)
  • Revised LOA Application (pdf, 325 pages)
  • LOA Application (pdf, 318 pages)
  • Monitoring and Reporting
  • Notification and Reporting Plan (pdf, 4 pages)
  • Biological Opinion
  • Environmental Impact Statement
  • Public Comments
  • NRDC Comment Letter (pdf, 37 pages)
  • References (pdf, 25 pages)
Final Rule
,
Pacific Islands
Foreign
Effective
07/31/2020

Incidental Take Authorization: NOAA Fisheries NWFSC Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean

NOAA Fisheries, upon request of NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), hereby issues regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted in the Pacific Ocean over the course of…
  • Final Rule
  • Notice of Proposed Rule
  • Notice of Receipt of Application for LOA
  • Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment
  • Issued LOA (pdf, 12 pages)
  • LOA Application (pdf, 206 pages)
  • References cited (pdf, 25 pages)
  • Programmatic EA (pdf, 415 pages)
  • FONSI (pdf, 5 pages)
  • Comments Received on Notice of Receipt (pdf, 6 pages)
  • Biological Opinion (pdf, 324 pages)
  • Comments Received on Proposed Rule (pdf, 7 pages)
  • 2018 Monitoring Report (pdf, 3 pages)
Final Rule
,
West Coast
Effective
08/27/2018
  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • …
  • Next

More Information

  • Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan (POCTRP) Interim Final Rule to Am…
  • POCTRP Final Rule to Require New Training, Equipment, and Gear Modifications fo…
  • Marine Mammal Protection
  • Marine Mammal Permits and Authorizations

Science Overview

NOAA Fisheries conducts a variety of research on the biology, behavior, and ecology of Blainville’s beaked whales. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions and enhance protection efforts for this species.

750x500-blainville-beaked-whale.jpg

Blainville's beaked whale. Photo: NOAA Fisheries.

Stock Assessments

Determining the size of Blainville’s beaked whale populations helps resource managers gauge the success of NOAA Fisheries’ conservation measures. Our scientists collect and present these data in annual stock assessment reports.

Shipboard Studies

NOAA Fisheries conducts research cruises to collect information on beaked whale stocks, such as habit preferences and feeding ecology. For example, we have estimated the abundance of the three Blainville’s beaked whale stocks and other cetaceans, using oceanic research vessels to perform line-transect surveys. Information from this research can be used in management actions to protect these animals.

Acoustic Science

Our research is also focused on acoustics—using underwater sound to learn more about this species. We study the basic acoustic behavior of cetaceans and fish, mapping the acoustic environment and finding better ways to study cetaceans using passive acoustic technologies. Because Blainville’s beaked whales are difficult to detect visually, and because they dive for extended periods of time, passive acoustic detection is important in studying this, and all, beaked whale species. For example, hydrophone arrays can be towed behind ships to acoustically detect and locate Blainville’s beaked whales during surveys, and archival bottom-mounted recorders are used to monitor long-term occurrence of the species at specific recording sites. 

Our acoustic research also assesses the degree to which human-caused activities are changing the underwater soundscape, how these changes may potentially impact marine animals, and what measures can be taken to mitigate these potential impacts.

Learn more about acoustics science

More Information

  • NOAA's National Marine Mammal Laboratory Beaked Whale Information
  • Identifying Cryptic Cetaceans Using eDNA
  • Marine Mammal Permits and Authorizations
Scroll to Top Icon
Sign up for our newsletter
Stay informed of all the latest regional news around NOAA Fisheries
Sign Up Now!
  • NOAA Fisheries
    • About Us
    • Laws & Policies
    • FishWatch
    • NOAA
    • Department of Commerce
    • Site Index
  • For Researchers
    • Published Research
    • Science & Data
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Media Inquiries
    • Report a Violation
    • Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal
    • NOAA Staff Directory
Follow Us
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
Can't Find What You Need?
Tour Our Site
How are we doing? Send us your feedback
NOAA Logo
Science. Service. Stewardship.
Accessibility
|
EEO
|
FOIA
|
Information Quality
|
Policies & Disclaimer
|
Privacy Policy
|
USA.gov