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Species Directory

Fin Whale

Overview Conservation & Management Science Resources

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Illustration of fin whale.

Protected Status

ESA Endangered
Throughout Its Range
CITES Appendix I
Throughout Its Range
MMPA Protected
Throughout Its Range
MMPA Depleted
Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight
40 to 80 tons
Lifespan
80 to 90 years
Length
75 to 85 feet
Threats
Entanglement in fishing gear, Vessel strikes, Lack of prey due to overfishing, Ocean noise
Region
Alaska, New England/Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
See Regulatory Actions
fin-whale.jpg

About The Species

The fin whale is the second-largest species of whale. It is found throughout the world’s oceans. It gets its name from an easy-to-spot fin on its back, near its tail.

Like all large whales, fin whales were hunted by commercial whalers, which greatly lowered their population. Whalers did not target them at first, because of they were fast and lived in open ocean habitats. But, as whaling methods modernized with steam-powered ships and explosive harpoons, and whalers over-hunted other species of whales they had used for oil, bone, and fat, whaling turned to fin whales, killing a huge number during the mid-1900s—725,000 in the Southern Hemisphere alone.

Whaling is no longer a major threat for this species. (Commercial whaling ended in the 1970s and 1980s, though some hunting continues today in Greenland through subsistence whaling allowances from the International Whaling Commission.) Today, the biggest threat comes from vessel strikes. The fin whale is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

NOAA Fisheries and its partners are dedicated to conserving and rebuilding the fin whale population. We use innovative techniques to study, protect, and rescue these endangered whales. We engage our partners as we develop regulations and management plans that foster healthy fisheries and reduce the risk of entanglements, create whale-safe shipping practices, and reduce ocean noise.

Status

Today, there are about 2,700 fin whales in the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and about 3,200 in the waters off of California, Oregon, and Washington (the eastern Pacific Ocean). The estimate for the entire North Pacific is between 14,000 and 18,000. The number of fin whales in the southern hemisphere is around 82,000.

For management purposes, we divide fin whales in U.S. into four stocks:

  1. California/Oregon/Washington
  2. Hawaii
  3. Alaska (Northeast Pacific)
  4. Western North Atlantic

We determine the number of fin whales through counting stocks, however, there is not accurate information for all stocks. Reliable, recent estimates are available for much of the North Atlantic Ocean, but not for most of the North Pacific or the Southern Ocean. We do not know how populations in those ocean basins have changed, relative to their pre-whaling size. The most recent population assessments can be found in stock assessment reports.

Protected Status

ESA Endangered

  • Throughout Its Range

CITES Appendix I

  • Throughout Its Range

MMPA Protected

  • Throughout Its Range

MMPA Depleted

  • Throughout Its Range

Appearance

A fin whale has a sleek, streamlined body with a V-shaped head. It has a tall, hooked dorsal fin, about two-thirds of the way back on the body, that rises at a shallow angle from the back. Fin whales have distinctive coloration: black or dark brownish-gray on the back and sides, white on the underside. Head coloring is asymmetrical—dark on the left side of the lower jaw, white on the right-side lower jaw, and the other way around on the tongue. Many fin whales have several light-gray, V-shaped “chevrons” behind their heads; on many of them, the underside of the tail flukes is white with a gray border. These markings are unique and can be used to identify Individual fin whales.

Behavior and Diet

Fin whales are fast swimmers, and are often found in social groups of two to seven. In the North Atlantic, they are often seen feeding in large groups that include humpback whales, minke whales, and Atlantic white-sided dolphins.

During the summer, fin whales feed on krill, small schooling fish (including herring, capelin, and sand lance), and squid by lunging into schools of prey with their mouth open, using their 50 to 100 accordion-like throat pleats to gulp large amounts of food and water. They then filter the food particles from the water, using the 260 to 480 baleen plates (long, flat plates made of fingernail-like material) they have in place of teeth on each side of the mouth. Fin whales fast in the winter while they migrate to warmer waters.

Like other baleen whales, fin whales also skim the water, taking in huge volumes of water. When they close their mouths, the water is pushed out through the baleen and the prey is caught on the inside of the baleen. A fin whale eats up to 2 tons of food every day this way.

Where They Live

Fin whales are found in deep, offshore waters of all major oceans, primarily in temperate to polar latitudes. They are less common in the tropics. They occur year-round in a wide range of locations, but the density of individuals in any one area changes seasonally. Most migrate from the Arctic and Antarctic feeding areas in the summer to tropical breeding and calving areas in the winter. The location of winter breeding grounds is not known. Fin whales travel in the open seas, away from the coast, so they are difficult to track. There are three named subspecies of fin whale:

  • B. physalus physalus in the North Atlantic and North Pacific.
  • B. physalus quoyi in the Southern Ocean.
  • B. physalus patachonica in the mid-latitude Southern Ocean.

In fact, most experts consider the B. physalus physalus in the North Atlantic and the North Pacific to be separate subspecies. The two populations rarely (if ever) mix, and there are geographical stocks within these ocean basins. Fin whales are migratory, moving seasonally into and out of feeding areas near the poles, but the overall migration pattern is complex and likely varies by region, and specific routes have been documented for some populations. Acoustic recordings from passive-listening hydrophone arrays indicate a southward “flow pattern” in the fall from the Labrador-Newfoundland region, past Bermuda, and into the West Indies. There may be resident groups of fin whales in some areas, such as the Gulf of California, the East China Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Fin Whale Range.png

Lifespan & Reproduction

Little is known about the social and mating systems of fin whales. As with other baleen whales, long-term bonds between individuals are rare.

Fin whales have long lives: they reach physical maturity at about 25 years, and their maximum lifespan is about 90 years. Males become sexually mature at 6 to 10 years of age and females at 7 to 12 years of age. After 11 to 12 months of gestation, a pregnant female gives birth to a single calf in tropical and subtropical areas during midwinter. Newborn calves are about 18 feet long, and weigh 4,000 to 6,000 pounds.

Fin whales sometimes mate with blue whales and hybrids have been documented.

Threats

Vessel Strikes

Inadvertent vessel strikes can injure or kill fin whales. The projected increase in ship traffic arising from the opening of trans-polar shipping routes (as arctic sea ice continues to decline) will increase the risk of vessel strike, and also increase ambient noise and pollution.

Entanglement

Fin whales can become entangled in fishing gear, either swimming off with the gear attached or becoming anchored. They can become entangled in many different gear types, including traps, pots, or gillnets. Once entangled, whales may drag and swim with attached gear for long distances, ultimately resulting in fatigue, compromised feeding ability, or severe injury, which may lead to reduced reproductive success and death.

Ocean Noise

Underwater noise threatens whale populations, interrupting their normal behavior and driving them away from areas important to their survival. Increasing evidence suggests that exposure to intense underwater sound in some settings may cause some whales to strand and ultimately die.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Cetacea
Family Balaenopteridae
Genus Balaenoptera
Species physalus

What We Do

Conservation & Management

NOAA Fisheries is committed to the protection and recovery of fin whales. Our management work includes:

  • Consulting with federal agencies to make sure proposed actions are not likely to jeopardize fin whales through noise disturbance, ship strikes, or other stressors.
  • Responding to stranded and entangled fin whales.
  • Developing oil spill response plans.
  • Reviewing projects that could harm fin whales.
  • Monitoring population abundance and distribution.
  • Educating the public about fin whales and the threats they face.
Learn more about our conservation efforts

Science

Our research projects have discovered new aspects of fin whale biology, behavior, and ecology and helped us better understand the challenges that all fin whales face. This research is especially important in rebuilding endangered populations. Our work includes:

  • Taxonomy and systematics.
  • Stock assessments.
  • Measuring the response of animals to sound using digital acoustic recording tags.
Learn more about our research

How You Can Help

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 >

Reduce Speed

Reduce Speed and Be on the Lookout

Collisions with vessels are a major cause of injury and death for whales. Here are some tips to avoid collisions:

Keep a sharp lookout. Look for blows, dorsal fins, tail flukes, etc.

Watch your speed in areas of known marine mammal occurrence. Keep speeds to 10 knots or less to reduce potential for injury.

Keep your distance. Stay at least 100 yards away.

Stop immediately if within 100 yards. Slowly distance your vessel from the whale.

Learn more about vessel strikes >

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 >

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

2020 Whale Week Feature Image 5.jpg
Feature Story

Celebrate Whale Week with Wallpapers for Your Digital Devices

New England/Mid-Atlantic
750x500-fin-whale-NOAA-Fisheries.jpg
Feature Story

Genetics Reveal Pacific Subspecies of Fin Whale

West Coast
500x500_Humpback_fluke_WDC.jpg
Feature Story

Watching Whales Sensibly for Ten Years

New England/Mid-Atlantic
BowheadWhaleResearchInAlaska-3.jpg
Feature Story

Make Way for Whale Week 2019

National
View More News

Related Species

640x427-humpback.png

Humpback Whale

640x427-blue-whale.jpg

Blue Whale

640x427-sei-whale.png

Sei Whale

In the Spotlight

Management Overview

The fin whale is listed as endangered throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act and as depleted throughout its range under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This means that it is in danger of extinction throughout all or much of its range. NOAA is working to protect this species in many ways, with the goal that its population will increase.


Recovery Planning and Implementation

Recovery Action

Under the ESA, NOAA Fisheries is required to develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of listed species.

The recovery plan for the fin whale was published in July 2010. Its goal is to recover the species, with an interim goal of down-listing its status from endangered to threatened.

The major actions recommended in the plan are:

  • Reduce or eliminate injury or death caused by ship collision.
  • Reduce or eliminate injury or death caused by fisheries and fishing gear.
  • Protect habitats essential to the survival and recovery of the species.
  • Minimize effects of vessel disturbance.
  • Continue the international ban on hunting and other directed take.
  • Monitor the population size and trends in abundance of the species.
  • Maximize efforts to free entangled or stranded fin whales and get scientific information from dead specimens.

Learn more about the recovery plan for fin whales

Implementation

NOAA Fisheries is working to minimize effects from human activities that hinder the recovery of fin whale populations in the United States and internationally. Along with our partners, we work to:

  • Reduce entanglement in fishing gear.
  • Rescue, disentangle, and rehabilitate fin whales.

A close up photo of a fin whale.

A fin whale in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Photo: NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center/Anne Douglas.


Conservation Efforts

Reducing Entanglement in Fishing Gear

Entanglement in fishing gear is a primary cause of serious injury and death for many whale species, including fin whales.

In the Atlantic, we implemented the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury of right whales, humpback whales, and fin whales in gillnets and trap/pot fisheries along the East Coast.

Learn more about bycatch and fisheries interactions

Reducing Vessel Strikes

Collisions between whales and large vessels can injure or kill the whales and damage the vessels, but they often go unnoticed and unreported. The most effective way to reduce collision risk is to keep whales and vessels apart. If this is not possible, second best is for vessels to slow down and keep a lookout.

Learn more about vessel strikes and marine animals

Addressing Ocean Noise

Underwater noise threatens whale populations, interrupting their normal behavior and driving them away from areas important to their survival. Increasing evidence suggests that exposure to intense underwater sound in some settings may cause some whales to strand and ultimately die. NOAA Fisheries is investigating all aspects of acoustic communication and hearing in marine animals, as well as the effects of sound on whale behavior and hearing. In 2016, we issued technical guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals’ hearing.

Learn more about ocean noise

Overseeing Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response

We work with volunteer networks in all coastal states to respond to marine mammal strandings including large whales. When stranded animals are found alive, NOAA Fisheries and our partners assess the animal’s health. When stranded animals are found dead, our scientists work to understand and investigate the cause of death. Although the cause often remains unknown, scientists can sometimes identify strandings due to disease, harmful algal blooms, vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, pollution exposure, and underwater noise. Some strandings can serve as indicators of ocean health, giving insight into larger environmental issues that may also have implications for human health and welfare.

Learn more about the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program

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

Educating the Public

NOAA Fisheries aims to increase public awareness and support for fin whale conservation through education, outreach, and public participation. We regularly share information with the public about the status of fin whales, as well as our research and efforts to promote their recovery.


Regulatory History

Within the United States, the fin whale is listed as endangered throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and is listed as depleted throughout its range under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.

Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents Incidental Take

Cook Inlet and Kodiak Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines

NOAA Fisheries, in an effort to increase preparedness for wildlife response under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, has drafted guidelines for marine mammal response in disaster situations in Cook Inlet and Kodiak, Alaska entitled "Cook Inlet and&nbsp…
  • Notice of Availability (84 FR 24102, 05/24/2019)
  • Final Cook Inlet & Kodiak Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines and Append…
  • Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network
Notice
,
Alaska
Published
May 24, 2019

Initiation of 5-Year Reviews for the Endangered Fin Whale, Endangered Gray Whale Western North Pacific Distinct Population Segment, and Endangered Sei

NOAA Fisheries announces its intent to conduct 5-year reviews for the endangered fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the endangered gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) Western North Pacific distinct population segment (DPS), and the endangered sei whale …
  • Notice of Initiation of 5-Year Review/Request for Information
  • Fin Whale 5-year Review (2019)
  • Sei whale 5-year Review (2012)
Notice
,
Alaska
West Coast
Effective
March 30, 2018

Incidental Take Authorization: Ørsted Wind Power North America, LLC Site Characterization Survey off New York to Massachusetts

NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Ørsted Wind Power North America, LLC, (Ørsted) to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during marine site characterization surveys in coastal waters…
  • Correction to Notice of Issued IHA
  • Notice of Issued IHA
  • Notice of Proposed IHA
  • Issued IHA, (pdf, 13 pages)
  • Application (pdf, 89 pages)
  • Biological Opinion (pdf, 256 pages)
  • Amendment to Biological Opinion (pdf, 19 pages)
  • Public Comment (23 pages)
  • References (pdf, 13 pages)
Notice
,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Published
10/08/2020

Incidental Take Authorization: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Marine Geophysical Survey in the Aleutian Islands

NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University (L-DEO) to incidentally harass marine mammals during a marine geophysical survey in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. …
  • Notice of Issued IHA
  • Notice of Proposed IHA
  • Issued IHA (PDF, 18 pages)
  • Application (PDF, 126 pages)
  • Final Environmental Assessment
  • Finding of No Significant Impact (PDF, 14 pages)
  • Biological Opinion
  • Public Comments
  • References (PDF, 6 pages)
Notice
,
Alaska
Effective
09/01/2020

Incidental Take Authorization: Equinor Wind, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and

NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Equinor Wind, LLC to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during site characterization surveys off the coast in the Atlantic Ocean in the area of the…
  • Notice of Issued IHA
  • Notice of Proposed IHA
  • Issued IHA (pdf, 12 pages)
  • Application (pdf, 81 pages)
  • Public Comments (pdf, 31 pages)
  • References (pdf, 14 pages)
Notice
,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Effective
09/20/2020

Incidental Take Authorization: Mayflower Wind Energy, LLC Marine Site Characterization Surveys off of Massachusetts

NOAA Fisheries has issued an incidental harassment authorization to Mayflower Wind Energy LLC to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during site characterization surveys off the coast of Massachusetts in the area of the…
  • Notice of Issued IHA
  • Notice of Proposed IHA
  • Issued IHA (pdf, 13 pages)
  • Application (pdf, 87 pages)
  • Public Comments (pdf, 27 pages)
  • References (pdf, 13 pages)
Notice
,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Effective
07/23/2020
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More Information

  • Endangered Species Conservation
  • Marine Mammal Protection
  • Marine Life Viewing Guidelines
  • Whale Alert Smartphone App
  • International Marine Mammal Conservation
  • Marine Mammal Permits and Authorizations
  • Fin Whale Contacts

Science Overview

NOAA Fisheries researches the biology, behavior, and ecology of the fin whale. We use the results to inform management decisions and recovery efforts for this endangered species.

Fin whale from above.

An aerial shot of a fin whale. Photo: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center/Peter Duley.

Stock Assessments

Determining the number of fin whales in each population—and whether a stock is growing or shrinking over time—helps resource managers assess the success of conservation measures. Our scientists collect information and present these data in annual stock assessment reports.

Acoustic Science

Other research focuses on the acoustic environment of cetaceans, including fin whales. (Acoustics is the science of how sound is transmitted.) We study the basic acoustic behavior of whales, dolphins, and fish; map the acoustic environment; and develop better ways to find cetaceans using autonomous gliders and passive acoustic arrays.

Acoustics can reveal differences between fin whale populations and monitor hearing levels and feeding behavior. We also study how underwater noise affects the way fin whales behave, eat, interact with each other, and move within their habitat.

Learn more about acoustic science

Research & Data

Recovery Action Database

Tracks the implementation of recovery actions from Endangered Species Act…
February 10, 2020 - Database ,
National
View More

More Information

  • Population Assessments
  • Scientific Research Permitting

Recent Science Blogs

Research

That's a Wrap: HICEAS 2017 is Complete!

Research
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Documents

Document

Draft Biological Opinion on 10 Fishery Management Plans

This draft Biological Opinion on 10 Fishery Management Plans in the Greater Atlantic Region and the…

New England/Mid-Atlantic
Document

Large Whale Entanglements off the U.S. West Coast, From 1982–2017

Large whale interaction and entanglement with gear in the ocean poses a major threat to animals…

West Coast
Document

Cook Inlet & Kodiak Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines and Appendices

Cook Inlet and Kodiak Marine Mammal Disaster Response Guidelines (CIKMMDRG) address disaster…

Alaska
Document

Biological Opinion Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain Lease Sale

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(2) Programmatic Biological Opinion Arctic National…

Alaska
More Documents

Data & Maps

Data

Recovery Action Database

Tracks the implementation of recovery actions from Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery plans.

National
Map

Other Southeast Gillnet Waters

New England/Mid-Atlantic
Data

Alaska Endangered Species and Critical Habitat Mapper Web Application

Spacial data and maps of critical habitat and Endangered Species Act (ESA) threatened and…

Alaska
More Data and Maps

Research

Passive Acoustics Research Group News & Media

Our Passive Acoustics Research Group frequently makes the news. This page links to articles and other media featuring our staff and their research.

New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Research

Outreach & Education

Educational Materials

Acoustic Studies Sound Board of Marine Mammals in Alaska

This resource features passive acoustic sound clips of many amazing marine mammals that can be…

Alaska
Educational Materials

Large Whale Entanglement Fact Sheet

Marine mammal entanglement, or by-catch, is a global problem that every year results in the death…

Alaska
More Outreach and Education Materials
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