Gervais' Beaked Whale

Protected Status

CITES Appendix II

Throughout Its Range

MMPA Protected

Throughout Its Range

Quick Facts

Weight

About 2,640 pounds

Lifespan

Estimated at least 27 years but may be up to 48 years

Length

About 15 to 17 feet

Threats

Entanglement in fishing gear, Ocean noise

Region

New England/Mid-Atlantic, Southeast

See Regulatory Actions

Gervais' beaked whale. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

About the Species

Gervais’ beaked whales are little known members of the beaked whale family, Ziphiidae. Sometimes called the "Antillean" or "Gulf Stream beaked whale," this species prefers deep tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean but is occasionally found in colder temperate seas.

There is little information on the abundance of Gervais’ beaked whales worldwide, though they may be the most commonly sighted species of the Mesoplodon genus off the U.S. Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. They are also the most common Mesoplodon species to strand on the U.S. southeastern Atlantic coast. The beaked whale family is cryptic and skittish, and distinguishing between species in the field can be challenging.

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

Population Status

NOAA Fisheries estimates population size for each stock of Gervais’ 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

Even when dead, many species of beaked whales, especially those in the genus Mesoplodon that includes Gervais’ beaked whales, are very difficult to distinguish from one another because they lack easily discernible or apparent physical characteristics.

As adults, Gervais' beaked whales can reach lengths of about 15 to 17 feet and weigh at least 2,640 pounds. Females may be slightly larger than males. Mature males can be distinguished from females and juveniles by a pair of visible teeth that erupt from the front portion of their bottom jaw. Females and juveniles also have teeth, but they remain hidden beneath the mouth’s gum tissue. Gervais beaked whales typically have straight or slightly curved jawlines.

Gervais' beaked whales have a relatively small to medium-size body with a moderately long beak and an indistinct sloping forehead (or melon). They have a small, triangular, wide-based, slightly hooked dorsal fin located far down the back. Their coloring is dark gray or bluish to black, with a paler ventral side. They tend to become darker as they age. Both females and males often have a pronounced dark patch around the eye. Females and young males may have a series of small, faint, wavy stripes down the centerline of the back. Mature males may also have linear scars from battles over females; however, scarring is generally not heavy with this species.

Behavior and Diet

At sea, Gervais’ beaked whales are challenging to observe and identify to the species level because of their cryptic, skittish behavior; low profile; and a small, inconspicuous blow at the water’s surface. Therefore, much of the available characterization for beaked whales is to the genus level only.

Gervais' beaked whales are usually found individually or in small closely associated social groups. While diving, they use suction to feed mainly on cephalopods (e.g., squid), mysid shrimp, and small fish in deep water.

Lifespan & Reproduction

The estimated lifespan of this species is at least 27 years but may be up to 48 years. Females may become sexually mature at 15 feet. A sexually mature female will give birth to a single newborn calf that is about 7 feet long and weighs about 176 pounds.

Threats

Entanglement in Fishing Gear

Gervais' beaked whales have been incidentally taken as bycatch in fishing gear, such as pound nets off the U.S. Atlantic coast (e.g., New Jersey) and potentially in driftnets and gillnets.

Hunting

This species may be captured in the Caribbean Sea for food.

Ocean Noise

Deep-diving cetaceans like Gervais’ beaked whales use sound to feed, communicate, and navigate in the ocean. This species may be sensitive to underwater sounds and man-made noise. Sound pollution threatens them by interrupting their normal behavior and driving them away from areas important to their survival, such as feeding and breeding waters.

Scientific Classification

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

What We Do

Conservation & Management

All Gervais’ beaked whales are protected under the MMPA. Our work protects this species by:

Reducing interactions with commercial and recreational fishing gear
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 Gervais’ beaked whales and the challenges they face. Our work includes:

Stock assessments
Acoustic monitoring

Learn more about our research

How You Can Help

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 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

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 office during regular business hours.

Related Species

Blainville's Beaked Whale

Cuvier's Beaked Whale

Baird’s Beaked Whale

Sowerby's Beaked Whale

In the Spotlight

Management Overview

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

Conservation Efforts

Reducing Interactions with Fishing Gear

Gervais’ beaked whales are caught as bycatch in fishing gear, leading to deaths and serious injuries, such as in pound nets off the U.S. Atlantic coast, leading to deaths and serious injuries. NOAA Fisheries is committed to minimizing bycatch in U.S. fisheries to ensure populations are sustainable and to protect species such as the Gervais’ beaked whale.

Learn more about bycatch and fisheries interactions

Overseeing Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response

We work with volunteer networks in all coastal states to respond to marine mammal strandings including all whales. When stranded animals are found alive, NOAA Fisheries and our partners assess the animal’s health and determine the best course of action. 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 attribute strandings 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

Gervais’ beaked whales have never been part of a declared unusual mortality event. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, an unusual mortality event 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 at least 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, Gervais’ beaked whales are protected under the MMPA.

Key Actions and 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

Foreign

Published

11/07/2019

Incidental Take Authorization: Scripps Institution of Oceanography Low-energy Marine Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean

NOAA Fisheries issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Scripps Institution of Oceanography to incidentally harass, by Level B and Level A harassment, marine mammals during a low-energy marine geophysical survey in the Northwest Atlantic…

Notice

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Published

06/15/2018

Incidental Take Authorization: United States Geological Survey Geophysical Survey in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean

NOAA Fisheries issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to USGS to incidentally harass, by Level B harassment only, marine mammals during geophysical survey activities associated with a the USGS’s Mid-Atlantic Resource Imaging Experiment …

Notice

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Published

08/10/2018

Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) along Atlantic and Gulf Coasts (2018-2025)

NOAA Fisheries 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 Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) Study Area…

Proposed Rule

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Southeast

Foreign

Effective

11/14/2018

Science Overview

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

Stock Assessments

Determining the size of Gervais’ 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. [link to Gervais’ beaked whale stock assessment reports.

Shipboard Studies

NOAA Fisheries conducts research cruises to collect information on beaked whale stocks, such as habit preferences and feeding ecology. 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 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. For example, we tow arrays of hydrophones behind ships to acoustically detect and locate Gervais’ beaked whales during surveys. Using this technology, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center conducted a passive acoustic study to document dive depths of beaked whales, some of which may have been Gervais’ beaked whales. We also use archival bottom-mounted recorders 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 in their acoustic habitat, and what measures can be taken to mitigate these potential impacts.

Learn more about acoustics science

Passive Acoustic Cetacean Map

This mapping tool shows when and where specific whale, dolphin, and other…

June 03, 2021 - Query Tool ,

New England/Mid-Atlantic

This illustration shows the variety of technologies that NOAA Fisheries researchers use to record underwater sounds and study marine animals. The seascape shows bottom- mounted and drifting acoustic recorders, underwater autonomous vehicles, Atlantic cod and humpback whale with tags, and instruments deployed from a NOAA ship and small boat. Colored circles show a zoomed-in view of the instruments and indicate the type of data collected: green for real-time data, orange for archival data, and blue for active

Data & Maps

Data

Passive Acoustic Cetacean Map

This mapping tool shows when and where specific whale, dolphin, and other cetacean species were…

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Gervais' Beaked Whale