
Gulf of Mexico Bryde's Whale
Balaenoptera edeni (GoM subspecies)

Protected Status
Quick Facts

About The Species
Gulf of Mexico Bryde's (pronounced "broodus") whales are members of the baleen whale family and a subspecies of the Bryde’s whale. With likely less than 100 individuals remaining, Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales are one of the most endangered whales in the world. Recovery of the species is dependent upon the protection of each remaining whale.
The Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale has been consistently located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, along the continental shelf break between 100 and about 400 meters depth. They are the only resident baleen whale in the Gulf of Mexico and are distinct from Bryde’s whales worldwide.
The most significant threats facing Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales are energy exploration and development, oil spills and spill response, vessel strikes, ocean noise, ocean debris, and entanglement in fishing gear. The Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale’s very small population size and limited distribution increase their vulnerability.
All Bryde’s whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, including the Gulf of Mexico subspecies. In 2019, NOAA listed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Status
NOAA Fisheries marine mammal surveys in 2009 produced an abundance estimate of 33 individual Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales . Recently, Duke University researchers estimated abundance to be 44 individuals based on the average of 23 years of survey data and whale habitat preferences. Given their cryptic nature (i.e., not easily observed/identified) and uncertainty about their existence in the southern Gulf of Mexico (i.e., Mexican and Cuban waters), the team of scientists that conducted the ESA status review believe that there are likely fewer than 100 individual Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales, with 50 or fewer being mature individuals.
Protected Status
ESA Endangered
- Throughout Its Range
CITES Appendix II
- Throughout Its Range
MMPA Protected
- Throughout Its Range
Appearance
Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales are similar shape to sei whales, but they are smaller and prefer warmer waters. Unlike other rorquals, which have a single ridge on their rostrum, Bryde’s whales have three prominent ridges in front of their blowhole. Their body is sleek, and their flippers are slender and pointed. Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales are uniformly dark gray on top with a pale to pink belly with some pale blotches.
Male Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales may be slightly smaller than females. The head of a Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale makes up about one quarter of its entire body length. The whale has a broad fluke, or tail, and a pointed and strongly hooked dorsal fin located about two-thirds of the way back on its body.
Worldwide, Bryde’s whales have 40 to 70 throat grooves on their underside that expand while feeding and 250 to 410 short baleen plates on each side of their mouths that act as strainers as they feed. Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales have large, dark grey to black baleen with white bristles in their mouths; this baleen is used to filter small animals from seawater.
Behavior and Diet
Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales are usually seen alone or in pairs, but may form larger, loose groups associated with feeding. Like Bryde’s whales worldwide, the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whales are known to be periodically “curious” around ships and have been documented approaching them in the Gulf of Mexico. Limited data suggest that Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales spend the majority of their time within 50 feet of the water’s surface, similar to other Bryde’s whales in the world.
Little is known about their foraging ecology and diet. Based on behavior observed during surveys, Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales do not appear to forage at or near the surface but are thought to feed just at or above the seafloor, but exactly what they are feeding on is unknown. Bryde's whales in other parts of the world feed in the water column on small crustaceans and schooling fish such as anchovy, sardine, mackerel, and herring. These prey do occur throughout the Gulf of Mexico.
As a baleen whale, Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales produce a variety of highly stereotyped, low-frequency tonal and broadband calls for communication purposes. In the Gulf of Mexico, Bryde’s whale call types have been reported to be composed of downsweeps and downsweep sequences. NMFS scientists are researching what other call types the whales produce so that they can use special underwater recording instruments to learn more about when and where the whales go.
Where They Live
Scientists believe that the historical distribution of Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales may have once encompassed the north-central and southern Gulf of Mexico. The historical range in Mexican waters is not well known. For the past 25 years, Bryde’s whales in U.S. waters of the Gulf of Mexico have been consistently located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico along the continental shelf between 100m and about 400m depth. NMFS scientists are conducting research to better understand if the whales’ distribution is broader and how frequently they may occur in other areas. The Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale is one of the few types of baleen whales that do not make long-distance migrations. They remain in the Gulf of Mexico year-round.

Lifespan & Reproduction
The Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whales are reproductively isolated and on a unique evolutionary trajectory. There is a low level of genetic divergence and they are not mixing with other Bryde’s whales.
Given information on Bryde’s whales worldwide, it is possible that Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whales reproduce every two to three years, reach sexual maturity at age 9, and mate year-round. Globally, Bryde’s whales are generally pregnant for 10 to 12 months, and calves may nurse up to 12 months.
Threats
The main threat to Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales are its small population size and restricted range. These whales are also exposed to a variety of other anthropogenic stressors and threats, including energy exploration and development, oil spills and spill response, vessel strikes, and ocean noise. With such a small population size, the death of a single whale due to any of these stressors could have devastating consequences for the population’s recovery.
Vessel Strikes
Accidental vessel strikes can injure or kill Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales. The northern Gulf of Mexico experiences a high amount of ship traffic where several commercial shipping lanes cross through Bryde’s whale habitat. In 2009, a female Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale was found dead in Tampa Bay. A necropsy was performed and its death was determined to be the result of being struck by a vessel. NMFS scientists are studying photos of living whales to evaluate their health which includes estimating how many show evidence of having survived vessel strikes.
Limited data suggest that Bryde’s whales spend the most of their time within about 50 feet of the water’s surface. The risk of vessel strikes is significant given the location of commercial shipping lanes and other transiting vessel traffic, and the whale’s swimming behavior.
Ocean Noise
A variety of human activities in the Gulf of Mexico produce a significant amount of underwater noise. Shipping traffic and energy exploration and development activities, such as seismic airgun surveys to find oil and gas fields, create low frequency noise, which overlaps with the hearing range of Bryde’s whales. It is likely that the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales rely on their hearing to perform critical life functions such as communication, navigation, finding a mate, locating prey, and predator avoidance. As marine noise increases, the resulting disruption to these life functions can result in adverse physical and behavioral effects to Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales.
Energy Exploration and Development
The Gulf of Mexico is highly industrialized due to expansive energy exploration and production that requires drilling rigs, platforms, cables, pipelines, and ship support. Habitat in the north-central and western Gulf of Mexico, which includes the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales’ historical range, has already been significantly modified by the presence of thousands of oil and gas platforms. These activities also increase risk of vessel strike from support ships and add noise to the environment from vessel traffic and seismic surveys, as described above.
Oil Spills and Responses
Oil spills are a common occurrence in the Gulf of Mexico. Exposure to oil spills may cause severe illness or death of marine mammals. Oil can get stuck in the baleen that the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales use to eat. This makes it difficult for them to feed and can cause them to swallow oil. Exposure to oil spills can also lead to lung and respiratory issues (inhalation), increased vulnerability to other diseases and infections (ingestion), and irritation of the skin or sensitive tissue in the whale’s eyes and mouths (absorption). Additionally, exposure to oil spills can even have reproductive impacts.
Chemicals used to respond to oil spills, called dispersants, may also be toxic to Bryde’s whales. Whales continue to face threats from continued exposure to oil and dispersants in the environment long after the oil spill and spill response are considered over. Additionally, their prey is often killed or contaminated by the spill.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill showed how an oil spill can negatively affect Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whales. While the DWH platform was located outside Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale habitat, scientists estimate nearly half of the oil spill footprint overlapped with the whales’ habitat. As a result, it is estimated that their population decreased by 22 percent.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Mammalia | Order | Cetacea | Family | Balaenopteridae | Genus | Balaenoptera | Species | edeni |
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What We Do
Conservation & Management
NOAA Fisheries is committed to the protection and recovery of Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales. Our work includes:
- Minimizing the effects of noise disturbance.
- Developing oil spill response plans in the event of a spill.
- Responding to stranded Bryde’s whales.
- Educating the public about Bryde’s whales and the threats they face.
- Working with federal partners to regulate activities and minimize impacts from anthropogenic (human-caused) disturbance such as vessel collisions, marine debris, and entanglement.
Science
NOAA Fisheries continually conducts research to learn more about the biology, behavior, and ecology of Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales to better inform management and policy decisions. Our work includes:
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Monitoring population abundance and distribution.
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Stock assessments.
How You Can Help

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.

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 >

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.

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

Related Species
In the Spotlight
Management Overview
All Bryde’s whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. In response to a petition, NOAA Fisheries listed the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale in 2019 as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
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. NOAA Fisheries has developed a recovery outline to serve as an interim guidance document to direct recovery efforts, including recovery planning, for the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale until a full recovery plan is developed and approved. The recovery outline presents a preliminary strategy for recovery of the species and recommends high priority actions to stabilize and recover the species.
Conservation Efforts
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.
Learn more about reducing vessel strikes
Addressing Ocean Noise
Low-frequency underwater noise may threaten Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales by interrupting their normal behavior and driving them away from areas important to their survival, such as feeding areas. Mounting 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 (human-caused) sound on marine mammal hearing.
Learn more about underwater noise and marine life
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 Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale conservation through education, outreach, and public participation. We share information with the public about the status of Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales, our research, and efforts to promote their recovery.
Key Actions and Documents
Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (AFTT) along Atlantic and Gulf Coasts (2018-2025)
- Correction to Final Rule
- Notice of Final Rule for 2 Year Extension
- Notice of Proposed Rule for 2 Year Extension
- Notice of Receipt of Application for 2 Year Extension
- Notice of Final Rule
- Correction to Proposed Rule
- Notice of Proposed Rule
- Notice of Receipt of Application for LOA
- LOA for Testing (pdf, 40 pages)
- LOA for Training (pdf, 36 pages)
- Revised Application for Extension (pdf, 132 pages)
- References for Extension (pdf, 6 pages)
- Notification and Reporting Plan (pdf, 4 pages)
- Final Biological Opinion
- LOA Application (PDF, 560 pages)
- Environmental Impact Statement
- Monitoring and Reporting
- Ship Strike Analysis (PDF, 3 pages)
- Draft Notification and Reporting Plan (PDF, 4 pages)
Incidental Take Authorization: U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Training and Testing (2013 -2018)
- Issued LOA - Training
- Issued LOA - Testing
- Revised LOA Application [pdf, 337 pages]
- Original LOA Application [pdf, 335 pages]
- Navy Strategic Planning Process for Monitoring
- Integrated Comprehensive Monitoring Program [pdf, 73 pages]
- Stranding Response Plan [pdf, 13 pages]
- Press Release [pdf, 2 pages]
- EIS
- 2014 Monitoring Report [pdf, 27 pages]
- 2015 Monitoring Report
- 2016 Monitoring Report
Incidental Take Authorization: Oil and Gas Industry Geophysical Survey Activity in the Atlantic Ocean
- Notice of Final IHAs
- Notice of Proposed IHAs
- Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period
- Notice of Receipt
- Media Release: Authorizations Issued for Marine Mammal Impacts from Atlantic Ge…
- Issued IHA: CGG (pdf, 18 pages)
- Issued IHA: ION GeoVentures (pdf, 18 pages)
- Request to Change Name from ION GeoVentures to GX Technology (pdf, 2 pages)
- Issued IHA: Spectrum Geo Inc. (pdf, 18 pages)
- Issued IHA: TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (pdf, 18 pages)
- Issued IHA: WesternGeco (pdf, 18 pages)
- Final Environmental Assessment (pdf, 98 pages)
- FONSI (pdf, 12 pages)
- Record of Decision (pdf, 10 pages)
- Biological Opinion (pdf, 396 pages)
- Public Comments received on Proposed IHAs (pdf, 710 pages)
- References Cited: Final IHAs (pdf, 44 pages)
- Public Comments received on IHA Applications and Notice of Receipt (pdf, 720 pa…
- IHA Application: CGG (pdf, 88 pages)
- IHA Application: ION GeoVentures (pdf, 219 pages)
- ION GeoVentures PAM Plan (pdf, 1 page)
- IHA Application: Spectrum Geo Inc. (pdf, 181 pages)
- Spectrum Geo Inc. PAM Plan (pdf, 4 pages)
- Application Modification: Spectrum Geo Inc. (pdf, 3 pages)
- IHA Application: TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (pdf, 206 pages)
- IHA Application: WesternGeco, LLC (pdf, 197 pages)
- Marine Mammal Core Area Maps (pdf, 71 pages)
Science Overview
NOAA Fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, and ecology of the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions for this species.
Stock Assessments
Information from marine mammal stock assessment reports are used to identify and evaluate the status of marine mammal populations and help to design and conduct appropriate conservation measures. Continuing data collection, analysis, and interpretation of Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whales is updated and incorporated into annual stock assessment reports.
Shipboard Studies
In addition to surveys supporting stock assessments, we also conduct research cruises to investigate the whales’ habitat preferences, feeding ecology, and to conduct photographic and genetic identification. This research is used to inform management actions that protect the Gulf of Mexico Bryde’s whale.
Acoustic Science
Acoustics is the science of how sound is transmitted, and NOAA Fisheries works to understand the basic acoustic behavior of whales, dolphins, and fish; map the acoustic environment; and develop better methods to locate cetaceans using autonomous gliders and passive acoustic arrays.
Learn more about acoustic science
More Information
Recent Science Blogs
Documents
Biological Opinion on the Federally Regulated Oil and Gas Program Activities in the Gulf of Mexico
Programmatic biological opinion on the Gulf of Mexico oil and Gas Program in federal waters.
Status Review of Bryde's Whales in the Gulf of Mexico under the Endangered Species Act
This status review responds to a September 18, 2014 petition from the Natural Resources Defense…