Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
![640x427-minke-whale.png](/s3//styles/original/s3/dam-migration/640x427-minke-whale.png?itok=lb2-uZjw)
Protection Status
Quick Facts
![Medium close-up of a minke whale coming up to the water surface.](/s3//styles/full_width/s3/dam-migration/750x500-minke-whale.jpg?itok=vKhdrb8k)
Minke whale at the surface. Credit: Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
About the Species
![Medium close-up of a minke whale coming up to the water surface.](/s3//styles/full_width/s3/dam-migration/750x500-minke-whale.jpg?itok=vKhdrb8k)
Minke whale at the surface. Credit: Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
Minke whales are members of the baleen or “great” whale family and are the smallest of the rorquals. They are one of the most abundant rorqual in the world, and their population status is considered stable throughout almost their entire range (especially when compared to other species of large whales).
Commercial whaling practices may have reduced minke whale populations in the western North Pacific and in the northeastern North Atlantic. Commercial whaling’s overexploitation of other larger whale species, however, may have allowed minke whales to prosper from the lessened competition and increased availability of food resources.
The scientific names for minke whales translate to: "winged whale" (Balaenoptera), "sharp snout" (acutorostrata). They received their common name from a Norwegian novice whaling spotter named Meincke, who supposedly mistook a minke whale for a blue whale.
Minke whales in the United States are not endangered or threatened, but they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NOAA Fisheries and its partners are dedicated to conserving minke whales. We use a variety of innovative techniques to study and protect this species.
Population Status
The taxonomy, or classification, of the common minke whale is complex. The dwarf minke occurs in tropical, temperate, and polar waters of the South Atlantic, South Pacific, and Indian Ocean and is currently considered an unnamed subspecies of the common minke whale. There are two other subspecies in the Northern Hemisphere: the North Pacific (Balaenoptera acutorostrata scammoni) and the North Atlantic (Balaenoptera acutorostrata acutorostrata).
The International Whaling Commission recognizes two stocks in the North Pacific that are of concern:
- J-stock (East China Sea, Sea of Japan, and Yellow Sea)
- O-stock (Pacific waters and Sea of Okhotsk)
Only a very small number of eastern North Pacific animals were taken for subsistence by Alaska Natives. Recently, the estimated population of minke whales has come into question, and it is possible that some stocks have been depleted because of modern whaling and hunting.
The latest stock assessment reports for U.S. minke whale stocks include population estimates for each minke whale stock in U.S. waters.
Appearance
The common minke whale is the smallest baleen whale in North American waters. These rorquals have a relatively small, dark, sleek body that can reach lengths of up to about 35 feet and weigh up to 20,000 pounds. Females may be slightly larger than males. Minke whales have a fairly tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin located about two-thirds down their back. Their body is black to dark grayish/brownish, with a pale chevron on the back behind the head and above the flippers, as well as a white underside. Calves are usually darker in coloration than adults.
Common minke whales vary in body size, patterns, coloration, and baleen (long, flat keratin plates that hang from the whale’s mouth in place of teeth) based on geographical location. They may vary individually as well. Northern Hemisphere minke whales are distinguished from other rorquals by their relatively small size and a well-defined white band located in the middle of their dark flippers. They have 230 to 360 short, white/cream colored baleen plates on each side of their mouth and 50 to 70 abdominal pleats are located along their throat.
Dwarf minke whales are significantly smaller in size, growing up to lengths of about 26 feet and weighing up to 14,000 pounds. Their baleen plates have a thin black border. Dwarf minke whales can also be distinguished from other minke whales by a bright white patch on the upper part of their dark pectoral fin that extends up towards the shoulder and back area. They also have a dark half-collar that wraps around the head and reaches the throat grooves.
Antarctic minke whales have 200 to 300 baleen plates on each side of their mouths. Their pectoral flippers are usually solid gray with a white leading edge, and the noticeable band seen in the northern and dwarf form is generally absent. Unlike other minke whales, the color of their baleen is asymmetrical, with fewer white baleen plates on the left side than on the right side of the forward part of their mouth. The rest of their baleen plates are dark gray. Antarctic minke whales also have 22 to 38 abdominal pleats located along their throat.
Behavior and Diet
Minke whales are usually sighted individually or in small groups of 2 to three, but loose groupings of up to 400 animals have been seen in feeding areas closer to the poles. The segregation and distribution of the Northern Hemisphere whales suggests a complex social and population structure, but less is known about the dwarf minke whale in the Southern Hemisphere.
Minke whales feed by side-lunging into schools of prey and gulping large amounts of water. Sea birds, attracted to the concentrated prey just below the surface, are sometimes associated with minke whale feeding and foraging. Minke whales opportunistically feed on crustaceans, plankton, and small schooling fish (e.g., anchovies, dogfish, capelin, coal fish, cod, eels, herring, mackerel, salmon, sand lance, saury, and wolfish). In the Southern Hemisphere, the dwarf minke whale subspecies feeds on a combination of krill and myctophid fish.
Minke whales are known to vocalize and create sounds that include clicks, grunts, pulse trains, ratchets, thumps, and recently discovered "boings." These distinct vocalizations can vary depending on species and geographic area.
Minke whales are often recognized in the field by surfacing snout-first, with a small and weak—but visible—bushy blow that is about 6.5 to 10 feet high. Unlike other rorqual species, they do not raise their flukes out of the water when they are diving. When surfacing, they have a quick fluid movement, which creates spray (sometimes described as a "roostertail") when traveling at high speeds. Before deep dives, they may arch and expose much of their back and body in a high roll above the surface. These whales can dive for at least 15 minutes but regularly submerge for 6 to 12 minutes at a time. Minke whales are often active at the surface, and are commonly seen breaching. They frequently poke their heads above the surface (or “spyhop”) in areas of mobile ice. At sea, these animals may be curious and approach vessels, especially those that are stationary.
Where They Live
Common minke whales prefer temperate to boreal waters but are also found in tropical and subtropical areas. They feed most often in cooler waters at higher latitudes and can be found in both coastal/inshore and oceanic/offshore areas. Their distribution is considered cosmopolitan because they can occur in polar, temperate, and tropical waters in most seas and areas worldwide. Minke whales, like some other species of cetaceans, migrate seasonally and can travel long distances. Some animals and stocks of this species have resident home ranges and are not highly migratory. The distribution of minke whales varies by age, reproductive status, and sex. Older mature males are commonly found in the polar regions in and near the ice edge—often in small social groups—during the summer feeding season. Mature females will also migrate farther into the higher latitudes, but generally remain in coastal waters. Immature animals are more solitary and usually stay in lower latitudes during the summer. Minke whales in Alaskan waters are migratory, but animals in the inland waters of California/Oregon/Washington are considered "residents" because they establish home ranges. Northern minke whales have a widespread distribution in the Northern Hemisphere and are found throughout the northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Their range extends from the ice edge in the Arctic during the summer to near the equator during winter. Dwarf minke whales are distributed close to the polar region in the Southern Hemisphere, especially during the summer months, but are more common in temperate and warmer waters of middle and lower latitudes. They are frequently reported in areas off of Australia (such as the Great Barrier Reef), South America, and South Africa. The dwarf minke whales are usually found between 20° and 60° South, but immature individuals generally do not travel past 42° South. These whales migrate far distances seasonally, feeding in high latitudes during the summer and moving to mating/calving grounds during the winter (7° to 35° South).
![Minke Whale Range.png](/s3//styles/original/s3/dam-migration/minke_whale_range.png?itok=67RQZYLg)
Lifespan & Reproduction
Minke whales become sexually mature at around 3 to 8 years of age, which is about when they reach 23 feet in size. Mating and calving most likely occurs during the winter. After a gestation period of 10 to 11 months, females give birth to a single calf that is about 8 to 11.5 feet in length and weighs 700 to 1,000 pounds. The calf is weaned from nursing after 4 to 6 months. The reproductive interval for females is estimated at 10 to 11 months, but calving may occur annually. Mother-calf pairs are usually sighted in the lower latitudes of the wintering grounds, but they are much rarer in the summer feeding grounds closer to the poles. The estimated lifespan of minke whales is up to 50 years.
Threats
Whaling
Historically, whalers have exploited minke whales since at least the 1930s. Hunters had previously overlooked them because of their relatively small size. Since commercial whalers started targeting minke whales, several thousand have been hunted in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, just a few dwarf minke whales were hunted because whalers were more interested in the larger Antarctic minke whales. In the past, these minke were commercially hunted by whalers from China, Iceland, Korea, Russia, and Taiwan.
Today, whaling countries such as Greenland, Japan, and Norway still take common minke whales for food and for scientific research.
Entanglement in Fishing Gear
Minke whales get entangled in fishing gear, including groundfish trawls in Alaska, as well as drift and set gillnets off California/Oregon/Washington. They also become entangled in driftnets, gillnets, herring weirs, lobster traps, and tuna purse seine nets from numerous fisheries in waters of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States and Canada.
Ocean Noise
Underwater sounds and anthropogenic noise are an increasing concern for baleen whales, such as minke whales, which use low-frequency sounds to communicate with one another and to locate prey.
Vessel Strikes
Vessel strikes can injure or kill minke whales. Minke whales are vulnerable to vessel strikes throughout their range, but the risk is much higher in some coastal areas with heavy ship traffic. The projected increase in vessel traffic arising from the opening of trans-polar shipping routes (as Arctic sea ice continues to decline) likely will increase the risk of vessel strikes, ambient noise, and pollution in the Arctic.
Climate Change
The impacts of climate change on baleen whales may result from altered oceanographic conditions, as well as the timing and distribution of sea ice coverage. Changes in prey distribution could lead to changes in foraging behavior, nutritional stress, and diminished reproduction for minke whales. Additionally, changing water temperature and currents could impact the timing of environmental cues important for navigation and foraging.
Scientific Classification
Kingdom | Animalia | Phylum | Chordata | Class | Mammalia | Order | Cetacea | Family | Balaenopteridae | Genus | Balaenoptera | Species | acutorostrata |
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Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 08/20/2024
What We Do
Conservation & Management
NOAA Fisheries is committed to the protection and recovery of minke whales. Targeted management actions taken to secure protections for these whales include:
- Minimizing vessel disturbance and/or harassment
- Responding to stranded minke whales
- Minimizing the effects of noise disturbance
Science
Our research projects have uncovered new aspects of minke whale biology, behavior, and ecology and helped us better understand the challenges that all minke whales face. This research is especially important in maintaining stable populations. Our work includes:
- Stock assessments
- Measuring the response of animals to sound using digital acoustic recording tags
How You Can Help
![Marine Life In Distress](/themes/custom/noaa/images/icons/marine-life-in-distress%402x.jpg)
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.](/themes/custom/noaa/images/icons/distance%402x.jpg)
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](/themes/custom/noaa/images/icons/report%402x.jpg)
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.
![Reduce Speed](/themes/custom/noaa/images/icons/speed-10%402x.png)
Reduce Speed and Be on the Lookout
Vessel collisions are a major cause of injury and death for whales. Here are some tips to avoid collisions:
Be Whale Aware. Know where whales occur (habitat).
Watch your speed in areas of known marine mammal occurrence. Keep speeds to 10 knots or less to reduce potential for injury.
Keep a sharp lookout. Look for blows, dorsal fins, tail flukes, etc. However, be aware that most captains report never seeing a whale prior to colliding with it.
Protect your boat, protect your passengers. Boats can be heavily damaged and even "totalled" after colliding with a large whale. Collisions can also injure passengers.
Keep your distance. Stay at least 100 yards away.
Stop immediately if within 100 yards. Slowly distance your vessel from the whale.
Featured News
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Management Overview
Minke whales are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended.
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 the collision risk is for vessels to avoid areas used by whales. If this is not possible, the second-best option is for vessels to slow down and keep a lookout when transiting whale waters.
Learn more about vessel strikes and marine animals
Minimizing Whale Watching Harassment
NOAA Fisheries supports responsible viewing of marine mammals in the wild and has adopted a guideline to observe all large whales from a safe distance of at least 100 yards by sea or land.
WhaleSENSE is a voluntary education and recognition program in the U.S. Atlantic and Alaska regions developed by NOAA Fisheries and partners in collaboration with the whale watching industry to recognize whale watching companies committed to responsible practices.
Companies participating in the WhaleSENSE program agree to:
- Stick to the regional whale watching guidelines
- Educate naturalists, captains, and passengers to have “SENSE” while watching whales
- Notify and report whales in distress
- Set an example for other boaters
- Encourage ocean stewardship
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 2018, we revised technical guidance for assessing the effects of anthropogenic (human-caused) sound on marine mammal hearing.
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
There is an ongoing Minke Whale Unusual Mortality Event, and the species has experienced unusual mortality events in the past. 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.
Learn more about the minke whale UME
Learn more about marine mammal UMEs
![Dead minke whale body on sand with several men wearing red police life vests and uniforms in the background.](/s3//styles/media_750_x500/s3/dam-migration-miss/1280_IGBtg8QbACc6_0.jpg?itok=TwNDuMJB)
Regulatory History
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits international trade of minke whale products, despite the efforts of some whaling nations.
In 1997, NOAA Fisheries developed the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) to reduce the level of serious injury and mortality of three strategic stocks of large whales (North Atlantic right, humpback, and fin) in commercial gillnet and trap pot fisheries. The measures identified in the ALWTRP were also intended to benefit minke whales, which are not designated as a strategic stock, but are known to be taken incidentally in gillnet and trap pot fisheries. The ALWTRP consists of both regulatory and non-regulatory measures, including broad-based gear modifications, time-area closures, and extensive outreach efforts.
Key Actions and Documents
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 08/20/2024
Science Overview
NOAA Fisheries conducts various research activities on the biology, behavior, and ecology of minke whales. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions for this species.
![Minke whale dorsal swims in ocean water and is photographed with its fin and top of body sticking out of the water.](/s3//styles/media_750_x500/s3/dam-migration-miss/1280_J7vSKtVZLJWC_0.jpg?itok=H6k_J-x_)
Stock Assessments
Determining the number of minke whales in each population—and whether a stock is increasing or decreasing over time—helps resource managers assess the success of enacted conservation measures. Our scientists collect information and present these data in annual stock assessment reports.
Acoustic Science
Other research is focused on the acoustic environment of cetaceans, including minke whales. Acoustics is the science of how sound is transmitted. This research involves increasing our understanding of the basic acoustic behavior of whales, dolphins, and fish; mapping the acoustic environment; and developing better methods to locate cetaceans using autonomous gliders and passive acoustic arrays.
Acoustics are used to monitor hearing levels in minke whales and feeding behavior. We also study how underwater noise affects the way minke whales behave, eat, interact with each other, and move within their habitat.
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 08/20/2024
Documents
Alaska Region Marine Mammal Annual Stranding Reports
Annual summary reports of strandings of cetaceans (whales) and pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) that…
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…
National Report on Large Whale Entanglements (2017)
This report provides a summary of large whale entanglements that occurred in U.S. waters in 2017…
Research
Marine Mammal Acoustics
We record the sounds produced by marine mammals and study their behaviors, locations, population sizes, and potential threats.
Sounds In the Ocean: Mammals
Listen to exemplar sound clips of marine mammal sounds, taken from passive acoustic recorders. We have compiled these sounds to provide examples of the variety and breadth of animal sounds.
2017–2024 Minke Whale Unusual Mortality Event along the Atlantic Coast
Since January 2017, elevated minke whale mortalities have occurred along the Atlantic coast from Maine through South Carolina.
Frequent Questions: 2017–2022 Minke Whale Unusual Mortality Event
NOAA Fisheries declared an unusual mortality event (UME) for minke whales from in the North Atlantic from Maine to South Carolina. This event began in January 2017.
Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 08/20/2024