Many Antarctic baleen whale populations are showing signs of recovery, but present day populations are returning to a Southern Ocean environment that is facing systemic level changes over the next century.
Over 2 million whales were killed in Southern Hemisphere whaling operations in the 20th century and many species were brought to the edge of extinction as a result of this commercial exploitation. Many Antarctic baleen whale populations are showing signs of recovery, but ongoing monitoring is essential so trends can be closely tracked because they face threats from climate change and direct anthropogenic impacts.
The latest Antarctic Environments Portal Information Summary gives a detailed overview of present, past and future of Antarctic baleen whale populations and the challenges these giants face.
Authors: Connor Bamford, Nat Kelly, Helena Herr, Elisa Seyboth and Jennifer A Jackson
The recovery of Antarctica’s giants – baleen whales: https://doi.org/10.48361/edgj-pp83
About the Antarctic Environments Portal
The Antarctic Environments Portal (www.environments.aq) links Antarctic science and Antarctic policy, by providing easy access to information on a range of scientific issues relevant to Antarctic environmental governance and management.
The Portal supports the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) in its role of providing independent and objective scientific advice to the decision making bodies of the Antarctic Treaty system. All scientific information available through the Portal is prepared by Antarctic experts and goes through a rigorous editorial process before publication.
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