Endangered Right Whale Recovery Drafted 2010 has commenced with
the release of a draft Recovery Strategy for one of the most
endangered whale species in the world. The North Pacific right
whale population is officially listed as ‘endangered’ under the
Species at Risk Act (SARA) and presents one of the most
challenging cases for recovery biologists in Canada. Foremost of
these challenges: How to plan for a species that may or may not
actually be present in western Canada? A confirmed sighting of a
North Pacific right whale in BC waters has not occurred since
1970. While a limited number of sightings do still occur in the
Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska, animals that could potentially be
traversing Canadian waters, this tiny remnant population in the
eastern North Pacific may only be in the tens of animals. The
North Pacific right whale is one of three right whale species,
including the Atlantic and Southern right whales. All three
species were named for being the ‘right’ whales to hunt.
Preferred by whalers beca