What Has Been Done About The Blue Whale Being Endangered?
The Blue Whale is on the endangered species list and is not hunted by anyone legally. However, the biggest threats to the Blue Whale are still caused by humans. Blue Whales eat krill, which spends much of its seven year life cycle protected by the pack ice in the polar seas before becoming huge floating swarms that whales eat. If we lose that ice pack no one knows what will happen to the populations of krill in the oceans. Blue Whales are often struck by ships. Three died off of Southern California coast just last summer, at least two from confirmed ship strikes. Blue Whales can become entangled in fishing gear. There are currently no widespread rules or laws governing fishing fleets from abaondoning their nets and ropes/buoys. Most whales that travel near the coasts (gray whales) show signs of at least one entanglement scar. Entanglements can mean that the whales can’t go as fast, can’t feed as well, may make them prone to infections and sometimes drown. Whale hunting is the least of
