The North Atlantic Minke whale, discovered in 1776, is a unique species. Minke whales are also known as Balaenoptera acutorostrata. B. acutorostrata means ”winged whale,” “sharp snout” because they are known for being timid and having a sharp front end of their snout. A few common names include Lesser rorqual, Sharpheaded finner, Lesser finback, and Pike whale. They are considered the smallest whales from the Great whale family made up of blue whales, Finback, Sperm whales, and Beluga whales. They are most commonly seen in Southern California during summer and fall seasons, but they travel year round along our Southern California beaches!
Minke whales were discovered back in 1776, quite by accident by a Norwegian whale spotter named Meincke. When Meincke first discovered the Minke Whale he mistook it for a blue whale due to similarities found on their body shape, both being sleek and with a narrow facial chin structure. This is how the Minke Whale, pronounced Mink-ey, received its name in honor of the Norwegian whale spotter, Meincke. Minke whales have a few unique characteristics such as its size ranging 28 to 30 feet long while the blue whale is 69 to 90+ feet long! The blue whale is about three times the size of the Minke Whale! They have a dark outer appearance with a pointed head and two blowholes on top of their heads. These characteristics set them apart and are notable when going whale watching. Whale watching is a popular activity here in Southern California. The times when whale watching is most popular would be between the months of March up until September. Whale watching boats or fishing boats can usually smell the minke whales before they are even spotted with human eyes. Usually when people go to the beach the only smell we can sense is the seaweed and salt water, very rarely do people smell any sea animal that is cruising underneath them. Surprisingly, the Minke whale is an exception, you can smell them before you can see them. This is because they have a rotten breath smell which cannot be missed and it is due to their digestive system containing anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic means the absence of oxygen, and these bacteria are known for their fermentation process, where bacteria are able to live and feed in the digestive system without the presence of oxygen. Microorganisms are then able to grow from the bacteria that feed on the exoskeleton of krill that Minke whales eat. The bacteria receive the proper nutrients, including carbon, from the krill’s exoskeleton, producing chemicals that release the sour smell. These facts are unique to the Minke whales.
Although the Minke whales are one of the most stable populations of whales, they face a few challenges including overfishing, entanglement, and encountering toxic man-made chemicals. The Minke whales are 30 feet long and this size is relatively small enough to be considered vulnerable to getting caught in overfishing nets around Alaska, Korea, and Japan. Other trials they face are being hunted by humans and toxic man-made chemicals that remain in the ocean and the atmosphere such as oil spills that harm all types of sea animals. Climate change is a factor of challenge that many sea creatures face, including the Minke Whale. Climate change leads to ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is the process of the pH in the ocean decreasing due to absorption of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. As the acidity of the ocean increases, it causes a loss in prey Minke whales consume such as krill, plankton, and eels. Despite these challenges, Minke Whales are one of the only species of whales that have a constant stable population because they are protected in the United States under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This act prohibits hunting, exporting, harassment, and killing of marine mammals including Minke whales.
In conclusion, we as a community in Southern California, can unite to make an impact that will support both the Minke Whales and the surrounding communities. Ways to support would be to care for the coast and beaches by participating in beach clean ups and wetland restoration. Wetland restoration is important because it is a buffer between the ocean and the city, therefore protecting and maintaining the wetland will impact many whales. It will allow them to live in a clean, healthy environment that is free of man-made tools such as nets and fishing gear they can get trapped in. Lastly, gaining knowledge of this species and sharing the information will lead to people being informed and taking initiative to care for the ocean wildlife.
References:
Minke Whale. IWC. (n.d.). https://iwc.int/about-whales/whale-species/minke-whale
Fisheries, N. (2024, August 20). Minke Whale. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/minke-whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata, Minke Whale. Thai National Parks. (n.d.). https://www.thainationalparks.com/species/minke-whale
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