We see many marine wildlife species in our waters, some of which are considered at risk of becoming extinct! In Canada, we protect wildlife species at risk and their critical habitats through the Species at Risk Act (SARA), which was enacted in 2003. Prohibitions under the Act make it illegal to kill, harass, capture or in any way harm a species that has been listed under SARA. The ultimate success of SARA in protecting species depends on the cooperation between the public, government and industry.   

Once species are assessed, they can be classified under one of four SARA categories: 

Blue Whale  

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera musculus   
SARA status: Endangered 

Appearance: The largest animal living on earth, they are coloured dark to light grey, every individual has a pattern of marks on their skin called mottling.  Their dorsal fin is small compared to their bodies, it sits very far back, almost at the end of the body. Their tails are large and straight or slightly curved, with a slight notch in the middle. Their blow is very tall and slender, it can reach 9m high.  

Behaviour and Diet: Blue Whales migrate in small herds, spend summers in northern waters and winters in temperate waters. They feed on krill and need about 4 tons a day. They feed by gulping large amounts of water. They typically dive for 5 to 15 minutes, and sometimes up to 20 minutes. They swim at sustained speeds of 2 to 8 km/h but can reach top speeds of 36 km/h. They are the loudest animals on earth, their calls are louder than a jet.  

Distribution and Population: Blue Whales are found in all oceans of the world. The whales seen in Newfoundland are part of the North Atlantic subpopulation. They generally leave at the end of summer but in years of low ice they may remain in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for much of the winter. Exact population numbers for this population are unknown, between 20 and 105 are seen annually in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.   

Most Vulnerable to: Past commercial whaling of Blue Whales is the main reason for declining populations. At least 11,000 Blue Whales were killed before 1960. Since the end of commercial whaling, human threats have come from ship strikes, entanglements, and pollution, particularly oil spills. Vessel strikes can harm or kill whales, the risk is higher in shipping areas with high vessel traffic. They can also become entangled in fishing gear including traps, pots, and nets. They can end up with compromised ability to feed or serious injuries which can result in death.  

Learn more: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/152-529 

Fin Whale  

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera physalus  
Local Name: Finner, Razorback, Fin Back, Flathead, Herring Whale  
SARA status: Special Concern

Appearance: They have asymmetric coloration; the right lower jaw is mostly white, and the left lower jaw is mostly dark. Their dorsal fin is sickle-shaped and curves towards their back. Their tails are very rarely seen, they are slightly rounded with a notch in the middle. Their blow is narrow and cone shaped, it can reach up to 6m tall.  

Behavior and Diet: Fin Whales are the second largest baleen whale. They are migratory, feeding in cooler northern regions and breeding in warmer southern regions. They feed on krill, small schooling fish (herring, capelin), and squid. They feed by lunging into schools of prey with their mouths open. They fast in the winter when travelling to warmer waters. They are fast swimmers, and they travel in groups of two to seven whales.  

Distribution and Population: Fin whales are found all over the world, they winter in tropical regions and feed in northern regions in the summer. Estimates of population size have not been made since commercial whaling stopped, but it is believed that the Atlantic population is recovering. There are two subpopulations in the Atlantic, one summers in Newfoundland and winters near the coast of Nova Scotia. The second summers off Nova Scotia and winters further south. Fin whales may be seen near Newfoundland all year long but are more common in early spring to late fall.   

Most Vulnerable to: Historically, whaling lowered numbers and since the end of commercial whaling, populations seem to be recovering. Depletion of capelin stocks in the North Atlantic may have an impact on whales. Chemical pollution has also been shown to cause injury and death in Fin Whales. Entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes also play a role. The increase of vessel traffic in the North Atlantic has increased the risk of strikes. Whales can also be entangled in pots, traps or gillnets, which can result in drowning or inability to feed.  

Learn more: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/874-592 

North Atlantic Right Whale  

Scientific Name: Eubaleana glacialis  
Local Name:  Right Whale 
SARA status: Endangered   

  
Appearance: Large black baleen whale, they have thick lower lips, and many callosities (thick hard areas of skin) on their snouts, lower lips and above their eyes. Males can reach approximately 15m long and females can reach approximately 17m long. Their tails are black like their bodies and can often be seen then they are diving. They do not have a dorsal fin and have short, uniquely shaped fins. Their blow is V-shaped.  

Behavior and Diet: Right Whales feed by opening their mouths while they swim through plankton. They filter the plankton out of the water using their baleen. They feed anywhere between the surface and the bottom of the water column. Groups of Right Whales can socialize on the water’s surface and mating can occur during these socializations. They communicate using low-frequency moans and groans and these noises can maintain contact between individuals or be used for other social reasons. Right Whales also swim much slower than other baleen whales.  

Distribution and Population:  The North Atlantic population of Right Whales winters near the shore of Bermuda, Georgia, and Florida. They are occasionally seen off the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia in the summer while they feed. Populations are extremely low, one estimate for the North Atlantic population was less than 350 whales.  

Most Vulnerable to: Whaling lowered their numbers to critically low. Their name comes from being the “right” whale to hunt since they swim so slowly and have a thick layer of blubber. They also face threats from vessel strikes, entanglements and noise pollution. Because they swim so slowly, they are very vulnerable to being hit by vessels, causing serious injury or death. Their migration routes also fall along major shipping routes, further increasing the risk of hits. Entanglement in gear also causes problems for the whales, gear can cut the whales, cause them to drown or impair their ability to feed. Noise pollution from shipping, construction and oil exploration also cause problems for the whales. Because they communicate in low frequencies, they are especially at risk to noise pollution. This can affect their ability to find food or mates and navigate in the ocean.  

Learn more: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/780-298 

Northern Bottlenose Whale  

Scientific Name: Hyperoodon ampullatus  
Local Name:  Bottlenose Whale 
SARA status: Endangered  
  
Appearance: They are medium-sized whales that reach between six and nine meters in length and weigh up to eight tons. They have a distinct beak, their lower jaw extends slightly further than the upper, they also have a bulb on their heads. Young whales are dark brown to black, older whales are light to yellowish brown, with white beaks and foreheads.  Their blow is small and bushy and is about 1m tall.  

Behavior and Diet: Usually travel alone or in groups of four to ten individuals. Males will fight each other, using their large heads to hit other whales. They are deep divers that feed on deep-sea squid, herring, shrimp, sea cucumbers, and sea stars. They can regularly dive to more than 800m and the longest recorded dive was 70 minutes.  

Distribution and Population: Only found in the North Atlantic, in cool and subarctic waters. There are two distinct populations: the Scotian Shelf population and the Davis Straight population. They have also been sighted off the Grand Banks and Georges Bank. The Scotian Shelf population is estimated to be about 163 whales, there are no population estimates for the Davis Straight population.  

Most Vulnerable to: Noise pollution is a threat to these whales. Disturbances include military exercises, oil and gas exploration and extraction, and vessel and aircraft traffic. Noise pollution can lead to strandings and can displace whales from their habitats.  Vessel strikes and entanglements also pose threats, though the threat seems to be low. Over 30 years, only 9 entangled bottlenose whales were documented by DFO. Some individuals were also observed to have scars from vessel strikes or entanglement in gear.  

Learn more: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/162-299 

Sowerby’s Beaked Whale  

Scientific Name: Mesoplodon bidens  
Local Name: North Atlantic beaked whale  
SARA status: Special Concern  
  
Appearance: They are medium-sized whales, reaching about 4.5 to 5.5m long. They are dark grey colored with light spotting. Their blow is hardly ever seen, and they have a small, wide dorsal fin that is slightly hooked, it sits about 2/3’s down their back. They have a dolphin-like head, a long snout, and a bulge on their heads.  

Behavior and Diet: They are suction feeders that dive in deep waters to eat deep sea fish and squid. They tend to swim alone or in small groups of two to six whales. They are generally hard to spot because they are weary of humans and keep a low profile. Sightings are extremely rare, especially in Newfoundland.  

Distribution and Population: They are only found in the North Atlantic, but their distribution is poorly known due to limited sightings. There are no estimates of population size. Rarity of sightings may mean the species is in decline, or it may mean there as been little search effort and that identifying the whales is very difficult.  

Most Vulnerable to: Threatened by underwater noise pollution, particularly from sonar and seismic surveys. They rely on sounds to feed, communicate, and navigate in the ocean, therefore sound pollution can disturb their behavior, cause injury to hearing structures or drive them out of areas they use to feed and breed. Seismic noise can also lead to whales beaching themselves. They are also at risk of ship strikes and entanglements in gear. Ship strikes are less likely due to their solitary nature, but with increases in vessel traffic, the risk is still present. They are also at risk of entanglements in gear such as gillnets. Entanglements can lead to drowning or impaired ability to feed.   

Learn more: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/169-432 

Leatherback Sea Turtle  

Scientific Name: Dermochelys coriacea  
Local Name: Leatherback   
SARA status: Endangered  
  
Appearance: Do not have a hard shell, instead they have a soft, leathery one. They have a pink spot on the tops of their heads that is thought to play a role in detecting seasonal changes. They can reach up to 1.8m long and weigh between 750 to 1000 pounds. They have notches on their upper jaws and no teeth.  

Behavior and Diet: Leatherbacks have the longest migration of any sea turtle. They are strong swimmers and can dive approximately 1200 meters below the surface. They can stay below the surface for up to 85 minutes. They do not have teeth to crush or chew hard food, so they eat soft bodied animals like jellyfish and salps. Their throats have backward faced spines that help to keep their food down. When not diving, they swim at the surface.  

Distribution and Population: The North Atlantic subpopulation ranges from low latitude nesting beaches to northern feeding areas. Current population estimates from the IUCN estimate the numbers of mature individuals to be between 29,000 and 34,000. While the North Atlantic population appears to be increasing, globally the species is still in decline. Over 1000 turtles are thought to visit waters off Atlantic Canada in the summer months to feed.  

Most Vulnerable to: Entanglements and vessel strikes pose a threat to Leatherbacks. Entanglements can impair their ability to swim and result in drowning and result in an inability to feed. Because they swim at the surface, vessel strike can cause both lethal and non-lethal damage.  Ingestion of marine plastics poses a big risk to Leatherbacks. Plastic bags can resemble jellyfish and the turtle may eat them. Since they have spines in their throats to keep down food, the plastic gets stuck in their stomachs, causing a feeling of “fullness” that doesn’t go away leading to malnutrition or starvation. Plastics can also block their digestive tracts, leading to death.  

Learn more: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/1191-861 

Sei Whale  

Scientific Name: Balaenoptera borealis  
Local Name: Rudolphi’s rorqual or pollack whale   
SARA status: Endangered  
  
Appearance: Long, slender bodies that are bluish gray to dark grey with a white underside. They can weigh up to 20 tons and reach 14 to 15m long. They have distinct grooves on their necks which allow their throats to expand when they take in water. Their dorsal fin is tall and hooked, it is about 2/3’s down the body. They have a short blow that reaches about 3 meters high.  

Behavior and Diet: Sei whales are filter feeders that skin the surface of the water to eat. They do not lunge or take big gulps like other baleen whales. They mostly feed on plankton but will also eat schooling fish or squid. They are the fastest baleen whale, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h. They generally travel in groups of two to five but may form larger groups during times when there is an abundance of food.  

Distribution and Population: Sei whales are found all over the world, they make seasonal migrations from tropic areas in the winter to colder waters for feeding in summer. Sei whales are found off the coast of Newfoundland in the summers for feeding. Some individuals are also present year-round. Little is known about the North Atlantic population of Sei Whales. Aerial surveys only identified 7 whales between 2007 and 2016, which suggests a population of a few hundred individuals or less.  

Most Vulnerable to: Threats to Sei whales include noise pollution from seismic surveys, shipping, and military exercises. Noise can disturb their normal behavior by drowning out their calls, it can also drive them out of their normal feeding or breeding grounds. They are also vulnerable to vessel strikes or entanglements in fishing gear. Boat strikes can kill or injure the whales and increased shipping routes across the Atlantic further increases the risk. Entanglements in fishing gear such as traps, pots or gillnets are a huge threat and entanglements can result in drowning or inability to feed.   

Learn more: https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/754-836 

Great White Shark 

Scientific Name: Carcharodon carcharias 
Local Name:  Great White, White shark, Atlantic population of White Shark 
SARA status: Endangered  
  
Appearance: The Great White Shark is the largest predatory fish in the world, averaging 2 to 6 meters long. They have black eyes, a pointed dorsal fin, and a sharp colour contrast between its grey or black back and its white underside. The sharks have a sharply pointed conical head and snout with a torpedo-like body. In their mouth, they have 5 rows that house about 3000 teeth. When a tooth is lost, it’s simply replaced by a new one meaning sharks use about 20,000 teeth in their lifetime. 

Behavior and Diet: These sharks are known for being highly mobile and preying upon fish and marine mammals, including whales. Great White Sharks have a specialized blood vessel structure called a countercurrent exchanger that allows them to quickly adapt to different water temperatures. 

Distribution and Population: Great White Sharks travel long distances making long migrations every year. Sharks found in Atlantic Canada are likely seasonal migrants belonging to a widespread Northwest Atlantic population and are rarely seen in Newfoundland and Labrador. They are widely distributed in the sub-polar and tropical seas of both hemispheres. There are no estimates of population size in Canadian waters, however, in Atlantic Canadian waters there are 22 confirmed sightings between 2009 and 2018. Satellite and acoustic tags have recorded White Sharks in several areas throughout eastern Canadian waters including the St. Lawrence Estuary, the Grand Banks, and the Bay of Fundy. 

Most Vulnerable to: Incidental mortality from fishing otherwise known as bycatch. Although measures to improve fishing practices have been introduced, the primary threat to these sharks continues to be death related to incidental capture by fishing industries. This threat perseveres due to their low reproductive rate. In some places, sharks are still targeted in commercial and recreational fisheries and harvested for their teeth and jaws for jewelry. Pollution, underwater noise, and offshore and coastal development activities also pose as threats.  

Learn more: http://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/899-633