U.S. FWS
Environmental Conservation Online System
Conserving the Nature of America

Recovery Plan Action Status

Plan Name: Recovery Plan for the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera Musculus)
Plan Status: Final
Plan Date: 28-Jul-98
Lead Agency: NMFS
Lead Office: ( () )
Species Action Priority # Action # Action Description Action Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Action Comments Implementation Activities
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 1 DETERMINE STOCK STRUCTURE Partially Complete FY 2012 National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 1.1 Determine stock structure of blue whales using genetic analysis Partially Complete FY 2012 International partners, National Marine Fisheries Service , International Whaling Commission Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 1.2 Assess daily and seasonal movements and inter-area exchange using telemetry Partially Complete Prior to FY 1995 International partners, National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 2 ESTIMATE POPULATION SIZE AND MONITOR TRENDS IN ABUNDANCE Partially Complete Prior to FY 1995 National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 2.1 Conduct surveys to estimate the size and monitor trends in abundance of populations Partially Complete Prior to FY 1995 International partners, National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 2.2 Conduct annual independent photo-identification surveys Discontinued Prior to FY 1995 International partners, National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 3 2.3 Maintain existing blue whale photo-identification catalogs and sighting databases, and establish others as required Discontinued FY 1995 - FY 1999 National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 3 IDENTIFY AND PROTECT HABITATS ESSENTIAL TO BLUE WHALE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY Ongoing Current FY 2012 National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 3 3.3 Improve knowledge of blue whale feeding ecology Partially Complete Prior to FY 1995 National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 3 3.4 Improve knowledge of the characteristics of important blue whale habitat, and of how blue whales use such habitats Partially Complete Prior to FY 1995 National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 4 REDUCE OR ELIMINATE HUMAN-CAUSED INJURY AND MORTALITY Ongoing Current National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 4.1 Identify areas where ship collisions with blue whales might occur, and in areas where concentrations of blue whales coincide with significant levels of maritime traffic or pollution Partially Complete United States Coast Guard , National Marine Fisheries Service , STATES Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 4.2 Identify and implement methods to reduce ship collisions with blue whales Ongoing Current International partners, United States Coast Guard , National Marine Fisheries Service , STATES Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 4.3 Reduce or eliminate injury and mortality caused by fisheries and fishing gear Ongoing Current FY 2012 National Ocean Service, United States Coast Guard , National Marine Fisheries Service , U.S. Department of State Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 3 5.2 Implement appropriate protective measures on any such activities which may be detrimental to blue whales Ongoing Current National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 6 MAXIMIZE EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION FROM DEAD, STRANDED, AND ENTANGLED BLUE WHALES Ongoing Current FY 2012 National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 6.1 Improve and maintain the system for reporting dead or entangled blue whales Ongoing Current FY 2012 National Marine Fisheries Service , STATES Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 2 6.2 Improve and maintain existing programs to collect data from dead blue whales Ongoing Current FY 2012 National Marine Fisheries Service , STATES Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 3 7 COORDINATE STATE, FEDERAL, AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT RECOVERY ACTIONS Ongoing Current National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 3 7.1 Designate an implementation coordinator to facilitate Recovery Plan implementation Complete National Marine Fisheries Service Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 3 7.2 Identify representatives of the scientific community, private, state, and federal agencies (and international agencies where applicable) to periodically review and update this Recovery Plan Ongoing Current FY 2012 International partners, National Marine Fisheries Service , STATES Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) 1 7.3 Support a continued international ban on commercial hunting and other directed lethal take, and encourage international efforts to detect and prevent illegal whaling Ongoing Current FY 2000 - FY 2004 International partners, National Marine Fisheries Service , U.S. Department of State Work type not yet selected Labor type not yet selected
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