Open AccessFin whales in the NE Atlantic; relationships between abundance and distribution
Author(s) -
Árnason Úlfur
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1981.tb01005.x
Subject(s) - whaling , whale , abundance (ecology) , fin , geography , fishery , productivity , ecology , biology , materials science , composite material , economics , macroeconomics
It has been a widely held opinion that several fin whale populations inhabit the NE Atlantic. In the present communication the existence of one versus several fin whale populations in this area was considered. A survey of catch figures indicated considerable similarities among the various whaling grounds. Thus the figures did not support the belief that the various grounds were inhabited by different populations. The low productivity of the whales and their good mobility in an environment where the effects of physical barriers are limited were among the factors discussed as acting against the origination of separate populations. A model, (“the funnel analogy”), was presented according to which decrease in density would first be expected at the periphery of distribution. The area W of Iceland was suggested to constitute the present distributional core of the fin whale in the NE Atlantic. An account was given of the catch of fin whales in Iceland during the past 32 yr. Catch figures calibrated for Increased catcher efficiencies showed a falling tendency.