Physical Measures of Welfare in Fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novangliae) Found in an Anthropized Environment: Validation of a First Animal-Based Indicator in Mysticetes

Boileau A.; Blais J.; Van Bressem M.-F.; Hunt K.E.; Ahloy-Dallaire J. · Animals (2024) · DOI: 10.3390/ani14233519

Resumen

The welfare of free-ranging cetaceans is being impacted around the world due to human activities like commercial fishing and marine traffic. Here, we validate a non-invasive physical indicator of welfare for humpback and fin whales found in the Gulf of St-Lawrence, Canada. Multi-scale measurement of welfare showed that most humpback whales were in a good welfare state, whereas most fin whales were in a moderate state. For both species, welfare was mainly affected by prolonged effects of physical trauma (entanglement in fishing gear and boat collisions) on body condition, specifically whales being thinner. Other factors impacting welfare included degradation of the marine environment (e.g., oxygen levels, water temperatures and salinity levels).