Minke Whale Fact Sheet

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

KEY FACTS
Gaelic name: Muc-mhara-mhionc
Length: Up to 9.8 metres
Weight: Up to 10 tonnes
Range: All oceans of the world
Threats: Target of commercial whaling, accidental capture in fishing gear, pollution

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Physical Description
The minke whale is the smallest of the baleen whales, and is the second most commonly sighted cetacean in the Hebrides. The body of a minke whale is slender and very streamlined; the head is narrow and pointed. The dorsal fin is prominent and usually strongly curved, or hook shaped with its pointed tip directed backwards. The fin and back are dark grey or black. The belly is porcelain white and there is a white band on the upper side of each flipper.

Distribution
The minke whale is found from the tropics to the ice edges. It is often seen in coastal and inshore waters, and often enters estuaries, bays and inlets. There is not much known about the migration of minke whales but it would seem that they migrate from higher latitudes in the summer, where feeding occurs, to lower latitudes or offshore in the winter, when breeding takes place. The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has identified over 65 individuals which inhabit Hebridean waters during the summer months - their winter whereabouts are unknown.

Behaviour
Minke whales are generally solitary, although they can sometimes be seen in groups of two or three. They are highly inquisitive and are likely to approach boats, especially younger animals. The minke whale is very fast moving and can swim up to 20 km per hour, but when resting it moves very slowly, only breaking the surface of the water to breathe. Their typical dive sequence is 5 to 8 blows at intervals of less than a minute, followed by a dive which usually lasts 3 to 8 minutes. The blow from a minke whale is small and not very obvious even in calm waters. They have been known to breach clear of the water in some areas, including the Hebrides.

Breeding
Sexual maturity is reached at the age of 7 – 8. With a gestation period of 10 -11 months, calving occurs once every two years. A newborn is about 2.5 – 3metres in length and weighs about 450kg.

Feeding
Minkes feed on whatever food source is most abundant in the area, which in the Hebrides is small fish such as herring. They feed by engulfing large volumes of prey and water, and sieving the water back out through baleen plates in their mouths, then swallowing the prey whole. They have also been seen feeding in association with seabirds, in particular kittiwakes, Manx shearwaters and young gulls.

Current Situation
The total present population of minke whales is estimated at around 610,000 – 1,284,000. The species is still threatened by whaling, which still continues in the North Atlantic and Antarctic, with an annual take of 500 - 1000 by countries such as Norway, Japan, and Iceland. Minkes probably live for 40 - 50 years, but they are sometimes attacked by killer whales and can be at risk from collisions with boat traffic.

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