……objective science for conservation…….

The Pacific WildLife Foundation is a non-profit coastal and marine research and education society  that inspires an appreciation for objective scientific research and conservation of the ocean. We conduct original research, develop novel education programs, and inspire an appreciation for conservation of the ocean. 

Northern Right Whale Conservation

The right whale in the eastern Atlantic was hunted by the Basques over 8 centuries ago. However, it was the Yankee whalers who harpooned these whales close to extinction in the 18^th and 19^th century. The commercial hunt for North Pacific right whales took place between 1835 and 1935 and the species finally received protection in 1933 when it was close to extinction (Brueggeman et al. 1986). Scarff (2001) estimated that between 26,000 and 37,000 right whales were removed from the North Pacific by the whale fishery from 1835-1909. Brueggeman et al. (1986) estimated the population alive in the 1980s to be about 100-200 whales. Brueggeman at al(1986) concluded that the North Pacific right whale population was present in the historic summer range following a period exploitation in the 1800s, and that it was reproducing as late as 1926. The right whale is critically endangered IUCN.