Name: Blue whale habitat / Habitat de la baleine bleue

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Description: Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth and are considered endangered under the Species at Risk Act. A modeling analysis conducted by DFO identified these areas as the most suitable habitat for blue whales: Gulf of St. Lawrence, waters off the southern coast of Newfoundland, the region of Mecatina Trough and the Esquiman Channel and the continental shelf margin off Nova Scotia. They represent important areas for foraging, feeding and socializing for blue whales. These identified areas include the St. Lawrence Estuary region and the northwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence. These important areas are a near-continuum along the coasts, continental shelves and slopes, as well as in deeper waters between Tadoussac (High North Shore) and Mingan (Middle North Shore) along the north shore of the estuary. They also include the Gaspé Peninsula, along the south shore of the estuary and the banks off the peninsula. It is estimated that between 20 and up to 100 blue whales frequent these areas of the estuary and gulf each year, some of which visit them year-round. The sources of data used to determine these important areas (by the enclosing boxes method) and the annual and seasonal cycles of blue whale travel patterns include, but are not limited to: radio and satellite telemetry, passive acoustic monitoring, line-transect aerial surveys, anecdotal reports of observations and modeling. Human activities are likely to affect important habitats and may result in habitat reduction or physical disturbance. Among other human factors, environmental contaminants such as hydrocarbons can affect the quality and quantity of prey and reduce access to prey aggregations and concentrations. This alteration can affect the foraging and feeding activities of blue whales. Contaminant spills can also affect reproduction, socialization, and resting areas and the quality of water and air in the areas visited.Blue whale concentrations are relatively well documented in the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) and the northwestern Gulf (nwGSL) during summer and fall, periods of long-term survey efforts(several months). Most of the previous surveys were conducted in the coastalwaters of the SLE using small boats, mainly from June to October.#Fra Les rorquals bleus sont les plus grands animaux sur Terre et sont considérés en voie de disparition en vertu de la Loi sur les Espèces en Péril. Une analyse en modélisation réalisée par le MPO a permis d'identifier ces régions comme étant les habitats les plus propices pour les rorquals bleus: Golfe Saint-Laurent, les eaux au large de la Côte sud de Terre-Neuve, la région de Mécatina et le Chenal d'Esquiman et la marge du plateau continental au large de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Elles représentent des aires importantes de recherche de nourriture, d'alimentation et de socialisation des baleines bleues. Ces aires identifiées incluent la région de l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent et le nord-ouest du Golfe Saint-Laurent. Les aires importantes sont presque en continu le long des côtes, des plateaux continentaux et talus, ainsi que dans des eaux plus profondes entre Tadoussac (Haute Côte-Nord) et Mingan (Moyenne Côte-Nord) le long de la rive nord de l'estuaire. Elles comptent aussi la péninsule de Gaspé, le long de la rive sud de l'estuaire et les bancs au large de la péninsule. On estime qu'entre 20 et 100 baleines bleues fréquentent ces régions de l'estuaire et du golfe chaque année, dont certaines à l'année longue. Les sources de données ayant permis de déterminer ces aires importantes (par méthode de boîtes englobantes) et les cycles annuels et saisonniers des patrons de déplacement des baleines bleues incluent, entre autres: télémétrie radio et satellite, monitorage par acoustique passive, relevés aériens par transects, des rapports anecdotiques d'observations et la modélisation. Les activités humaines sont susceptibles d'affecter les habitats importants et peuvent résulter en une réduction d'habitat ou à un dérangement physique. Entre autres, les contaminants environnementaux tels que les hydrocarbures, peuvent affecter la qualité et la quantité de proies et réduire l'accès aux agrégations et concentrations de proies. Cette altération peut affecter la recherche de nourriture et l'alimentation des baleines bleues. Les déversements de contaminants peuvent affecter également la reproduction, la socialisation, les aires de repos des baleines ainsi que la qualité des eaux et de l'air dans les zones fréquentées. Les aires de concentrations des baleines bleues sont relativement bien documentées dans l'estuaire du Saint-Laurent (ESL) et le nord-ouest du golfe (noGSL) pendant l'été et l'automne, périodes permettant d'effectuer un effort d'observation à long terme (plusieurs mois). La majorité des relevés précédents ont été réalisés dans les eaux côtières de l'EGSL à partir de petites embarcations, principalement de juin à octobre.

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Copyright Text: Lesage, V., Gosselin, J-F., Lawson, J. W., McQuinn, I., Moors-Murphy, H., Plourde, S., Sears. R. et Y. Simard. 2018. Habitats important to blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) in the Western North Atlantic. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/080: iv + 50 p.

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