Endangered Species - Sei Whale

About

The sei whale can grow up to 60ft long and can weigh up to 28 tons. They mainly eat small sea creatures such as krill and plankton by opening their mouths and taking large gulps of the water and straining it out their baleens. Sei whales are one of the fastest cetaceans (whales and dolphins), and they can reach speeds up to 50 mph in short sprints. A fun fact about sei whales is that the name "sei" the Norwegian name for pollock, a type of fish. These whales and the pollocks would show up at the shore at the same time leading to their name "sei whale". 

Habitat

The Sei Whale mostly lives in all seas except in tropical and polar regions as can be seen highlighted in the map above. 

Role in Ecosystem

Sei Whales are at the top of the food chain, so they keep the population of the species below them in check. This species plays a pivotal role in the overall health of the ecosystem.

Why are they disappearing?

The sei whale has been a victim of human hunting since the late 19th century, but the declining availability of blue and fin whales have increased the size of the target on this species. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) halted all commercial whaling but Japanese whalers still kill 50 each year for scientific purposes. Sei whales are also threatened by climate change, pollution, and fishing entanglements. 

Why is this important?

As I mentioned before, sei whales play an important role being at the top of the food chain in their ecosystem. If they were gone, the population of the rest of the species would not be put in check and would grow rapidly and eventually disorient the ecosystem. 

 What is being done?

The IWC is doing all it can to protect these whales addressing issues such as climate change, shipping and bycatch. Other organizations such as WWF are also making an effort to help the IWC for effectively carry out their mission. Sensors could be placed on buoyant objects throughout the ocean to scan the ocean underneath to ensure the temperatures are fit for breeding. Furthermore, they could track the population of the whales to accurately measure their population. 

What can I do to help?

1. Adopt a Whale
2. Keep a safe distance from sei whales if you ever see them in the wild while boating or engaging in water activities.
3. Report whales in distress or the violation of whales by calling the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline: 800-853-1964
4. Buy more sustainable materials/goods and do your part to combat climate change
5. Spread awareness about the endangerment of sei whales and other whales. We will be more efficient if we work together. 

Sources: 

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sei-whale
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/sei-whale