Threats
Major Threats
Right whale mortality due to entanglements in fishing gear and collisions with ships is known throughout the Southern Hemisphere (IWC 2001). In Chile , two whale deaths from human activities are known. One was a calf harpooned by fishermen (Aguayo et al. 1992) and the other was a calf that stranded after being struck by a vessel (Canto et al.1991). Mortality caused by entanglements and vessel strikes is a very serious issue for western North Atlantic right whales. Similarly, any human-caused mortality in the subpopulation off Chile and Peru , especially of females, would have a serious impact on the subpopulation.
