STATUS OF THE NORTHERN BOTTLE-NOSED WHALE, HYPEROODON-AMPULLATUS, IN THE GULLY, NOVA-SCOTIA

A population of approximately 230 Northern Bottlenose Whales, Hyperood on ampullatus, uses the Gully, a prominent submarine canyon on the edg e of the Scotian Shelf. These animals use the Gully throughout the yea r. Approximately 57% of the population reside in a 20 km x 8 km core a rea at the entrance of the canyon at any time. The Gully animals seem to be largely or totally distinct from the population seen off norther n Labrador: they are smaller and appear to breed at a different time o f year. Threats to the population include commercial shipping, fishing and oil and gas developments. One oil and gas discovery of commercial interest, the Primrose Field, lies about 5 km from the core area of t his population. The population is vulnerable because of its small size , location at the extreme southern limit of the species' range, and ye ar-round dependence on a small and unique sea area. It is threatened b y plans for the development of the oil and gas fields close to the Gul ly.