Natural history and conservation of the Greenland whale, or bowhead, in the northwest Atlantic

One of the longest-living mammals, the Greenland whale or bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) is specialized to filter small crustaceans, especially Calanus copepods, from barren Arctic seas. Brought to near extinction by commercial whaling, the North Atlantic 'meta-population' remains at less than 5% of i ts former abundance, and none of its three constituent stocks has shown dem onstrable recovery during the last century. Two of these stocks, the Baffin Bay and Hudson Bay populations, occur in coastal waters of the Eastern Can adian Arctic during summer. Each of these two stocks numbers in the low hun dreds and exists in isolated groups segregated by age and sex, showing stro ng fidelity to essential habitats. A skewed age distribution, predation by killer whales (Orcinus orca), hunting, net entanglement, tourism, climate c hange, habitat loss, and inbreeding suppression are some of the factors tha t may affect the bowhead's recovery. We need local and historical knowledge to understand the bowhead's natural history. Together with scientific data , such knowledge is also useful in evaluating the status of the species and prescribing a management plan. A recovery plan must employ the precautiona ry principle, both within the international 'meta-population' context and a t the sub-population level; it must take a historical view and seek to prot ect abandoned habitats. Canada has conducted whaling activities that violat e international agreements and diminish the effectiveness of the internatio nal Whaling Commission.