Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 5

Habitat

Habitat requirements

Sowerby’s beaked whales are generally found in deep waters, including continental shelf edges and continental slopes (Lien and Barry 1990; MacLeod 2000; Mead 1989). They have been observed in waters deeper than 1500m.

Habitat trends

The habitat of Sowerby’s beaked whale is too poorly known to speculate on trends.

Habitat protection/ownership

Sowerby’s beaked whales have been sighted in the Gully (Hooker and Baird 1999), a submarine canyon recently designated as a marine protected area (DFO Canada 2004). No other known or likely habitat of this species is currently protected. Much of the seafloor along the continental shelf and shelf break off Nova Scotia and Newfoundland has been leased to petrochemical companies for possible exploration and exploitation (CNSOPB 2006; CNLOPB 2006a, b, c).

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