of marine mammals in the approaches to the Bay of Fundy and 

 Cobscook/Passamaquoddy Bays. 



The interpretation of data on the relative abundance of whale species presents 

 additional problems even if all species are correctly identified. Rare 

 species tend to be reported more thoroughly than common ones, which can 

 exaggerate their importance or relative abundance. The same bias appears with 

 sightings of large species as opposed to smaller ones. An untrained observer 

 is apt to misidentify a small species as the young of a larger species, so 

 that minke whales are often mistaken for young finbacks (TRIGOM 1974) . The 

 different habitat preferences of the various species present another problem. 

 In the offshore regions many species that may be common are unlikely to be 

 observed because these areas are inaccessible. In addition, while it may be 

 true that most cetaceans are scarce or absent in the Gulf of Maine during the 

 winter months, observation efforts are also less frequent during that time. 

 Because whales are relatively scarce and are highly valued and protected 

 species, most studies of the biology and interrelationships of the various 

 species must be conducted at a distance, so as not to cause excessive 

 disturbance, or on dead, beached, or captive animals. It is hard to get data 

 representative of marine mammal populations in the wild. All of these 

 problems frustrate efforts to realistically assess the abundance and relative 

 importance of marine mammals in the Gulf of Maine. 



Harbor seals are relatively common along the Maine coast. Data on the 

 distribution and abundance of harbor seals and harbor seal haulout sites come 

 from the coastwide aerial photocensus conducted by Richardson (1973a) and 

 subsequent boat surveys in 1974 and 1975 which updated information on 35 

 haulout sites along the coast (Richardson 1976). Dr. James Gilbert at the 

 University of Maine at Orono is conducting an update to the coastal harbor 

 seal population assessment. 



Two general problems are discussed in this chapter in some detail because of 

 their world-wide significance and their effects on the present and future 

 status of marine mammals in Maine. One is a potential threat that is not yet 

 considered an immediate danger in Maine: the pollution of coastal waters and 

 their biota with industrial contaminants, especially organochlorines and heavy 

 metals. The other is the world-wide decline in the abundance of whales, which 

 has reached near catastrophic levels and which directly affects coastal Maine 

 populations. In this context the history of the whaling industry is reviewed. 

 Common names of species are used except where accepted common names do not 

 exist. Taxonomic names of all species mentioned are given in the appendix to 

 chapter 1. 



DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE 



Twenty-one species of whales and porpoises and five species of seals have been 

 reported in the Gulf of Maine. These cetacean and pinniped species, 

 respectively, and their known habitat uses and estimated abundance in the 

 western North Atlantic region are listed in tables 13-1 and 13-2. Of these 

 marine mammals, four cetaceans (harbor porpoise, finback whale, minke whale, 

 and humpback whale) and one pinniped (harbor seal) are common in coastal Maine 

 waters. These animals appear to be more common (i.e., more commonly sighted) 

 in eastern Maine waters than western Maine waters. 



13-2 



