They generally spend summers feeding in polar waters and undertake lengthy migrations towards the equatorial waters as winter arrives.īlue whales typically swim at about 5 miles an hour while they are feeding and traveling, but can accelerate to more than 20 miles an hour for short bursts. We engage our partners as we develop regulations and management plans that foster healthy fisheries and reduce the risk of entanglements, create whale-safe shipping practices, and reduce ocean noise.īlue whales sometimes swim in small groups but are more often found alone or in pairs. We use a variety of innovative techniques to study, protect, and rescue these endangered animals. NOAA Fisheries and its partners are dedicated to conserving and rebuilding blue whale populations worldwide.
The primary threats blue whales currently face are vessel strikes and entanglements in fishing gear. The number of blue whales today is only a small fraction of what it was before modern commercial whaling significantly reduced their numbers during the early 1900s, but populations are increasing globally. There are five currently recognized subspecies of blue whales. Some of the biggest individuals may eat up to 6 tons of krill a day.īlue whales are found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean. They feed almost exclusively on krill, straining huge volumes of ocean water through their baleen plates (which hang from the roof of the mouth and work like a sieve). Blue whales are the largest animals ever to live on our planet.
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