Comment on “Genetic analysis of 16th-century whale bones prompts a revision of the impact of Basque whaling on right and bowhead whales in the western North Atlantic”

Abstract

Rastogi et al. presented their genetic analysis of 16th-century whale bones found on a Basque whaling ship excavated from Red Bay, Labrador Peninsula, Canada. Based on the results from a very small sample, these authors concluded that whaling populations were already depleted before the onset of whaling. This is in direct contradiction to historical data. They also implied that the Basques were the only Europeans whaling in the North Atlantic before the onset of Yankee whaling and that there was a belief that Basque whalers historically killed equal numbers of right and bowhead whales. Here we present data based on historical and archaeological records generated by several authors using different methodologies, which clearly show that (i) Basques were not the only whalers that impacted cetacean populations in the North Atlantic; (ii) the number of whales killed by different peoples for approximately two centuries indicates that both right and bowhead whale population levels were much higher than typically assumed; and (iii) for many years there have been records published indicating that the Basques and others killed more bowhead whales than right whales, at least in the western North Atlantic.Résumé : Rastogi et al. ont présenté une analyse génétique des os de baleines du 16 e siècle retrouvés sur un baleiner basque enfoui à Red Bay, péninsule du Labrador, Canada. D'après les résultats obtenus d'un très petit échantillon, les auteurs concluent que les populations de baleines étaient déjà épuisées avant même le début de la chasse à la baleine. Cette affirmation est en contradiction directe avec les données historiques. Les auteurs présument que les basques étaient les seuls européens à chasser la baleine dans l'Atlantique nord avant le début de la chasse par les yankees; ils supposent aussi qu'il existe un consensus voulant que les basques aient tué dans le passé un nombre égal de baleines franches du Nord et de baleines franches boréales. Nous présentons ici des données basées sur des travaux historiques et archéologiques de plusieurs auteurs utilisant des méthodologies différentes qui montrent clairement que (i) les basques n'étaient pas les seuls chasseurs à avoir affecté les populations de cétacés dans l'Atlantique nord, (ii) le nombre de baleines tuées par les différents peuples pendant environ deux siècles indique que les densités de population, tant des baleines franches du Nord que celles des baleines franches boréales, étaient beaucoup plus élevées qu'on ne le croit habituellement et (iii) depuis de nombreuses années, il existe des publications qui indiquent que les basques et les autres peuples tuaient plus de baleines franches boréales que de baleines franches du Nord, au moins dans l'ouest de l'Atlantique nord.[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Reply to the comment by Romero and Kannada on “Genetic analysis of 16th-century whale bones prompts a revision of the impact of Basque whaling on right and bowhead whales in the western North Atlantic”

“…However, Romero and Kannada (2006) erroneously interpret our findings as being representative of all whaling of right and bowhead whales throughout the North Atlantic. This population structure is important to consider when evaluating historic whaling data because whaling activities will have a direct effect on the target population while not necessarily influencing other populations of a species.…”

“…Romero and Kannada (2006) provide a brief review of some whaling information from the North Atlantic and suggest that it conflicts with the above conclusions of Rastogi et al (2004). Romero and Kannada (2006) provide a brief review of some whaling information from the North Atlantic and suggest that it conflicts with the above conclusions of Rastogi et al (2004).…”

Yankee Whaling in the Caribbean Basin: Its Impact in a Historical Context

“…First we need to recognize that Yankee whalers shifted both whaling grounds and species targets as resourses became scarcer in different geographic areas. Romero and Kannada (2006), using historical catch records, report that populations of bowhead (Balaena mysticetus) and right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the North Atlantic became severely depleted by the 19 th century. This depletion caused Yankee whalers to seek new hunting grounds in the Caribbean.…”

Portuguese Sealing and Whaling Activities as Contributions to Understand Early Northeast Atlantic Environmental History of Marine Mammals

“…This is consistent with knowledge about the distribution and migration patterns of North Atlantic right whales, in medieval Basque times and early modern whaling. By the 16th century Basque whalers were regularly migrating and conducting expeditions to northern European seas and across the Atlantic to North America [46,47]. They depleted right whale and bowhead populations in the Strait of Belle Isle, between Labrador and Newfoundland, by killing tens of thousands of whales from 1530 to 1620.…”