Sei Whale

Earlier in the year was whale awareness day and I decided to increase awareness of another type of whale.  It ought to be a matter of concern that only 1/3 of the Sei Whale population is alive since the whaling boom of the late 1800's and early 1900's.  If the world would follow the laws and care about marine life there would be more.

The Sei Whale is a baleen whale.  It is one of the fastest, reaching speeds up to 30-50 mph for short spans.  They are found in all the major oceans of the world, but prefer moderate temperate to warm waters over cold.

Their life span is 50-70 years.

The threats to their species come from commercialized fishing  that threatens their food supply and also where they can collide with large ships and boats and get tangled in fishing gear.  Water pollution, oil spills, toxic chemicals and garbage also are major threats.

The International Whaling Commission is the primary agency that watches and protects this species.  It is also important that consumers only buy seafood that is certified by the MSC (Marine
Stewardship Council) that sets the standards for sustainable fishing.