Robin W. Baird and Pam J. Stacey
Reports of the International Whaling Commission Special Issue 14:475-479. 1993.
Abstract
Records of the short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, from within the Canadian 320 km (200 mi) extended economic zone off the coast of British Columbia, are presented, with a total of 19 occurrences to 1989. Six animals were incidentally caught in Canadian waters in an experimental driftnet fishery for flying squid (Ommastrephes bartrami) in 1986-7, and an additional five animals were taken by this fishery outisde of Canadian waters in 1983-7. This fishery has now been discontinued. Sighting records are infrequent. Water depth at sighting and incidental catch localities ranged from 10 to 1,200 fathoms. Mean group size was about 15, with a range from 1 to 150 individuals (n=15). Single individuals were sighted most frequently. Records have been obtained from April through October but since search effort in winter months is greatly reduced, it is difficult to determine if this distribution reflects seasonal change in their presence in BC waters. Although there are large gaps in the sighting record (1962-76, 1978-84), it can probably be assumed that the increased number of records in recent years is due to an increase in search and recording effort. Based on this information the short-finned pilot whale should be considered rare in the waters off British Columbia. They may be present in these waters in most years, but usually only with a few records each year. Sighting programs are limited, and no information is available on sightings per unit effort.