LONG-FINNED PILOT WHALE (Globicephala melas): Western North Atlantic Stock

STOCK DEFINITION AND GEOGRAPHIC RANGE There are two species of pilot whales in the Western Atlantic — the Atlantic or long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, and the short-finned pilot whale, G. macrorhynchus. These species are difficult to identify to the species level at sea; therefore, some of the descriptive material below refers to Globicephala sp., and is identified as such. The species boundary is considered to be in the New Jersey to Cape Hatteras area. Sightings north of this area are likely G. melas. Pilot whales (Globicephala sp.) are distributed principally along the continental shelf edge in the winter and early spring off the northeast U.S. coast, (CETAP 1982; Payne and Heinemann 1993). In late spring, pilot whales move onto Georges Bank and into the Gulf of Maine and more northern waters, and remain in these areas through late autumn (CETAP 1982; Payne and Heinemann 1993). In general, pilot whales generally occupy areas of high relief or submerged banks. They are also associated with the Gulf Stream north wall and thermal fronts along the continental shelf edge (Waring et al. 1992; NMFS unpubl. data). The long-finned pilot whale is distributed from North Carolina to Iceland and possibly the Baltic Sea (Sergeant 1962; Leatherwood et al. 1976; Abend 1993). The stock structure of the North Atlantic population is currently unknown (Anon. 1993a); however, several recently initiated genetic studies and proposed North Atlantic sighting surveys will likely provide information required to delineate stock boundaries.