Species · GBIF taxon 2440709
Sei Whale
Balaenoptera borealisAlso known as Pollack Whale, Sardine Whale, Rudolphi's Rorqual, Japan Finner
Sei whales are sleek, streamlined ocean wanderers renowned as some of the fastest swimmers among all cetaceans. They travel through deep offshore waters, skimming the surface to filter massive quantities of tiny copepods and krill through their fine baleen plates. Unlike their larger relatives, they rarely raise their flukes when diving, leaving only a subtle swirl on the water's surface as they slip back into the depths.
MarineMigratoryEndangered
Licensed reference(c) Christin Khan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Carnivorous (primarily copepods, krill, and small schooling fish)
- family
- Balaenopteridae
- threats
- Ship strikes, ocean noise, entanglement in fishing gear, and climate change
- life Span
- 50 to 70 years
EN
Maintain a safe distance of at least 100 yards to prevent accidental collisions with these fast-moving giants.
Decimated by commercial whaling in the twentieth century, these endangered whales are highly vulnerable to ship strikes and ocean noise.
Always slow vessels to under ten knots when in known habitats and never approach closer than legally mandated.- Watch the dorsal fin: Look for a tall, sickle-shaped dorsal fin that rises simultaneously with the blowhole.
- Keep your distance: Maintain a vessel distance of at least 100 yards to avoid disrupting their feeding behavior.
- Listen for the blow: Listen for a loud, metallic blow that can rise up to three meters high on calm days.