Molecular genetic identification of southern hemisphere beaked whales (Cetacea: Ziphiidae)

To assist in the species-level identification of stranded and hunted beaked whales, we compiled a database of ‘reference’ sequences from the mitochondrial DNA control region for 15 of the 20 described ziphiid species. Reference samples for eight species were obtained from stranded animals in New Zealand and South Australia. Sequences for a further seven species were obtained from a previously published report. This database was used to identify 20 ‘test’ samples obtained from incompletely documented strandings around New Zealand. Analyses showed that four of these ‘test’ specimens (20%) had initially been misidentified. These included two animals of particular interest: (i) a Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris), the first record of this species in New Zealand waters; and, (ii) a juvenile Andrews' beaked whale (Mesoplodon bowdoini), a species known from just over 20 strandings worldwide. A published sequence from a beaked whale product purchased in the Republic of Korea was identified as a Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris). Levels of intra- and interspecific variation were compared to determine the potential for misidentification when the database or taxonomy is incomplete. Intraspecific variation was generally 4.7%. Exceptions were within-species variation in Hyperoodon planifrons, southern bottlenosed whale (4.12%), which exceeded the variation between the two species of Berardius (3.78%), and variation between the two specimens assigned to M. hectori, Hector’s beaked whale (7.14%). The latter case appears to be an error in species identification, and could represent the discovery of a new species of beaked whale

The rise of commercial ‘by-catch whaling’ in Japan and Korea

This publication does not have an abstract. \u

Resurrection of <i>Mesoplodon traversii</i> (Gray, 1874), senior synonym of <i>M. bahamondi</i> Reyes, Van Waerebeek, Cárdenas and Yáñez, 1995 (Cetacea: Ziphiidae)

Mesoplodon traversii (Gray, 1874) is shown to be a senior synonym of the recently described beaked whale Mesoplodon hahamondi Reyes et al., 1995 on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region sequences. The mandible and teeth of M. traversii, first reported in 1873 by Hector as Dolichodon layardii. are redescribed. The species can be distinguished by features of the calvaria; including the large jugal, broad rostrum, and small distance between premaxillary foramina. The male teeth, which are large and spade-shaped with a strong terminal denticle, are also diagnostic. M. traversii is known only from Pitt Island and White Island, New Zealand and Robinson Crusoe Island, Juan Fernandez Archipelago, Chile

High proportion of protected minke whales sold on Japanese markets due to illegal, unreported or unregulated exploitation

Whale meat products sold on Japanese markets originate from two stocks of North Pacific (NP) minke whales Balaenoptera acutorostrata scammoni: the depleted J-stock, which has been protected since 1986 but continues to be killed as fisheries 'bycatch', and the more abundant O-stock, which is hunted under special permit (scientific whaling). We investigated the geographic distribution and temporal changes in stock composition of NP minke whale products sold on Japanese markets between December 1997 and June 2004. From nearly 1200 'whale meat' products purchased during this time, 250 were identified as NP minke whales by phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. The 250 NP minke whale products were found to represent 201 unique 'market individuals' after exclusion of replicate products using microsatellite genotypes. Market individuals were further classified into four mtDNA haplogroups, three of which are characteristic of the J-stock (J-type) and one characteristic of the O-stock (O-type). There were moderate differences in the proportions of J-type individuals found in coastal prefectures, perhaps reflecting regional differences in the sale of local bycatch, but no significant difference across time. The absence of a change over time was inconsistent with the four- to fivefold increase in reported bycatch, from an average of 25–122 whales year−1, following a 2001 regulation allowing commercial sale of whales taken as bycatch. Using a mixed-stock analysis based on haplogroup frequencies over the entire survey period, we estimated that 46.1% (se, 4.2%) of all market individuals originated from the J-stock. This estimate of illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) exploitation is higher than expected from the officially reported bycatch, suggesting either large-scale under-reporting and/or unrecognized takes of J-stock minke whales from Pacific coastal waters by the scientific hunt. Our estimates of the true level of IUU exploitation have important implications for recovery of this depleted coastal stock

Incomplete reporting of whale, dolphin and porpoise ‘bycatch’ revealed by molecular monitoring of Korean markets

We report the results of molecular monitoring of ‘whalemeat’ markets in the Republic of (South) Korea based on nine systematic surveys from February 2003 to February 2005. As Korea has no programme of commercial or scientific\ud whaling and there is a closure on the hunting of dolphins and porpoises, the only legal source of these products was assumed to be incidental fisheries mortalities (‘bycatch’) as reported by the government to the International Whaling Commission. Species identification of 357 products using mitochondrial DNA control region or cytochrome b sequences and the web-based programme DNA-surveillance revealed three species of baleen whales (North Pacific minke, common form\ud Bryde’s and humpback), three species of beaked whales (Cuvier’s, Stejneger’s and Blainville’s), seven species of dolphins (short-finned pilot, false killer and killer whales; Risso’s, bottlenose, common and Pacific white-sided dolphins) and two species of porpoises (harbour and finless). Comparison of market products with official records revealed a number of discrepancies. Of the eight species identified on the markets in 2003, three were not reported in official records for that year. Of the 11 species identified in 2004, five were not reported as bycatch, although one species, a humpback whale, was reported as ‘stranded’. We also found significant\ud inconsistencies in the expected frequencies of products from most species, including a large over-representation of finless porpoises and false killer whales. We suggest ways in which market surveys could be improved to provide better\ud information on the magnitude of fisheries bycatch and other illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) exploitation of wildlife