Mongabay · Climate & nature

Arabian Sea Humpbacks: A Unique, Endangered Subspecies

Genetic analysis suggests humpback whales in the Arabian Sea are a distinct subspecies, isolated for tens of thousands of years and facing significant extinction risks.

Unlike most humpbacks that migrate, this population remains year-round in tropical/subtropical waters. Researchers compared mitochondrial DNA from 2,285 whales globally, including those off Oman.

The analysis revealed significant genetic differences and the lowest genetic diversity among all global humpback populations. This isolation is estimated to have begun between 43,000 and 113,000 years ago.

The Arabian Sea population is recognized as endangered due to its small size and lack of growth over two decades. They face threats from fishing gear entanglement, vessel strikes, and underwater noise from expanding shipping.

A regional Conservation Management Plan has been endorsed to coordinate cross-border protection efforts among various stakeholders, including fishing and shipping industries, governments, and NGOs.

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