Threatened species of Balaena mysticetus

Bowhead whales were heavily hunted by commercial whalers for whalebone and oil during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, as well as local people throughout history. The most serious threats to the bowhead are industrial activity, such as oil and gas exploitation, and hunting by Inuit and other native hunters.

Bowhead whales are divided into four populations; located in Spitzbergen, Hudson Bay/Davis Strait, Okhotsk Sea, and the Bering/Chukchi/Beaufort Seas. They do show some signs of recovery.

Probably under 8,500 Bowheads are left in the world from an initial population of at least 61,000 before commercial whaling.