European Community Directive
on the Conservation of Natural Habitats
and of Wild Fauna and Flora
(92/43/EEC)
Second Report by the United Kingdom under
Article 17
on the implementation of the Directive
from January 2001 to December 2006
Conservation status assessment for
Species:
S2027 - Orcinus orca - Killer whale
The information in this assessment corresponds to the “species fact sheet” submitted by the UK to the European Union in February 2008
(second and final submission). Please note that this is a section of the UK’s report. For the complete report visit
http://www.jncc.gov.uk/article17
Please cite as: Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 2007. Second Report by the UK under Article 17 on the implementation of the Habitats
Directive from January 2001 to December 2006. Peterborough: JNCC. Available from: www.jncc.gov.uk/article17
Species Name: Orcinus orca
1. National level
Species Code
S2027
Member State
United Kingdom
Biogeographic regions concerned
within the Member state
MATL
1.1 Range map
1.2 Distribution map
2. Biogeographic level
2.1 Biogeographic region
MATL
2.2 Published sources and/or
websites
COUPERUS, B. 1993. Killer whales and pilot whales near trawlers east of
Shetland. Sula 7, 41-52
EVANS, P.G.H., ANDERWALD, P. & BAINES, M.E. 2003. UK Cetacean
Status Review. Report to English Nature and the Countryside Council for
Wales. 159
FISHER P.R., ADAM M. & BROWN E.G., 1998, Killer whales (Orcinus
orca) in Shetland waters. In: Fisher P.R. (Ed.), Shetland Sea Mammal
Report. Shetland Sea Mammal Group, Lerwick, 12–16.
INGRAM, S.N., WALSHE, L., JOHNSON, D. & ROGAN, E., 2007.
Habitat portioning and the influence of benthic topography and
oceanography on the distribution of fin and minke whales in the bay of
Fundy, Canada. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United
Kingdom, 87, 149-156.
KLINOWSKA, M. 1991. Dolphins, Porpoises and Whales of the World. The
IUCN Red Data Book. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
LUQUE, P.L., DAVIS, C.G., REID, D.G., WANG, J. & PIERCE, G.J. 2006.
Opportunistic sightings of killer whales from Scottish pelagic trawlers
fishing for mackerel and herring off North Scotland (UK) between 2000 and
2006. Aquatic Living Resources 19, 403–410.
MACLEOD, C.D., WEIR, C.R., PIERPOINT, C. & HARLAND, E.J., 2007.
The habitat preferences of marine mammals west of Scotland. Journal of the
Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom,. 87, 157-164
MACLEOD, K., SIMMONDS, M.P. & Murray, E., 2003. Summer
distribution and relative abundance of cetacean populations off north-west
Scotland. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 83, 11871192.
REID, J.B., EVANS, P.G.H. & NORTHRIDGE, S.P., 2003. Atlas of
cetacean distribution in north-west European waters. Peterborough: Joint
Nature Conservation Committee,. 76
REYES J.C. 1991. The conservation of small cetaceans: a review. Report
prepared for the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of
Migratory Species of Wild Animals. UNEP / CMS Secretariat, Bonn
STONE, C.J., 2003. The effects of seismic activity on marine mammals in
UK waters, 1998-2000. Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Report No. 323
WEIR, C.R., POLLACK, C., CRONIN, C. & TAYLOR, S. 2001. Cetaceans
of the Atlantic Frontier, north and west of Scotland. Continental Shelf
Science, 21, 1047-1071
WEIR, C.R., STOCKIN, K.A. & PIERCE, G.J., 2007. Spatial and temporal
trends in distribution of harbour porpoises, white-beaked dolphins and minke
whales off Aberdeenshire (UK), north-western North Sea. Journal of the
Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 87, 327-338.
2.3 Range of species in the biogeographic region or marine region
2.3.1 Surface range of the species
(sq km)
Unknown
2.3.2 Date of range determination
05/2007
2.3.3 Quality of data concerning
range
Moderate
2.3.4 Range trend
Stable (=)
2.3.5 Range trend magnitude (%)
Not applicable
2.3.6 Range trend period
1979-1998
2.3.7 Reasons for reported trend
Not applicable
2.4 Population
2.4.1 Population size estimation
Minimum
Unknown
Maximum
Unknown
Units
2.4.2 Date of population
estimation
05/2007
2.4.3 Method used for population
estimation
1 - Based on expert opinion
2.4.4 Quality of population data
Poor
2.4.5 Population trend
Unknown (X)
2.4.6 Population trend magnitude
(%)
Not applicable
2.4.7 Population trend period
1994-2006
2.4.8 Reasons for reported trend
Not applicable
2.4.9 Justification of % thresholds Not applicable
for trends (optional)
2.4.10 Main pressures
210 - Professional fishing; 520 - Shipping; 621 - nautical sports; 690 - Other
leisure and tourism impacts not referred to above; 701 - water pollution; 710
- Noise nuisance; 990 - Other natural processes;
2.4.11 Threats
210 - Professional fishing; 621 - nautical sports; 690 - Other leisure and
tourism impacts not referred to above; 701 - water pollution; 990 - Other
natural processes;
2.5 Habitat for the species in the biogeographic region or marine region
2.5 Habitats for the species
Cetacean habitats (e.g. feeding and breeding areas) vary temporally and
spatially and are influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors. It is often
difficult to determine what features characterise cetacean habitats and in
quantifying their extent.
This species occurs in deep waters beyond the edge of the continental shelf
as well as in coastal waters (Weir et al. 2001; Reid et al. 2003). The waters
north and west of the UK as well as the area of North Sea between Shetland
and Norway are likely to be important feeding grounds (Couperus 1993;
Macleod et al. 2003). Fisher et al. (1998) noted that killer whales may feed
on mackerel shoals in inshore waters and that they also take seals. The
seasonal pattern of sightings around Shetland may reflect feeding
movements between inshore waters (summer) and offshore waters (winter)
(Luque et al. 2007). They also forage near pelagic trawlers, taking
advantage of the mackerel and herring fisheries in this area (Luque et al.
2007), however no bycatch has been recorded in these fisheries.
2.5.2 Area estimation (sq km)
Unknown
2.5.3 Date of estimation
05/2007
2.5.4 Quality of data
Poor
2.5.5 Trend of the habitat
Unknown (X)
2.5.6 Trend period
1994-2006
2.5.7 Reasons for reported trend
Not applicable
2.6 Future prospects
2.6 Future prospects for the
species
Unknown
2.7 Complementary information
2.7.1 Favourable reference range
(sq km)
Unknown
2.7.2 Favourable reference
population
2.7.3 Suitable Habitat for the
species
Unknown
2.7.4 Other relevant information
2.8 Conclusions
(assessment of conservation status at end of reporting period)
(2.3) Range
(FV) - Favourable
(2.4) Population
(XX) - Unknown
(2.5) Habitat for the species
(FV) - Favourable
(2.6) Future prospects
(XX) - Unknown
Overall assessment
(XX) - Unknown