Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
Policy Actions

1966

• Legally protected from commercial whaling by the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

1970

• Listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act (PDF 660 kB)

1973

• Listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act

1987

• Listed as endangered by the State of Alaska

1998

• National Marine Fisheries Service published a recovery plan for blue whales (PDF 198 kB)

2012

• NMFS publishes a Notice of Intent to update a Recovery Plan for the blue whale