Mass Stranding of the Long-Finned Pilot Whale, Globicephala melaena, on Sable Island, Nova Scotia

Abstract

On December 23, 1976 a herd of over 130 long-finned pilot whales, Globicephala melaena, became stranded on Sable Island, Nova Scotia (43° 58′N; 59° 48′W). Data on sex, length, and maximum girth, as well as skin and blubber samples for eventual hydrocarbon analysis were collected on January 15 and 16 from up to 116 carcasses. The herd was composed of at least 65 males and 34 females; 17 animals could not be sexed due to seagull damage. The possible reasons for the stranding are discussed. In particular, implications in the news media that the stranding was precipitated by the December 15 breakup of the oil tanker Argo Merchant off the Massachusetts coast are discounted. Key words: long-finned pilot whale; mass stranding; herd composition; Canadian Atlantic