Marine Mammals: Some Basics
2
The focus of this book rests on a group of mammals, which are commonly known as
marine mammals since their habitats can be found in the marine environment. Under
this category fall five different orders: whales (Cetacea); seals (Pinnipedia); the
polar bear (Ursus maritimus); sea cows (Sirenia); and otters (Lutrinae).
1 Especially
the latter has played a fundamental role in the colonisation process of the American
Arctic since otter furs were a much sought-after trade good which led to Russian
traders, settlers and colonisers setting foot in Alaska. Since, amongst other things,
the trade in otter furs was for several reasons not sustainable and consequently not
sufficiently profitable, Russia lost interest in Alaska and sold it to the United States in
1867. Yet, both otters and sea cows will only play a minor role in this book since
they no longer play a prominent role in international law.
This chapter focuses on three orders of marine mammals—Cetacea, Pinnipedia,
Ursidae—and presents some key species that have played a role in both their
exploitation and conservation. I have chosen to include a brief introduction on
these species since oftentimes marine mammals, first and foremost ‘the whale’ and
also the polar bear, are misrepresented or mischaracterised in the public discourse.
This is to say that ‘the’ whale does not exist, but must be considered on a species to
species or even population to population (stock to stock) basis. ‘The’ whale as an
overarching species is therefore not necessarily intelligent, endangered or sings
songs and we will delve into this characterisation in the next chapter. Also, the
claim that the polar bear is endangered and a victim to climate change is simplified at
best. As we will see, polar bears should rather be considered in plural and their
population trends are far from being clear.
Since there are around at least 100 different marine mammal species (probably
more, depending on the classification), it is not possible to describe each single one
of them. Therefore merely those whale and seal species that have been most
prominent in the public discourse, as well as the polar bear, will be presented here.
1 Evans and Raga (2001), pp. 1–7.
# Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Sellheim, International Marine Mammal Law,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35268-4_2
13
2
The focus of this book rests on a group of mammals, which are commonly known as
marine mammals since their habitats can be found in the marine environment. Under
this category fall five different orders: whales (Cetacea); seals (Pinnipedia); the
polar bear (Ursus maritimus); sea cows (Sirenia); and otters (Lutrinae).
1 Especially
the latter has played a fundamental role in the colonisation process of the American
Arctic since otter furs were a much sought-after trade good which led to Russian
traders, settlers and colonisers setting foot in Alaska. Since, amongst other things,
the trade in otter furs was for several reasons not sustainable and consequently not
sufficiently profitable, Russia lost interest in Alaska and sold it to the United States in
1867. Yet, both otters and sea cows will only play a minor role in this book since
they no longer play a prominent role in international law.
This chapter focuses on three orders of marine mammals—Cetacea, Pinnipedia,
Ursidae—and presents some key species that have played a role in both their
exploitation and conservation. I have chosen to include a brief introduction on
these species since oftentimes marine mammals, first and foremost ‘the whale’ and
also the polar bear, are misrepresented or mischaracterised in the public discourse.
This is to say that ‘the’ whale does not exist, but must be considered on a species to
species or even population to population (stock to stock) basis. ‘The’ whale as an
overarching species is therefore not necessarily intelligent, endangered or sings
songs and we will delve into this characterisation in the next chapter. Also, the
claim that the polar bear is endangered and a victim to climate change is simplified at
best. As we will see, polar bears should rather be considered in plural and their
population trends are far from being clear.
Since there are around at least 100 different marine mammal species (probably
more, depending on the classification), it is not possible to describe each single one
of them. Therefore merely those whale and seal species that have been most
prominent in the public discourse, as well as the polar bear, will be presented here.
1 Evans and Raga (2001), pp. 1–7.
# Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
N. Sellheim, International Marine Mammal Law,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35268-4_2
13