INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION SC/54/BRG/16 A review of gray whales in their wintering grounds in Mexican waters 1 2 3 1 4 5 J. URBÁN R. , L. ROJAS-BRACHO , H. PÉREZ-CORTÉS , A. GÓMEZ-GALLARDO , S. SWARTZ AND R.L. BROWNELL . Contact email:
[email protected] 1Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur. Ap. Post. 12-B. La Paz, B.C.S. 23081, México. 2Programa Nacional de Mamíferos Marinos Instituto Nacional de Ecología c/o CICESE Km. 105 Carretera Ensenada – Tijuana, Ensenada, Baja California 22769, México. 3 Programa Nacional de Mamíferos Marinos, Instituto Nacional de Ecología c/o CRIP La Paz, BCS. 4 NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, Florida 33149, USA. 5 NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8602 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, California 92037. ABSTRACT The Eastern North Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is one population of large cetacean that has recovered from depletion resulting from commercial harvest in the mid- to late-1800s. It is believed that this population may be approaching, or possibly exceeding its carrying capacity as suggested by recent increases in mortality of all age and sex classes. Research on the breeding biology and phenology of gray whales that spend the winter in the coastal waters and lagoons of Baja California, Mexico has been conducted for many years. These studies contribute valuable information on the reproductive biology of this species, and the importance of their coastal lagoon habitats to their reproductive success. We review and summarize historical exploitation, conservation measures, the findings of research conducted on gray whales in their winter breeding range, potential natural and anthropogenic threats to this population, and recommendations for future research and monitoring.