Diet and food availability for north-east Atlantic minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), during the summer of 1992

Stomach content samples from 92 minke whales, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, caught during scientific whaling operations in July–August 1992, were collected in five selected areas in Norwegian and adjacent waters. Results from the stomach analyses indicate a diet almost completely dominated by fish, although there was considerable heterogeneity in species composition between the areas. Capelin dominated the minke whale diets in the two northernmost study areas (Spitsbergen and Bear Island). Further south, in coastal areas of northern Norway and Russia, herring was the most important food item, but was accompanied by significant amounts of sand eel, cod, haddock, and saithe. A survey aimed to locate and classify fish and plankton resources was conducted simultaneously with the scientific whaling programme. The northern areas were dominated by 0-group cod (which was not found in whale stomachs), while capelin abundance was recorded only sporadically. Along the coast of northern Norway and Russia, there appeared to be a greater similarity between prey abundance and minke whale diet. Herring was very abundant both in the resource surveys and in the whale stomachs. The similarity in distribution was particularly evident for 0-group herring.