Humpback whales have recovered significantly from commercial whaling, but continue to face welfare threats from entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes and acoustic disturbance from commercial shipping.
Humpback whale welfare recovery from whaling has been significant, but new threats have emerged. Entanglement in crab pot and lobster gear causes prolonged suffering as whales drag gear for weeks before death or disentanglement. Ship strike injuries leave visible scarring and may cause death hours or days after impact. Commercial whaling causes significant suffering regardless of improvements in killing methods.