The minke whale is the most commonly sighted baleen whale in British waters, visiting to feed on sandeel and herring, with welfare threatened by ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and noise pollution.
Minke whale welfare in UK waters is threatened by vessel strikes from commercial shipping and high-speed ferries, entanglement in fishing gear, and depletion of prey fish stocks. Post-mortem examination of stranded minkes frequently reveals evidence of propeller strikes and rope entanglement that caused prolonged injury before death. Noise from shipping affects feeding behaviour and communication. The scale of mortality from human activities is significant relative to the UK population size.