Minke whales are the most commonly seen large whale in UK waters, and while their global population is healthy, individuals in British seas face threats from entanglement and vessel strikes.
Minke whale entanglement in pot lines causes injuries from ropes cutting into flesh and exhaustion from dragging gear. Vessel strikes cause blunt force trauma and propeller injuries. Individual whales returning to UK feeding grounds build strong site fidelity, making local threats significant for specific individuals.