The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is one of the rare places on the planet where it is possible to observe from shore the largest animal ever to have inhabited Earth! However, in 2002, the status of the North Atlantic blue whale population was upgraded by two categories on the species-at-risk scale. Formerly designated as being “of special concern”, it is now “endangered” like the St. Lawrence beluga.
Although the blue whale hunt ended in 1955, its population does not appear to be recovering in the North Atlantic. It is believed about 1,000 individuals remain in those waters, including 300 that have been photo identified in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Estuary.
