The Southern right whale (*Eubalaena australis*) is not a fish, but a large baleen whale native to the southern hemisphere’s oceans, recognized for its callosities on the head and broad back without a dorsal fin. Historically, these whales were heavily targeted by whaling nations for their abundant oil and baleen, leading to severe population declines in the 18th and 19th centuries. The primary countries involved in Southern right whale hunting were the United Kingdom (notably from its South Atlantic territories), Norway, the United States, and later, Argentina and South Africa. Today, commercial whaling of Southern right whales is banned under international law, and the species is protected; no countries legally harvest them anymore. Instead, countries like Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand now focus on whale-watching tourism, celebrating the recovery of these majestic marine mammals rather than exploiting them.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.