Editing Pygmy right whale (section)

== Whaling and whale-watching ==
On account of its relatively small size and sparse distribution, the pygmy right whale has rarely been taken by whalers. A {{convert|3.39|m}} male was taken off South Africa in 1917,<ref name=Best1986>{{cite journal |last1=Best |first1=P. B. |last2=Ross |first2=G. J. |year=1986 |title=Catches of right whales from shore-based establishments in southern Africa, 1792-1975 |journal=Reports of the International Whaling Commission |volume=10 |pages=275–289}}</ref> and a couple were caught for scientific purposes by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] whalers in the [[South Atlantic Ocean|South Atlantic]] in 1970.<ref>Cousteau, J. T. and Y. Paccalet. 1988. ''Whales''. Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, p. 169.</ref> Also a few pygmy right whales are known to have been caught in fishing nets. These factors are not believed to have had a significant impact on the population.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Most data about pygmy right whales come from individual specimens washed up on coastlines; they are rarely encountered at sea and so they are not the primary subject of any [[whale watching]] cruises.{{fact|date=March 2025}}