Gulf of Alaska | Ecosystem Perspectives
Summary of marine mammal strandings in Alaska, 2020-2022 Presenter: Mandy Keogh , mandy.keogh@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Kate Savage , Kate.Savage@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Sadie Wright , Sadie.Wright@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Barbara Mahoney , Barbara.Mahoney@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Bonnie Easley-Appleyard , Bonnie.Easley-Appleyard@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region Barb Lake , Barb.Lake@noaa.gov
The Alaska Region encompasses over 40,000 miles of coastline and includes several large bodies of water (Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, Bering Sea, and Gulf of Alaska). The Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network (AMMSN) is a group of dedicated professionals and volunteers across Alaska. Responses by partners are authorized under the Marine Mammal Protection Act either through a 112(c) agreement issued to AMMSN members (Stranding Agreement), or under 109(h) authority exercised by local, state, federal, or tribal entities. Stranding Agreements are issued by the NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region to ensure that all activities performed are safe for both responders and animals. Some activities, such as stranding response for species listed under the Endangered Species Act or entanglement responses, are authorized by the national Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program Permit. Over the last three years, there were 7361 confirmed stranding reports in Alaska. The majority of the reports occurred between June and September of each year. Of the confirmed reports, 52.3% were pinnipeds, 27.8% were large whales, and 15.2% were small cetaceans. The three most frequently stranded pinnipeds were Steller sea lions (107), harbor seals (81), and northern fur seals (60). Gray whales (88), humpback whales (49), and unknown large whales (41) were the most common large whales reported stranded. The most frequently stranded species of small cetacean reported were beluga whales (56), of which 45 (24 dead, three live stranding events with 21 whales) were from the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale population. Harbor porpoises (28) and killer whales (12) were also frequently reported stranded. This summary is made possible by the efforts of the AMSSN, along with partner organizations, agencies, and members of the public who have reported stranding events to NOAA Fisheries.
Alaska Marine Science Symposium 2023 168
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