Gulf of Alaska | Mammals
Summary of Cook Inlet beluga whale strandings, 2020-2022 Presenter: Bonnie Easley-Appleyard , bonnie.easley-appleyard@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries Barbara Mahoney , barbara.mahoney@noaag.gov, NOAA Fisheries Jill Seymour , jill.seymour@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries Kim Shelden , kim.shelden@noaa.gov, NOAA, NMFS, Alaska Fisheries Science Center Natalie Rouse , avps.natalierouse@gmail.com, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services Kathy Burek Huntington , avps.kbh@gmail.com, Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services Barbara Lake , barb.lake@noaa.gov, NOAA Fisheries
The Cook Inlet distinct population segment (DPS) of beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ) resides year-round in Cook Inlet, Alaska. A rapid population decline in the 1990s, to one-quarter of its historic population size of ~1,300 whales, and failure of this population to recover led to listing as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2008. Cook Inlet belugas strand along tidal mudflats in upper Cook Inlet, both individually and in groups. Strandings include beached and floating carcasses, as well as live belugas found in waters too shallow to permit them to self-rescue. Causes for strandings may be due to extreme tidal fluctuations, predator or threat avoidance, or pursuit of prey, among other possible causes (73 FR 62928). Since 2020, there have been 27 confirmed stranding reports: nine dead whales and three live stranding events (involving cow-calf pair, 2 belugas, and 17 belugas) in 2020; 10 dead whales in 2021, and five dead whales in 2022. Stranding locations ranged from upper Cook Inlet (Knik Arm) to lower Cook Inlet (Anchor Point). Responding to each stranding provides an opportunity to obtain individual health and natural history data, evidence of human interactions, and long term monitoring of the population health. Necropsies and/or sampling were conducted on 19 beached belugas, with five belugas not sampled because these whales were floating (n=1) or they refloated with the tide (n=4). Reported stranding numbers fluctuate annually and monthly for a variety of reasons, including 1) actual number of stranded whales, 2) stranding locations, 3) visibility, and 4) public awareness of the NOAA Fisheries Stranding Network and Hotline Number.
Alaska Marine Science Symposium 2023 246
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker