Beluga Whales - Satellite Tracking Bristol Bay Beluga Whales
Tracking Belugas in Bristol Bay - 2002
Satellite tags were attached to one adult and four juvenile belugas in Bristol Bay, Kvichak River, Alaska, May 18 - 20, 2002, to monitor their summer movements into the fall. This is the first satellite tagging project on belugas in Bristol Bay and is a cooperative research project between the Bristol Bay Native Association-Bristol Bay Marine Mammal Commission (BBMMC), the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee (ABWC), the Native Village of Levelock, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Skin was collected from all five belugas, which NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center will analyze with other Bristol Bay beluga skin samples collected by ABWC hunters.
Maps of Tagged Beluga Locations
- October 27 - November 4 (only tag 30271, juv. male)
- October 6 - 12
- September 29 - October 5
- September 22 - 28
- September 15 - 21
- September 8 - 14
- September 1 - 7
- August 25 - 31
- August 18 - 24
- August 11 - 17
- August 4 - 10
- July 28 - August 3
- July 14 - 20
- July 7 - 13
- June 23 - 29
- June 9 - 15
- June 1 - 8
- May 26 - 31
- May 19 - 25
Charles Saccheus (ABWC), and Nick and Brian Apokedak (BBMMC), attaching a spider satellite tag to a beluga.
More Information
| Date Tagged | Sex | Length | Tag Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5/18/02 | F | 289 cm - 9' 5" | 14180 spider |
| 5/19/02 | M | 293 cm - 9' 6" | 30721 spider |
| 5/19/02 | M | 298 cm - 9' 8" | 11043 spider |
| 5/20/02 | F | 293 cm - 9' 6" | 2283 saddle |
| 5/20/02 | M | 345 cm - 11' 4" | 11040 spider |
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