Research about Beluga Whales in Alaska

Beluga Whale Research and Reports

Quick Links: Bering Sea | Bristol Bay | Chukchi Sea | Cook Inlet | Yakutat Bay

Map of five Alaska beluga whale stocks.

The Cook Inlet beluga whale stock may once have numbered as many as 1,300 but declined dramatically during the 1990s. Aerial survey results indicate a decline of 47 percent between 1994 and 1998. In response to this significant decline, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) designated the Cook Inlet (CI) stock of beluga whales as depleted under the MMPA on May 31, 2000. Surveys from 1999 to 2009 have resulted in point estimates of abundance ranging between 278 and 435 belugas, with a decline of 1.49 percent annually. Harvests have been severely restricted, with a five whales harvested between 1999 and 2005, and no subsistence harvest allowed since then. On October 22, 2008, NMFS listed a Distinct Population Segment of beluga whale found in Cook Inlet as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). On December 2, 2009, NMFS proposed designating critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale under the ESA. Two areas are proposed, comprising 7,809 square kilometers (3,016 square miles) of marine habitat. Considerable concern remains regarding the recovery of this stock and the habitat necessary to lead to their recovery.

Status of Five Beluga Stocks

Beluga Stock Assessments (5 Alaska stocks: Beaufort Sea, Bristol Bay, Cook Inlet, Eastern Bering Sea, and Eastern Chukchi Sea stocks)
Molecular Genetic Studies of Population Structure and Movement Patterns in a Migratory Species: The Beluga Whale in the Western Nearctic Greg M. O'Corry-Crowe, et al., 2002
Map of all five beluga stocks

Research on Bering Sea Belugas

Investigations of Beluga Whales in Coastal Waters of Western and Nothern Alaska: Distribution, Abundance and Movements, K.J. Frost, J.F. Lowry, J.J. Burns, G.A. Seaman, September 1985

Research on Bristol Bay Belugas

Collaborative Studies (Bristol Bay Native Association, Bristol Bay Marine Mammal Council, Alaska Beluga Whale Committee, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Marine Mammal Laboratory, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Togiak Refuge), and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game) external link)
Trend in aerial counts of beluga or white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in Bristol Bay, Alaska, 1993-2005, 2008
Satellite Tagging: 2003, 2002
Kvichak Beluga Tagging Study: Are beluga whales a factor in the collapse of Kvichak's red salmon run? (2006, Bristol Bay Native Association external link)
Alaska Beluga Whale Committee Biopsies - A Genetic Mark-Recapture Pilot Project: 2005, 2004
State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game, 1954 - 1959 Bristol Bay beluga studies (search annual reports - external link)

Research on Eastern Chukchi Sea Belugas

Beluga whales in the Chukchi Sea. Photo: Laura Morse, NOAA Fisheries, Permit #782-1719-06

Age, growth, reproduction, and movements of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the eastern Chukchi Sea, Robert Scott Suydam, 2009
Satellite Tagging Point Lay Beluga Whales: 1998 - 2008, and 2010
Phylogeography, population structure and dispersal patterns of the beluga whale in the western Nearctic revealed by mitochondrial DNA, Molecular Ecology, G. M. O’Corry-Crowe, et al., 1997

Research on Cook Inlet Belugas

Acoustics
- Acoustic Monitoring of Beluga Whales and Noise in Cook Inlet (ADF&G)
- Construction Impacts on the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale at the Port of Anchorage Marine Terminal Redevelopment Project, Lindsey Kendall, May 2010
- The beluga whale produces two pulses to form its sonar signal, The Royal Society, Biology Letters, Marc O. Lammers and Manuel Castellote, March 2009
- Synopsis of Workshop on Passive Acoustic Monitoring of Cook Inlet Belugas, Alaska SeaLife Center, November 2008
- Acoustic monitoring for the presence of beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, Marc O. Lammers and Whitlow W.L. Au, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, 2008
- Beluga vocalizations (audio), Fisheries Research Agency, Japan, with contract support from NOAA to Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, August 2008
- Beluga vocalizations (audio), Cara Hotchkin, August 2007
- Acoustic Measurements in Cook Inlet, Susanna B. Blackwell, et al., August 2001
- Low-frequency underwater hearing sensitivity in belugas, Frank T. Awbre, August 1988

Cook Inlet beluga whales. Photo: NOAA Fisheries, NMML, permit 14245.

Anthropogenic Impacts
- Anthropogenic and Environmental Stressors in Cook Inlet Beluga Whales, Literature Review and Assessment, September 2011
- Chemical Exposure for Cook Inlet Beluga Whales, Prepared by URS Corp. for NMFS, March 2010
  - Fact Sheets: Summaries of the chemical exposure report, May 2011
  - Pathogens Exposures for Cook Inlet Beluga Whales, May 2011
- Persistent Chlorinated Compounds and Elements in Tissues of CI Beluga Whales, Paul R. Becker, Rebecca S. Pugh, et al., April 2001
- Incidental Catch and Interactions of Marine Mammals and Birds in the Cook Inlet Salmon Driftnet and Setnet Fisheries 1999-2000
- Native Harvest and Use of Beluga in the Upper Cook Inlet
  - January - June 1995
  - July 1 - November 15, 1995 (with updates for January - July 1995)
  - April - November 1996
- Field Report for Vessel Operations in Cook Inlet, J. Waite, et al., July 1995
- Impacts of Vessel Surveys and Tagging Operations on the Behavior of Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet June 1994, K. Shelden, 1994
Diet
- Fatty acid variation in beluga blubber: implications for estimating diet using fatty acids, H. Smith, University of Washington, 2009
Genetics
- Molecular Genetic Studies of Population Structure and Movement Patterns in a Migratory Species: The Beluga Whale, Delphinaptevus leucas, in the Western Nearctic, Greg M. O'Corry-Crowe, Andrew E. Dizon, R. S. Suydam, and Lloyd F. Lowry, 2002
- Phylogeography, population structure and dispersal patterns of the beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas in the western Nearctic revealed by mitochondrial DNA, G. M. O'Corry-Crowe, R. S. Suydam, A. Rosenberg, K. J. Frost and A. E. Dizon, 1997
Habitat
- Identifying essential summer habitat of the endangered beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas in Cook Inlet, Alaska, Endangered Species Research, Kimberly Goetz, et. al, February 2012
- Using inundation modeling and remote sensing data to study hydrodynamic and environmental impacts on the survival of Cook Inlet's Beluga whales, final report and animation of beluga movements from 1-October, 2010 to 30-September, 2011
- Habitat Use in a Marine Ecosystem: Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet, Marine Ecology, K. T. Goetz, et al., January 2007
- Baroclinic tidal flows and inundation processes in Cook Inlet,Alaska: numerical modeling and satellite observations, Ocean Dynamics, Lie-Yauw Oey, Tal Ezer, Chuanmin Hu, Frank E. Muller-Karger
- International Polar Year Project - Pan-Arctic Tracking of Beluga Whales: an international science initiative from March 2007 to March 2009 to develop a circumpolar view of the movements and habitats of beluga whales throughout arctic and sub arctic waters
- Movements and Area Use of Belugas, Delphinapterus leucas,in a Subarctic Alaskan Estuary, Arctic, VOL. 58, N0. 4, P. 331–340, R.C. Hobbs, K.L. Laidre, D.J. Vos, B.A. Mahoney and M. Eagleton, December 2005
- Areas Used by CI Belugas: June, July and August 1993-1999 (Figure)
- Beluga Whales in Lower Cook Inlet, Murray, 1979
Life History
- Predation by Killer Whales in Cook Inlet and Western Alaska: An Integrated Approach 2008-2009 Project R0303-01 Final Report, Revised April 2011
  - Killer whales as predators in the Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea, 2007
  - Killer Whale Predation on Belugas in Cook Inlet, Alaska: Implications for a Depleted Population, Marine Mammal Science, 19(3):529–544, July 2003
- Unusual Mortality in the 2003 Depleted Cook Inlet Beluga Population, Northwestern Naturalist, 2005
- Developing a calving rate index for beluga in Cook Inlet, Alaska using aerial videography and photography, Christy Sims, et al., 2003
- Cook Inlet Beluga Age and Growth, Dan Vos, 2003

Movement
- Movement and Dive Behavior of Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, March 2012
- Range contraction in a beluga whale population, David Rugh, Kim Shelden, Roderick Hobbs - NMML, Endangered Species Research, June 2010
- Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Opportunistic Sightings Database: A summary of opportunistic sightings during the past 35 years, February 2010
- Oceanography, On the Movement of Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, December 2008
- Movements and Area Use of Belugas in a Subarctic Alaskan Estuary, Arctic, Vol. 58, No. 4, December 2005
- Satellite Tagging in Cook Inlet, 1999-2003
- AERIAL SURVEYS
  - Estimated Abundance from Aerial Surveys Conducted in June 2011
    - Chart: Abundance estimates 2001-2011
  - August 2011
  - June 2011
  - August 2010
  - June 2010
  - August 2009
  - Estimated Abundance from Aerial Surveys Conducted in June 2009
  - June 2009
  - September/October 2008
  - August 2008
  - June 2008
  - August 2007
  - June 2007
  - 1994-2007 annual abundance estimates as determined by aerial surveys in June and July
  - August 2006
  - June 2006
  - May 2006
  - August 2005
  - June 2005
  - 2004
  - 2003
  - 2002
  - 2001
  - 2000
  - June 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
  - June 2001 to June 2002
  - June 1999
  - June 1998
  - June 1997
  - June 1996
  - July 1995 (see page 1)
  - Population Assessment of the Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska - June 1994, 1995 (see page 1)
  - Group Count Estimates and Analysis of Surfacing Behavior of Beluga Whales from Aerial Video in Cook Inlet - 1994, 1994
  - Beluga Whale, Delphinapterus Leucas, Distribution and Abundance in Cook Inlet - 1993, 1994 (see page 1)
Other Sightings
- Opportunistic Sightings of Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet 1997-2002, C. Sims, D. Rugh, 2004
Photo-Identification Studies of Cook Inlet Belugas
- Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo ID Project
- The development of a catalog of left-side digital images of individually-identified Cook Inlet beluga whales - NPRB Project 910 Final Report, March 2011
- LGL: Photo-identification of Beluga Whales in Upper Cook Inlet, Alaska:
  - Final Report of Field Activities and Belugas Re-sighted in 2009, February 2011
  - Final Report of Mark Analysis, Mark-Resight Estimates, and Color Analysis from Photographs Taken in 2008, December 2009
  - Final Report of Belugas Re-sighted in 2008, June 2009
  - Final Report of Field Activities in 2008, February 2009
  - 2007 Annual Report, February 2008
Posters
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center posters (simple search for "beluga")
Science Conference - October 2010
- Agenda and Presentations
Status Reviews
- Status Review and Extinction Risk Assessment of Cook Inlet Belugas: 2008 supplemental, 2008, 2006, 1999, 1992
- Beluga Whales - Status, Distribution, Harvest History, Historic and Current Use, Habitat Associations, Traditional Knowledge and Abundance, Marine Fisheries Review, Vol 62, No. 3, 2000
- Synthesis of Available Information on the Cook Inlet Stock of Beluga Whales, Sue Moore, et al., December 1999
- 2006 World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, Cook Inlet population, IUCN website (external link)
- Monitoring Recovery Status and Age Structure of Cook Inlet, Alaska Belugas by Skin Color Determination, L. K. Litzky, 2001
- Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet - A Review, K. Shelden, 1994

Satellite tag on a Cook Inlet beluga whale

Traditional Ecological Knowledge
- Relationship between the Native Village of Tyonek, Alaska and Beluga Whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, June 2011
- Exploring ecological changes in Cook Inlet beluga whale habitat through traditional and local ecological knowledge of contributing factors for population decline, Brian T.G. Carter and Erik A. Nielsen, Marine Policy 35 (2011) 299–308
- Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Population Decline and Recovery: An Exploration Through Local Ecological Knowledge, Brian T. G. Carter, Alaska Pacific University, 2009

Research on Yakutat Bay Belugas

Abundance, Habitat Use and Behavior of Beluga Whales in Yakutat Bay in May 2008 as Revealed by Passive Acoustic Monitoring, Visual Observations and Photo-ID, March 2009
The Ecology, Status and Stock Identity of Beluga Whales in Yakutat Bay, Alaska, Report to the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, G. O’Corry-Crowe, et al., February 2006

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NOAA Fisheries

National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Regional Office