Contemporary Beluga Whale Hunting Sample Clauses

Contemporary Beluga Whale Hunting. 18 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 22 4.1 Biological Model of Effects of Harvest on the Recovery Time of CI Beluga Whales 22

Contemporary Beluga Whale Hunting. In the late 1700's there were about 5,000 or more people around the CI area (Xxxxxxxx, 1975). Today there are only about 1,000 people of Xxxx’xxx ancestry living in the villages of Eklutna, Knik, Kenai, Seldovia, Tyonek, Xxxxx Bay, Nondalton, Lime Village, and Stony River, as well as in Anchorage. About 60 percent of Alaska’s population lives within the traditional lands of the Xxxx’xxx (Matanuska Valley, Anchorage Municipality, and the Kenai Peninsula). In this dynamic region, about 30,000 people are Alaska Natives. The CI marine mammal hunters who xxxx beluga whales consist of

Contemporary Beluga Whale Hunting. In the late 1700's there were about 5,000 or more people around the Cook Inlet area (Xxxxxxxx, 1975). Today there are only about 1,000 people of Xxxx’xxx ancestry living in the villages of Eklutna, Knik, Kenai, Seldovia, Tyonek, Xxxxx Bay, Nondalton, Lime Village, and Stony River, as well as in Anchorage. About 60 percent of Alaska’s population lives within the traditional lands of the Xxxx’xxx (Matanuska Valley, Anchorage Municipality, and the Kenai Peninsula). In this dynamic region, about 30,000 people are Alaska Natives. The Cook Inlet marine mammal hunters who xxxx beluga whales consist of (1) the Xxxx’xxx of Tyonek, who continue their historical hunting of belugas near their village, (2) hunters who have lived in other parts of Alaska, but have made the Cook Inlet area their home, and (3) visitors to the Cook Inlet area from other parts of the state. As the participants increase in these hunter groups, the demand for CI beluga whale grew. However, the actual number of CI beluga whale hunters is unknown due to the dispersal of hunting “communities” and hunting locations. The number of Eskimo, or non-area, hunters greatly exceeds that of the Cook Inlet tribal hunters, although no detailed estimates exist. NMFS believes there were approximately 16 Eskimo whaling crews in 1997. The CIMMC has estimated the number of people currently hunting beluga whales to be approximately 50. It is common for whalers to be accompanied by friends and relatives while on hunting trips. Of the six Cook Inlet Treaty Tribes and villages, only the Native village of Tyonek has regularly harvested beluga whales in recent history. Tyonek’s harvest of beluga whales has been modest; residents there report about six to seven whales were taken annually during the 1930's and 1940's, but very little beluga hunting occurred between the 1940's and the late 1970's (Xxxxxx, 1994). About three were taken in 1979, and one whale was harvested annually between 1981 and 1983 (ADFG, undated). Recently, Tyonek’s harvest has averaged one to two beluga whales each year. The Beluga and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx are major hunting areas for this village. Beluga whales are now hunted with high powered rifles from April through October. Most of the hunting occurs between May and August at the Susitna Delta area (Little Susitna River, west to the Beluga River). Hunters use small motorboats launched from Anchorage to access these camps and xxxx in or near the river mouths. Crews are often small, two to four persons...