Common use of Distribution and Movements of CI Beluga Whales Clause in Contracts

Distribution and Movements of CI Beluga Whales. Beluga whales generally occur in shallow, coastal waters, often in water barely deep enough to cover their bodies (Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx, 1981). Some beluga whale populations make seasonal migrations, while others remain in relatively small areas year round. It is presently unknown whether this stock migrates seasonally from Cook Inlet and, if so, where it goes. Sightings from 1976 to 1979 and in 1997 indicate that at least some beluga whales are present in Cook Inlet year round, although they are not likely to occupy the northernmost reaches (Xxxxxxx, 1983; MMS, 1999) The whales begin to return to the upper Inlet in April and early May, commensurate with the eulachons’ returning migrations to several streams entering the northern portion of Cook Inlet. It appears that a relatively few discrete sites exist within upper Cook Inlet which are very important in terms of feeding habitat for the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales. Alaska Natives attribute this early movement into the upper Inlet to whales following the whitefish migration (Huntington, 1999). Beluga whales congregate at the mouths of several larger river systems during early spring, feeding on eulachon, salmon smolt, and adult salmon. The beluga whales typically form several large groups during this period, and may reside in and near the Susitna River, the Little Susitna River, Turnagain Arm, and several streams to the west of the Susitna River. Beluga whales may ascend these river systems: Native hunters report belugas once reached Beluga Lake from the Beluga River, and belugas are often seen well upstream in the Kenai and Susitna Rivers. By the end of June the beluga whales may disperse throughout much of the upper Inlet. Important feeding and concentration areas at this time include the Eagle River estuary, Chikaloon River mouth, and Ship Creek mouth, as well as the sites used earlier in the spring. A satellite tag was placed on a beluga whale captured near the mouth of the Little Susitna River in late May of 1999. This adult male was subsequently tracked over the next three months, signals from the tag ended on September 17. This animal remained in the upper Inlet during this entire period, and was observed within a large group of about 90-100 beluga whales at the mouth of the Little Susitna River from late May to mid June. The whale remained off the Susitna River and in Knik and Turnagain Arms until the tag quit transmitting. The whales begin to leave the upper Inlet sometime in mid to late October, although small groups or individual animals are seen near Anchorage well into November. The winter distribution of this stock is poorly understood. Xxxxxxx (1983) postulated the whales leave the inlet entirely, particularly during heavy ice years. Dedicated survey efforts by MMS in the winter 1997 found few belugas within Cook Inlet. Ten aerial surveys between February 12 and March 14, 1997, resulted in several beluga whale sightings in Cook Inlet. The number of animals represented by these sightings is not reported. Sightings of beluga whales outside of Cook Inlet (but in the northern Gulf of Alaska region) further indicate that the CI beluga whale stock ranges well beyond the inlet in the winter. These sightings include sporadic observations of beluga whales near Yakutat, 640 km southeast of Cook Inlet. Twenty one adult and five juvenile beluga whales were seen near Yakutat in May of 1976 (Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, and Xxxxxx, 1976). The MMS 1997 winter surveys observed 10 beluga whales off Xxxxxxx Glacier near Yakutat, and the U.S. Coast Guard reported sighting 10 to 11 beluga whales there in November 1998. It is possible these beluga whales are part of the Cook Inlet stock that move out of the inlet in winter and return again in spring. Consiglieri and Xxxxxx (1982) reported annual observations of these whales by local fishermen. Xxxxxxx (1986), however, found these observations to be unsupported and believed the Yakutat sightings to be belugas from the Cook Inlet stock. Sightings have also occurred in Shelikof Strait, Kodiak Island, Resurrection Bay and Prince Xxxxxxx Sound. However, sightings in these locations are rare and involve relatively few animals. For example, a single beluga whale was observed in Aialik Bay near Seward in 1988 (Xxxxxx, 1992). Another single whale was reportedly seen near Montague Strait in 1978 (Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx, 1978) and in St. Matthew’s Bay in 1998 (X. Xxxxx, Pers. Comm.). An exception is a report in Xxxxxxx (1986) of approximately 200 beluga whales observed in July 1983 in western Prince Xxxxxxx Sound near Knight Island.

Distribution and Movements of CI Beluga Whales. Beluga whales generally occur in shallow, coastal waters, often in water barely deep enough to cover their bodies (Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx, 1981). Some beluga whale populations make seasonal migrations, while others remain in relatively small areas year round. It is presently unknown whether this stock migrates seasonally from Cook Inlet CI and, if so, where it goes. Sightings from 1976 to 1979 and in 1997 indicate that at least some beluga whales are present in Cook Inlet CI year round, although they are not likely to occupy the northernmost reaches (Xxxxxxx, 1983; MMS, 1999) The whales begin to return to the upper Inlet in April and early May, commensurate with the eulachons’ returning migrations to several streams entering the northern portion of Cook InletCI. It appears that a relatively few discrete sites exist within upper Cook Inlet CI which are very important in terms of feeding habitat for the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales. Alaska Natives attribute this early movement into the upper Inlet to whales following the whitefish migration (Huntington, 1999). Beluga whales congregate at the mouths of several larger river systems during early spring, feeding on eulachon, salmon smolt, and adult salmon. The beluga whales typically form several large groups during this period, period and may reside in and near the Susitna River, the Little Susitna River, and Turnagain ArmArm feeding on eulachon, salmon smolt, and several streams to the west of the Susitna Riveradult salmon. Beluga whales may ascend are known to migrate up these river systems: . Native hunters report belugas once reached Beluga Lake from the Beluga River, ; and belugas are often seen well upstream in the Kenai Kenai, Chickaloon, and Little Susitna Rivers. By the end of June June, the beluga whales may disperse throughout much of the upper Inlet. Important feeding and concentration areas at this time expand to include the Eagle River estuary, Chikaloon River mouthChickaloon River, and Ship Creek mouth, as well as the sites used earlier in the springCreek. A satellite tag was placed on a beluga whale captured near the mouth of the Little Susitna River in late May of 1999. This adult male was subsequently tracked over the next three months, months until the signals from the tag ended on September 17, 1999. This animal remained in the upper Inlet during this entire period, and was observed within a large group of about 90-100 beluga whales at the mouth of the Little Susitna River from late May to mid June. The whale remained off the Susitna River and in Knik and Turnagain Arms until the tag quit stopped transmitting. The whales begin to leave the upper Inlet sometime in mid to late October, although small groups or individual animals are seen near Anchorage well into November. The Occasional winter distribution of this stock is poorly understood. Xxxxxxx (1983) postulated the whales leave the inlet entirely, particularly during heavy ice years. Dedicated survey efforts by MMS in the winter 1997 found few belugas within Cook Inlet. Ten aerial surveys between February 12 and March 14, 1997, resulted in several beluga whale sightings in Cook Inlet. The number of animals represented by these sightings is not reported. Sightings of beluga whales outside of Cook Inlet CI (but in the northern Gulf of Alaska regionAlaska) further indicate that the CI beluga whale stock ranges well beyond may not be confined to the inlet in the winterInlet. These sightings include sporadic observations of beluga whales near Yakutat, 640 km southeast of Cook InletCI. Twenty Twenty-one adult and five juvenile beluga whales were seen near Yakutat in May of 1976 (XxxxxxFiscus, XxxxxxBraham, and Xxxxxx, 1976). The MMS 1997 (1997) winter surveys observed 10 beluga whales off Xxxxxxx Glacier near Yakutat, and the U.S. Coast Guard reported sighting 10 to 11 beluga whales there in November 1998. It is possible these beluga whales are part of the Cook Inlet stock that move out of the inlet in winter and return again in springCI stock. Consiglieri and Xxxxxx (1982) reported annual observations of these whales beluga in the Yakutat area by local fishermen. However, Xxxxxxx (1986), however, found 1986)found these annual observations to be unsupported and believed the Yakutat sightings to be were belugas from the Cook Inlet CI stock. Sightings Infrequent sightings have also occurred in at Shelikof Strait, Kodiak Island, Resurrection Bay and Prince Xxxxxxx Sound. However, sightings in all of these locations are rare and involve or involved relatively few animals. For example, a single beluga whale was observed in Aialik Bay near Seward in 1988 (Xxxxxx, 1992). Another single whale was reportedly seen near Montague Strait in 1978 (Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx, 1978) and in St. Matthew’s Bay in 1998 (X. Xxxxx, Pers. Comm.). An The exception is a report in by Xxxxxxx (1986) of approximately 200 beluga whales observed in July 1983 in western Prince Xxxxxxx Sound near Knight Island.

Distribution and Movements of CI Beluga Whales. Beluga whales generally occur in shallow, coastal waters, often in water barely deep enough to cover their bodies (Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx, 1981). Some beluga whale populations make seasonal migrations, while others remain in relatively small areas year round. It is presently unknown whether this stock migrates seasonally from Cook Inlet CI and, if so, where it goes. Sightings from 1976 to 1979 1979, and in 1997 1997; and satellite information on eight tagged belugas from 2000-2002, indicate that at least some beluga whales are present in Cook Inlet CI year round, although they are not likely to occupy including the northernmost reaches (Xxxxxxx, 1983; MMS, 1999) reaches. The whales begin to return in large numbers to the upper Inlet in April and early May, commensurate with the eulachons’ returning migrations to several streams entering the northern portion of Cook InletCI. It appears that a relatively few discrete sites exist within upper Cook Inlet CI which are very important in terms of feeding habitat for the Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales. Alaska Natives attribute this early movement into the upper Inlet to whales following the whitefish migration (Huntington, 1999). Beluga whales congregate at the mouths of several larger river systems during early spring, feeding on eulachon, salmon smolt, and adult salmon. The beluga whales typically form several large groups during this period, period and may reside in and near the Susitna River, the Little Susitna River, and Turnagain ArmArm feeding on eulachon, salmon smolt, and several streams to the west of the Susitna Riveradult salmon. Beluga whales may ascend are known to migrate up these river systems: . Native hunters report belugas once reached Beluga Lake from the Beluga River, ; and belugas are often seen well upstream in the Kenai Kenai, Chickaloon, and Little Susitna Rivers. By the end of June June, the beluga whales may disperse throughout much of the upper Inlet. Important feeding and concentration areas at this time expand to include the Eagle River estuary, Chikaloon River mouthTurnagain Arm, and Ship Creek mouth, as well as the sites used earlier in the springCreek. A satellite tag was placed on a beluga whale captured near the mouth of the Little Susitna River in late May of 1999. This adult male was subsequently tracked over the next three months, months until the signals from the tag ended on September 17, 1999. This animal remained in the upper Inlet during this entire period, and was observed within a large group of about 90-100 beluga whales at the mouth of the Little Susitna River from late May to mid June. The whale remained off the Susitna River and in Knik and Turnagain Arms until the tag quit stopped transmitting. The Satellite tags were placed on two whales, a small female and large male, captured on September 13, 2000. These whales begin to leave were tracked through January 2002, showing movements throughout the upper Inlet sometime in mid to late OctoberInlet, although small groups or individual animals are seen near Anchorage well into November. The winter distribution but rarely south of this stock is poorly understoodthe Forelands. Xxxxxxx (1983) postulated the whales leave the inlet Inlet entirely, particularly during heavy ice years. Dedicated survey efforts Surveys conducted by MMS NMFS in November and December 2000, along the winter 1997 found few belugas within Cook Inletupper Inlet observed no more than 20 beluga whales on any one day. Ten aerial surveys by Minerals Management Service (MMS) between February 12 and March 14, 1997, resulted in several beluga whale sightings in Cook InletCI, no more than 40 belugas in a day. The actual number of animals represented by these sightings is not reported. Sightings In August 2001, satellite tags were place on six belugas, ranging in size from 2.6 m - 4.4 m (8'5"-14'6"). These whales were tracked throughout the fall and early winter, with one last tag reporting on March 9, 2002, for a total of 202 days. For the most part, all the six tagged whales remained in the icy upper Inlet, rarely south of the Forelands. Monthly surveys conducted by NMFS, from July through February, had raw counts of 204 to 0 belugas (in August and February, respectively). Occasional winter sightings of beluga whales outside of Cook Inlet CI (but in the northern Gulf of Alaska regionAlaska) further indicate that the CI beluga whale stock ranges well beyond may not be confined to the inlet in the winterInlet. These sightings include sporadic observations of beluga whales near Yakutat, 640 km southeast of Cook InletCI. Twenty Twenty-one adult and five juvenile beluga whales were seen near Yakutat in May of 1976 (XxxxxxFiscus, XxxxxxBraham, and Xxxxxx, 1976). The MMS 1997 (1999) winter surveys observed 10 beluga whales off Xxxxxxx Glacier near Yakutat, and the U.S. Coast Guard reported sighting 10 to 11 beluga whales there in November 1998. It is possible these beluga whales are part of the Cook Inlet stock that move out of the inlet in winter and return again in springCI stock. Consiglieri and Xxxxxx (1982) reported annual observations of these whales beluga in the Yakutat area by local fishermen. However, Xxxxxxx (1986), however, found 1986)found these annual observations to be unsupported and believed the Yakutat sightings to be were belugas from the Cook Inlet CI stock. Sightings Infrequent sightings have also occurred in at Shelikof Strait, Kodiak Island, Resurrection Bay and Prince Xxxxxxx Sound. However, sightings in all of these locations are rare and involve or involved relatively few animals. For example, a single beluga whale was observed in Aialik Bay near Seward in 1988 (Xxxxxx, 1992). Another single whale was reportedly seen near Montague Strait in 1978 (Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx, 1978) and ), in St. Matthew’s Bay in 1998 (X. Xxxxx, Pers. Comm.), and in Alitak Bay in 2001 (X. Xxxxx, Xxxx. An Com). The one exception is a report in by Xxxxxxx (1986) of approximately 200 beluga whales observed in July 1983 in western Prince Xxxxxxx Sound near Knight Island.