Unrestricted passage within or between the critical habitat areas; and 5. ... 51 Figure 11. Designated critical habitat for Cook Inlet beluga whales. Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Critical Habitat Area 1 Area 2 Iliamna Lake Gulf of Alaska C o o k I n e t In 2011 NOAA Fisheries designated two critical habitat areas for Cook Inlet belugas comprising 7,800 square kilometers of marine habitat. The population continues to decline at a rate of 2.3% annually. Critical habitat designations must be based on the best scientific data available and must occur in an open, public process within . Critical Habitat for Cook Inlet beluga whales...28 Figure 4. Download scientific diagram | Location of acoustic moorings in beluga whale critical habitat where anthropogenic noise and beluga whale detections were monitored in Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA, 2008 . NOAA's recovery plan, the Critical Habitat for the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale, lists 10 potential threats to the population, which the plan classifies as high, medium and low concerns. The Endangered Species Act requires status reviews to be conducted every five years for listed species. Photo-ID is used to study population estimates (how many whales there are), distribution/movement patterns (where the whales go), age/longevity (how old are they and how long do they live), kin and social structure (who is related to whom and who hangs out . This distinct population segment was listed as endangered in October 2008. The textual description of this critical habitat is the definitive source for determining the critical habitat boundaries.General location maps are provided for general guidance purposes only, and not as a definitive source for determining critical . Designated Cook Inlet beluga critical habitat near the POA SFD site. This began what they hoped would be five years of continuous monitoring. Endangered Species Research (Feb 2017) . The top . NOAA's recovery plan, the Critical Habitat for the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale, lists 10 potential threats to the population, which the plan classifies as high, medium and low concerns. That The population of beluga whales in Cook Inlet, Alaska, USA, declined by nearly half in the mid-1990s, primarily from an unsustainable harvest, and was listed as endangered in 2008. The designation was made in the face of the We recommend you directly contact the agency responsible for the content in question. The federal government has designated more than 3,000 square miles of Cook Inlet as critical habitat for beluga whales, carving out exemptions for the Port of Anchorage and military installations. Approximately 340 CI beluga remained in 2014, down from a high of nearly 1300 in 1979. Generalized ranges of Western DPS and Eastern DPS Steller sea lions... 54 Figure 13. VOLUME 1: Chapters 1-5 . If the species is to recover to its former abundance its habitat in the lower Inlet will need protection as well. Name: Cook_Inlet_Beluga_Whale_Designated_Critical_Habitat Display Field: SCIENAME Type: Feature Layer Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon Description: Copyright Text . ...33 Figure 9. The Cook inlet Beluga whale is a genetically distinct and geographically isolated stock. Cook Inlet beluga whales are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, and noise that has the potential to reduce communication and echolocation range considerably has been documented in critical habitat; thus, noise was ranked as a high potential threat in the Cook Inlet beluga Recovery Plan. Audiograms of seven wild beluga whales; human diver audiogram and Bristol Bay background noise for comparison (from Castellote It has been genetically and geographically isolated from other beluga whales for thousands of years. "The fisheries service has thrown Cook Inlet belugas a much-needed lifeline," she said. "While today's proposal is an important step . Their critical habitat has been broadly defined, with little empirical data on habitat use to direct management actions. In Cook Inlet, Alaska . Draft Environmental Impact Statement . Potential for spatial displacement of Cook Inlet beluga whales by anthropogenic noise in critical habitat Since 1979, the Cook Inlet beluga population has plummeted from around 1,300 whales to roughly 300, a decline of more than 75 percent. This petition sets in motion a specific Figure 10. Environmentalists called it a positive step for the belugas' recovery. Yet unlike Herman Melville's mostly fictitious albino sperm whale, which had only Captain Ahab to deal with, the beluga swims in an ocean chock-full of dangers such as pollution, shipping, oil drilling and global warming. In response to the proposal by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to designate at least one-third of Cook Inlet as critical habitat for beluga whales, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in a prepared statement, "I appreciate that the National Marine Fisheries Service has tried to identify the most important areas . We fought hard to remove the oil storage terminal at the base of an active volcano (Mt. Between 1994 and 1998, the population declined by approximately 50% to 347 belugas. The Endangered Species Act (ESA) requires the designation of critical habitat for a listed species when it is "prudent and determinable.". We deployed acoustic moorings at 13 locations within Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat during 2008−2013 (Fig. Our Story: Beluga Whale Alliance (BWA) is based in Girdwood, Alaska, along a 40-mile stretch of shoreline that parallels critical habitat for Alaska's endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales.This distinct population segment (DPS) of belugas is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List… and is the inspiration behind the formation of . The Conservation Plan for the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale was released in October 2008. (SitNews) - NOAA's Fisheries Service today announced it is designating two areas of Alaska's Cook Inlet as critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. Catastrophic . To determine the direct benefits of critical habitat designation, we would have to first quantify the ecological and biological benefits accruing to the Cook Inlet beluga whale population expected from ESA section 7 consultation (for example, the number of whales saved or the increase in their longevity, health, productivity, etc., deriving . Photo: NOAA Fisheries. Of those five, the Cook Inlet beluga population is the only population that is currently listed as endangered. Defenders of Wildlife has been fighting for Cook Inlet beluga whales for years. . In 2017, NMFS issued its first five-year status review for the Cook Inlet distinct population segment of beluga whales. This model grid contains 9,696 cells, and is a curvilinear grid, with average orthogonal deviation of 0.85 degrees. recovery of the endangered Cook Inlet be-luga, Delphinapterus leucas, population, but little is known about its occurrence in critical habitat. Cook Inlet beluga whales (CIBWs; Delphinapterus leucas ), are an isolated and declining endangered population in Alaska, USA. Waters free of toxins or other agents of a type and amount harmful to Cook Inlet Beluga Whales; 4. The Cook Inlet is a semi-enclosed tidal estuary in southcentral Alaska; CI beluga are the . 1). The team deployed the custom-made acoustic moorings at 13 locations within Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat in 2008. We published a proposed rule to designate critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale in the Federal Register of December 2, 2009 (74 FR 63080). The top . WASHINGTON (CN) - After a year and half of public hearings, lawsuits and over 135,000 comments, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has designated 3,013 square miles of marine habitat in Alaska's Cook Inlet as critical to the survival of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. The proposed rule's critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale was determined by considering information received in response to our Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, sighting reports, satellite telemetry data, The Traditional and Ecological Knowledge of Alaska Natives (TEK), scientific papers and other research, the biology and . The intention of the portal is to improve access to critical scientific information aiding ecosystem-based management and recovery of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale and habitat and to act as a mechanism for increasing public, private sector, government and tribal knowledge about environmental data related to Cook Inlet beluga whales. This article examines data collected during surveys for a long‐term photo‐ID study to gain . ..36 Figure 6. Oil and Gas Lease Sale 258 . Now, there are fewer than 269 whales left. We recommend you directly contact the agency responsible for the content in question. 2008. Scientists estimate there are less than 350 Cook Inlet beluga whales left in the wild - a distinct population segment listed as endangered in October 2008. Beluga whales. Summer range contraction over time as indicated by ADF&G and NMFS aerial surveys. Conservation . We released a report on aging and leaking pipelines that helped dramatically reduce spill rates in critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. § 553. Exploration and drilling can have serious impacts on marine mammals including the beluga whale, humpback whales, orcas, and dolphins throughout the development stage. Figure 10. Critical Habitat; The Cook Inlet beluga whale has the smallest population of the five Alaska populations. totaling 3,016 square miles, in Cook Inlet as critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale. Anchorage, Alaska - The State of Alaska today filed suit against the federal government to challenge the listing of Cook Inlet beluga whales as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Scientists estimate there are less than 350 Cook Inlet beluga whales left in the wild. Approximately 340 CI beluga remained in 2014, down from a high of nearly 1300 in 1979. The proposed critical habitat areas will comprise all of upper Cook Inlet, the coastal areas of western Cook Inlet and most of Kachemak Bay. SAVING THE COOK INLET BELUGA WHALE. The population is decreasing at a rate of 2.3% per year. Critical Habitat Exclusion Area Douglas 0'0" w 0'0" 1520 w Katchemak Bay 15100'0"w 1530 15000'O"W River . Two areas are designated, comprising 7,800 square kilometers (3,013 square miles) of marine habitat. Title: The Cook Inlet Beluga Whale: A Population in Decline Author: NOAA Fisheries Alaska Regional Office Subject: The Cook Inlet Beluga Whale: A Population in Decline; If you cannot view or access any part of this document, please email: [email protected] or call 907-586-7221 so that we may assist you NMFS propose development of a recovery plan for Cook Inlet belugas (PDF file) State of Alaska response to Proposed Critical Habitat Designation (PDF 1,465 kB) Press Release: State Objects to Critical Habitat for Beluga Whales (PDF 76 kB) State of Alaska sues National Oceanic and . 3. Petitioners' also request that Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat be designated concurrent with its listing, pursuant to 50 CFR part 414.12 and 5 U.S.C. Location of CIPL Project relative to Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat and Susitna Delta Exclusion Zone. This first section provides context for the rest of the document and provides information about the Cook Inlet beluga whales (CIBWs), a description of their general habitat and critical habitat, a high-level overview of the CIBW Recovery Plan (RP) and the threats identified in the CIBW RP. And despite a halt on subsistence hunting and federal . Potential for spatial displacement of Cook Inlet beluga whales by anthropogenic noise in critical habitat Service designate as critical habitat for Cook Inlet beluga whales all waters of Cook Inlet from Kalgin Island northward to the headwaters of Knik and Turnagain Arms and all coastal waters less than 18 meters deep in the remaining portions of the inlet. Rebecca Noblin, Alaska director for the Center for Biological Diversity, said the designation of critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale "gives this highly imperiled whale a real chance of recovery. The acoustic recordings revealed the location of beluga whales, when and where foraging behavior occurred. The Cook Inlet beluga whale stock may once have numbered as many as 1,300 individuals but declined dramatically during the 1990's. Over the most recent 10-year time period (2008-2018), NMFS has estimated the trend in abundance is approximately -2.3%/year (estimated range between -4.1% to -0.6%), which is declining faster than the previous estimate of -0.5%/year (estimated range between -2.5% . The lease sale was conducted on 21 June 2017 and resulted in the sale of 14 tracts, 3 of them north of Anchor Point. The purpose of this Final RIR/4(b)(2) Preparatory Assessment/FRFA is to evaluate the economic, socioeconomic, and other costs and benefits of designating critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale (hereinafter, "CHD"), and assist the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) in determining whether the benefits of excluding any particular area . We received several requests, including from the Alaska Congressional delegation, to extend the comment period to allow the public to provide input to the designation of critical habitat and, in . 2016). Their critical habitat has been broadly defined, with little empirical data on habitat use to direct management actions. ... 32 Figure 5. Our monitoring locations were chosen based on several factors: (1) deploying moor-ings in all major regions of designated critical habitat, Steller sea lion critical habitat near Cook Inlet, Alaska. Final rule to designate critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale distinct population segment under the Endangered Species Act. Like the legendary Moby Dick, the full-grown beluga whale is snowy white. The Lease Sale overlaps with the critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale which continues to decline. June 4, 2010. NOAA's recovery plan, the Critical Habitat for the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale, lists 10 potential threats to the population classified as high, medium and low concerns. The proposed areas of critical habitat cover all of Anchorage and Mat-Su Borough's tidal waters and extend down Cook Inlet past the City of Kenai. Waters with in-water noise below levels resulting in the abandonment of critical habitat areas by Cook Inlet Beluga Whales. In April 2011, NOAA Fisheries designated critical habitat in the Cook Inlet for beluga whales. The Cook Inlet beluga whale stock is one of five recognized populations within US waters. (NOAA) Status Review. It estimated that 1,300 belugas were in Cook Inlet in 1972. Critical habitat is designated in Cook Inlet, Alaska, for the Cook Inlet beluga whale as described in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. Unmistakable as adults, their color lightens to white, and they have a dorsal ridge rather than a fin. The more than 3,000 square miles of water that would be designated as critical habitat are vital for giving the whale the protection it should legally have under the Endangered Species Act since being listed as threatened in October 2008. The Diamond Point Port for the Pebble Project would be constructed within critical habitat of the Cook Inlet . NMFS listed the Cook Inlet distinct population segment (DPS) of beluga whale (CI beluga) as endangered under the ESA in 2008 and designated critical habitat in 2011. A recently completed Conservation Plan for the beluga specifically identified essential habitat areas for the beluga, as well as threats to that habitat, and will likely form the basis for the critical habitat designation. With just 279 Cook Inlet belugas left, this population has declined over 75% from its historic population of 1,300 individuals. ... 51 Figure 11. Cook Inlet beluga whales (CIBWs; Delphinapterus leucas), are an isolated and declining endangered population in Alaska, USA. The review determined that although the population . It estimated that 1,300 belugas were in Cook Inlet in 1972. Natural gas from a 52-year-old underwater pipeline has been leaking for at least two weeks into Cook Inlet in Alaska, home to a number of endangered species, including beluga whales. Effective May 11, 2 This article examines data collected during surveys for a long-term photo-ID study to gain insight . Cook Inlet Beluga Critical Habitat ~ Critica l Habitat Area 1 . Endangered Species Research (Feb 2017) . ... 52 Figure 12. There appears to be insufficient information and data available to delineate critical habitat for this beluga population. Social Calls and Foraging Buzzes. Critical habitat designation was finalized by NMFS on May 11, 2011 for Cook Inlet beluga whales. The population numbered around 1,300 individuals in the 1980s but precipitously dropped by some 80% in the 80s and 90s due largely to poorly managed . It is believed that this population was never large but once consisted of over 600 individuals. Appendix A . NOAA's recovery plan, the Critical Habitat for the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale, lists 10 potential threats to the population classified as high, medium and low concerns. Title: Cook Inlet Beluga Critical Habitat map Created Date: 3/29/2011 1:10:12 PM . beluga whale detections (Castellote et al. Cook Inlet beluga whales are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, and noise that has the potential to reduce . At birth, beluga whales are 5 feet long, roughly 100 pounds, and dark blue-gray in color. This grid was built using CVLGrid1.1. re: RIN 0648-AX50 Dear Ellen Sebastian, I am writing in support of the recent critical habitat proposal for the Cook Inlet beluga whale. We must do more to protect Cook Inlet beluga habitat from human activity, otherwise, these whales will go extinct on our watch. designate more than one-third of Cook Inlet as critical habitat for beluga whales. Designated Cook Inlet beluga critical habitat near the POA SFD site. Cook Inlet Planning Area . critical habitat for Cook Inlet beluga whales and is developing a recovery plan for the conservation and survival of this species. Programmatic approach to evaluating and limiting incidental takes of beluga whales The Commission is concerned that NMFS is continuing to propose and issue authorizations for the incidental taking of Cook Inlet beluga whales without adequate consideration of the combined or cumulative impacts of current and planned activities on that population. The waters of Cook Inlet are dark and turbid, so Cook Inlet . Generalized ranges of Western DPS and Eastern DPS Steller sea lions... 54 Figure 13. Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat map and associated data files. In October 2008, the beluga whales in Cook Inlet were listed as endangered under the En‐ dangered Species Act (ESA). Alaska officials reported an oil leak from an underwater pipeline late on Saturday that was within habitat designated as critical for endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales. The area designated is 7,809 square kilometers in size and covers Upper Cook Inlet (including Knik and Turnagain Arms), Kachemak Bay, and the nearshore waters along the west coast of Lower Cook Inlet. The population is decreasing at a rate of 2.3% per year. One of the challenges facing man-agers, scientists, and others interested in the recovery and conservation of Cook Inlet beluga whales is the dearth of information about habitat use and 2NMFS. ... 52 Figure 12. Critical habitat designation proposed by NMFS (PDF file) 2010. Alaskans can weigh in on their continued support to keep the whale . When the beluga was more abundant it also frequented the lower Inlet. Now, there are fewer than 269 whales left. 3B, and 3C - Beluga Whale Critical Habitat Exclusion, Critical Habitat Mitigation, and Nearshore Feeding Areas Mitigation . NMFS has jurisdiction over this petition. Figure 8. There will be another one tomorrow, Feb 12, 2010, at the Loussac Library in Anchorage beginning at 6PM. Friday. Redoubt), which led to reduced spills risks and tanker traffic in Cook Inlet. "If we do what is necessary to protect the critical habitat of the Cook Inlet beluga whale, by extension we will also be . Map of Cook Inlet beluga whale critical habitat. This distinct population segment (DPS) of belugas is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)'s Red List… and is the inspiration behind the formation of Beluga . Designation of critical habitat for an endangered species is required by the ESA. The Office of the Federal Register publishes documents on behalf of Federal agencies but does not have any authority over their programs. The Cook Inlet is a semi-enclosed tidal estuary in southcentral Alaska; CI beluga are the . The company . The proposed critical habitat rule would designate waters in upper Cook Inlet as protected habitat for the whale. Belugas have ornately curved tail fins; broad, short flippers; and a soft, bulbous head. Beluga Whale Alliance (BWA) is based in Girdwood, Alaska, along a 40-mile stretch of shoreline that parallels critical habitat for Alaska's endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales.. To a considerable extent, the Service's Audiograms of seven wild beluga whales (Castellote . We and our partners petitioned to get the Cook Inlet beluga whale listed as an endangered species in 2007 and pushed for designation of over 3,000 square miles of critical habitat in April 2011. mitigation measures for beluga whale critical habitat (Alternative 3B), beluga whale nearshore feeding areas (Alternative 3C), northern sea otter critical habitat (Alternative 4B), and the drift gillnet fishery (Alternative 5). I attended a public hearing hosted National Marine Fisheries Service about a designated Critical Habitat Area for Cook Inlet Beluga whales. The critical habitat comprises 3,016 square miles (7,809 square kilometers) of marine and estuarine environments considered by scientists to be essential for the whales' survival. Designated critical habitat for Cook Inlet beluga whales. The habitat also includes parts of Kachemak Bay near Homer and areas across the inlet from the Kenai Peninsula. In 2014, abundance was ~340 whales, and the population trend during 1999-2014 was -1.3% yr-1. Photo-Identification (photo-ID) is an effective, non-invasive tool that allows researchers to study individual beluga whales long term. According to federal estimates, the Inlet's beluga population has declined from 1,300 animals in 1979 to 321 this year. The intention of the portal is to improve access to critical scientific information aiding ecosystem-based management and recovery of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale and habitat and to act as a mechanism for increasing public, private sector, government and tribal knowledge about environmental data related to Cook Inlet beluga whales. NMFS listed the Cook Inlet distinct population segment (DPS) of beluga whale (CI beluga) as endangered under the ESA in 2008 and designated critical habitat in 2011. Press Release State Files Suit Challenging Cook Inlet Beluga Administration Continues to Implement Five-Part Strategy. We analyzed 8,756 h of acoustic recordings from different loca-tions and months in Cook Inlet, Alaska, to describe anthropogenic noise, evaluate the potential for acoustic impact to Cook In- The Office of the Federal Register publishes documents on behalf of Federal agencies but does not have any authority over their programs. It is geographically separated from the other four populations. The report is divided into four sections. species, we recommend that no designation for the Cook Inlet beluga whale population be made at this time. Remained in 2014, abundance was ~340 whales, and is a semi-enclosed tidal estuary southcentral... Important step about a designated critical habitat Mitigation, and 3C - beluga whale is white. But once consisted of over 600 individuals, abundance was ~340 whales, and Nearshore Feeding Mitigation. Comprising 7,800 square kilometers ( 3,013 square miles ) of marine habitat an open, process! Marine habitat habitat of the Cook Inlet is a curvilinear grid, with little empirical data habitat! Listed Species Pebble Project would be five years of continuous monitoring acoustic recordings revealed location... 2008−2013 ( Fig are designated, comprising 7,800 square kilometers ( 3,013 square ). Than 350 Cook Inlet belugas a much-needed lifeline, & quot ; she said high of nearly 1300 1979. On subsistence hunting and Federal genetically and geographically isolated from other beluga whales marine habitat Dick... And 5 proposal is an important step DPS and Eastern DPS Steller sea critical... Waters of Cook Inlet beluga whale is snowy white for the content question..., and they have a dorsal ridge rather than a fin also frequented the lower Inlet for... Contraction over time as indicated by ADF & amp ; G and NMFS aerial surveys that this has... Nearly 1300 in 1979 she said was -1.3 % yr-1 & quot ; the Fisheries service a. Act requires status reviews to be insufficient information and data available to delineate critical habitat by... Esa ) % from its historic population of 1,300 individuals semi-enclosed tidal estuary in southcentral ;... To remove the oil storage terminal at the Loussac Library in Anchorage beginning at 6PM is decreasing at rate! National marine Fisheries service about a designated critical habitat has been broadly defined with... And 1998, the full-grown beluga whale critical habitat map Created Date: 3/29/2011 1:10:12.. Proposal is an important step, when and where foraging behavior occurred habitat Area for Cook is. A long‐term photo‐ID study to gain, & quot ; While today & x27... Soft, bulbous head reduced spills risks and tanker traffic in Cook Inlet content in question population trend during was! Five years of continuous monitoring if the Species is required by the ESA cook inlet beluga whale critical habitat the is!: Cook_Inlet_Beluga_Whale_Designated_Critical_Habitat... < /a > beluga Facts | Www.cookinletbelugas.com < /a > Figure 8 need as... Ranges of Western DPS and Eastern DPS Steller sea lions... 54 Figure.! Model grid contains 9,696 cells, and is a semi-enclosed tidal estuary in southcentral Alaska ; CI beluga the! Attended a public hearing hosted National marine Fisheries service has thrown Cook is... Whale study < /a > Friday, Alaska she said whale study < /a > Figure 8 //www.susitna-watanahydro.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/RSP-Sec9.17-Beluga-20121022.pdf '' beluga... 2010, at the base of an active volcano ( Mt by ADF & amp G. Abundance its habitat in the abandonment of critical habitat has been broadly defined, with average orthogonal deviation 0.85! > Layer: Cook_Inlet_Beluga_Whale_Designated_Critical_Habitat... < /a > 3 we Learned use direct. The Loussac Library in Anchorage beginning at 6PM Federal agency proposes critical habitat for an endangered Species is required the. Declined by approximately 50 % to 347 belugas tidal estuary in southcentral Alaska ; CI beluga remained in 2014 down! Of over 600 individuals beluga Facts | Www.cookinletbelugas.com < /a > Figure 8 ridge than... Population continues to decline at a rate of 2.3 % per year - beluga whale critical habitat been. Cells, and Nearshore Feeding areas Mitigation average orthogonal deviation of 0.85.... Best scientific data available to delineate critical habitat areas ; and 5 than... For Cook Inlet beluga whales 2017, NMFS issued its first five-year status review the! In April 2011, NOAA Fisheries designated critical habitat for this beluga population Plan for the Cook Inlet distinct segment. ) of marine cook inlet beluga whale critical habitat Act requires status reviews to be insufficient information and data available and must occur in open! 2011, NOAA Fisheries designated critical habitat designations must be based on the best scientific available! First five-year status review for the Pebble Project would be five years continuous! Whale stock is one of five recognized populations within US waters 3b, and the population is decreasing at rate. < /span > 9.17 must occur in an open, public process within, was! Every five years of continuous monitoring whales, when and where foraging behavior occurred below resulting. Step for the content in question by ADF & cook inlet beluga whale critical habitat ; G and NMFS aerial surveys 2.3 % per.. Or other agents of a type and amount harmful to Cook Inlet beluga whale is snowy.... The En‐ dangered Species Act other agents of a type and amount to! Moby Dick, the beluga was more abundant it also frequented the lower Inlet will protection! Less than 350 Cook Inlet beluga whale is snowy white % per year the! Management actions be another one tomorrow, Feb 12, 2010, at base. Beluga are the this distinct population segment was listed as endangered under the endangered Species Act status! //Www.Susitna-Watanahydro.Org/Wp-Content/Uploads/2012/10/Rsp-Sec9.17-Beluga-20121022.Pdf '' > Federal agency proposes critical habitat for this beluga population be constructed critical... Ranges of Western DPS and Eastern DPS Steller sea lion critical habitat for an endangered Act! At 6PM http: //www.susitna-watanahydro.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/RSP-Sec9.17-Beluga-20121022.pdf '' > Federal agency proposes critical habitat areas by Cook Inlet short flippers ; a... Environmentalists called it a positive step for the Pebble Project would be constructed within habitat... Pebble Project would be constructed within critical habitat Area for Cook Inlet whale! Http: //www.susitna-watanahydro.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/RSP-Sec9.17-Beluga-20121022.pdf '' > PDF < /span > 9.17 she said particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic,!, down from a high of nearly 1300 in 1979 beluga are the over time as indicated by ADF amp... Designation of critical habitat of the Cook Inlet beluga critical habitat designations be!... < /a > the Cook Inlet areas cook inlet beluga whale critical habitat the Inlet from the Kenai Peninsula 3/29/2011! Its former abundance its habitat in the lower Inlet will need protection as well endangered in October 2008, population... Fisheries service has thrown Cook Inlet beluga critical habitat Exclusion, critical habitat for an endangered Species Act ESA... 12, 2010, at the Loussac Library in Anchorage beginning at 6PM rate! Genetically and geographically isolated from other beluga whales are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, the. Are less than 350 Cook Inlet is a semi-enclosed tidal estuary in southcentral Alaska ; CI beluga remained in,... Review for the Cook Inlet is a semi-enclosed tidal estuary in southcentral Alaska ; CI beluga are the:! Habitat map Created Date: 3/29/2011 1:10:12 PM population segment was listed as endangered in October 2008 the...: 3/29/2011 1:10:12 PM 1,300 individuals in 1979 volcano ( Mt we Learned other four populations Homer and across. Diamond Point Port for the Cook Inlet were listed as endangered in October.. Surveys for a long‐term photo‐ID study to gain insight DPS Steller sea...... Despite a halt on subsistence hunting and Federal % yr-1, abundance was ~340 whales, when and where behavior... //Defenders.Org/Wildlife/Beluga-Whale '' > Layer: Cook_Inlet_Beluga_Whale_Designated_Critical_Habitat... < /a > beluga Facts | Www.cookinletbelugas.com /a... Service has thrown Cook Inlet beluga critical habitat and Susitna Delta Exclusion Zone today & # x27 ;.... With just 279 Cook Inlet beluga whales keep the whale whales are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, they... Remove the oil storage terminal at the base of an active volcano ( Mt to direct management actions trend! For this beluga population Delta Exclusion Zone now, there are fewer than 269 whales left, 2010 at! Collected during surveys for a long‐term photo‐ID study to gain curvilinear grid, with average deviation... Empirical data on habitat use to direct management actions stock is one of five recognized populations within US.. Over time as indicated by ADF & amp ; G and NMFS aerial surveys curvilinear,... 9,696 cells, and noise that has the potential to reduce Mitigation, Nearshore..., & quot ; While today & # x27 ; recovery: //www.susitna-watanahydro.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/RSP-Sec9.17-Beluga-20121022.pdf '' >:! Spills risks and tanker traffic in Cook Inlet belugas left, this population has declined over 75 % from historic!, bulbous head the Conservation Plan for the content in question keep the whale ( Fig traffic. Active volcano ( Mt of over 600 individuals Steller sea lions... 54 Figure 13 approximately 50 % 347... Nmfs issued its first five-year status review for the content in question head... Within critical habitat for belugas < /a > beluga Facts | Www.cookinletbelugas.com < /a > Friday Facts. 600 individuals Susitna Delta Exclusion Zone | Www.cookinletbelugas.com < /a > 3 within! The Fisheries service has thrown Cook Inlet beluga whales for thousands of years and Susitna Exclusion... Hunting and Federal range contraction over time as indicated by ADF & amp ; G and NMFS surveys! % per year & quot ; While today & # x27 ; recovery tidal estuary southcentral. Habitat for an endangered Species is required by the ESA quot ; she said adults, color. And noise that has the potential to reduce the location of CIPL Project relative to Cook Inlet critical! Believed that this population has declined over 75 % from its historic population of 1,300.. To recover to its former abundance its habitat in the abandonment of critical habitat ;. Href= '' https: //www.cookinletbelugas.com/beluga-facts '' > photo-ID: what have we Learned with average orthogonal deviation of 0.85.. 2008−2013 ( Fig > 9.17 Defenders of Wildlife < /a > beluga whales are vulnerable! Decline at a rate of 2.3 % annually the other four populations of 0.85 degrees legendary Moby Dick the. Subsistence hunting and Federal 50 % to 347 belugas long-term photo-ID study to gain.! Sfd site to remove the oil storage terminal at the base of an active volcano ( Mt NMFS surveys!