Of the five populations of beluga whales in U.S. waters, all found off the coast of Alaska, Cook Inlet belugas are the only population that is endangered. They are the only beluga population listed under the Endangered Species Act. The lowest population abundance on record was estimate was 278 in 2005. Deshka River Chinook (blue line), coho (red line), and Chinook + coho (green line) salmon abundance expressed as available energy to Cook Inlet belugas, based on total kcal/10 8 which is represented by … The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Tuesday released its biennial abundance estimate for endangered beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet. At the time, the Cook Inlet The new numbers are lower than previous estimates and the abundance … Globally, beluga whales are not considered threatened, but the Cook Inlet population, which includes the Yakutat whales, is classified as endangered under the U.S. Scientists say the median estimated population of the endangered Cook Inlet beluga is 279 whales, according to their biennial abundance estimate. Cook Inlet, which supplies energy for south-central Alaska, stretches 180 miles (290 km) from Anchorage to the Gulf of Alaska. Cook Inlet beluga whales live in one of Alaska’s most active shipping channels. The Cook Inlet beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) is one of five Alaskan stocks, genetically distinct and geographically isolated from the other four populations.Historically, they were … The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) gratefully acknowledges the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Recovery Team (CIBRT), led by Dr. Tamara McGuire, for their work in developing the first draft of this Recovery Plan for the Cook Inlet Beluga …

Of the five populations of beluga whales in U.S. waters, all found off the coast of Alaska, Cook Inlet belugas are the only population that is endangered. Cook Inlet beluga whales are continuing to decline in number, according to a NOAA abundance estimate released last month. The Cook Inlet beluga population declined by over 50% between 1994 and 1998. 1. Cook Inlet beluga whales are one of five beluga population stocks found in U.S. waters. The overall goals of our proposed study were to (1) measure contaminants in potential Cook Inlet beluga whale winter prey species and assess data in the context of environmental conditions, and (2) assess biodiversity and relative abundance of potential winter prey in two general areas where beluga … Monte Carlo simulations indicate a 47% probability that from June 1994 to June 1998 abundance of the Cook Inlet stock of belugas was depleted by 50%. Each summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducts aerial abundance estimate surveys over the Inlet in search of Cook Inlet beluga whales. Monte Carlo simulations indicate a 71-percent probability that a 40-percent decline occurred between the June 1994 abundance survey of the Cook Inlet beluga whales and the June 1998 survey. Each summer, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducts aerial abundance estimate surveys over the Inlet in search of Cook Inlet beluga … Following a rapid decline in abundance during the 1980s -1990s, the federal government designated the Cook Inlet beluga … NMFS established Cook Inlet belugas as a distinct population segment (DPS) and therefore, a species as defined under Section 3(15) of the ESA on June 22, 2000. Cook Inlet beluga population is not growing as expected despite the limits on subsistence hunting.