The Cook Inlet beluga whale population has faced a rapid decline since the 1980’s. In response, the Cook Inlet belugas were placed on the Endangered Species List in 2008. Despite their status on the endangered species list and their protection from the Marine Mammal Act, the population experienced no significant signs of recovery or stabilization. Several factors contribute to the threats facing Cook Inlet belugas. Noise, pollution, habitat loss or degradation, food limitations, human activity, negative human interaction, and more have been shown to be stressors on the population. One conservation effort was made between 2008 and 2011; however following the end of that program, there was an eight year gap before another standardized program began. 

In response to the continuous decline, The Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program (AKBMP) was formed in 2019 as a way to gain more insight into the factors influencing the population. This program involves a multi-agency approach, uniting organizations and people to monitor and collect data. With the intention of collecting accurate data, local volunteers are trained using standardized protocols that help to reduce error in the monitoring sessions. Volunteers are also accompanied by a lead observer, someone with extensive experience in monitoring the population, until they monitor during a session when belugas whales are present.

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is proud to be a partner with AKBMP, serving as one of six monitoring sites and furthering our mission to preserve Alaska’s wildlife. Our naturalist interns and other staff members have the opportunity to be trained in monitoring and take an active role in the observation of Cook Inlet belugas. Every season, AKBMP wraps up with a quick recap, so take a look to see how it went compared to last fall!

Beluga monitoring at The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center:

In the fall of 2024, we increased the amount of days we observed, the hours we observed, and the number of sessions we observed when compared to the fall of 2023. We also had a 20% increase in the number of observers! In 2023 we had 20 volunteers, whereas in 2024 we had 24, allowing us to have increased availability for sessions. Our education department worked diligently to ensure observers followed proper training protocols during the monitoring season.

In 2024, we saw a drop in the proportion of sessions where belugas were seen. Though this can seem counterproductive, this information can provide helpful information in determining patterns of behavior and threats to the population. During the monitoring session, observers collect data on environmental conditions such as sighting conditions, sea state, glare, and weather conditions as well as other conditions including human activity and the presence of other marine mammals. While not one thing can be determined to cause the sightings or lack of sightings in the Cook Inlet beluga populations with this form of observation, taking measurements on multiple variables can help create a multi-faceted description of  the interaction between these variables and their respective and collective relationships with the Cook Inlet beluga whale population.

For those passionate about wildlife conservation, learning more about the Cook Inlet beluga whales and supporting initiatives like the Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program is crucial. Public engagement and support for local conservation programs can make a significant difference in preserving these marine mammals and the health of their environment. Through collaboration and sustained effort, we can help secure a future for the Cook Inlet belugas and the broader marine ecosystem in which they live.

Interested in becoming a community scientist? Visit the AKBMP website! If you would like to learn more about beluga monitoring at AWCC, visit our research page on our website! 

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