Cook Inlet Beluga Whales
Known for their white color, distinctive “melon” foreheads, and unique vocalizations, beluga whales are well-suited to thrive in Arctic and sub-Arctic waters. Belugas are well adapted to their harsh environment with a thick blubber layer adapted to survive in frigid waters. Currently, there are more than 150,000 belugas living throughout their distribution range. As apex predators, belugas are highly vulnerable to pollution contaminating the marine environment and their prey, which can compromise immunity, leading to poor body condition and impacting reproductive fitness.
Alaska’s highly endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale population, located in southeast Alaska near the port city of Anchorage, is a small geographically and genetically distinct population of approximately 300 individuals. They are imperiled by the increased industrialization within their federally designated critical habitat. At their current rate of decline, the population faces a serious risk of functional extinction within our lifetime. The cumulative threats preventing successful population recovery include:
- chronic underwater noise exposure from oil and gas exploration and increased vessel traffic
- pollution and contaminant exposure
- reduction in prey availability
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—the federal government agency charged with the management of Cook Inlet belugas—published a detailed population Recovery Plan (RP) in 2016. The RP identified and ranked ten potential threats to recovery and developed over 60 specific actions aimed at reducing these threats. Since the RP was published, the population has steadily declined and urgent, meaningful interventions to save Cook Inlet belugas are needed. EIA is urging NOAA to take immediate action to implement all aspects of the RP, including reevaluating industrial permits, increased pollution testing, improved stranding response, and conducting further research on the impact of prey availability and climate change.