Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T17:05:59.616Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Bowhead whale autumn distribution and relative abundance in relation to oil and gas lease areas in the northeastern Chukchi Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Sue E. Moore
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation3990 Old Town AvenueSuite 105ASan DiegoCA 92110–2931USA
Janet T. Clarke
Affiliation:
Science Applications International Corporation3990 Old Town AvenueSuite 105ASan DiegoCA 92110–2931USA

Abstract

Bowhead whales pass near or through offshore oil and gas lease areas in the northeastern Chukchi Sea during their westward migration each autumn. Results of aerial surveys conducted from mid-September through October 1982–1990 indicate that whale distribution overlapped lease area boundaries north and east of Point Barrow, Alaska. Bowhead relative abundance was high throughout the fall in nearshore sub-blocks east, north, and southwest of Point Barrow, with somewhat lower indices in offshore sub-blocks northwest of Point Barrow.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ahmaogak, G.N. 1987. Letters and comments on ‘Responses of bowhead whales to an offshore drilling operation in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, autumn 1986’ submitted on behalf of the North Slope Borough. In: Companion Document to ‘Responses of bowhead whales to an offshore drilling operation in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, autumn 1986.’ Final report by LGL Limited and Greeneridge Sciences, prepared for Shell Western E&P: 50120.Google Scholar
Anonymous. 1988. Subsistence waterfowl hunting under attack again. Open Lead 3 (1): 2425.Google Scholar
Bradstreet, M.S.W., Thomson, D.H., and Fissel, D.B.. 1987. Zooplankton and bowhead whale feeding in the Canadian Beaufort Sea, 1986. King City, Ontario: Report by LGL Limited, prepared for Canada Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.Google Scholar
Braham, H., Krogman, B., and Carroll, G.. 1984. Bowhead and white whale migration, distribution, and abundance in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas, 1975–78. Seattle: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Technical Report NMFS SSRF-778).Google Scholar
Brueggeman, J.J., and 7 others. 1990. Shell Western E & P Inc 1989 walrus monitoring program: the Klondike, Burger and Popcorn Prospects in the Chukchi Sea. Final report by Ebasco Environmental, prepared for Shell Western E&P.Google Scholar
Brueggeman, J.J., Volsen, D.P., Grotefendt, R.A., Green, G.A., Burns, J.J., and Ljungblad, D.K.. 1991. Chukchi Sea 1990 marine mammal monitoring program. Final report by Ebasco Environmental, prepared for Shell Western E&P.Google Scholar
Brueggeman, J.J., and 6 others. 1992. 1991 marine mammal monitoring program (seals and whales) Crackerjack and Diamond Prospects Chukchi Sea. Final report by Ebasco Environmental, prepared for Shell Western E&P, and Chevron USA.Google Scholar
Clarke, J.T., and Moore, S.E.. 1991. Identifying habitat important to bowhead whales during fall in the western Beaufort and eastern Chukchi seas. Unpublished paper presented to the IWC Scientific Committee, 05 1991.Google Scholar
Cochran, W.G. 1963. Sampling techniques. New York: J. Wiley.Google Scholar
Davis, R.A. 1987. Responses of bowhead whales to an offshore drilling operation in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, autumn 1986: integration and summary report. In: ‘Responses of bowhead whales to an offshore drilling operation in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, autumn 1986.’ Final report by LGL Limited and Greeneridge Sciences, prepared for Shell Western E&P: 151.Google Scholar
Gallagher, M.L., Brewer, K.D., and Hall, J.D.. 1992. Site specific monitoring plan, Cabot Prospect. Final report by COPAC, prepared for ARCO Alaska.Google Scholar
Harwood, L.A., and Borstad, G.A.. 1985. Bowhead whale monitoring study in the southeast Beaufort Sea, July–September 1984. Ottawa: Environmental Studies Revolving Funds (Report 009).Google Scholar
International Whaling Commission. 1987. Report of the sub-committee on protected species and aboriginal subsistence whaling (Annex G). Report of the International Whaling Commission 37: 113120.Google Scholar
Ljungblad, D.K., Moore, S.E., and Clarke, J.T.. 1986. Assessment of bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) feeding patterns in the Alaskan Beaufort and northeastern Chukchi seas via aerial surveys, fall 1979–84. Report of the International Whaling Commission 36: 265272.Google Scholar
MMS. 1990a. Beaufort Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 124 Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Vol. 1. Alaska Outer Continental Shelf EIS/EA, MMS 90–0006.Google Scholar
MMS. 1990 b. Chukchi Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 126 Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Vol. 1. Alaska Outer Continental Shelf EIS/EA, MMS 90–0035.Google Scholar
Moore, S.E. 1992. Summer records of bowhead whales in the northeastern Chukchi Sea. Arctic 45 (4): 398400.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, S.E., and Clarke, J.T.. 1992a. Distribution, abundance and behavior of endangered whales in the Alaskan Chukchi and western Beaufort Sea, 1991: with a review 1982–91. Final report by SAIC, Maritime Services Division, prepared for the US Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region.Google Scholar
Moore, S.E., and Clarke, J.T.. 1992 b. Patterns of bowhead whale distribution and abundance near Barrow, Alaska, in fall 1982–89. Marine Mammal Science 8 (1): 2736.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, S.E., Clarke, J.T., and Ljungblad, D.K.. 1986. A comparison of gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) and owhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) distribution, abundance, habitat preference and behavior in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, 1982–84. Report of the International Whaling Commission 36: 273279.Google Scholar
Moore, S.E., and Reeves, R.R.. 1993. Distribution and movement. In: Burns, J.J., and Montague, J. (editors). The bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus. Society for Marine Mammalogy (Special Publication 2): 313386.Google Scholar
NMFS. 1993. Workshop on monitoring the taking of marine mammals incidental to energy exploration in the Beaufort Sea. Workshop sponsored by the Office of Protected Resources and Western Alaska Field Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, 24–25 02 1993.Google Scholar
Richardson, W.J., Greene, G.R., Malme, C.I., and Thomson, D.H.. 1991. Effects of noise on marine mammals. OCS Study MMS 90–0093. Final report by LGL Ecological Research Associates, prepared for the US Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Atlantic OCS Region.Google Scholar