Alaska’s Whales In Peril

Why we decided to take on this site about Alaska’s Whales and the threats that exist to their ecosystem.

Having lived in Alaska sense 1983, we have witnessed the major decline of whales in many areas of the coastal regions of the state. As disturbing as it has been, there has never been a decline like that noted sense the spring of 1990. The drive from our home in Anchorage Alaska down along Turnagain Arm had been one of great anticipation as we watched the pods of whales that use to feed on the salmon returning to their spawning grounds in the 20 mile river or Bird Creek.

Alaska Native hunters from the Native Village of Tyonek have agreed to abstain from their annual Beluga whale subsistence hunt in 2007. This is the third time this hunt has had to be canceled in the recent history.

Possible Causes For The Decline in the Beluga Whale Population.

• Discharge from Oil Platforms in Cook Inlet.
• Pollution from onshore oil and gas refining.
• Noise pollution from underwater seismic blasting.
• Noise pollution from underwater drilling and pumping.
• Toxic dumping from offshore platforms.
• Leaks and spills from both onshore storage and refining as well as offshore drilling platforms.
• Traditional Alaska Native subsistence hunting of whales.
• Noise from shipping, dredging, commercial fishing, sport fishing also paly a roll in affecting the beluga whale population.

The Cook Inlet beluga population is estimated to have once numbered more than 1,300 strong as recently as the 1970s. The Cook Inlet belugas population declined nearly 50 percent between 1994 and 1999 and today is estimated at just 250 to 300 whales.
Note: Oil and Gas Production in cook Inlet began in the later part of the 60’s and did not really evolve until the early 70’s coinciding with the decline of the whale population.

Looking Deeper into the Current Threat on the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Habitat!

In understanding that the Beluga whale is on the top of the marine food chain makes the threat upon its existence even that much more alarming when we speak of its possible extinction. The health of Cook Inlet is vital to the livelihoods of the people that live, work and play on the Kenai Peninsula. By understanding the implications of not protecting the marine habitat at this critical time, we can begin to envision what the near future holds in an ecosystem that is for what reason unsure, killing off the heartiest of predators in its waters.
We are currently revising the pages, “The Threats Upon Alaska Beluga Whales” and will include it in the next site update. Additional research data is currently being reviewed before the final draft is submitted. Please check back for more on this important subject.

Protecting the Beluga Whales, Our Responsibility With Nature!

    (photo: Center for Coastal Studies)

Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Viewing from Anchorage is available on the road leading out of town towards Whittier and Seward. This area known as Turnagain Arm is an easy drive from Anchorage and has many pulloffs where Beluga whales can often be seen. The best known of these pulloffs is Beluga Point and is well marked with highway signs as you approach.

Additional Threats Are In The Future!

A new threat to the pristine waters that our whales feed in has sprung up in the past few years. Alaska may be in for another Gold Rush if Northern Dynasty Mines is allowed to go forward with their Pebble Mine project in the headwaters of the Alaska’s renowned salmon and trout fishing and rearing region of the Bristol Bay drainage. More about this frightining project will follow in the coming days.

Whale Watching Alaska
Kenai, Alaska 99611
907-776-5783

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