final report to the National Park Service.
APPENDIX A
AGENDA
Meeting to Review Information and Actions
Concerning Humpback Whales in
Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska
12-13 October 1979
Room 208, College of Fisheries
University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
=12 October 1979=
9:00 Discussion of meeting objectives, agenda, and procedures
(Dr. Robert Hofman, Marine Mammal Commission)
9:15 Overview of available information on the distribution,
abundance, and habitat requirements of humpback whales in the
North Pacific (presentation by Dr. Michael Tillman, National
Marine Fisheries Service)
9:30 Physical/chemical characterization and history of Glacier
Bay (presentation by Mr. Gregory Streveler, Glacier Bay
National Monument)
a. location, dimensions, geomorphology
b. geologic history and structure of the basin
c. glaciology
d. current patterns
e. water characteristics (temperature, salinity,
nutrients)
f. climate
10:00 Review of available information concerning the past and
present utilization of Glacier Bay by humpback whales
(presentation by Mr. Charles Jurasz)
a. historical distribution, movement, and abundance
b. present distribution, movement, abundance, and
behavior
10:30 Coffee Break
10:45 Review of information concerning the past and present human
use and its possible effects on Glacier Bay (presentation by
Mr. John Chapman)
11:15 Possible reasons for observed changes in utilization of Glacier
Bay by humpback whales (discussion led by Dr. Robert Hofman)
12:15 Lunch
1:30 Review of on-going and planned research and management
activities in Glacier Bay and contiguous waters
a. 1:30--National Park Service (presentation by Mr. Jim
Larson and/or Mr. John Chapman)
b. 1:50--National Marine Fisheries Service (presentation
by Mr. Milsted Zahn and/or Dr. Michael Tillman)
2:15 Identification of additional research/management actions, if
any, needed to protect humpback whales in Glacier Bay, e.g.:
a. Research
1. Physical
i. acoustic characteristics of the Bay
ii. water currents and tidal factors
2. Biological
i. identification of whale food and its distribution
and abundance
ii. additional whale behavior studies including
harassment indicators
3. Human Factors
i. acoustic characteristics of vessels
b. Management
1. comprehensive monitoring of vessel use patterns
throughout the Bay
2. vessel routing, number, and speed controls
3. seasonal and/or area closures
4:30 As possible, summarize and rank research and management
activities not included in on-going or planned activities.
5:00 Adjourn
=13 October 1979=
9:00 Continue discussion on ranking research and management
activities not included in on-going or planned activities
10:00 Coffee Break
10:15 As possible, identify target initiation dates, target
completion dates, optimal methods, time, money, personnel,
logistic support, and equipment needed to initiate and complete
ranked research and management projects
11:45 Closing Remarks
12:00 Adjourn
APPENDIX B
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AT MEETING TO REVIEW INFORMATION AND ACTIONS
CONCERNING HUMPBACK WHALES IN GLACIER BAY NATIONAL MONUMENT
Mr. James A. Blaisdell
National Park Service
Fourth & Pike Building, Room 601
Seattle, Washington 98101
206/442-1355
FTS: 399-1355
Mr. Rob Bosworth
Institution for Marine Studies--HA-35
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington 98105
206/543-7004
Mr. John F. Chapman
Superintendent
Glacier Bay National Monument
P.O. Box 1089
Juneau, Alaska 99802
907/586-7137
Dr. William C. Cummings
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Marine Physical Laboratory (A005)
La Jolla, California 92093
714/452-2852
and
Oceanographic Consultants
5948 Eton Court
San Diego, California 92122
714/453-3257
Dr. Frederick C. Dean
Professor of Wildlife Management
Cooperative Park Studies Unit
Room 210, Irving Building
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
907/479-7672
Dr. Donald R. Field
Regional Chief Scientist
National Park Service
Pacific Northwest Region
Fourth & Pike Building, Room 601
Seattle, Washington 98195
206/442-1355
FTS: 399-1355
Mr. Robert Giersdorf
President
Glacier Bay Lodge, Inc.
Park Place Building, Suite 312
Seattle, Washington 98101
206/624-8551
Dr. Louis Herman
University of Hawaii, Kewalo Basin
Marine Mammal Laboratory
1129 Ala Moana
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
808/537-2042
Mr. Larry Hobbs
Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C. 20560
202/343-4516
Mr. Charles M. Jurasz
Ms. Virginia Jurasz
Sea Search
P.O. Box 93
Auke Bay, Alaska 99821
Mr. James W. Larson
Deputy Regional Chief Scientist
National Park Service
Alaska Area Office
540 W. 5th Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
907/271-4243
Mr. Paul A. Larson
Chief Resource Management and
Visitor Protection
National Park Service
Pacific Northwest Region
Fourth & Pike Building, Room 601
Seattle, Washington 98101
206/442-5670
FTS: 399-5670
Mr. William Lawton
National Marine Mammal Laboratory
NOAA/NMFS
7600 Sand Point Way, N.W., Building 32
Seattle, Washington 98115
206/442-5215
Dr. Jack W. Lentfer
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
210 Ferry Way
Juneau, Alaska 99801
907/586-6702
Dr. Katherine Ralls
Office of Zoological Research
National Zoo
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C. 20008
202/381-7315
Mr. Dale W. Rice
National Marine Mammal Laboratory
NOAA/NMFS
7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Building 32
Seattle, Washington 98115
206/442-5004
Mr. G. P. Streveler
Research Biologist
Glacier Bay National Monument
Gustavus, Alaska 99826
907/697-3341
Mr. Steven L. Swartz
1592 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard
San Diego, California 92107
714/222-9978
Dr. Michael F. Tillman, Director
National Marine Mammal Laboratory
NOAA/NMFS
7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Building 32
Seattle, Washington 98115
206/442-4712
FTS: 399-4711
Mr. Douglas G. Warnock
Deputy Director Alaska Area
National Park Service
540 West 5th Avenue, Room 202
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
907/271-4243
Mr. Roland H. Wauer
Chief, Division of Natural Resources
National Park Service
1100 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
202/523-5127
Dr. A. R. Weisbrod
Endangered Species Coordinator
National Park Service
1100 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
202/523-5127
Mr. Allen A. Wolman
National Marine Mammal Laboratory
NOAA/NMFS
7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Building 32
Seattle, Washington 98115
206/442-4583
Mr. Milsted C. Zahn
Enforcement Division
Alaska Regional Office
National Marine Fisheries Service
Box 1668
Juneau, Alaska 99802
907/586-7228
APPENDIX C
Data/Information and Research Needs Relative to Humpback Whales in
Glacier Bay and Elsewhere (these lists are examples and not
necessarily all inclusive).
A. Compilation and analyses of existing data (available data
presently are not in a form that is optimally useful)
I. =Whales=
a. whale distribution and abundance in Glacier Bay and
surrounding areas--by year, season, time of day, age,
sex, weather (tide, rain, etc.), birds, boats (by total
and by class), depth of water, distance from shore, prey
species, effort,----
b. movements/habitat use patterns--home range,
temporal/spatial distribution of sightings of
individually recognizable animals--are there resident,
migratory and/or transient animals in the Bay or
surrounding waters--do individuals have seasonal, annual
cycles as to when/where they occur
c. undisturbed ("normal"--baseline) whale behavior--by age,
sex, group size, group composition, time of day, season,
location (descriptive and quantitative)
1. resting dive times/breathing a. vocalization
2. traveling 1.
3. feeding 2.
i. lunge-feeding 3.
ii. bubble net-feeding "
iii. other b. tail lob
c. raking
d. finning
e. breaching
f. avoidance
g. other
4. interaction with other whales/social organization
of whales
d. disturbed whale behavior--stimulus/response--behavior
(as above) before, during and after an event--response
distance (by age, sex, pre-event activity, location,
time between events, time of day, season, weather,
etc.)--recovery time (by age, sex, etc.).
II. =Boat and Aircraft Traffic=
a. distribution and abundance in Glacier Bay and
surrounding areas--by type (class), year, season,
time of day, weather
b. movements/use patterns--by type, year, etc.
c. activities (behavior)--by type, year, etc.
1. whale watching
2. fishing (sport/commercial)
III. =Habitat= (physical, chemical, biological environment--by
year, season, etc.)
a. physical--water temperature, sediment load
b. chemical--salinity, oxygen content, inorganic nutrient,
pollutants
c. biological
1. distribution and abundance of primary and secondary
prey species--by year, season, time of day
2. distribution, size, and species composition of fish
catch, including by-catch--by year and season
3. distribution and abundance of predators (killer
whales) and competitors other than man--by year,
season, time of day, etc.
B. Improve base line data
I. =Acoustic=
a. ambient noise levels--representative areas (in and
outside Bay), seasons, time of day, weather and tide
conditions, sea state
b. boat- and plane-related noise--representative types,
representative areas (in and outside Bay), speed
(prop rpm), season, time of day, sea state
II. =Whales=--in and outside the Bay
a. abundance
b. distribution
c. movements (habitat use pattern)
d. activity patterns
e. behavior vocalization
f. habitat requirement/areas of special significance
III. =Boats and Planes=--in and outside the Bay
a. abundance--by type, season, time of day
b. distribution-- " " " "
c. movements-- " " " "
d. activity in patterns " " "
IV. =Habitat=
a. physical
b. chemical--pollutant levels
c. biological
1. distribution, abundance and dynamics of primary
and secondary prey species--in and outside the Bay
2. distribution, size and species composition of fish
catch--in and outside the Bay
3. distribution, abundance and movements of competing
and predatory species
C. Experiments to validate hypothesis concerning possible effects
of various stimuli on whales--representative stimuli,
representative whales (age, sex), representative
activities/behaviors (resting, feeding, traveling, vocalizing,
etc.), representative areas, seasons, times of day, weather and
environmental conditions.
D. Long-term monitoring (at regular intervals)
I. =Environment= (physical, chemical)
II. =Whales= (distribution, abundance, movements, activity
patterns, vocalization patterns, cow/calf ratios)
III. =Boat/Planes= (abundance, type, distribution, movements,
activities)
IV. =Prey species=
V. =Fish catch=
APPENDIX D
[NOAA Letterhead--Cut off]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
Washington, D.C. 20235
DEC 3 1979 F6:TRL
Mr. John Chapman
Superintendent
Glacier Bay National Monument
National Park Service
P.O. Box 1089
Juneau, Alaska 99802
Dear Mr. Chapman:
This letter responds to your August 4, 1979, request for consultation
pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended, relative to the population of the humpback whale in Glacier
Bay, Alaska.
Your problem statement of the same date outlines the basic issue of
human activity in Glacier Bay National Monument that might be
affecting humpback whales. Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
requires that each federal agency insure that its actions do not
jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in
the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat of such
species. The consultation process requires our comment and opinion on
the problem.
Within this context, our response addresses those National Park
Service (NPS) actions controlling human activity that may, in turn,
affect the humpback whales within Glacier Bay.
=Biological Background=
In the North Pacific, the summer range of the humpback whale
encompasses the area from Bering Strait south to the Subarctic
Boundary (ca. 40 deg. N lat) and extends in the east to about Point
Conception, California, and the Sanriku Coast of Honshu Island in the
west. Humpbacks range into shallow coastal waters more frequently than
do most other balaenopterids and regularly occur in sheltered inside
waters of Prince William Sound and the Alexander Archipelago of
southeastern Alaska.
The wintering grounds of humpbacks in the North Pacific are centered
in three areas: (1) the coast and adjacent islands of west-central
Mexico; (2) the main Hawaiian Islands; and (3) the Bonin, Ryukyu, and
Mariana Islands in the western North Pacific. Some humpbacks that
summer in southeastern Alaska are known to migrate to both the Mexican
and Hawaiian wintering grounds, although others are found in
southeastern Alaska during all months of the year.
Prior to the rise of modern whaling in the late 1800's, the world
population of humpback whales exceeded 100,000, mostly in the Southern
Hemisphere. The North Pacific population probably numbered roughly
15,000 at the turn of the century.
Whaling in southeastern Alaska began in 1907 with the establishment of
two land stations. The number of humpback whales at the start of this
earliest exploitation is unknown. Consistent catch records are
available only for 1912-1922, during which time 185 humpbacks were
taken, with a peak catch of 39 in 1916.
Since 1922, no whaling has been conducted in the territorial waters of
southeastern Alaska. However, the humpback whales of the inside waters
were exposed to additional exploitation as they migrated across the
high seas or through the coastal territorial waters of British
Columbia, Washington, California, and Baja California.
By 1966, when humpbacks were accorded complete legal protection by the
International Whaling Commission, the world population of the species
had been reduced to about 5,000. The North Pacific population now
numbers about 1,000, of which 600 or 700 winter in the Hawaiian
Islands, and 200 or 300 winter in Mexico. Only a few humpbacks have
been sighted on the western North Pacific wintering grounds in recent
years. Since 1966 no trends in abundance have been observed either for
the North Pacific population as a whole or on any of its wintering or
summering grounds, including southeastern Alaska.
Based upon aerial and vessel surveys, the population that spends the
summer in the inside waters of southeastern Alaska numbers at least
70. Photoidentification studies now underway tentatively reveal that
the population may exceed 100. Although it ranges throughout the area
from Sumner Strait northward, its main concentration areas are
Frederick Sound-Stephens Passage, where a minimum of 40 whales occurs,
and Glacier Bay, where 20-25 whales occur. Humpback whales congregate
in these areas to feed upon the summer blooms of euphausiids, herring,
and capelin. Some whales arrive in June and stay on through early
September, although as mentioned earlier, other animals appear to
remain through the winter months.
When humpback whales historically began occupying Glacier Bay is
unknown, but they have occurred there every summer over the past seven
years of investigation. Photoidentification techniques indicate that
certain individuals repeatedly return to feed there.
The availability of these and other feeding areas in southeastern
Alaska has not been constant over the years. Although Glacier Bay has
lately been a prominent feeding area, this was not always so since the
area was covered by an ice sheet during the 18th century; at that time
the humpback population was presumably at its maximum pre-exploitation
level. There is some indication that a seasonal feeding area in Lynn
Canal was avoided by humpbacks coincident with the onset of a herring
fishery in 1972. With the cessation of that fishery, humpbacks
reoccupied the area in 1979. The possibility cannot be discarded that
these events are related.
=Present Glacier Bay Situation=
The NPS records indicate that during 1976 and 1977, 20-24 individual
humpback whales moved into Glacier Bay during June and remained there
into August. In 1978 this pattern of use changed when most of the
animals departed by mid-July. In 1979 this use was modified further
with fewer whales entering the Bay and very few of those remaining in
the Bay. Observations prior to 1976 are more general in nature, rather
than numerical counts of record.
Human use of the Bay is reflected in NPS records, to wit:
Visitor Large Private Fishing
Year Days Ships Boats Vessels
---- ------- ----- ------- -------
1965 1,800
1969 16,000 115
1970 30,000 165
1975 72,000 113 353 824
1976 85,000 123 318 656
1977 120,000 142 534 523
1978 109,000 123 699 458
Most visitor use is via water access, with cruise ship and
recreational craft visitation levels increasing rapidly in recent
years.
The recent NPS study indicates that increasing vessel traffic in
Glacier Bay may be implicated in the apparent departure of whales from
Glacier Bay in 1978 and 1979. Data on the number of observed
whale-vessel interactions in Glacier Bay enables calculation of the
following "interaction" index (data for 1979 not available):
Whale-vessel Hours Index
Year Interactions Observed (interactions/hour)
----- ------------ -------- -------------------
1976 98 261.1 0.38
1977 201 407.1 0.49
1978 268 397.5 0.67
Thus the occurrence of whale-vessel interactions increased 29 percent
and 76 percent respectively in 1977 and 1978 over the 1976 base level.
Despite mitigative regulations in 1979, observers noted that
whale-vessel interactions continued at substantial frequencies.
The NPS data indicate that behavior of the humpback whales in Glacier
Bay changed significantly in 1978. Comparison of the frequency
distributions of behavioral responses indicates that, whereas
distributions were the same in 1976 and 1977, both years were
statistically different from 1978. In 1978, more avoidance behavior
occurred than in previous years, suggesting that the whales reacted to
the increased level of vessel traffic in 1978. However, the causal
mechanism for these reactions (whether it be increased noise or visual
stimuli) remains unknown.
All classes of vessels were not implicated equally in the increased
level of interactions which occurred in 1978. Cruise ship visitations
actually decreased 14 percent in 1978 from the 1977 high, while
charter/pleasure craft visitations increased 120 percent between 1976
and 1978. Commercial fishing vessel traffic decreased 30 percent
between 1976 and 1978. Charter/pleasure craft were often observed to
change direction and travel toward whales for a closer look. Cruise
ships and commercial fishing vessels, on the other hand, neither
paused for nor actively followed whales. Thus the most likely source
for increased interaction would appear to be the increased visitations
by charter/pleasure craft in 1978.
This conclusion seems to agree with the perceptions of scientists
examining other similar situations. The workshop on problems related
to Hawaiian humpback whales, sponsored by the Marine Mammal Commission
in 1977, concluded that vessel traffic not oriented toward whales did
not ordinarily seem to disturb them. Indeed, it was concluded that
whales seem readily to habituate to constant or familiar noises such
as those produced by ships of passage. A recent review on the possible
effects of noises emanating from offshore oil and gas development
concluded that, unlike the abrupt response to sudden disturbances,
most whales become habituated to low-level background noises such as
would be associated with ship traffic (Geraci, J. R., and D. J. St.
Aubin, "Possible Effects of Offshore Oil and Gas Development on Marine
Mammals," prepared for the Marine Mammal Commission, August 1979.)
Moreover, it was noted that such behavior forms the underlying basis
for the success of whale watching cruises. Thus the erratic actions of
charter/pleasure craft rather than the more constant action of cruise
ships may be the major factor in possible harassment by vessels within
Glacier Bay.
Cruise ships also may be implicated as potential sources of
disturbance due to the physical setting within Glacier Bay. A direct
analogy may be seen in the lagoons of Baja California where gray
whales calve. Heavy barge and freighter traffic associated with the
salt industry, as well as a dredge operating continuously in the
lagoon's mouth, apparently drove gray whales out of Laguna Guerrero
Negro between 1957 and 1967. The whales reinvaded in substantial
numbers when vessel traffic was eliminated. The continued high use of
Laguna Ojo de Liebre by gray whales suggests that the movement of salt
barges, beginning there in 1967, may not have been such a nuisance.
However, since Laguna Ojo de Liebre is a much larger area than Laguna
Guerrero Negro and has a much wider entrance, the whales there may
simply have been able to move and coexist next to the barges. Such
luxury of space may not be available to the humpback whales of Glacier
Bay and, due to geological configurations of its basin, vessel noise
may be accentuated there. These factors may account for the unexpected
reaction of humpbacks to cruise ships in Glacier Bay.
The apparent departure of humpback whales from Glacier Bay in 1978 and
1979 may also be due in part to a change in the availability of food.
Euphausiids have historically been the primary feed within Glacier Bay
in July-August, although little research has been done to compare
yearly levels of this feed or to determine what level is necessary to
support the whales. The only available information derives from
vertical plankton tows by the REGINA MARIS in August 1979, which
indicated that fewer euphausiids (5 percent) occurred in Glacier Bay
as compared to Frederick Sound-Stephens Passage. The humpbacks may
have found the Glacier Bay food levels to be too low, particularly in
the face of continued high vessel use, and simply departed to search
for better concentrations elsewhere.
A similar abandonment of a prime feeding area, the Grand Banks, was
observed for the Northwest Atlantic humpback population and was
thought to be associated with the overfishing of capelin stocks there.
Consequently, the occurrence and distribution of humpback whales may
be generally dependent upon the occurrence and availability of its
desired prey species.
In a worst case analysis, Glacier Bay is a feeding ground, and its
long-term abandonment would not be conducive to the conservation of
the humpback whale. Up to 20 or 25 individual whales would relocate to
other areas, increasing competition for food there. In such case a
greater expenditure of energy might be required to obtain the same
quantities of food than would be required in Glacier Bay. An increased
energy expenditure would tend to decrease the likelihood of humpbacks
successfully increasing their numbers, since growth and the onset of
sexual maturity would be delayed.
=Conclusions=
Our present interpretation of the available data is that uncontrolled
increase of vessel traffic, particularly of erratically traveling
charter/pleasure craft, probably has altered the behavior of humpback
whales in Glacier Bay and thus may be implicated in their departure
from the Bay the past two years. Our conclusion, then, is that
continued increase in the amount of vessel traffic, particularly
charter/pleasure craft, in Glacier Bay is likely to jeopardize the
continued existence of the humpback whale population frequenting
Southeast Alaska. The alteration in the distribution of the whales in
Southeast Alaska can be expected to appreciably reduce the likelihood
of the recovery of the North Pacific humpback population, especially
when viewed as an incremental aggravation of the problem of
humpback/human interaction in general.
=Recommendations=