NOAA Finds Decrease in Cook Inlet Beluga Whales

The 2011 numbers for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales are in and they're down almost 20 percent.

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by Megan Mazurek

Story Created: Jan 10, 2012 at 5:52 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jan 10, 2012 at 5:52 PM AKDT

      The 2011 numbers for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales are in and they're down almost 20 percent.

     This is according to experts at NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center. It's annual survey says this year's estimate of 284  is the second lowest since the surveys began in 1993. However, NOAA officials say it's important to look at the overall trend.
     Based on 18 years of doing samples, NOAA says this year's estimate is within range of the 10 year guess for population the trend.
     Scientists also say they only had 3 reported dead beluga whales last year, which is lower then the average of ten per year.
     "The fact is that the estimates of population very from year to year," says Julie Speegle, a spokesperson with NOAA, "Because the belugas may be swimming in a different area then what they were the year before."
    Officials designated the Cook Inlet as critical habitat last year to help protect the whales.
   A recovery plan team hopes to have a draft completed by the end of 2012.
 

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