The structure of the summer reproductive gathering of beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas was studied in the vicinity of Myagostrov, Golyi Sosnovets, and Roganka islands (Onega Bay, the White Sea) in 2006 and 2008. The abundance, age and sex structure, behavior, and swimming and acoustic behavior were studied in detail.

The work is based on an analysis of archival documents containing quantitative information on harvests of beluga whales in the White, Barents, and western Kara seas from 1930. Also, information is provided on the possible places where the documents containing data of beluga whaling could still be preserved. The probable causes of the reduction in catches and abundance of beluga whales in the coastal waters of the study areas, observed from the late 1960s, are discussed. How to cite this article: