Mysticete whale abundance and observations of prey associations on the central Bering Sea shelf

Abstract

Visual surveys for cetaceans were conducted along transect lines in the central Bering Sea in association with a groundfish stock assessment survey from 5 July to 5 August 1999. There were 125 sightings of single or groups of mysticete whales during 6,043km of survey effort. Fin whales were most common (60% of all sightings), with distribution clustered along the outer continental shelf break near the 200m isobath. In addition, there were 27 sightings of minke whales and 17 sightings of humpback whales. Minke whales were primarily found along the upper slope in water 100-200m deep, while humpbacks clustered along the eastern Aleutian Islands and near the USA/Russian Convention Line southwest of St. Lawrence Island. Abundance estimates for fin, humpback and minke whales were: 4,951 (95% CI = 2,833-8,653); 1,175 (95% CI = 197-7,009) and 936 (95% CI = 473-1,852), respectively. These three species were the only ones for which sufficient on-effort sightings were available to estimate abundance. Sei whales, a gray whale and a pair of northern right whales were also seen. Although right whales have been seen in this area before, some behavioural details are provided here because observations of these whales remain rare.

Calls recorded from North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica) in the eastern Bering Sea

“…A two-week cruise was conducted in July 1999 in association with aerial surveys to find and photograph North Pacific right whales (Eubalaena japonica) in the eastern Bering Sea, where they have been seen each July since 1996 (Goddard and Rugh, 1998;Tynan, 1998;1999;Moore et al, 2000;LeDuc et al, 2001;Tynan et al, 2001). The overall goal of the cruise was to biopsy right whales, collect aerial photographs and, if possible, detect and locate whales via localisation of acoustic calls (LeDuc et al, 2000).…”