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SC/69A/CMP/03
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Resource ID
19960
Access
Open
Document Number
SC/69A/CMP/03
Full Title
Gray whale research in 2022 off Northeastern Sakhalin Island and Southeastern Kamchatka, Russia
Author
Alexander M. Burdin, Evgenia Volkova, Anastasiya Kunitsa
Authors Summary
In 2022, research on western gray whales was conducted by the Russian Gray Whale Project and Kronotsky State Preserve in two study areas: (a) northeastern Sakhalin Island off Piltun Lagoon and (b) southeastern Kamchatka in Kronotsky Gulf, specifically Olga Bay. In Sakhalin, work was conducted from 27 July to 8 September and 13 boat surveys were completed. A total of 31 whale groups were encountered (with repeated sightings) but, strikingly and of concern, only 7 whales were identified. One mother-calf pair and four new non-calf whales previously not seen in the study area were observed. The Sakhalin photo-identification catalog collected between 1994-2022 now includes 336 individuals. In Olga Bay, research was conducted from 6 June to 7 September. The total number of gray whales using this study area in 2022 was 97 including 7 mother-calf pairs. Of the 97 whales recorded, 43 individuals had known sighting histories off Sakhalin in earlier years. These data, in combination, again confirm the regular use of the study areas off both Sakhalin and Olga Bay by some whales. Interesting, the number of mother-calf pairs was higher in Olga Bay in 2022 than in the Piltun area, reflecting a notable change from the more typical pattern of more mother-calf pairs being recorded off Sakhalin as documented in earlier years. Overall, the results of the 2022 research program indicate a dramatic decrease in the number of gray whales feeding in the nearshore waters off northeastern Sakhalin near Piltun Lagoon, a finding that raises great concern about the population and calls for deeper investigation regarding the reasons for this trend in declining numbers.
Publisher
IWC
Publication Year
2023
Abstract
This report presents summary results of research on western gray whales off northeastern Sakhalin Island and southeastern Kamchatka, Russia. conducted in 2022.