Humpback Whales in Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska Part 4

4. Total closure to all but certain cla.s.ses of vessels--e.g., cruise vessels charter vessels fis.h.i.+ng vessels

5. Seasonal closure to all but certain cla.s.ses of vessels--e.g., cruise vessels charter vessels fis.h.i.+ng vessels

6. Partial season closure to all but certain cla.s.ses of vessels--e.g.

cruise vessels charter vessels fis.h.i.+ng vessels

7. Alternatives 4, 5, or 6 with limitations on total numbers of vessels of various cla.s.ses given access

8. Alternatives 4, 5, 6 or 7 with restrictions applying only to certain areas of the Bay

9. Establishment of a ceiling for all vessels or certain cla.s.ses of vessels during all or part of the whale season

10. No restrictions on access but certain activities prohibited or limited to certain areas or vessel cla.s.ses--e.g.: establish traffic lanes and permit "deliberate" whale-watching only by a few trained and licensed charter-boat operators.

11. No restrictions.

IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESEARCH/MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Factors that should be considered in making research/management decisions include (1) that the humpback whale is an endangered species; (2) that there are statutory requirements to protect the whales and their habitats; (3) that the cause of the present problem is uncertain; (4) that the purpose of the Monument is to provide for educational, recreational, and scientific experiences; and (5) that limiting access or restricting or closing the Monument to some or all vessel activity could affect commercial and private enterprises, including fis.h.i.+ng.

Additionally, there are a number of types and possible consequences of decision errors that should also be considered--e.g.,

1. If Glacier Bay is a critical habitat, and if the movement of humpbacks is in response to whale watching vessels, pleasure boats, cruise vessels, etc., and if the movement is or will be irreversible; then the humpback whale population will be adversely impacted (e.g., carrying capacity reduced) if no action is taken.

2. If Glacier Bay is not a critical habitat, and if movement is due to whale watching vessels, etc., and it is or will be irreversible; then only the quality of visitor experience/value of monument is decreased if no action is taken. The impact on the population of humpbacks is not critical so long as suitable habitat is available elsewhere. However, the NPS mandate established in the 1916 Act still would not be fulfilled.

3. If all, or a specific type of, vessel traffic is prohibited or regulated, and the movement from the Bay is not caused, directly or indirectly by such traffic; then there will be decreased opportunity for human activity within the Bay, and increased economic impacts on fishermen and commercial operators that may have been unnecessarily restricted.

The optimal short-term research/management strategy would minimize the risks a.s.sociated with the kinds of errors discussed above, and include actions such as the following:

1) by early 1980, compile and complete the a.n.a.lysis and evaluation of all existing and relevant data;

2) based upon the evaluation of the best available data, promulgate temporary (one season) whale watching regulations and/or restrict access by all or certain cla.s.ses of vessels or the number, frequency, or duration of visits of all or certain cla.s.ses of vessels to certain areas at certain times of the year, as may be appropriate;

3) continue and, if appropriate expand, surveys of whale/vessel numbers, distribution, movements, behavior and interactions in and outside Glacier Bay;

4) identify and initiate additional research that is needed to identify and mitigate the cause or causes of the observed humpback whale movement from the Bay, e.g.,

a. characterize the acoustical environment of Glacier Bay and other areas in which humpbacks occur;

b. characterize the sounds generated by various cla.s.ses of vessels and aircraft;

c. design and conduct sound playback experiments to test hypotheses concerning the possible effects of vessel activities on humpback whale movements and behavior; and

d. a.s.sess and monitor the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of Glacier Bay, especially the distribution and abundance of prey species upon which humpback whales feed.

The optimal long-range research/management strategy would include:

1) the development and implementation of a humpback whale recovery plan to include humpback whales in all of Glacier Bay, all of southeast Alaska and the North Pacific in general, including: the identification, designation and protection of critical humpback whale habitat;

2) the development of a universal and/or site-specific definition of "hara.s.sment" to apply to humpback whales in Glacier Bay, southeast Alaska and the North Pacific in general;

3) the development and implementation of a long-range research/management plan for the Monument including whale and environmental monitoring;

4) a determination as to the direct and indirect effects of incidental take, whale watching, fis.h.i.+ng activity, etc. on humpback whales in Glacier Bay, Southeast Alaska and the North Pacific in general; and

5) a determination as to the long-term c.u.mulative impacts of the degradation and destruction of habitat on the survival of the humpback whale throughout its range in the North Pacific.

AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES AND NEED FOR COOPERATION AND COORDINATION

There are many individuals, groups and organizations interested or involved in finding solutions to problems a.s.sociated with humpback whales and human activities in Glacier Bay. The need for management planning and research programs has been identified. The identification of interested and responsible organizations is necessary so that cooperative, coordinated planning and research can occur. Hopefully, by developing such plans or projects, minimum resources will be expended to obtain satisfactory solutions. In addition, by involving all interested and responsible individuals, groups, or organizations at an early stage, cooperative efforts can be maximized and disagreements identified and minimized.

The prime responsibilities of the National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Park Service have been identified. Other Federal agencies that should or might profitably be involved include the Bureau of Land Management, the Office of Coastal Zone Management, Sea Grant, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers. State agencies that should or might be profitably involved include the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the State Coastal Zone Management Commission, and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Commercial and recreational companies that organize fis.h.i.+ng, tour, and charter activities, private boaters, academic/scientific communities, and environmental organizations are also important. Some of these organizations have on-going, or plan to initiate, research projects, which may provide data and information of importance to the problems discussed in this report.

The Bureau of Land Management, New York Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Office, is presently initiating noise effects studies on marine mammals. The U.S. Geological Survey at Tacoma, Was.h.i.+ngton and Menlo Park, California is describing and mapping marine sediment distribution, thickness and characteristics within Glacier Bay. J. P.

Mathews, of the Inst.i.tute of Marine Science, University of Alaska, is summarizing the physical characteristics, especially water ma.s.s characteristics and dynamics, of Glacier Bay. If possible, these studies should be coordinated such that a maximum amount of information can be obtained and used in the management and research activities related to Glacier Bay National Monument and the humpback whale.

SUMMARY

Humpback whales in the North Pacific are migratory, spending the summer months in northern waters including the inland waters of southeast Alaska. Records have been maintained on the number of identifiable humpbacks seen in these waters including Glacier Bay. In 1978, humpbacks departed Glacier Bay after being "in residence" for a far shorter time period than recorded previously; all but three whales left the Bay within 24 hours of entering in 1979.

There has been an increase in vessel traffic and activity within Glacier Bay during the 1970's. Such activity may have been a factor in the movement of humpbacks from Glacier Bay. Other factors which may have been at least contributing but for which no known information exists, or is inadequate at best, include: natural environmental changes (chemical, physical, biological) or natural changes in the movement of the whales.

Present management and research plans and activities did not antic.i.p.ate and, therefore, are inadequate to deal effectively with present day problems a.s.sociated with a rapidly growing influx of people and vessels/aircraft into any environment with limited s.p.a.ce and resources. Some human activities and the activities and behavioral patterns of humpback whales may be mutually exclusive.

The most apparent important short-term research need is to a.n.a.lyze and evaluate all available data, in order to develop short and long term management plans and research programs.

REFERENCES

Hale, L. Z. and R. G. Wright, 1979. The Glacier Bay Marine Ecosystem. A Conceptual Ecological Model. U.S. Department of the Interior, NPS, Anchorage Office. 177 pp.