They squeal, squeak, chirp which is why sailors called them ‘sea canaries’. Dark grey, 5-15 feet long, 2-3,000 pounds, 30-50 year lifespan. Use sound to communicate, prey, navigate by producing a variety of clicks, whistles. Feed on salmon, eulachon, smelt, char, rainbow sole, whitefish, saffron, cod, herring, shrimp, mussels, octopus, crabs.
Cook Inlet Belugas were an integral part of Alaska native subsistence diet. Due to unregulated harvest at an unsustainable level, they’re disappearing. Although hunt has been suspended, whale population hasn’t recovered as expected.
Challenges include noise, physical habitat changes due to construction, oil and gas developments, changes in prey availability, changes in habitat due to climate change, predator killer whales, pollution, contaminants, vessel traffic.
Population has declined an estimated 75%, now an endangered species. Hope focused recovery plans can be created, actions effectively implemented.