April 21, 2008 Decision delayed on listing Cook Inlet beluga whales

By MARY PEMBERTON year. The recommendation is for none The proposed listing as well as The this year. critical habitat designation is being watched closely by the state and ANCHORAGE, – A federal NOAA says the new survey is needed others who are concerned over the agency is giving itself six more because there has been so much affect it could have on projects such months to decide whether to list as variability in the population estimates as the expansion of the Anchorage endangered the beluga whales that since surveys began in 1994. While port and plans to develop coal fi elds swim waters off Alaska’s largest the state has interpreted the last two across the inlet. city. years as an indication that beluga numbers are increasing, federal Gov. has said she’s The National Oceanic & Atmospheric scientists aren’t so sure. opposed to the listing because it could Administration’s Fisheries Service cause serious long-term damage announced Monday that it is taking “We believe that substantial to the area’s economy. Anchorage advantage of a one-time, six-month disagreement exists regarding the Mayor Mark Begich said Monday he extension in order to do another population trend, and that allowing supports the delay in order to gather population estimate on the Cook Inlet an additional six months to obtain more scientifi c data. whales that swim off Anchorage, the 2008 abundance estimate would delighting tourists and Alaskans better inform our fi nal determination During a recent public comment alike. whether the Cook Inlet beluga whales period, NOAA received approximately should be listed as endangered under 180,000 responses, more than on any The agency last year recommended the Endangered Species Act,” Doug other issue, Smith said. About 90 listing the whales under the Mecum, acting Alaska regional percent support the listing, he said. Endangered Species Act. administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service, said in a statement. The Center for Biological Diversity At one time there were perhaps as is strongly considering suing over many as 1,300 Cook Inlet belugas A new survey in June will help the delay, said Brendan Cummings, but numbers have now dwindled to determine how many belugas there oceans program director. an estimated 375 whales – about the are in Cook Inlet and a rate of same number as nearly 20 years ago. recovery, said Brad Smith, supervisory He said federal researchers caved in Last year’s estimate was up from biologist with NOAA Fisheries in to political pressure. 302 in 2006, giving some hope the Anchorage. “There may be political disagreement whales were recovering. Projections but there is no scientifi c disagreement show that the whales have nearly an “The last several years have resulted in an increase in those estimates but justifying the delay,” Cummings said. 80 percent chance of going extinct “Just because the state of Alaska in 300 years. at the same time the long-term trend remains in decline,” Smith said. wants it so is no reason for NOAA The decline is believed to be because to buckle under pressure and ignore of overharvesting by Alaska Native NOAA now faces an Oct. 20 listing science and the law.” subsistence hunters before the hunt deadline. If the agency decides to list, was sharply curtailed nearly a decade it also likely will take an additional ago. No whales were harvested last year to designate critical habitat, Smith said.