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NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL MESA 41
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S1ATES O
MARINE MAMMALS OF NORTHERN PUGET SOUND
AND THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA
A Report on Investigations November 1 1977
October 31 1978
Robert D Everitt Clifford H Fiscus Robert L DeLong
Marine Ecosystems Analysis Program Boulder Colorado i January 1979 1
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n Y NATlONAL OCEANIC AND Environmental SPHERIC ADMINISTRATlON Research Laboratories
NOAA Seattle Library Northwest Straits Collection f
NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL MESA 4l
MARINE MAMMALS OF NORTHERN PUGET SOUND
AND THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA
A Report on Investigations November 1 1977
October 31 1978
Robert D Everitt Clifford H Fiscus Robert L DeLong
National Marine Fisheries Service Seattle Washington
Marine Ecosystems Analysis Program Boulder Colorado January 1979
UNITED STATES NATIONAL OCEANIC AND Environmental Research DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Laboratories M q Juanita Kreps Secretary Richard A Frank Administrator Wilmot N Hess Director
NTOf Report Submitted to MESA PUGET SOU Dn ROJECT MARINE ECOSYSTEMS ANALYSIS PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES
by
MARINE MAMMAL DIVISION ALASKA FISHERIES CENTER NORTHWEST AND i t r r y NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE I NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION SEATTLE WA 98115
IThis work is the result of research sponsored by the Envi onmental Protection Agency and administered by the Enviionmental Research Lab6ratories of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration I IThe Environmental Research Laboratories do not approve reco mend or endorse any proprietary product or proprietary material mentioned in this publication No reference shall be made to the Environmental Research Laboratories or to this publication furnished by the Environmental Research Laboratories in any advertising or sales promotion which would indicate or imply that the Environmental Research Laboratories approve recommend or endorse any proprietary herein which has as its prod ct or proprietary material or or the purpose an intent to cause directly indirectly advertised product to be used or purchased because of 1Qis Environmental Research Laboratories publication x t1tt I f 1J l i Y
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CONTENTS
Page List of Figures v
List of Tables ix
Abstract 1
1 Introduction 2 I A Marine Mammal Research in Washington 3 I B A List of Marine Mammals of Northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca 5
II Methods and Materials 7 II A Area Study 7 II B Methodology 9 II B l Aerial Study 9 II B 2 Small boat land observations 11 II B 3 Sigh tings from other sources 12
III Results and Discussion 13 III A Accounts Species 13 III A l Order Carnivora 13 III A l a River otter Lutra
canadensis 14 III A l b California sea lion
Zalophus californianus 17 III A l c Northern sea lion
Eumetopias jUbatus 26 III A l d Northern fur seal
Callorhinus ursinus 33 III A l e Harbor seal Phoca vitulina
richardsi 37 III A l f Northern elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris 80
III A 2 Order Mysticeti 87 III A 2 a Gray whale Eschrichtius
robustus 87 III A 2 b Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 99 III A 2 c Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus 109 III 2 A d Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae 111
Hi Page
III A 3 Order Odontoceti 115 III A 3 a Whitehead grampus Grampus 115 gr iseus III A 3 b Pacific white side dolphi Lagenorhynchus obliquidens 117 III A 3 c Saddle back do phin d 118 D elphinu8l elphJs
r II A 3 d Fal seki ller whaIe Pseudorca crassidens 119 Globi III A 3 e Shortfin pilQ whale cephala macrorhynchus 120 or 123 III A 3 f K iller whale Grc inus caJ e Phoco III A 3 g Har bor Porpq i 133 phocoena OJ 0 III A 3 h Dal o poise hocoenoides d a 11ii 143 III A J i PygJllY spe ID whale Jogia breviceps 153 III A 3 j Goosebe ak wh ale Z ipius cavirQs ri 155 III A 3 k LNor th p cific giant bottle nQs e lwh al e Berardias bairdi 156
158 III B air Effects on Marine Mammals 158 tfI i3 l riter a1 ur e Review 162 II B 2 Discussion
163 IV and Conclusrons Summary 163 IV A Ce tacecfns 164 IV B Mustelids 166 IV C Pinnipeds
171 V Acknowledgments
172 VI Bibliography
iv LIST OF FIGURES
Numbers Page
1 The waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca 8
2 Distribution of recent records of river otters Lutra canadensis in northern Puqet Sound and tre Stralt of Juan de Fuca Records include trapping records and field observations adapted from Hirschl 1978 16
3 Location of three major Sucia Is Race Rocks and Sombrio Pt and one minor Tatoosh 1 haul out sites for northern sea lions Eumetopias jubatus and California sea lions Zalophus californianus in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca 24
4 Northern sea lions at Race Rocks British Columbia 28
5 Pacific harbor seals at Protection Island 38
6 Distribution of locations of haul out sites for harpor seals Phoca vitulina richardsi in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca 43
7 Cobblestone spit at Minor Island 56
8 Tidal rocks near Puffin Island 57
9 Mudflats at Padilla Bay 58
10 Locations of areas included in the San Juan Wilderness Area numbers refer to Tables 9 10 60
11 Harbor seal Phoca vitulina rlchardsi haul out site locations in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca Letters A Z refer to T 11 12 numbers 1 17 refer to T 13 14 This igure does not include locations in th San Juan Wilderness Area refer to Figure 10 61
12 General areas 1 17 in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca for which abundance estimates of harbor seals Phoca vitulina richardsi were made Table 16 62
v umbersI Page
67 13 Harbor seals at Padilla Bay 27 VI 78
14 Smith Island and Minor Island foreground at low 69 tid e 20 VI I 78
15 Harbor seals at Minor Island 24 II 78 70
16 Protection Island Violet Pt is in the foreg round 9 II 78 73
17 Distribution of elephant seal Mirounga angustlrostris sightings in spring March May in Puget Sound and the Strai t of Juan de Fu ca data from Table 17 85
18 Distribution of E7 lephan t seal Mirounga angustirostris and a 1 si ghtils in s mmer JUl Augustf CSeptember t in p uj t S ourfd ci the Str att of Juanfde Fuca Nqyembe ryd c a ta fronT ilble 17 86
19 P tcent ol rriax ilnum 6n thly re sponse Kugus t for each month from October 1 77 to October 1978 of calls received by the publi c cetacean rep6rtiYfg system n O le Hotl ine F igure pourc Bora nq sborne q l J L Wh 88 978 r 1 n
20 Distribution of gr y whale s i h iJslrobustus sightings in fall Septemb r November al winter December February in Puget Sound and the Stt it of Juan de Fuca data from Table 18 95
21 Distribution of gray whale Eschrichtius rqbustus sightings in spring March May in Puget Sound ana the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from Table 18 96
I 22 Distribution of gray whale Eschrichtius robustus sig htings in U e summer June August in Pug et Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca datg froro Tab1e 18 97
a cu toro 23 D is tr ibuti on J mink e Vh ale B cilaenoptera er and strataJ sighting s if fall September Novemb winter December Feoruary ih Puget Sound and the 102 Strait of Juan de Fuca data from Table 21
vi Numbers Page
24 Distribution of minke whale Balaenoptera acutoro strata sightings in spring in Puget Sound and the t of Juan de data Strai Fuca from Table 21 103
25 of Distribution minke whale Balaenoptera a utoro strata sightings in summer June August in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from Table 21 104
26 of Location two humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae sightings in Puget Sound see Table 22 114
27 Distribution of pilot whale Globicephala macrorhyn chus sightings in spring March May and summer June August in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from Table 25 125
28 Mo ements of J Pod of killer whales Orcinus urca in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in 1976 1977 The width of a line represents the relative number of occurrences in anyone area dashed lines represents hypothetical movements based on unconfirmed reports chart courtesy of K Balcomb Moclips Cetological Society 129
29 Movements of L Pod of killer whales Orcinus orca in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca inI976 1977 The width of a line represents the relative number of occurrences in anyone area dashed lines represents hypothetical movements based on unconfirmed reports chart courtesy of K Balcomb Moclips Cetological Society 130
30 Distribution of harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena sightings in fall September November and winter December February in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from Table 26 135
31 Distribution of harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena sightings in spring March May in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from Table 26 136
vii N umse rs Page
32 D stribution of harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena and sightings in summer June August in Puget Sound the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from Table 26J 137
33 Dist tGution of Dall porpoise Phocoendoides dalli ifg Ei gi in spring March May in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from Table 2 145
34 Distribution of Dall porpoise Phocoendoides dalli aig tings in the summer June hugust in Puget Sound ancCfhe SfraU of Juan de Fuca data from Table 28 146
35 Distribution of Dall porpoise Phocoendoides dalli tember in Sound s ightingsi in falL Sep November puget and the S tra it of Juan de Fuc lda ta from Table 28 147
36 Total number of northern sea lions and California sea et Sound l ions occurring in the waters of northern Pug and the Strait of Juan de Fuca Becember 197 7 ita October 1978 169
viii t f LIST OF TABLES
Number Page
1 of field Summary activities conducted by the Marine Mammal Division under contract with NOAA s MESA Puget Sound Office Date activity Occurred is given under each month Dashed line means no activity took that month place Information was taken from
monthly reports 10
2 Observations of sea northern lions E j California sea lions Z c California sea lions tentative identification Z c and unidentified sea lions UNID from aerial surveys of Race Rocks B C 1974 to 1975 July June and December 1977 to October 1978 1974 1975 data were taken from files at the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle WA and represent counts photographic 20
3 Observations of northern sea lions E j and California sea lions Z c from aerial surveys of Sombrio Pt Vancouver Island and Sucia Island 1974 to June 1975 July and December 1977 to October 1978 1974 1975 data were taken from files at the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle WA and visual represent estimates 1977 1978 data were collected during the present study and represent counts photographic 22
4 Total of number California sea lion Zalophus californianus by month observed hauled out at all areas in the inland waters of Washington November 1977 to October 1978 Numbers observed include both and positive tentative identifications and are summarized from 2 Tables and 3 25
5 Total number of northern sea lions Eumetopias month jubatus by observed hauled out at all areas in the inland waters of Washington November 1977 to 1978 October Data are summarized from Tables 2 and 3 31
6 observations Pelagic of northern sea lions Eumetopias in jubatus the water in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca from November 1977 to October 1978 32
ix Page Numbers
Callorhinus ursinus 7 Yearly take of northern fur seals W om 1913 qt j I Wg hbngt q ten ifr n B l sE rqdian 34 S lg t9 to 41 i 3 hg iD g rj k ilgi g t l ig l
H t2 f 1 5 0 it 9 i t 1 D fi t 1 C tJ 1 rn S fld grl d the 8 Oteet lg t Ol q qt LPUP tl Qf tl1 yg q t a t 9t J llan 1g jflg by mqft1l1ot rQth J UI f t E3Rtember m the 1979 Pup coun ts and total numbetqlJ oe l r 1 number of highest for the survey period Total lR s 2qdll An1 mIlat r e Q S Dq 1i L lAm tQcclqSJe te i 41 l giv p c rH 9ge Q P P s tOl t9 l l nim sJ q eq J i I l e 1 I l t J2 1 i e t f rtiJ l o a r n I 9 Aer ldryey cUl1tf B i alp 15 t9Il gJt R ss l 7 Z 9 h uil i q tne ciQ Y Ib tg HiY J y fQ nc n e n c k qr las ri qb i ll9l 1 krJ Q JtQ eg i e e r P Ilt s ur i QJ l nC sD I E1r y O h e fer numbe r l Jl1s e map re ence F j J1i 1B J Vol 40 numbers refer to the Federal Reg ister 4 r 7 l l No 1 ept m p 6 aIg Y ti 4ildJ 77 14 44 y h J 29 r 1 3 rO i J 76 j L t j eo J i vul 1Q y L jq F u C E 1 S tf1J c1 t i1j I a Tf C ts k t rqI L 10 Al rve 90un if l19 r OllS 1 t L 78 th e San Jua n W it derness 78 to October 19 for 7r Jiune 19 c I e i e t Ai e i B a 9 e iI J iJng S t Q tJ gla 9 qg c 0 e re P f SI PW y q 1 r IT 12 nOr aIY A i e nI s t dO Jsj he msp J ns t F lft t9 r fg refer to the Federal 0 1 Yl2 lQ H numbers g tEir 41 147 No 172 4 1975 and Vol No September 47 d Ju ly 1 1 co 5 n 0 j J h J llf r 1lT f3 r J It f JUG U l jSj bSf e iv r 1 Jf t fr 1 i f r d C q aKen 2 11 Aelr lj stp y y t9 utlJ s Q q rilto l r 7 nci icate il ov l1li 19 7 JtP ay 2i i C gd 1 n i als the a1e t as l1Q lr YE2Y l Ja t Illg sllq Q tr 50 refer en e f w1 p j were present map p3 Fig dref5JJ
har seal s t k m 12 Aer iC l sqrX Y11CO llnt s n fr 7 D h e e the 5 1 q cbinle iIlq tctJ tI q bO gtPqEt 9 j q meanno an tma ls were z O w eros 1 L w as not r t 5r t area sury I i v eyed re 51 n gU 5l1 Rre t i dnC p r eE DEC rjete t LtP Fi b of seals taken from 13 Aerial survey counts harbor 9 r7 l9 8 p d 1 i sj ciicate l Np Y mber tq t1ay 9he An n anJmals wa s d 0 r J npt t1r3ey zeF5j mec np th ure l 52 re ence to Elg w er e presen t map er rerer sJ
x Numbers Page
14 Aerial survey counts of harbor seals taken from June to October 1978 Dasned lines indicate t e area was not surveyed zeros 0 mean no animals w 11 present map reference refers to Figure 53
15 Maximum counts of harbor seals Phoca vitulina richardsi from aerial surveys of islands in Briti Columbia July 1974 to August 1975 Counts are fr visual estimates only Data was taken from files t the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle Wa 54
harbor seals ta n 16 Summary of aerial survey counts of from November 1977 to October 1978 Dashed lines O indicate the area was not surveyed zeros 0 mean animals were present map reference numbers refer P pt Figure 12 Pup counts are in parenthesis and are included in the adult totals 63
17 Records of northern elephant seal Mirounga augustt ostris sightings for the inland waters of Washington by month Records compiled at the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle Wa are described as files records from the Platforms of Opportunity lines Program are described as POP Dashed indicates data not available 83
18 Recent observations of gray whales Eschrichtius robustus for the inland waters of Washington Si t month cords at fue ings are presented by R compiled Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle Washington are described as files records from the Platforms of Opportunity Program are described as POP records reported to the Whale Hotline NMFS funded are described as H L records from Orca Survey are described as O S Dashed lines indicate data not available 91
19 Measurements in m of a male gray whale Eschrichtius Nech robustus drowned in a gill net and examined at MMD 78 003 Bay washington on 14 September 1978 98
20 Measurements in m of a minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata that stranded near Long Beach WA 122050 W on approx location Lat 47ol0 N long 15 April 1964 101
xi umbers Page
21 Recent observations of minke whales Balaenoptera ac 3 0 E iaf fdi t6 iri nd wcit s bf Washlngt n Slghtings are presented By mont l Recoras complled at fh MarinEVM amrid i Biylsi6i1 I NWAFC SeaH fe1 kL i Wash ing ton iite ae cf ibe f af ftres tecordst froincr the Platformsof Opportunit Pr ogram are described a1 eqofd ed t8tfi wflafe Hotl tne n MFS PQP repod 1 de a i de scr as H L ds f rom 0 ca f fbed f f r t fU 1 ft t recdir t f ftt t Surv Moc Ce al are descrlbed t y p till oi9glI I Soclety l I K tJ as O S Dashed l1I1es lndlcate data not available lr J 105 2 lj oL o e1 v t 1 r t llt t 1 f Z l s j
22 3 e Megaptera tJ ecel J qJ xrv Qn J ulrt R S no a angll e1 for fh Inland wa rswQaof Wash ng ori J 1 S i ngs are n ted m8nth n gh ti pre y Recqrdscompl1ed j t th f Mratln ManunZiI DlvtsIonE NWAFC rsEbattie UY I w hih torp iiiPe dgscib d aS fli@ r r cordsfr in fEhe tl platfo mSbf un t ro ared escf ibeda s POP nbppor grarn l ty r f p records reP9rted to the Whal HotlIne NMFS fund ed descrfbed asH Ii lfnes indicate not f Dashedt data fi kn w lI 1 Al j t1 j l r N It f l t 1 cl i t b c J t L J Va l a I bl r r 113 l Il r5 1f r Lf l i t t fl L fJ rL 1 1 t J J 23 Mk G fn nfs5j irifiift off feltia iehlt fie d a n G ra g r kus l i l puk Fr 9d tgr 29v Y1 W 7 l 5 1 116 Sp n2 bfl I g tMa 1SI t gr g 5 J l i 4 r f ft t 1 of t fI 24 Measurements In m ofa m let shortf lnp l ot wh ale Glob icephala macrohynchus ap SL e I 1lf i9 1 Harbor Hbod anal which0died iri captiv ity 3 0 March f f M n a s 968t e M mu b ion f D r6lfi 11 at th J o i f rs ol 1 Fii a ivl r I t l i l tlC r Y 1 J t eJ S 19 68 q Sealtle rJW a 106 o 122 J peclmeh r I r l J L G j t 1 f l Cl f rfS
f rt f t 1 yft91 r i i 1 f2 ArqfI1 i 25 n in p e b it tq99S EvAtJ9n pr J 1 iP J li il Globic ph la acrorhynchus l tP ip iDJilry t is of Washlngtoh S ight ings are presen ted by mon th Re ord t d aJ t theO M fine Marnfnal D ivliYibrl NWAFC compi 1 Sea tti wash Ingtoft t a s t ibedc ag fllt t e co rds reported to the Whale Hotline NMFS fundedtFar
as Hr L described Dashed lines indicatew data not f J J I v
d i Lav d ab1e c 124 I Jf l w7 H 1 q c L r l JltJ 3 J II K l r g t z trr l1 r ci 26 Recent oDservatlons of tne harbor porp olse Phocoena pho c ena L f thecJ l l t at etx S a Qi1g oI cords complIed at the Marlne Mammal Dlvlslon NWAFC Seattle W ash ing toIl i d S c b s f ii s rrecordg from the p iatforrns of Oppbrfu ity Pr bg tainrl ar 5descr ibed as POP records reported to the Whale Hotl ine HmFS funded are described as H L records from ORCA Survey Moclips Cetological Society are described as O S Dashed lines indicate data not available 138
xii Numbers Page
27 Measurements in m of a male harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena stranded near Poulsbo Wa on 5 January 1971 MMD 197l 1 142
28 Recent observations of Da1l porpoise Phocoenoides dalli for the inland waters of Washington SightLngs are presented by month Records compiled at the Mar ine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle Washington are described as files records from the Platforms of Opportunity Program are described as POP records to the reported Whale Hotline NMFS funded are described as H L records Orca from Survey Mocl s Cetological Society are described as O S Dashed lines indicate data not available L48
29 Stomach contents of a Pygmy sperm whale Kogia beviceps stranded 5 October 1977 on Whidbey Isla Stomach content identification by C H Fiscus MMDj NWAFC Seattle Wa L54
30 Measurements in m from a female B rardius Bairdii stranded near Port Townsend on 6 December 1962 Da from MMD files L57
31 Occurrence of common Mysticetes and Odontocetes in the Strait Juan of de Fuca and northern Puget Soun during the four seasons of the year 0 species present greatest abundance not present OJ known to occur 165
32 Occurrence of pinnipeds in the Strait of Juan de F a and northern Puget Sound during the four seasons olthe year 0 species present greatest abundanc not present or known to occur 67
33 Percentages of the total population of Pacific harbr seals Phoca vitulina richardsi for selected areasin northern Sound and the puget Strait of Juan de Fucaby season were taken Percentages from aerial surveys made in 1977 1978 numbers in parenthesis refer to Table 16 170
xiii MARINE MAMMALS OF NORTHERN PUGET SOUND AND THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA A Report on Investigations November 1 1977 October 31 1978
R D Everitt C H Fiscus and R L DeLong
ABSTRACT
This describes the report results of the first year of a two year study designed to determine the abundance and distribution of marine mammals in northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca An account describing each of marine mammal in the species study area was prepared with data collected during monthly aerial and small boat surveys and from an extensive literature review The river otter Lutra canadensis pacifica is common in the area and of the five pinnipeds that occur only the harbor seal Phoca vitulina richardsi is a year round resident Haul out behavior was studied to determine optimum survey times and an estimate excess in of 1 600 was made for harbor seals in the August highest estimate for any month Two sea lions the California sea lion Za19phus Californianus and northern sea lion Eumetopias jubatus are common during winter months These two species arrive in the study area in October and leave by May A maximum of over 260 individual sea lions were observed during 1977 1978 Fifteen species of cetaceans occur in these waters most only rarely Resident species include the minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Dall porpoise Phocoenoides dallii harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena and the killer whale Orcinus orca The first two species are most frequently seenrnthe spring and summer months the latter two occur year round L IN DRODUCTI0Ni q
1 d
l ro j The inl nd waters of Washington Strait of Juan de Fuca for commercial ahd Puget Sound are unique waterways ideal human and recreational uses Growth of the population in I have this area and continued development however caused ihcreasing concern over potential environmental degradation on a tinu0usofqow of waste ith pr roa linterestf focusjog c0 into Puget Sound Of more recent concern has been the associated e fect of increasing petroleum transport and refining operations on Puget Sound The development of laska s oil reserves and consideration of Washington as a oint of departure for transhipment of petroleum products to areas of the country has also become cause for 1 odtheroncern tq
In response to these threats to the biological I c ha pbeen instigat d to ge qu qf uget0S0yndiEresearcb beenH j E L their a Th is docl1meniJoI has I effectso researchcwhich
r ion na 9 p rtl by 1tl L Uni teg S tgt nv roI mentaJrProbec t National Oceanic gerr y At gnq adm nistered through the e ndA tl sphet ic bdmin tration sJ NOAAL lMarine Ecosystem O fice is des to A g Yeie l1ESArT uget SoundPr oject ignedJ r nd and 4 y J op gn lmq rstand ing 0 f the e cosy stem f on P uget S ou o ruan ged ucar to compile base1i Re0datafor the ttQII Qfrait t e e al j c m nce cOB i y iIei1 Xl to ident fy pot ntj qq aod Ltransfe rl 1 1 petrQre tlm transportt operat 3n3 F l 5 fJL Y n I fsA9 e is i 1 a a Stra J6f rl 1L Il rine maIlmals in n rther n Puget Sound aDd dthe t Mamrilal Juan d Euca L qe jng GoIJiu cted by NOAA ItslcMar ine sher Cenbe r 1 1 D iy sj on l1MD r NQr nwest and A laskaF i ies NW Fqb National altn e Ftsneries S e rvice NMFS Seattle D season a j fA Th Qbj ct i es ilre to 1 etermine rthe s a ch mad ne mammal hi tlie popula tion tatlds 9f species Qf loca used S i r1 if i areCb 1l2 2Q Qr ilEt spec ific tions g cantlyby I he thes populoa t ions and h G haractepize yt v ar iolis r increas e their PORIJ qtJQDsl and tQ j n aQi tsl which may I l u1I eraQlll ty to p r ell ela ed actlv lltles I r r t f 1 1 j j T J l i i one of Ths r por t coZers year research Nov mber 11977 October 1978 which is the first ofa two ye ar the tudy The second year activity to be completed in of 1979 will permit documentation of any annual jfallvariation and allow compilation of more information for examined in the first jareas not adequately year I
2 I A Marine Mammal Research in Washington
Research on marine mammals in the United States was limited until passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 which obligated the Federal Government to determine status of marine mammal stocks of national interest Generally only those species of commercial value or those regulated by inte national treaty e g northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus were studied significantly prior to 1972 and in Washington opportunistic research formed the basis for most of the early literature
T H Scheffer a biologist with the U S Fish and Wildlife Service carried out research on the harbor seal Phoca vitulina richardsi and published some early accounts of its feeding habits under the impetus of concern over the impact of these animals on commercial fish species Scheffer 1929 that 1931 showed salmonids comprised only a small portion of the total prey species and was an early voice callinq for sound management of pinnipeds in the state Scheffer 1928
Unusual observations and new species records have regularly appeared in the literature e g Bonham 1942 Stroud 1969 Balcomb 1972 Wilke 1943 described a methodology for collecting harbor seal drawing on the of local experience bounty hunters A paper by Wilke and Kenyon 1952 relates the results of stomach content analysis of fur seals sea lions and one harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena some of which were collected in Washington waters Initial attempts to determine pinniped stocks on the Washington coast by aerial surveys were attempted in the 1940 s and 1950 s Scheffer and Macy 1944 Kenyon and Scheffer 1952 The first records of California sea lions Zalophus californianus in Washington were reported in these studies
V B Scheffer and J W Slipp 1944 compiled the first natural account of the local harbor seal since that of T H Scheffer This work was the result of personal observations of the animals and interviews with local residents Scheffer and Slipp 1948 also described cetaceans common to Washington in a report based on accumulated records personal observations and interviews
M A Bigg FRBC Nanaimo B C has published results of work on the biology of local harbor seal populations Bigg 1969 1973 1974 Big9 and Wolman 1975 published a study of live capture of killer whales Orcinus orca in inland waters
3 Unde rr J r Mu rray Johnson gradlla te s tud n ts with the University of puget Sound UPS have continued work with harbor seals since the late 1960 s Arnold 1969 reported on a feasibility study of Gertrude sland as a te earch site i and Newby 19 i presented ddltional details of the harhob seail g of thatr is land A review of tbe popu lation of harbor seals4 in thec s ta ter dbcumen ted at poptll ation de cl ine ove rlHtne years Newby 1 93 wLth f unding fromthe Mar ine Mapunail Comm iss iOA MMe andthe NMFS resea rch conductedby t a n th UP S scient il tl expanaed to the coas concerlt ingi Grays Harbor area Joh nson andJ e fferies 197 7 Th is study co ntinues and Johnson and J effer ies are presentiy n studying movements of harbor seals using radio telemetry c t r L f J ri i J 1 1 1 i JJndergraduate studen ts of The Evergreen StateCollege
r mpi a Wa sh4ngton ed the current abundance and G1U sttidj d is tribut Ion of thee harboI1 sealpr fi1c ipal i 71 Tnsou thertl Puget Sound and HoodCai1 al Craiombokidis letfai 1978 j ex mineQpol utan t 1 y elsc int tissue samples and comparedi th is leveh w ith prev iousw9rk lfrom thearea by Arnd td 19151 k 1 5 dj t 0cqi r q iL3 z c I j i The MMD has been involved with research bne local mar ine mammals for several years Pelag ic collecting exped itions b c and coas ts northern theMMD of fc the Orego Wash ing ton for fur11 Seals ihave accu lUla tedL data on seveJraln sp e c s i1 lthe l9 aJea 5 An1 attemptr to collect large ceta ceans in nor therno SO tind in ass the firs t 2 rsonne t6jbbta4 n Puget 6 5 p MMDp m rin mammalyspe c mens inthe irH and waberS oe Wash ingtorp s F iscus and Ka j imu ra 19 65 i it The Mocl ipsCetalogl cal Uj iJ S cietyr in itia ted Ot ca Survey 031 photo study of klil let w ales OrcinusJ orca in Washington waters which was J I m fig i1a lil y fundedthrough 1 he MMD in ll976 Tne curren t f l vel of funding haslbeen reduced ton nclude20nlYjthe toil ftee publicoreporting system ot rWhale Hotlirte Important sightIng records have been accumulated by this Society over the past few years as a res tL f tl1 y t m I In 1974 1975 a cooperative research program between the MMB and the Washington Department of Game WDG began The primary objective was aerial and vessel surveys of killer whales in Puget Sound though theroccurrence of other species were noted as well Unpublished data from this work has been useful in preparing the present report
iThe MMD has also attempted to coordinate the recovery of stranded animals locally by providing technical assistance storage space and logistic support Sighting records of marine mammals that are accumulated opportunisticaliy from various locations in Washington are maintained i a c mputer data bank as part of the Platforms
4 of Opportunity Program POP These records come from NOAA research vessels commercial fishing operators and private individuals
In addition to its work through MESA the MMD may expand its research in Oregon and Wash ing ton to include studies of marine mammal commercial fishery interactions
I B A List of Marine Mammals of Northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca
The marine mammals reported from this area represent three orders Research effort was directed at those species of marine mammals which from the literature are known to have occured in the inland waters of Washington No occurrences of new species ere documented during this study For the purpose of this report we use the nomenclature of Rice 1977 except for the subspecific spelling of Phoca vitulina richardsi which was recentiy corrected by Shaughnessy and Fay 1977
Order Carnivora
Family Mustelidae
River Otter Lutra canadensis pacifica
Family Otariidae
California sea lion Zalophus californianus
Northern Steller s Sea Lion Eumetopias jubatus
Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus
Family Phocidae
Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina richardsi
Northern Elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris
5 Order Mysticeti
Family Eschrichtiidae
Gray Whal EsbhrichEIGs rbb st i
Family Balaenopteridae
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata
1 F i1 Wh ale r Baiaenoptera physalusi
r I ck Whale i Humpba I Megaptera i I novaeanqX1aetJ J
fJ Order Odontocefi 1 cc l i
t I i r Family Delphlnldae
Whitehead Grampus Grampus qriseus
Pacific White sided H DolPtltp r Lagenorhynchus obliquidenst T
Saddleback Dolphin Delphinus delphis
False Killer Whale
P seudorca cras s de ris
Shortfin Pilot W aie Globicephala rnaCroi ynchus
Killer Whale
Orcinus orca
Harbor Porpoise Phocoena phocoena
Dall Porpoise Phocoenoides dallii
6 Family Physeteridae
Pygmy Sperm Whale Koqia breviceps
Family Ziphiidae
Goosebeak Whale Ziphius cavirostris
North Pacific Giant Bottlenose Whale Berardius bairdi
II METHODS AND MATERIALS I
To achieve the research objectives of this project a strategy was devised using several different methods to obtain population data of marine mammals in the study area Included were direct censusing of the larger populations of pinnipeds usin aerial small boat and land observations The compilation of records and observations from published and unpublished sources provided information on species which were not observed during field activities or are infrequent or rare visitors to the area
II A Study Area
The research area is the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and northern Puget Sound lat 480N 49oN long 122030 W 124050 W Fig 1 In the San Juan Islands area over 180 major and minor islands islets and reefs exist Large tidefla areas are found in Padilla Skagit Bellingham and Sarnish Bays Long sand and cobble spits occur at Protection Island Dungeness Spit and Minor Island Areas emphasized in this study were Dungeness Spit Refuge Smith Minor Islands and Protection Island The important shipping lanes of Haro Strait Rosario Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca also warranted close scrutiny
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8 II B Methodology
II B l Aerial I Survey Aerial surveys of marine mammal census populations is a common technique Chapman et al 1977 effective It is for which particularly pinnipeds haul out on land readily visible and are A t tal of 130 4 29 hours were flights Table 1 flown in tJ At least two to the pilot observers in addition participated in each observer flight The sat forward next to primary the pilot He Ii survey made visual directed the estimates of numbers of observed and animals photographed all G out groups of I when possible Other pinnipeds hauled I observers sat aft and observation and maintained location records coicide with Surveys were timed to monthly low tides The entire 1 covered areawas in 2 or 3 survey usually days coastal at altitudes of surveys were flown i 300 500 feet and open water about 700 feet On transects it occasion an observer from funded sea bird the MESA project accompanied our times we surveys at attempted to whic1 accomodate their observations flying at lower altitudes by
Photographs were taken with F2S either a 35 mm camera with motor Nikon F2or drive unit and 105 135 lenses with or 200 mn automatic apertures were taken Overlapping if more than one photograph photograph was required complete coverage High for film speed Kodak ASA 200 was used because dark ektachrom overcast conditions and flight speeds 80 100 kts high required the llse stops and shutters of low aperlllre speeds of 1 250 sec or faster The developed slides were projected onto a paper for large roll of whi animals and counting images marked to duplication These avoid photograph counts replaced visual estimates in correspon ng the field notes
When local weather conditions of occassionally prevent coverage all portions of the area made later survey we in the month to attempts survey the areas
1 Aerial were surveys conducted a aircraft using four place 72 chartered first from CessnaL Bison Air Seattle WA f November 1977 to rn March 1978 Air Eze flew the Ltd Seattle remaining surveys April Cessna 172 October 1978 usin1a
9 o i J s u q 1 with NOAA I contract n under J C d D f l the in yis 5ll l co d y lt1a c 1 ivities Mc f Je i I l t no ld act cluc c f I of ffi J l line means TABLE Spmmary D J ch month 1 Dashed s 1inder e 1 td iven f 1 g I t l 0 occurred r Date h j ce activityt 1 L 1 tn q sound Off J 4 r t MESA ruO s uget1 j M from monfh1y reporoc taken t tJl I for r I t tp at r r mQp I that t t t 1 hi took plac 1 I rJ ac ivityl P L I If l tl 3 J t tJl 1 VI ll f 1 t1 ll 1 A lJ1 1 1 lJ Q UJ t1 t tV rj1 J J 1 1 u t 1 l cr4 t 1 1 tri t 1 t i I A 1 B ft n ill r r j 1 J 0 i t l 1h 0 U J 2 f ti i lfl 1 A J 1 j u It r I Cp 1 tJ C 1 l tCl 1 1 0 I I j Oct Total Days I July Sep 11977 UJune May u 01Aj r t l IJj De c o I C r NOV L 0 c 1 Act v c t l tl l I ty tFr u 111 J l4 the lA N I J t 1 L t U 0 ll L fJ f t ffJ t 0 u 0 t l cD If 29 9 12 13 14 14 3r7 27 28l 4 1j 2t 2 7 1 9 I o J 23ffc t t 1 H t 30o 8 21 f if RI L Aeha rvey t D C 1 0 7 t I ll 2 u ru l 1 r tJ Obs L 1 42 2 Land 22 22 28 9212 6 8 19 21 17 19 Boit CI 12 N 4 8 21 6rI7 C18 r J o l 1 tll il 1 1 1 t 1 1 2 I J 5 protec t1on P 0 J C j U C 1 C 12 I r r lQ I 1 l 0 C J cJ 1 i to l M nor 1 A lJl I lJ 4 Sm th t lJ J 6 i5 l t rf n J 1 r 7 I tt i lit j I 0l I Refuge 0 p t 3 Dungeness t 0 n 0 i J 30 t c 1 f j 1 If L C l f 11 t1 rn 1 I x 1 W l 5 S t l u t I Haro tia1 tj t r 1 6 r 7 3i 2 21 r ti J 0 r r 1 t 1 1 t t t l 4 Rosar o cStra t r 1 1 p 3 4 dl t J u 1 28 r 0 r r L 10 11 it t cJ 1 12 t li6 L r 1 J j J rr III t 1 0 J aH r 1 r skag1 If 0 C I I 4 J ro tIt li 1 0 BlY ro 111 I r 1 J J l t J c t J t 1 LoU li 1 C I Pad lla Bay c J t q 7 1 3 J i 14 1 l r r t 1t l 1 r fl c l l 0 D 2 4 h o J 1 2 I i r l l D111ner j fJ t i U 1 115 f 1 lil If 1 021 I t C J t 1 1 vi W tl scoery Bay frl D COd t 3 LS U 7 r Ii ti l rrl 1 1 Q Jt Ur l J 44 10 IP III 5 CJ 2 j 0J t 1 II rJ l f 1 J 11 J 3 xi r51 tJ t 7 l L I I I IJ lure 0 U l 2 0 e ne fa I CBoat l1 L CP 3 EhgL 1 t l rr J L I lJ I fI 11 J J F v I l I J ro 1 lt 0 r iil fd ys 5tO 4 I 1 t i 1 l t t does not 1 1 lure II c due tO t f tl rrhl s wa eqU1prne M D bo t oEer 917 t c J m6 th that t y 0 C Est total days l r mate off rt Ct rA Jfl l cD y I I 1 J h t1 C lost to weather l tJ1 nclude days out J Since several days were required to cover the study area each month the possibility of an animal occurinq on successive days at different sites and thus being count twice occurs This factor cannot be evaluated without a unde standing of local movements of animals which is lading for most species of marine mammals This question was nt in the scope of the present research effort and for the of this purposes report duplicate sightings were consideed negligible
11 8 2 Small boat land observations
We originally planned to ma e periodic surveys by bat to areas of known importance to harbor seals i e Dungele ss Refuge Protection Island and Smith Manor Islands and into the heavily traveled shipping lanes in Rosario and Haro Straits For this purpose we obtained a used l6 foot Pacific Mariner with a 55hp Evinrude outboard Mechanic and problems smallness of the craft for the often rough nd stormy water encountered in open areas prevented surveysin all except ideal weather conditions Table 1 During surveys at least two observers were on board w th the b t operator serving as a secondary observer The primary observer scanned ooen water areas and when in view of haulin areas made several counts aided by Tx50 mm Bushn l binoculars The average of these counts was used as the best estimate of the number of animals present and photographs were taken to documeryt habitat type and to create a photo catalogue of hauling areas
Land observations were made primarily of harbor sea that haul out on Protect io n Island Attempts to observe harbor seals at Dungeness Refuge and Minor Island were unsuccessful due to the low topography of those areas and our inability to stay for any length of time We constructed a blind on Protection Island but were unqble to place it in the most desirable location which limited its effect iveness In add it ion we did not use the bl ind in the spring and summir to void isturbing the many Glaucous ng gulls nesting there
Observations were made from cliffs overlooking the hauling area on Protection Island using a Bushnell 20x4S loom telescope mounted on a tripod and from a boat anchored 50 70 m offshore The total number of animals were recoraed and age classes noted i e whether adult immature or pup and behavioral notes were made when practicable Noles were also made on such weather factors as visibility
11 v l and dtrecfion 06servat Ion tempe f ature and nd f r i speed c times Cvitr led ldepeRdfng on we a fher don dIticns ana sui fa rat fh 6bse rva tfon cpoin f xbuf Jere iiev r mo r 15iTffy t w EAI co ndft orl s llowed otis erva tlc ris r v than 30 ffi lrtu ees I f 6 l riade h c5utf thtOu h tIdal C tcf hc3w v f if nis yJrI o t 3 l m Of threeJ hse Vatloi1 rodS low rrj bie mfrim o poss 1 R 1 C SIl l mid e8b fr6 d a nd i tide were m de I i hlgli J tJ t v t j l Ja i r lJ Jq h9j i10 f E r rll L
The effectiveness of boat survey was hinderedSp rrfy by the size and quality of boat used which was not adequate for sustained wat he bo s rve open r tt2 I i l 9 g almost exclus 1vely as a t raflspo rtatlorF v eAlcle foromt IS land to island and as an observation platform for areas not observations suffered visible from land I Land I l n primarily Ii r from the d iffi ot hatbdr seals witniti cultyapproaching C e u n m d r iig J r9 Atwf I T q J fry ung R I nti be l Y V to r 4Ji y pl l c J1fw eJ t Yl Plf1 ll Po s9 jSr were unre1rab e ml j 6j stco 81 J l t2 t IJ t v tlt3 i G Oti s ruq L I f y 1 If 0 1 r 6 t 1f Sr lj L J6 3 il r Jf J r 3 S SL t 1Lt r U 8 I It d ll II j l1 t qS f1rottl rot e r So C S ig L r iCJ r 1 B h O i f i f 1 J Q t 1 I c J iJ 1 L 1 U f J J O 4 j 1 1 a r s b Jer ch fe 1 tniefn i lt cfcitk otil c trf Slo Tife r u I B ft e 1 c C f1 Ir r tl 4P 1 Sfc dItIons to our own Some records were ad l observatIons oa t f 11 C C t Q tf II 1 r t 7 Ft if l F l C ained from ished 1 itera ture and and tne r obt pub reports J A e made g I duYiri Cetacean f N k ohservations rfcan Society provided f A l he t ir wh lewatqh ing oat tours in pg e Squrtd am wh IC s IC lt P s OI2PRrt n4 2 ogr Q t f s atfor NOAA vessels the Alaskav Stat e Fe fronY research I rry I ghtings r t J fj S stem and commercfar bbat6peratcrs provldea addTtfonaT i t t t d o t cu l the 8 l p r gaX arA J for us seahfbrrd s tudy collected mar Ine mammal s Igh trngs and i1rtertifiews i thiiocal re sid nfs an d rG6mm rc i aE f iifher meri saf Wdr e rfec ords The Mbcl tCe caf So6 iJet ptoduced lps tbiog I ai t a a coi1 e ted d ur frfc t a Ad We q nercf l pubi fc ptov Ci e j d t c t hB course of a 6i k fl1ie P wh a r ral I ly ltJ yrf 1t l f 1 n f SLirvey lesYR n r rf tJ tudySiyec5rcI c n fJ 1 t j f 1 J I Ji s onsoted b theMMD I p 1 1 of I h 1 j D l J 1 1 J jY1 v L 1
r r r r 1 t t I Y n j Qr1i 1 j t7 f i 1tl L J r j For so me s abLind arice dat a w asC taken from the specie 1 R poFe OftA irriiri s thft ibnr ro the M lin 9 ect dK Mamn J1 i fja4 c Act 1978 MMPA 1978
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12 III RESULTS
The results of this are study presented here as individual species accounts for marine mammals occurring in the area The study species are classified as follows 1 Common seen year round or seasonally 2 Rare a few or specimen sight records avalable but presence of the in species any given year cannot be predicted 3 Accidental single or few very records indicating the species has traveled far beyond its normal range For inclusion in this report actual specimens in hand rather than visual records such as the report of a Beluga whale Delphinapterus leucas in Puget Sound in 1940 Scheffer and by Slipp 1948 were used to substantiate accidental occurrences In addition species for which there are records in coastal but not in inalnd waters were not included
III A Species Account
Included in each species account is a general biological description with additional information on sighting records behavior growth reproduction feeding habits and known predators The distribution and abundance of each species is described generally worldwide and for specifically the study area including known migrations or movement patterns Finally known ecological problems such as marine fishery mammal interactions the effects of environmental or pollutants the harrassment by the public of the animals are described
III A l Order Carnivora
Three families are represented by this order in the area studY Mustelidae Otariidae and Phocidae The river otter Lutra canadensis northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus and seal elephant Mirounga angustirostris were reported from the literature and other record sources sin e new were observations few New information on the California sea lion Zalophus californianus northern sea lion Eumetopias jubatus and harbor seal Phoca vitulina richardsi is A presented summary of the Carnivora species follows Section IV which includes their occurrences in four areas i e the general Strait of Juan de Fuca east and west Haro Strait Rosario Strait and the protected
13 nds and the seasonal waters among the San Juan IsTa vulnerability of these species to oil activities
i l J 1 t t I J 2 1 s J r l c III A a Ri verGt ter LutTer Icanaden is l i j 1 1 10 t r o t J 2 Jl S
r r l f Of l r JIY 1 J I c t f e 4J f Jt l c l t 1 1 J1 C r f C i VG I o st 1 S pecles D escrlp tlon t f t J l16 J 5 S SlV 1 fJ C1 i tJ4 l rl r rr c I rc t I h r tor1 C ok f t j Y i c J j r 1 t t f r is we s t8 Tb e river otte Lutra canadens is represented 2 n of the Cascader Moun tai ns byo tw Osubspe c ie s Cowanl and I conf ined to British GUfgue l 65 L 2 pericylyzome iss co a i c l in the ch rlot t Isl ryc1 L urnbi ip y i Qlleen or occurs ln mos other areas L1 s whereasL prC paclf lca t 1 h 0 il J J e J il j t I J 1 tJ f J 4 J c 1 tfme of Game b o c In a repo r t to the washington repa rit Hi I schi 1978 briefly discussed the washington popu1a i6n ana recommendations for their management According to Hi schi the riv r otter uses a variety of habitat types areas in t o of the state support anl freshwater I1l po 3 populations of this speciesi as does the marine environment bu ma k of the pupping s asOJ1 is obs rv d in Apf il t pel more th1 m two ex tend lntO oJuly The females usually produce i J J c ld pulps qndribr e 9 shortly aft1 r partutit ion j Z L E d r I ri tt a P 9 l 5 i ap i someI natUral is caused by domestic doq s and p i0 l mortality man loss of otters p dp ips bald eagles Other caused i d thos k illed by au tOInQq iles boats an drpwned inl lcJ r 1978 0 U tF r r if 0 0 J2 C1JqO 9tLHJirsch J I o 1 l f r 1 f crilJ l J i V f ecrj l l t il G J C l 1 If i 1 t I nd o Otter prey on sculpins floDndersi rayfish some seasonal in feeding s 1awning salmon with variability h bits Hirschi 1978
l 1 1 J ofter The river otter is often confused wrEfl thesea I in EnhydraII lutri as both animals are similar appearance stated that sea a d Q urtln mari e ar as Kenyoqei1969 and wa o urr d with ityl I inl ters terneyer oc alY regular from tonr over and the sp ci s was 2 ed iminated i Wash ing by tnat c In the 19 th c SE a ofters we r i i e p ort a fion ltufy E I 70 l S an at transplan fed to Wash lngton jln the early 19 lo telTpt to reestabl ishl a populat inthe state Jameson 1917 ion ira e1stimates that there are less than 30 of these animalsc occu coas al Wa shing ton waters oj These aQimals l presently I to I MMD le from pestruct ion Islandlnorth Qzette slanq l ottersin Sound has never been The occurrence oD sea Pliget area have erdfi d1 thoughrmafiy iv r otters in this 1969 errbneously been identified as sea ottets Kenyon
I 14
I provided a checklist of characteristics to separate these two species in the field by describing certain behaviors of sea otters that do not appear in river otters including
1 On surface sea otters usually swim belly up with forepaws on chest while padqling wi H ind flippers They float high in the water
2 Sea otters are clumsy on land seldom seen on shore except in isolated Alaskan areas
3 Sea otters eat whiie floating on back never eating on shore
4 Sleeps usually in kelp beds or calm water while floating on its back
5 Bears single young which is carried on the mother s chest as she swims on her back
Abundance and Distribution
River otters are widely distributed in Washington from east of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific coa t including adjacent islands Cowan and Guiguet 1965 Some animals utflize fre shw ater drainages and lakes and others are found only in the marine environment
River otters are distributed widely in the study area Hirschi 1978 reported trapping records and personal observations of otters from northern Puget Sound throughout the San Juan Islands and in the Skagit River system Figure 2 For the Strait of Juan de Fuca he reported animals from the Dungeness area Port Angeles and Cape Flattery During the present study sightings of otters were received in th San Juans only All of the new records compiled dur ing th s study came from small boat surveys or personal interviews but no otters were observed during aerial surveys On 20 May 1978 a river otter was seen in the water adjacent to Arimitage Island in Rosario Strait and on 10 SeptembeJ1978 a s ingl e ot ter was obs erved on the nortp side of Puffih I 19nd Mr R W Osborne pers commun 1978 recorded 17 observations of pt ters s eQ in and near Andrews Bay San Juan Island west side of the island Haro Strait from December 1977 to May 1978 Dec 1 Jan 6 Feb 4 Mar 0 Apr 6 Most of the animals were single however on 4 April 1978 five river otters were observed feeding near the shore It appears that this species may be common in Haro Strait at
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t 0 1E FC r C 5 u ion o r Qtters rve f i tril cept rr5 Yi igl p Ef r ej rd st sis n n uge u d he ptte1 pJutra anader 1 rthepfr cP I1q t t de p ping or s o s d j ftr qLJu E fa eS FIs IJpC 5 EC rra ap ld Ri chi 7 o j fJ oqservations adapted ffPII p
16 least in winter Mrs D Ward pers commun 1978 reported that at least five otters maintain dens and breed successfully each year on Dinner Island San Juan Channel
The data are insufficient for estimating total abundance but population trends are being monitored by analysis of trapping data and population profiles obtained from sampling individ als Hirschi 1978 considers the population in western Washington to be reasonably stable at this time but suggests that yearly harvests in excess of 600 animals cannot be sustained A harvest of this magnitude is rare and when it occurs trapping success in years irnmed iately followinq are reduced
Ecological Problems
As western Washington continues to develop economically habitat loss resulting from human incursion will increase In this situation it is questionable whether river otter populations can withstand current harvest levels Hirschi 1978
River otters rely on a still air layer trapped between two fur layers for insulation as does the sea otter Enhydra lutris and northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus Oiling of the fur which would occur if the animals contacted spilled crude oil could be fatal since the insulative qualities of the fur are greatly reduced after oiling Kooyman et al 1976
Interactions between the commercial fishery in Washington and the river otter if any are unknown
III A l b California Sea Lion Zalophus Californianus
Sample Description
Three subspecies of Zalophus californianus have been described Scheffer 1958 On of these japonicus inhabited the Sea of Japan and now may be extinct a second subspecies Z c wollebaki occurs on the Galapagos Islands Mate 1976 z c californianus occurs in the eastern North Pacific Ocean and is the only subspecies seen in Washington
17 IMales may attain a length of 2 5 m and weigh as much as 365 Kg wh iH femal es ar e cons iderably smaller measU ring 1 6 Ih 115 Mate 19781 As males mature the h weigningE kgr sag ital crest becomes prominent wd th the hair in that ar ea turning lighter than surrounding pelage Pelage appears dark I brown when w t and dr ies to a slign tly 11 igh ter color Z alophus ar e regularly exh ib ited in aquar iums and zoos and it iss the pinniped most commonly collected r for display iFlCo I 19761ove r 4 23 specimens Z were in capt ivi ty C6rnelh afid Aspe c f r eftn t C 1 I r c j I 1 9 76 V rf i 1 li r w b 1 tj
1 r I f 0 J C I I co J p a f1 5V rZ j m I n b d ing s on for z i phu be i s iri M and E continues intosJqly Breeding rookeri s ate located ifi the Sea bf Cortez and from the islands of Baja California 17 cd Ii o nortn to San Miguel Island Lat 34 N The males arrive at the tookeries first and establish territories Adult 1 femaJ es arr ive af ter males and with in a sho thp i d L tjrrte give birth to a single pup they are bred by a territorial male1within 10 days a ter part rition f r 1 V C X r I 0 2CfJ 1 91 I 1pntrl JL1 t3 r I Zalopnus a e opport im stic feedersl exploi ting a J var ty of prey items i Stomach cont ett data from Wa shington i are not known Boweve 7 some stomachs from other areas have been examined and a list of known prey items was presented2 B by Antonelis and Fiscus 1978 Two difffernet approaches to food hablt ata collection have recen ly been reported t y et al 0 1977 kaml e spewings on Southeast OWJ IsIand an o Ainlj Farailon and found Pacific hake to be important3 c Scats I seasbn ar p iey spe les from SanM igu el sland were J strained for remnants of Hake was colllbctedand prey agi dn the prominent f ish in evidence Antonel is and F iscus 197 8 1 C
Abundance and D istr ibu tion y V j I j
ti to t t t t 1 fot Cff ltJ j s 3
Zalophus cali ornianus is distributed along the west coastI of Nortn America from the Sea oL Cortez arid j I Baja 0 California approx lat 19 N and northward to Vancouver Islcind B C lat 5loN Rice 1977 The northernmost rec rd of this species comes from a photograph ofianladult r male taken on Elrington Island Prince Williciill Sound Alailka on 27 June 1973 K Sneider ADF G pers comm During7t e breeding season May July almost all of the
r N J pop la tionGis foun r n tKEfbreedIngrafige south of 1 at il 349NTi Bartholomew 1967 reported a northward mov ment7of0 ale after the breeding season and that females to in ofr the bre e rookeries or tendI remaintheevicinity dTng move soutn Mostif not2all of the animals occurring in I t Washington waters are males t
18 Bartholemew 1967 estimated that the breeding population in California had been reducea by exploitation to about 2 000 animals by 1940 Steady increases in the population have been reported since Mate 1977 estimated the tof l population at dve 75 000 animals LeBeouf et al estimated OUO 11976 125 animals in the population 1976 by LeBoeuf and Bonnell 1978 feel that thes two figures still may underestimate the actual population size
Cowan and Guiguet 1965 reported the first two records of for Zalophus British Columbia from the west coast of Vancouver Island and Pike and MacAskie 1969 reported animals of this as species regularly occurring in that area Pike and MacAskie also mention that occasionally a single male is seen in a group of northern sea lions Eumetopias jubatus at Race Rocks off Victoria B C Kenyon and Scheffer 1959 reported the first observations of Zalophus for Washington that of a few males amongst northern sea lion on the outer coast 1950 in Hancock 1970 reported up to 30 Zalophus at Race Rocks Bigg 1973 conducted aerial and land surveys in the inland waters of British Columbia for this species He reported animals hauling out at Sombrio Pt Race Rocks and Dodd Narrows eastern coast of Vancouver Island These areas are the only known hauling sites for inland waters Bigg surveyed Zalophus from June 1971 to Febru ry 1972 the numbers of animals sighted peaked in February He did not survey in March and April but after June the survey no Zalophus were present The maximum number Bigg observed including the southwest coast of Vancouver Island was 473 On December 6 1972 he observed 68 California sea lions on Sombrio Pt and Race Rocks the largest count for inland watirs during his survey period
Aerial surveys of selected areas in Washington conducted by the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle WA in 1974 1975 as of killer part a whale Orcinus orca study included Race Rocks and Sombrio Pt Tables 2 an No Zalophus were observed from June through November during this study The first observations were made in December of 55 California sea lions This number increased to a maximum of 155 in March and then rapidly declined through May
During the present study all potential haul out sites were examined monthly California sea lions were observed only at Sombrio Pt and Race Rocks in the western Strait of Juan de Fuca Figure 3 We did not survey further northward into Canadian waters beyond Victoria or westward beyond Port San Juan Vancouver Island During the November we not survey did examine Race Rocks Thereafter complete surveys were made monthly
19 rt r r J 111 r j 5l J i l forni a ns TAB O ns of se i E j CCl f ri rY t oEt er 7 l i f l ent tve n Z c z Ce for i s i onf3 t id eltificati 1 y1d uc f R c un cl t s ions UNID l vey Rq9 J3 p n e l pe 97 7 97S data JU1 1974 to g e 197 a ece er OS ob J8 cr s NWAFC WA were taken from files at the Marine Mammal Division seatt1e 7 o ed d P t is al st i es s J 7 a 1 c ing th andl n continued and counts l 0 presentCJLstudy represent photographic i8
r 0 r r 7 r 1 1 o d J j Y ear Totaf j ii l O i J I s mohblfl E S z c Z c ti D sea 1i 9nsg day j JW 1 J I ij O S i tt t l J lb S l ll r6 H 2 r V
I z
r I p 1 i 4f f b l J 1 1 l J 1 I 1974i l t i r Z c L Al L oi o l j j 1 l E 0 1 oll 2 O C ri l n 0J 00 0 Ju1y f J 1 r f 1 16 Otl S O b O 0 0 c I 0 1 j V J LJ n C1 1 J 1 0 30 j J t J r 0 o 0 f r 00 1 I I L L tlJ l J i H J IL 1 1 I 13 OJI 0 0 Or bC Aug t t d c 3 I O rV 1 J 0 27 1 J 1 j 0 J OV Oc 0 I t f I rJ f f 1i 1 81 f H 0 10 Sept JCi3 1 0 O j G O 0 oi 0eli c 1 tj f J i 8 lt l fr L J at O 24 r O OJ 110 I r rl c j J t o 1 j u c s I c 8 Oc t 0 0 I 0 b4 O 0 1 c i t IrI 0 J t t J lV 23 28 C I 0 O 0 28 f 4 1 c i h I y 1 r e h1 e J 1 O ll I 5 NOv 30 0 O 30 i 1 1 EHj YL t j O 45 C O d 0 4S 19 l r j i i j r u1 1M C f I Y v 711W o 3 Dec ht 22 t 4 2 0 0 64 I t Yj 011 r t 1 Lqli t 165 f 0 tO 16S r r I J o 4 1 Jc tlt j O 0 31 6 25 v O 85 f P 5 Gmu n ill 1 1 m C 1j j r rI B rll Qr u 1 rJ 1 6 st h J r T 1975 f i y t Jt tJ sv f 9 J f1 i CiS n O n t JI f 1 d TJ 171 0 Y eV fO 165 14 J Ni20 174 I h 4 r J r 1 5 l t J p r 1 I 28 90 35 0 01 125 I 25 Feb 58 0 0 0 58
11 M r 31 29 0 0 60 c 25 i 261 95i 0 O 115 c Q I 1 101 J 8 II JS2 0 0 0 5 2 t Agr L c I I 22 Sl t 2Q O 0 71 0 1 11 ij J 0 5 6 MaylblJj 28 76 0 3 J l I 20 P 0 llC l f 0 rf r r l C r rrc t j c U j 3 JuneII 0 0 0 6 0 l q r D I H J 0 L O 0 0 17 I 0 I r I 01 1977Ilr
r II u I S 8 D c 104 26 lSf 5 150 J t 21 II S 161 14 1 2 14 201 r j 1 tr c t 1978 r j J
v r F J d 26 JaIl 1 94 10 3 6 223 r I q J 28 195 9 31 iss J 1 r y r f r r 9 1 ITI r I J J 9 Fen 139 13 16 3B 198 28 155 5 o 0 160
20 TABLE 2 Observations of northern sea lions E j California sea i ons Z c California sea Ifons tentative id nti fication Z c ani uni4ent fie9 sea lions ID from eriai sUrveys of Race Rocks I C JulY1974 to June 1975 an0 December 1977 to October 1978 1974 1915 data were taken from files at the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattll WA
and represent visual estimates 1977 1978 data were collected during the present study and represent photographic counts
Year Total
day month E j Z c Z c UNID sea lions
1978
14 Mar 128 7 9 15 159 15 194 24 20 13 251 25 Apr 259 23 17 34 333 28 177 13 4 0 194 23 May 0 0 0 0 0 25 2 4 0 0 6 27 June 0 0 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 0 0 19 July 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 18 Aug 0 0 0 0 0 12 Sept 58 0 0 0 58 14 Oct 98 10 0 0 108 31 187 0 2 0 189
21 TABLE 3 0bservations of northern sea lions E j and California sea lions tfiiand and suda d z h erI s ol soinbrio p e V cov syati lIfronf I I r 1 r a t veyfs I f I l December 1977 to o r E978 l9 4 19 5 data July 4 t June and Oct J IJ75Le t I i on NWAFC e were taken from files at the Marine MammalDiviSJ Seatt WAd ed tHe and t vis al restimat 1 1977 1978 data wer Olleb dW h9 represe r t Jt U pr s i1t a a i trlt raphic cobn tudy pres phot re 4J tiJuJ l b j 2 rul J fe e c tt st L c
1 t tJ J t t n 1 J J j t
Year Location Sucia Is1and day month Sombr io p t E lE f Z C Total sea j f9
a no r E 7 lions J 1 J I GC1 fi II II 19 4
r inVJ 1 2 July 0 0 0 1 16 o 0 o t ljS 0 a 30 aUo c 1 r q 0 0 13 r Aug l1 sM 27 0 0 0 NO 0 P 10 0 00 Sept 1 0 I 0 0 24 a r 35 0 15 8 Oclt 15 e t 1 1 7 23 0 0 on DATA J OS 5 Ii 26 0 20G r 0 v onf1 Rt 19 d 0 00 2 32 i g I 5 13 18 3 NOIfDec r e 0 L 2J t 17 40 400 1 3r t 31 I 2 6 30 lI lQ75 v 40 14 Jcl n 25 15 28 3 25 28 25 Flb 45 25 70 24 11 M r 7 17 25 10 60 70 II 14 8 Apr 14 0 22 16 0 16 0 6 May 0 0 20 3 6 9
3 June 1 0 1 17 0 0 0
1977
29 30 Nov 0 0 0 32 8 Dec 9 21 4 35 39
1978 r o 26 Jan 1 28 0 0 0 24 FebII o 28 0 0 0
22 TABLE 3 Cont
Year Location day month Sombrio PL Sucia Island E Z c j Total sea E J lions
1978
14 Mar 0 15 0 7 7 25 Apr 0 0 28 0 0 0 23 9 May 11 20 0 25 0 27 June 0 28 0 0 0 4 July 0 19 0 20 0 0 0 27 0 18 Aug 0 29 1 0 1 13 Sep 0 14 Oct 1 31 0 0 0
23 l rtE 1
r L
1
Sombrio Pt Tatoosh 1 I
r
r
r
o p
Figure 3 Location of three major Sucia Is Race Rocks and Sombrio Pt lions and one minor Tatoosh I haul out sites for northern sea Eumetopias jubatus and California sea lions Zalophus californianus in northern puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca
24 The first California sea lions hauled out in the study area were seen on 8 December 1978 when at least 41 were observed at Race Rocks among 104 northern sea lions 26 of the 41 were positively identified and 15 only tentatively At least 76 California sea lions were present in the study area in December including animals observed later in the month at Sombrio Pt This number is the greatest observed for anyone month Table 4 The total number of California sea lions then decreased through May No animals were seen from June to September
Table 4 Total number of California sea lions Zalophus californianus by month observed hauled out at all areas in the inland waters of Washington November 1977 to October 1978 Numbers observed include both positive and tentative identifications and are summarized from Tables 2 and 3
Number Number Date Observed Date Observed
1977 November 0 April 40 December 76 May 15 June 0 1978 July 0 January 29 August 0 February 5 September 0 March 51 October 2
75 During the 1974 surveys the peak number of Zalophus occurred in March total 155 the first animals appeared in December and left the area by June Bigg 1973 observed maximum numbers for the inside waters during December 1972 total 68 While we observed fewer animals than in 1975 we were consistent with Bigg s finding The timing of arrival and departure from the study area agreed closely with previous work Fluctuating environmental conditions such as variation yearly in food supply may account for the differences in total number of animals moving north Mate 1977
We regularly saw California sea lions throughout the area in the water in winter and study spring months A year around was watch kept from shore by the Moclips Cetological Society in Andrews Bay west side of San Juan Island
25 Z albphus were r obse rve d in tne gay from December 19 77 th ough L arid on April o I9 78 O Osb6rne pers qoITUllun3 Se pt 197 r f Jl m a reef in the 18 Ja nuary 19 78 ofi Fan il haufed au t 6n 6ay e and olf Apr il 1978 twO aflirna s na lled out on the sa reef This indic tes haf to Hid ivi di l n imafg will occas ton H ly 5 r come ofesf al5lisne d hau lil1 areas o eisnor outsi f T d@ I j c t 5 r 1r t ja jG 5 J rr E t S h2 wfl f r j Ie J A rec6rd 3af lit dui f rnaH Cal iforni a s ea iion on the 6n L s in eas ti 1S iderof wilidbey Istand h auleQ 6 it i3elle tBeacn May 1975 MMD files suggest they do occ si6 al11 66cdfuln protected waters and may be sighted in southern Puget Sound though we presently have not reports south of Elliot Bay f l ll l 3 2uri0cl S rq r jr l J 10 J a I I r r c r I I f r 0 I I J f ct II 1 J C J Jl f L 1 Ui P robrErms o 1S C J OflE id r1i EColbgica1 l 1 4 77Ql r f1 II i i o QI dc rJ f I c J is s i 1 flG J t I Other th arr man c t ne1r on ly Kn6wri pf 4 tot 6 b 1 iforn ia Ii 4 sea il ions are killer whales and sharkS He ller f i90 Rice 968 though the effect of this predation on the population IS n0t knQW n
r n fn i@ c ies a as s 0 cia tedY e rn i f rU ppi ng i spe l1 i1 with high level organochlorine residues in tissue samples Ipet al 1973 Since no occurs north of DeLong breeding 15 California tthis iil 4not be in washingtoI1 problem eVideQt Ct u f waters 1 ZV
Brown ll and LeBoeu i l reported the effect C 9l r d I S nta Barbara o lf wout on pup Nd the 1969 blq 1Th0rtality 4 or could be ound to indicate that oir conclusive evidence 0 e r r f I t thou h h COU 1 d no t con trlbu ted g rea t1 to mor a1 1 ty g t ey exclude the possibility
5C6n i Y ict1 bet eeh tfirs specfE s Jand co rifrrie tcia l fi shEtflIlen l r 2 is ornition M pftn r k erd corilimln fp eb l19 7 81 a ike Cp n f rikfrom Pdre T c5wnsendJG bel eves fh at cimage f6 tg il isrierrl1a x c L j nets gaUsed 6Ysea iron s f CryoetJncommori T he exten t Tof thi lem fii7 wasnlng torl qs t unk nown 4 Ts yfet n i tfioJc 1 7 r r 1f r t1 J 1
r I r f r r j III lf c Nortlfern g ea lton Eumet6p ias j uba tus 1 J 1 1 I J I t 1 j J tl lf 011 4 Ji vt J ZJ j J d LI
C rol i j I 1 J 1
Species Distr fbuticSn
I r I I t 1 t Tne northern S t ellerr sea ion is the larges member r of t tamil OYf rTid ae It can be qui alstingufshe d 1fe ckly 1 i y J c to r r s ome frorri Ca Iiforn la sea lon s by slzeJ aidhe although i l c I l two d Ifflcul ty maY cbe exper lenced whe n separa tlng the
26 spe c ies from aer ial photograpns If he photogra ph is less than ideal and or the post ur ing of the animal is not obvious some ar qu st io1 ise between 1 arg e male Z alophus and smaller males or F Eumetopias young females ig ure 4 Adult rna Ie Eumetopias e igh up to 1 000 kg and reach 3 2 m in th w 1 leng ad lt f are cons emales iderably smaller we igh ing oyer 275 kg and reaching 2 19 m in length Gentry and Wlthrow 1978 Pelage co1or is tan to light brown when dry Males have darker coloiatio about th neck and che t In the water they appear very light almost white
I
Eu et6pias re d throughout its r nge the southernmost breedinq colony is located on San Miguel Island California Rice 1977 In 19 7 only four adult females and two adui ciales comprised the breeding populat on on San Miguel Antonelis and F scus 1978 Larger rookeries are found further north with most breedLng taking place in Al ska Breeding lasts from mid M y to mid July The adul males are the first to arrive on t rookeries and immediately establish territories Shortlr thereafter females arrive ana within a few days give birth to s ing le pup p emales are bred by a te rr itor ial male within two weeks after parturition I i
Eumetopiasexp16i t a wide variety of prey 1 tems wh ich vary w ith season and locat ion Spauld ing 1964 No da ta is currently av ilable from the inland waters of Washington Fiscus and Barnes 1966 in a study of Eumetopias stomac conten bllected from Califor ia Oregon and Al s a indicated th at thi s species may not prey on commercially important flshe 6 any signif cant degree Spa lding 1964 presents evidence that the impact of Eumetopias 01 com er ial fi h pdpul tions is negligible
1 t Abundance and DIstribution
t 1 Eumetopias ranges as far north as St Lawrence Islao n the Ber Dg Sea in the Okhotsk Sea and along th esl of h coast Nott Amert ca south to San Miguel Island lat340N Dllring the breeding season most of the populatio nA Occurs in the Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alcska Mate 1976A northward movement of males from Califonia occurs at the end of the breed ing season followed la ter h and the year by f males immatures Mate1976 Both se s occur in Washington waters but no bre ding activity takeL plac here Kenyon and Scheffer 1959
27 28 and Kenyon Rice 1961 estimated the world population of Eumetopias between 240 000 300 000 individuals No other world estimates have been presented since The population off the California coast has experienced a decline from earlier published accounts and now numbers about 2 200 animals Antonelis and Fiscus 1978 Pearson and Verts 1970 estimated the Oregon population at about 1 000 Mate 1973 reported six breeding and hauling areas in Oregon and gave population estimates for two of these areas at over 1 000 animals A total population estimate for Oregon is placed at about 2 000 Mate 1975
Kenyon and Scheffer 1959 reported the results of aerial surveys along the Washington outer coast and north coast of the Olympic Peninsula They stated that the Washington population of northern sea lions does not exceed 500 animals Pike and Maxwell 1958 reported 11 000 12 000 northern sea lions in British Columbia with the southernmost breeding rookeries located in the Scott Islands north of Vancouver Island A concentrated effort to reduce Eumetopias was condpcted in these aters in the 1960 s and recent abundance was estimated to be about 4 000 during the breed g season Pike and MacAskie 1969 These animals a congregate at few breeding rookeri s in the summer and spread out along the coast of Briti h Columbia in the winter Smith 1972 estimated that over 1 900 Eumetopias winter off the west coast of Vancouver Island
No breeding occurs in the inland waters of Washington and only four hauling areas are known Figure 3 Two of these areas are along the southern coast of Vancouver Island where animals hav been reported to haul out in large numbers at Race Rocks and Sombrio Pt Smith 1972 Bigg 1973 This species was first reported utilizing rocks on the north side of Sucia Island in 1973 R Peterson commun to C H Fiscus pers 1973 Occasionally a few Eumetopias are seen hauled out on Tatoosh Island Kenyon and Scheffer 1959 present study
1972 Smith reported no more than 160 Eumetopias at Race Rocks and Sombrio Pt in November of 1970 During aerial and land surveys for Zalophus californianus in inland waters Bigg 1973 also reported the occurrence of Eumetopias He surveyed from June 1971 to February 1972 and examined coastal areas of Vancouver Island as well as inland areas 6 1972 On December he reported 35 Eumetopias on Race Rocks and 16 on Sombrio Pt The number at Race Rocks increased to 71 by February none were observed at Sombrio
29 Pt Bigg did not survey in the early spring but in June 1971 no Eumetopias were observed at these two sites The max in ber r ed d th as mL I1I tlJ QP y i tp in 2 Hc t1pf r luan 1 epu VancoNxer I J 2 t rifr oIY 9P 3 I1 elge 7 f a I l e f 1 P j f t 0 1P rJ c 9j l 2 3 l Dur ln g er 131 suryey 1 Wa sh ng ton conducted he 1 n RYe Mar ine r a ma D iv s 10 NWAFC Secit e Wash r fro tl gtqn l 3 1 and Pt were 1974 to 975 Race Rocks Sombrfo examined I c k t d t 2 j J ill Tab 1 e 2 and 3 S Llc1a Is1arid was occasl onally survey ed but EU e as r i s w i top weei to sef ef tJ cii Eumetop i e ln a n ooser d pt F Pu g C ther F P CZ dlro ft e t1n Soun t from 9 un e through September But 1ng th ese s trvey Th firstltobse rva tions were made in the fa11 oh 8 Octooer 19 74 l t a of 15 an imals at Soml5r io Pf Th e ntirriber in c reaied b maximum of 103 animals 25 February 1975 and the n began to irie en dof May 4 an1 in s re decl the f t l were ted lt r oni ly L4 i L l 1 I rv LBy I t tt 3f llo 6 1 I rl l J por
r t 1l r ic r 1 t b P I q t t it t C rr l re se t 31 l te t ulou t 1l p 1 J Pfi1 tE t rE dX IJ t ef wer e s g Race RockS 1n Novemb r 4 urveyed monthly eCcept for 0 Out survey did not in elude the west coast oCVancouver Is r1ihd O r Canadian waters nc ith 0 Victoria i The resuit of th se urveys are includ d in Tables 2 and 3
S r 1 The7 f irst northEdn sea I ipns opserve d ln the stud are a see 6n 30 b r l t T e t w2 i r Noye Z7 f f Tg 9 t liJpr 1 mals w re h l d U t on O th rt s f n C focks i H f J f1f lS I and The f1rst t1me Race Rocks were 8 De cember II surveyed1 i i l i 19 EumetoPl s we e counted were se on S b L2 ui P on 21 December 7 Th total num er o no t ir 1911Z 19 rin 3l llons 1n the study area rema1ned between 150200 anlmals ce be t a T h t w a n in fr9p r rqu9ti Rh fji 9hjep s utt pr l f 59 n s E b r a lTIa Q W 7 7r f s tOk t p q1 af7f ln May and oby June no Eumetoplas w r obsery dtD D stlldy area e e lin 1 59 arid l 1 11 lEot WJ tfllt pialyt qjThiy0 ekp l j f1r rSeptemb C t l Ij increased to 88 the end of Oc ob Tit1le 5 1 I by er t j 4 t r to fJ J e J 1 L j L J L t J l p 1 1 i II r S 1 Cjin J ti r i 8 Z
F 8 I J t t r 2 e 1 i a f 1 rJ 0 n fi ri po fLF i rJ c e l 0 tJ TUly J
r 4 c 4 let j t J Jj 1l
1 Dr j y l 2 c
j l r r p r f i O i UJ ii ft 01 0 i
0 j fro n to tj l C i Jfi V
r r J I J u n1 a no L t
fl f J 1
r I l r I I I lJ t L 1 3 10 l it r J f 1
r J j I It Ii If r 8 s 2 r
c f t 1 l r J Clift r fj e 1 Cl ori1IJ J1 JuIl1
I c r 1 c cl J jrd tl r C C 0 C4 I 1 0 f A r y q ri 1 1 d 1 r
30 Table 5 Total number of northern sea lions Eumetopias jubatus by month observed hauled out at all areas in the inland waters of Washington November 1977 to October 1978 Data are summarized from Tables 2 and 3
Number Number Date Observed Date Observed
1977 November 29 April 259 December 197 May 11 June 0 1978 July 0 January 196 August 0 February 155 September 59 March 194 October 188
During the 1974 to 1975 aerial surveys peak numbers of northern sea lions were seen in January total 145 and gradually decreased through May They were first observed in the fall by October during this study Bigg 1973 data were not as complete but did show this species present in the inland waters in December and February and absent in June From these data it is apparent that Eumetopias begin to arrive at hauling areas in the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the early fall September October are present in maximum numbers by late winter and early spring and then rapidly leave the area in late spring for breeding rookeries north along the British Columbia coast or south to Oregon
We regularly observed Eumetopias in the water throughout the study area during winter and spring months They were observed in the water near Tatoosh Island on five occasions although we saw them haul out there only twice Table 6 Middle Channel near Cattle Pt San Juan Island w s another common location where this species was observed Since the possibility that animals observed in the water may later be counted on land and included in total estimates cannot be discounted the data in Table 6 are not included in total population estimates for this species
31 Table ag i s e t s n rt er n e 9 h ge1t p fp J u ipps E umetopias JuDatus t jln t le w ter thern rP uget Sound rand the StraLt of Juan deE uca Nov b ot i97 to1 er it6mlr emheJr t c 1978I I l I j L I I
J t I t i3 r I l1 J olr l
Date Number MO1Day Obs erved i Locat ion
II rc c 1 2 I 11 011 7 10 Pa tos I 12 21 77 10 Waadah I 1 8 I 78 r Tatoosh j 3 15 78 4 Whale Rks 4 2 5 7 8 Mummy Rks
4 25 78 9 Whale Rks I 4 25 78 1 I Trial l A L lJ3 Jl 4 25 7 8 1 l 1 r Dungeness SR 4 28 78 8 Tatoos h r Pi 1 J y
JC I 9 2l7 8 i T a tooS h r 9 12 78 8 Tatoosh I
1010 3 78 6 r r ITatoosh L r
hau d t 7 Qu J Cf GJ f r tet 1 E j G 1 IT 5 J e s S n J r 1 n s i
I f t l J i j c 1 1 oS fJ c r 1 000 i il J j S L6 L t 5 1
c t n J r4 r r ty il r Y t t t h l i t e e rved ar h 1 l1 tat it I pi w rqUgJ Ap iI j ri rl b colaJsc id iri i e ecr bu pt aga p tJr epfe g r J3 Elf i I 1 abundance ln the area late spr lng and csummer Durlng a durlng ews wae from shQre n And B ay a r rua lL Isl fi Eh k ep y tJle a dgrs t rc Eu e t r S w 6 MOCJJp S i esty s lel tn e a rec d n 1 9 recor he a J rdlngs i ly vEl Ofrrt dC fm 1 L Ii were of fhi s s ercies R W Osb6rrie s comrr un Trrese 1 ler J E t f J 5 rt srp 1 i J 2d ri t 1 f observatlons mqde frolI to AptPrll 1978 Whl le J l Januaryi certainly nol cdnc lusrv e trns crfia rldi cat e Ifrn rtLe f u cif H ati O S tra it i c b i L 1 J r jSp dt 2 0 eCtc y h 1 2
1 i tr J l t Rk ci h f r klIuJthl ttJ sbu1a lf t t d8 r6ifcEuni l drUJt 1 00ti 5op l Vug S l s Unc nl a s av e ria ll n pe rt rQ P tQ fr r orrtnJop USEf bo ts td h q f ouJ on ft this time Je dor riq JiflJqi hc far int6 the tsou nd 1they oo ccur aItliougli it s1 ems 1 ik ely soJlth s ea e th L h Ii nbrtjtetn li 6ris cr Lat p ik r tli dr wh J tt tn 1q l r t C JI 11 I l l 1 1 hce rrr Wa l n cll a f tP E abundi Ein ng fq tHey cqiilcl qj q i lrt ny q DL c t t Fs t walMl e1 l I J ptd t 1 J
1
L j
Ecological Problems
Northern sea lions are known to have damaged fishing gear including halibut longline purse seine gillnet and
32 troll fisheries Damage to fish is also known and they may also crab destroy pot buoys An unknown level of mortality is a result of shooting by fishermen
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game 1973 estimates over 200 000 in EumetQpias that state which may be at a near Braham carrying capacity et al 1978 have documented a 50 decline in population in the eastern Aleutian Islands an area where large and important breeding rookeries are located Since the population in the western Aleutian has Islands not been surveyed recently the true status of this species in Alaska is in doubt
III A l d Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus
Species Description I
This species is commercially valuable for its fur and as a result a great deal of research and management efforts have been expended on it with the signing of the North Pacific Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 a concerted conservation and management program was begun for this speciep This treaty between the United States Great Britain Russia and Japan was abrogated in 1941 and replaced in 1957 by the Interim Convention which included the same four governments The Interim Convention called for cooperative research and harvest between member nations Pelagic sealing which is most detrimental to the population since pregnant females are taken was banned indiscriminately in 1911 although a provision of the treaty allowed aboriginal hunting by traditional means Native Indians took seals off Washington British Columbia and Southeast Alaska An estimated 50 000 fur seals were taken by aborigines in British Columbia from 1912 1940 of which approximately 85 of the annual take was from the west coast of Vancouver Island Pike and MacAskie 1969 During the 29 year period from 1913 to 1941 000 over 12 fur seals were taken by subsistence Indian hunters in Washington waters of which 58 were females Table 7 These animals were taken between the months of January through June primarily from native boats out of Neah Bay Washington Fur seals have also been taken under the pelagically auspices of the 1957 treaty by member nations for both commercial and scientific purposes On the breeding islands 48 000 males have been commercially harvested from 1956 1972
Callorhinus adult males in prime condition weigh 140 280 kg and measure 2 5 m in length Females are
33 Table 7 Yearly take of northern fur seals Callorhinus ursinus by native Indians in Washington waters from 1913 to 1941 Dashed lines indicate missing data
Year Male Female Total Take
1913 1 90 91 191 4 2 12 14 1915 1916 66 313 379 1917 209 304 513 1918 251 142 393 1919 251 303 554 1920 656 630 1 286 1921 567 1922 641 462 1 103 1923 271 569 840 1 9 2 4 60 6 423 1 029 t 1925 823 883 1 706 1926 291 715 1 006 1927 95 178 273 1928 252 456 799 1929 166 421 587 1930 131 319 450 1931 24 141 165 1932 26 47 73 1933 23 18 41 1934 6 17 23 1935 10 70 80 1936 2 26 28 1937 10 35 45 1938 4 88 92 1939 30 1940 2 26 28 1941 1 20 21 Total 4 820 6 708 12 216
Sources Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries Bureau of Fisheries Documents
34 i i i smaller I considerably weighing 30 to 50 kg and are as long as 1 7 m Males I arrive on the breeding grounds in early May followed shortly thereafter by females Females give birth to a single pup within three days of their arrival and breed with a dominant mqle within the following week Females nurse pups for two days then leave them for about 8 days while feeding offshore Females leave the breeding islands in and August September after weaning their pups to assume a pelagic existence through the winter Most animals have left the breeding areas by December
A large amount of data has been accumulated describtng food habits by age sex location and season A joint data analysis effort is curren ly underway between American and Canadian scientists to combine this information Stomach contents from seals taken in coatal Washington waters contained walleye pollock shad rockfish Pacific herring northern anchovy capelin and salmonids Wilke and Kenyon 1954 Fiscus and Kijimua 1971 Animals taken off the entrance of the Strait of Juan de Fuca had stomachs which contained primarily herring Fiscus and Kajimura 1971
Abundance and Distribution
Most of the population of northern fur seals is found on the breeding grounds from mid June through early November Breeding rookeries are found at San Miguel Island California the Pribilof and Commander Islands in the Bering Sea the Kuril Islands and the Robben Islands in the Okhotsk Sea Rice 1977 In other months fur seals maintain a pelagic existence along the continental shelf from the Bering Sea and south along both sides of the North Pacific to about lat 320N Adult males remain in the northern portion of the range with females and immatures occupying all areas
After years of intensive harvesting only about 200 000 300 000 fur seals survived on the Pribilof Island the largest breeding rookery by the beginning of the nineteenth century Management controls over the years has returned this stock to near optimum levels A recent population estimate of the breeding rookeries was in excess of 1 7 million animals Pribilof Islands 1 300 000 San Miguel Island 2 000 Commander Islands 254 000 Robben Island 165 000 and the Kuril Islands 33 000 Johnson 1972
35 from Pelagic research conducted by the United States off the 1958 to 1974 periodically centered efforts and washington coast Seals were commonly encountered collected offshore Only two observations of Callorhinus of Juan de Fuca Three animals were were made in the Strait 11 miles northeast sighted and two collected in March 1961 et aI of Slip Pt lat 48020 long 124010 Fiscus were found in 1961 In 1958 two tagged yearling Puget 1959 a Sound one in February and one in March In tagged Two yearling was found near Port Townsend WA tagged 1959 et al yearlings were found near Neah Bay in Nig901 the 1959 A few seals mostly yearlings venture into Strait of Juan de uca and Puget Sound waters every year A recent Most sightings occur during January to March in Haro Strait on observation was ade of a single animal 26 January 1978 R W Osborne pers commun
Ecological Problems
or lost net Entanglement of fur seals in discarded that results in some scraps is a problem mortality fishermen have been Attempts to educate commercial to implemented by the North Pacific Fur Seal Commission the sea reduce th amounts of netting discarded into
Increased use of the Bering Sea by commercial fishery with for some interests may compete directly Callorhinus The of this is not yet prey species extent competition known
fur for insulation from Callorhinus rely on their dense to cold marine waters Oiling of this fur is detrimental in their the health of individual animals and may result that death Kooyman et al 1976 Kenyon 1971 suspects Callorhinus which become accidentally oiled at sea do not oil survive to return to the breeding rookery Major could catastrophes in areas where this species is abundant adversely affect the population
36 III A l e Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina richardsi
Species Description r
The Pacific harbor seal Ph b a vituli l1a richardsi is the most abundant marine mammal found in Washington waters 5 Figure Scheffer and Slipp 1944 Fc ur subspecies of P vi ulina are ecognized Rice 1977 These subspecies ar e s taed a epara by ge09r ph iial d istt ibut ion and some morphological charact ers P v richardsi occurs in the P eas tern North Pac if ic Ocean V vi tul ina inhabi ts both sides of the Atlantic P V kurTlensis found 4 is in the North wesrern v Pacif ic and P V mellonae fs restr icted to the eaI Lakes in l lOrthwestern Canada 1 I l v l l s P Sexe of V richards i are Indist ingu ishable on the basiS o s ize Lengths of adiilts a re 1 25Ip to 1 88 rnaxil1lUm reach weight may 600 kg K ng 1964 Pelage v aries ir colo fromalltost completely black to entirely The most lign gray commonly occu ring coloration is gray with dark spots on the bacland sides Stu tz 1966a
the Durin g prese nt study we were able to collect more ne da a oh lhis specie s thln anY o her mrrine mammal To fac ilitate the discuss ion pf harbor seals in the study area a depait ure from tne species acchun t forma t u sed elsewhere In this report will be mad e Specific topics will be cC ons Idered s e para tely utiiiz ing terature sources and new data ihc uding food habits reprbductiol1 f3 bundance q ip ribu t ori apd ecolog ical proqlems ll
Food Habils
t
II Analy is of otoliths contained in harbor seal scats to s rib pre specie was jir t descri d in undergraduate s tudy at Oregori Sf te Unlve rsity C orvallis Oregon Draqer 1977 A more thorough treatment of this i wk s d chnique appli recently in Puget Sound by a research grciup from The Everg reen S ate College Olympia W ashington Calambo idis et a1 1978 Dl the scats ring present c tudy werE cOllec teq oppor t nistically at Protection sland Few have been to sampIes taken date eight and 1o attemJ twas made at analysis this year Collection s wilL continue through 1978 p
37 1
T
38 Scheffer 1931 reported some of the first stomach content data from harbor seals in Washington Of the 100 stomachs reported over 90 of the contents were fishes including Pacific tomcod flounder herring sculpin hake cod pollack and perch Squid and octopus comprised less than 6 Trace amounts of shrimp were lso present Only two of the full stomachs held any salmon and 19 of the stomachs were empty
Fisher 1952 reported the food habits of harbor seals collected in British Columbia The important prey items reported were rockfish octopus and herring Salmon comprosed the largest percentage of total volume of stomach contents Fisher suggests that harbor seals are opportunistic feeders and prey most heavily on seasonally abundant species Spalding 1964 compared the feeding habits of the pinnipeds along the coast of British Columbia and found a preference for prey items similar to those found by Fisher His sampling throughout the year indLcated eulachon to be the most important prey item in the winter H rring and rockfish comprised most of the volume collected in summer Salmon appeared most important during the fal Spalding 1964 estimated that the predation on salmon by harbor seals was insignificant to the commercial catch
Studies in areas outside of Washington show major food items to include pollack herring cottids mackerel and molluscs Imler and Sarber 1947 Wilke 1954 Kenyon 1965 Pitcher 1977 Juvenile harbor seals appear to prey on smaller fishes than adults Pitcher 1977 Size of prey taken increases with increasing size in the harbor seal Spalding 1964
Reproduction
In the Pacific harbor seal the pupping period occurs progressively later southward from Alaska to Puget Sound and earlier from the Washington coast to the southern extent of the range Bigg 1969a Scheffer and Slipp 1944 established that on the outer coast pupping begins in May They suggested that this season begins one or two months later in puget Sound Newby 1973 described three distinct pupping periods in Washington waters His conclusions based on personal observations interviews and the literature put the coastal season to occur during May northern Puget Sound from late July through August and in southern Puget Sound
39 The for southern from mid August to late September period found on Puget Sound was based on the large population Gertrud T Island and was late r conf irmed by Johnson and Jeffries 1977
Cal ambokidis e t aL 1978 rep0rted simi1ar pupping Sm i th Is la nd and pefiods for Puge t SOllnd by mid June at by J were firs t eatly July in the San Juan Is landsPups ob erved in early Au gust in Hood Can a l and southern Puget on Skokomish Delta in So nd New pups were observed the H06d Canal from August until the end of the study period in November 1978 The eason for ths protracted puppin was f not know n s r e Jl 1
1 7 f
r f i r B igg 19 6921 spe cu ia tes that theang to pupping per iods for harbor seaJs may be in rces P9nse to seasoO a1 var iat i6A in food resource s Locab popuiat ions may have F isher evblv d i n response to thels e dri f6 rence Bigg and be the3 o fact9rj 1975 i 5how tb at photope r iodi may pr ximateJ h r s bas ed on studies fofJ j s tirntIJ ating tim ingin arbo leaJ 1 5 di the r oduct i e e c apt i veJoa h ima ls 1 Boul va 19 7 foun epr cyc di r to be f airly Cohslt an t ndattributed yearly ffe encesiln s a be iIi co ntro ll ed airh an d wa te r ex ac t t rm in g 10 f b irth si g by 0 r i ternpe ra tU reS l JUO j 6 Hi d i t e t s Jy northern P u so ar first observed in the wasIII examined for pups Pups were ii and s stJu dy ar a onl 27 June 1 978 eftMinor sl P eak pURPing l cQun ted w s h6bsetve d iIfl the fmoh th on Aug ust P 413L pups were 9 the tHa m6rftn Toe pupp ih g seas on lasted iJweeks wi th i3 er lar s urv s 1 as t ooy iolls pUpS3 s een on Septemb Regu f trailt on J uan were in ad a Lorig thef cc astrinet tih the western S ew there Th nine s ites de Fuca bu t f pup s were Jobserv ed irty 8 of these 2 r 62 are were observed with pups Table in the San Juan protected as wildlife refuges either These areas Wilderness Area or Dungeness wildlife Refuge Wildlife U S are administrated by the Nisqually System the most Fish and Wildlife Service Olympia Washington northern Sound is important pupping area in Puget e A Smith M inor Isl ands which is part of the refug system on 19 7 l Th is higrf c6ubt oE 44 pup s was m ade there 2 July c re presents 23 7 J of all pups Th e ientire iref uge system accounted for 61 3 of I the pups counted in 19 78 These sanctuar ies to tie ct ed ar eas will prove to be important pro 0 fon ars to come the h a Dc r se al popula t in ye I i t I c t 1 n il
for e ach haul If ci5ie 8 lists the percentage of pups ing l some went area wl1 ie pups wer e observed Certainly pups as immatures and uinob setved or may h ave been mistaken area Therefore an it1c ltid ed in the total count of each
40 TABLE 8 Observations of pups in northern puget Sound and the S trait of Juan de Fuca by month from June to September 1978 Pup counts and total number of the animals are highest for the survey period Total number of animals include adults and immatures but riot pups Percentage of pups to total animals is given
Map Pup Total
reference Locatlon count an lmal s
San Juan Wllderness Area 9 Unnamed I 2 9 22 24 Harbor Rk 1 2 5 26 Halftlde Rk 2 32 06 32 Sentlnel Rk 4 34 12 35 Rlpple I 5 87 06 37 L Cactus I 3 20 15 42 SklPJack I 5 58 09
43 Unnamed I 2 28 07 49 Unnamed Islet 1 4 25 50 Tlft Rks 1 7 14 54 Flower I I 10 10 57 POlnter I 2 7 29 62 S Peapod Rk 1 17 06 63 Peapod Rks 4 57 07 M N Peapod Rk 1 4 25
65 El1za Rk 1 6 17 74 Unnamed Rks 7 57 12 76 Mlnor I 44 206 21 78 Puffln I 5 91 05 80 Blrd Rocks 8 112 07 81 Wlll1amson Rk 2 4 50 83 Buck I I 13 08 84 Bare I 4 51 08
Northern puget sound C Samlsh Bay 6 49 12 D Padl11a Bay 7 70 10 G Slnclalr I 1 3 33 H Boulder Reef 4 27 15 I Pt Mlgley 7 74 09 K Barnes I 3 28 11 L Echo Bay 8 40 20 M Sentlnel I 1 1 LO 0 Twln Rks 2 16 13 R Bell I 1 1 1 0 S Reef Leo 1 9 11 T Pear pt 2 15 13 V Whale Rk 2 16 13 W Protectlon I 19 113 17 X Marrowstone I 1 11 09
01ymplc penlnsula 2 Kulakala pt 2 20 10 3 Dungeness Refuge 8 54 15 4 Green pt 1 1 LO
2 Vancouver I 10 I Chaln 1 135 01 12 Race Rks 2 69 03 x 15 S 11
1 Map reference refer to flgure 10 2 Map reference to refer flgure lL
41 on bservatio i the estimate o prod ctivity based yisua r ive rate of 15 w ild is conserva tive An average eprooduct other rates in the was t ound wh ich is low when c ompared to literature Venables and Venables 1955 reportep a 2 reproductive rate for Phoca vitulina vitulina in Shetland Bishop 1967 reported 32 of he harbor seals on Tudigak 88 Island Gulf of Alaska bore pups Bigg 1969b found of mature females pregnant in a population of 53 females of British indicating a birth rate of 26 for harbor seals Columbia Boulva 1975 reported 20 5 productivity for animals in Nova Scotia Pitcher 1977 found a reproductive rate of 18 8 for harbor seals in the Copper RJver Delta Alaska and speculated that Bishop IS figure may be high due to sampling bias Calambokidas et ale 1 7 J found 15 19 summer of Thus pups in nbrthern Pu get Sound in the 1977 the literature suggests birth rates from 18 32 It seems likely that the low rates observed in the pre ent study may be attributed to d fficulty in assessing this population paramete using onl visual observations frb erial 95 the s urveys ai though a conf idence intervar ioi present data provides an upper limit of reproduct on at 18 4 I
il D Istrlb ut lon
il 11 I II The Pacific h bor sea ranges in the eastern North Pacific from Baja California north and west to the Aleutian Islands Rice 1977 Harbor seals are common in estuaries coastal waters an inland waters throughout its range While a near shore obse rvatt6ns of single pri narilyt species anImals have been reported up to 50 km frotn sh6re Calkins et Ikl 1975 Dur ing the present study 50 h aulou t sites and e of Juan wer e observed in northern Puget Sound Ul Strai t w re observed in de uca igure 6 Fifteen of these site the Strait of Juan de Fuca three are found in Admiralty Inlet six in Skagit Padilla Samish and Bellingham Bays and the remainder 26 are located in the Slh Juan Islands Haro and Rosario Straits These 50 areas are used be consistently by harbor seals Occasionally riimals would observed in other areas but with no predictabiiity Tables 9 14 list all areas where harbor seals were observed areas were during aerial surveys No new haulout found during small boat surveys and we did not survey in Canadian waters north of Victoria Aerial surveys in Canada 1974 75 conducted by the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC from Strait of identified a minimum of ten hauling sites in the Georgia and one other in Haro Strait that was not surveyed in the present study Table 15
42 t
Bond ap UBnE JO 1B S aq pUB punoS a6nd u aq ou U1 1Sp Bqo1 BU1Tn 1A BOOqd STBaS Oq Bq OJ sa 1s no InBq TIB JO SU01 BOOI JO u01 nq1 s1a 9 a n61d
Ctv j5 I CJ d
f
ti o r S J o r 0 tf t r r J f C 1 I
1 jt J r to 1978 fof Ehe San Juan 1 of seals taken fI pm November 1977 May TABLE 9 Aerial survey counts harbof no anlmals were the Was not zeros 0 mean Wllderness Area Dashed lines lngicate area surveyed the Federal F 1 Thes number s refer to Register present map reference nUmbe rs refer to igur 29 1976 t 172 4 1975 and v ol 41 No J tl7 No I VoL 40 September Julyr L
1 Ii t l t h Jb 1 7 v 978 l jl 1977 f r Map lt ft d I Reference I j 4 j L 23 25 r I 5 25 May 1 eb 9 F b 24 M ar 1 t ar 1 Apr lay ri 30 Dec 8 Dec 21 Jan 26 n 2 8 rF I Number Nov J I 1 t l r r l T 6l1 r r t 0 r 0 l 0 0 1 Small I o 1 0 0 6 2 Unnamed I o J 1f I I o o 0 O 3 Fortress I i f t J I o 0 11 4 Skull 1 1 U r i o o o 5 1 o Crab C o o o o 6 Boulder Is o t 1 o o o o o o 7 Dav1dson Rk o o I o o 0 o o o 8 Castle I o Q 0 o o o o g 9 Unnamed 1 o o o o o o o o 0 o 10 Aleck Rks o o o o o o 11 SW1rl I o o o o o o o o o 12 Unnamed Rk o o o o o o 0 o 13 Unnamed Is o o o o o o 14 Unnamed Is o 1 o o o o o o o 15 Hall 1 o o o o o o o o 16 Unnamed I o 1 o o o o o 17 Secar Rk o o o o o o o o I o o 18 Round Rk o 1 o o o o o o r 19 Unnamed Is o o I o o o o o o 20 Unnamed Is o o II I o I o o 13 15 o o 21 Mummy Rk o o o o o 0 o 22 Islets Rks o o o o o o o 23 Shark Reef o o
o o 24 Harbor Rk o o o 25 N Pac1f1c Rk o 26 o o 26 Halftlde Rk
27 Unnamed Is o
rl 10 28 Low 1 o 4 TABLE 9 Continued
1977 Map 1973 Reference
Number 30 Nov Dee 8 Dee 21 Jan 26 Jan 28 Feb 9 Feb 24 Mar 14 15 Nar l pr 25 May 23 May 25
29 Pole 1 o o
o 30 Barren 1 o o o
o 31 Battlesh1p o o o o
32 Sentlnel Rk o o o 13 35 23 34
33 Center Reef o o o o o o o
34 Gull Reef o o o o o o o
35 Rlpple 1 o o 20 37 38 124 35
36 Reef o o o o Shag o o o
37 17 19 L Cactus o 7 18 o
o 38 Gull Rk o o o o
o 39 Flattop o o o o
o 40 Wh1te Rks o 16 o 31 24 V1 34 41 Ilouatt Reef o o o o o o
42 1 o o 2 o SklpJak 12 58 19
43 Unnamed o o o 1 o o o
44 Clements Reef o o o o o o o o o o
45 Unnamed 1 1 33 45 o 51 25 68 51 56 60
46 Parker Reef o
47 The S1sters o o o o o o o o o o
48 L S1ster o o o o o o o o o o
o 49 Unnamed Islet o o o o
50 T1ft Rks 16 1 8 21 22
51 Unnamed Rk o o o o o
52 Turn Rk 1 o o
53 Shag Rk o o o
54 Flower 1 o o o o o o
55 W1110w I o o o o o
56 Lawson Rk o o o o o o o
57 P01nter 1 o o o o o o o TABLE 9c Continued
1978 1977 Map 25 23 25 Reference Mar 14 lar 15 Apr May May Jan 28 Feb 9 Feb 24 Dec 8 Dec 21 Jan 26 Number Nov 30 o o 22 9 o o 58 Black Rk o o o o o o o 59 Unnamed Rks o o o o o 4 60 rawn Rks o o o 61 Unnamed Rk o o o o o o o 62 S Peapad Rk o o 29 2 o o 17 o 23 o 63 Peapod Rks o 25 o o o o o o o o 64 N Rk o o Peapod o o 4 o o o 65 El za Rk o 1 o o o Rk o 66 v u o o o o o 67 Dot 1 o o o o o o 68 Unnamed Rk o o o o o 0 69 Unnamed I o o o o 70 Low 1 o o o o o o o 71 Nab 1 o o o o o o o 72 I o o Unnamed o o o o 73 1 o o Unnamed 25 7 o 74 Unnamed Rks o 25 25 o o o o o o o o 75 Sm th 1 o o o 89 116 74 57 165 29 257 76 M nor I 50 164 125 19 29 o 9 24 26 32 24 3 77 Mat a I o o 43 o o 9 o o o 78 1 o o Pufhn o o o 79 Turn I 1 28 28 20 19 22 o 15 o 80 B rd Rks o 9 o o o o 81 W ll amson Rks o o o o o o o Colv lle 1 o o 82 43 o o 31 o o o Buck 1 o 83 4 41 41 27 52 84 Bare 1 o 30 M H l u s J o rt1 UJ l UJ IJ j tJ1 l o 0 0 0 000 rt1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 r 0 0 0 0 0 s u nl o U s j nl rt1 l H c 0 l o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 jJSO 0 0 0 0 000 0 0 0 0 0 l Q H s UI o rt1 l l 6c M OJ J I 0 0100 Q j J
H UJ H l 0 l N
QH tJ o l l J N H U 10 o UJI H 01 ao N l j o 0 0 000 a 0 0 moo 0 0 0 0 000 0 0 N J tJ 0 0 0 0 M t OJl lOl I s N 01 H j l l N UJ Ul 0 000 0 j 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 M tJ 0 l l l M S jJc IJ l 0 E IJ s I r 6 UJ N o 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o nl Oj 0 0 0 000 0 0 H j
nl l 0 s l H Z o l H l N rt1 tJ1 rt1 j M Jl c UJ jJ 0 j jJj rt1 l o M N o o o o o o o o o o o o o l jJ H o o o o o o o o o o N o N UJ rt1 l rr U O H l s 0 H nl Q s UJ H o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o nl HL1 M c l I
o l 0 UJ s N Ul l c J s l s u H l j s Q o l u 0 H r N Q Q l o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0 c jJ c o l UJ l a rt1 H l H Q U l UJ rt1 N o o o o o o o o o o o o 6 o o o o o o o o o o o o c j nl I M rt1 l j H H Il J l s 0 UJ l Il Z J
I UJ UJ H J J J I l l H H J J 4 u J J H H H Q s H 0 J c H 0 ell Q 4 Q J o 0 0 0 0 0 o H 0 0 i a 0 0 Q Q H Q J Q OJ Q H Q Q Q Q J U OJ j l Q M e M 0 0 e e e e 0 e e jJ H u M rt1 M Q M tl o I1l e u tl I1l I1l M I1l I1l C I1l I1l 0 Q c tl c rt1 Q Q p I1l J c Q c C C M c u c j Q C o c M I1l M c fijj H e o tl tl C M C C C tl C J OJ C C J c I1l I1l C H Q Q r U lt1 o U r 0 J J H r z r oS l @ Il tl Q z N M U l o M N M U E rtJ o M N M U ill 0 M M M M M H M M M M N N N N N N N 47 TABLE lO Continued
Map 31 29 o 13 Sep 14 Oct 4 Oct Reference Ju1 27 Aug 14 l uC 18 I ug ep Jun 27 Jun 28 Ju1 4 Ju1 19 Ju1 20 Nwnber Jun 9
o o o 29 pole L o o o o 30 Barren I o o o o 31 aa tlesh p I o 14 25 2 1 33 4 32 Sent nel Rk 34 4 46 36 o o o o o o 33 Center Reef o o o o o o o 34 Gull Reef o 25 35 2 87 5 37 60 2 13 o 35 Rlpple I o o o o o o 36 Shag Reef o 37 62 o o 20 3 37 L Cactus I o o o o o 38 Gull Rk
o o 39 Flattop L 24 18 30 o o o 40 Wh te Rks o o o o o o o 41 Mouatt Reef o 21 58 5 22 30 19 5 11 42 Sk PJak L 16 o o o o 28 2 16 2 43 Unnamed I o o o o o 44 Clements Reef o o 2 40 43 45 53 6 45 Unnamed L 38 o o o 46 Parker Reef o o o o o o 47 The S sters o o o o o o o o 48 L S ster o 4 o o o o o 1 49 Unnamed Islet o 11 24 o o o 7 1 50 T ft Rks 14 2 o o o o o o 51 Unnamed Rk o o o o o o o 52 Turn Rk o o o o o o o o 53 Shag Rk o o o o o o 15 10 1 54 Flower L o 0 o o o o o o 55 W l1ow L o o o o o o o o 56 Lawson Rk o 7 13 7 2 1 o 1 o 57 Po nter I o TABLE lO Continued
Map Reference
Number Jun 9 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jul 4 Jul 19 1111 20 Jlll 27 14 18 Aug Allg Aug 29 Sep 13 Sep J4 Oct 14 Oct 31 58 Black Rk o o o o o 2 o o 59 Unnamed Rks o o o o o o o o 60 Brown Rks o o o o o o o o 61 Unnamed Rk o o o o o o o 62 S Peapod Rk o o o 17 1 18 13 o 63 Peapod Rks 17 o 22 21 27 3 20 1 4 57 4 49 64 N Peapod Rk o o o 4 o 1 o 5 2 65 El1za Rk o o 3 6 l 16 22 66 V1t1 Rk o o o o 67 Dot L o o o o o 68 Unnamed Rk o o o o o o o 69 Unnamed I o o o o o o o o o 70 Low I o o o o o o o o o 71 Nob L o o o o o o o o o 72 Unnamed I o o o o o o o o o 73 Unnamed o o o o o o o o o 74 Unnamed Rks 35 39 o 24 o 44 4 57 7 46 63 75 Sm1th L 15 o o o o o o o o 76 M1nor L 15 64 8 162 20 92 20 93 3 71 12 196 44 17 4 206 194 o 155 145 77 Mat1a I o o 4 45 10 48 78 Puff1n L 3 21 59 5 25 7 27 2 91 2 28 79 Turn L o o o o o o o 80 B1rd Rks 49 18 o 26 21 1 35 2 112 8 19 33 81 W1111amson Rks o 4 2 o o 82 Colv111e L o o o o o o o o Q 1 k J 9 1 LJ 13 1 o o o 7 13 17 3 51 4 9 39
TABLE 12 Aer al survey counts of harbor seals taken from June 1978 to October 1978 Dashed lines indicate the area was not surveyed zeros 0 mean no animals were present map reference refers to Figure ll Pup counts are in parenthesis and are not included in the adult totals
lap Reference Jun 9 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jul 4 Jul 19 Jul 20 Ju 1 27 Aug 14 Aug 18 Aug 29 Sep 12 Sep 13 Sep 14 Oct 14 Oct 31
0 0 0 A Bell1ngham Bay 0 0 0
B W11dcat Cove 0 0 0 0 0 24
C Saln1sh Bay 0 0 0 34 6 0 49 1
D Padllla Bay 25 27 0 35 0 5 70 7 50
E Hat I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20
F Fldalgo Bay 10
G Slncla1r I SE 0 0 0 3 1 9 0 13
H Boulder Reef 0 11 0 15 1 21 4 27 3 31
I pt Mlgley 0 0 74 7 17 47 ui J Clark I 0 0 0 0 0 0 15
K Barnes I 5 0 6 0 28 3 28 14
L Echo Bay 0 0 4 4 12 5 31 8 40 1 35
M Sentlnel I 0 0 0 1 1 0 56 33
N Satel11te I 0 0 0 0
O Tw1n Rocks 23 1 18 0 16 2 12 2 0 38
p Bald Bluff 0 0 0 0 0 0
Q B11nd I 0 0
R Bell I 1 1 0 0
S Leo Reef 0 0 0 0 9 1 15 21
T Pear Pt 0 0 0 2 14 1 1 2
U Deadman I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
V Whale Rks 0 0 0 0 0 16 2 25 0 11
W Protctlon I 30 50 71 24 113 47 2 31 15 113 19 35 1 66 128 223 220
X Marrowstone I 13 0 0 0 11 1 0 13 0
y C01VU5 Rks 0 0 1 0 0 9 0 5
Z Port Gamble 28 36
TABLE 14 Aerial survey counts of harbor seals taken from June 1978 to October 1978 Dashed fines to indicate the area was not surveyed zeros 0 mean no animals were present map reference refers Flgure ll Pup counts are in parenthesis and are not included in the adult totals
Map Jul 27 14 18 29 12 13 14 Oct 14 31 Reference Jun 9 Jun 27 Jun 28 Jul 4 Jul 19 Jul 20 Aug Aug Aug Sep Sep Sep Oct
Olymplc Penlnsula
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Klapot Pt 0 1
5 0 0 6 0 2 Kulakala Pt 0 0 20 2 18
66 26 45 40 41 33 1 30 2 54 8 8 43 3 Dungeness Refuge 41 20
1 0 2 2 4 Green Pt 1 1
1 38 33 0 5 Low pt
9 6 Deep Creek 1 U1 0 4 0 W 7 Plllar PL 0 0
0 0 0 8 Sea 1 Rk 0 0
0 0 9 Tatoosh I 0 0
Vancouver Island
78 1 0 58 64 10 Chaln I 144 75 67 135 1
0 0 0 19 11 Trlal 1 0 0 0 6
67 2 83 86 20 12 Race Rks 42 46 0 69 2 51
42 0 0 6 13 Becher Bay 0
2 0 0 14 Possess on PL 0
0 0 15 Sherrlngham pt
0 0 16 Jordan R 0
0 0 0 17 provldence Cove 0 4 from TABLE Maximum counts of harbor seals Phoca vitulina richardsi 1974 aerial surveys of islands in British Columbia July to August 19J5 was taken from at Counts are from visual estimates only Data files the Manine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle WA
Loca1ion Estimate
Strait of Georgia Miami I 6 Mayne I 55 Samuel I 25 Turnbo I 20 Sa turna I 45 Prevost I 8 Sal tspring I 35 N I Pender I 4 I Portland I 17
ze o Rk 11 II Harol Strait Sidney I 13 Chain Islets 25 26 Di scpvery I
Strait of Juan de Fuca Trial I 7 Race Rocks 135
54 For a hauling area to be attrac tive to harbor seals it must possess three characteristics isolation from unseen approach by land immediate acce s s to deep water or channels and be near food resources Scpeffer and Slipp 1944 Calamb kidis et al 1978 described five categori s of hauling site of which fQur ar e present in this study area Thes are cobbl e or sandy beaches such as Violet Point ori Protebtion Island and the spit exposed at low tide between Smi th and Minor Islands F ig ure 7 rocky reefs and i land ledge ex osed at low ti s such as Puffin Island Figure 8 mudflats eXP9sed at low tides found at Dungeness wildlife Ref ge and all the ays in the area Figure 9 and anchored log booms in Fidalgo Bay and Port Gamble
Abundance
1
I Abundance estimates for P V richardsi are difficult to obtain Popul atiqn est imat s for the Pacif ic area are in excess of 300 000 q nimals MMPA 1978 of which most can be f und in Alaskan w ters Mate i977 estimated 12 000 animals along the west cdast from Washington to Baja nol Sound Cal ifornia from surveys that did include puget
S dle fer and Sl ipp 1 44 fs tima ted the Washington 6 000 000 population of harbor seals tole 10 animals Newby 1973b assumed the hi tQrical population nearer to 6 000 and produced evidence of a possible decline to 2 000 animals He attributed this decline primarily to 1943 1960 bountv pressure and habitat loss Between and over io 060 har or seal wer aken for bounty in s than hat Washington which is undoubt y con iderably le 1 73b a 40 loss td was actually killed Newby Assuming unretrievable animals the totaL kill may have actually l I exceeded 17 000 Scheffer and SllPP 1944 Newby 1973b from claimed i In summary of 9 503 bounty records Washington between 1947 and 1960 3 619 animals were killed in the northern Puget Sound area Jo1ihson and Jeffereis 1977 I
A minimum esii ate of harbor seals in northern Puget Sound in 1972 was about 600 a imals Newby 19 3b and Johnson and J feries 1977 e timated 650 rbor seals in are ih this region In a more compi hen ve census of this 1977 Calambo idis et al 978 reported at least 1 200 anfmals J The Strai t of Juan de Fuca was hot considered in an1 of these estimat s
of During the present study Intensive aerial surveys the study area for harbor seals were made monthly All
55 56 57 F v
e
4 f
I if t h1jl ex i
l
2 V
58 1 I I
known hauling areas and potential hauling habitat were surveyed All islands and islets included in the San Juan Wilderness area were surveyed effort and number of animals observed are presented in Tables 9 and 10 Specific locations of these refuges are given in Figure 10 Areas not included in this refuge system which are utilIzed by harbor seals are presented in Tables 11 through 14 with specific locations given in Figure 11
To aid in the presentation of this data the study area was divided into 17 sampling areas Figure 12 A summary table by month using counts from the maximum survey days is presented in Table 16 The lower totals observed in November through January is probably the result of the minimal tidal range encountered during winter months Tidal influence on hauling behavior has been reported in the literature often Scheffer and Slipp 1944 Bishop 1967 Newby 1971 Johnson and Jeffries 1977 Calambokidis et al 1978 We expect this influence may have contributed to the low counts in these periods From February through July 1 000 animals were consistently observed a figure which is comparable to the 1 200 reported by Calambokidis et al 1 78 This may the number represent of easily observable animals at any time Johnson 1976 has reported an increase in observable animals during the molting periods when suppoped physiological stress forces more animals to haul out longer In local waters the molt may occur as early as February or as late as October Scheffer and Slipp 1944 Stutz 1967b Most of the populat on is involved in t molt from July to September Stutz 1967b This period coincides with our high count in 1 August qf 600 harbor seals not including 143 pups which is our estimate of the summer population in the study area The count in October of over 1 500 animals is comparable to the August estimate The lower count in September is attributed to poor aerial survey conditions primarily local fog during 141 12 September 1978 A more complete analysis of this phenomena locally and other aspects of daily and seasonal population fluctuations will be made with an increased data base collected during 1979
the For purposes of this report a summary of each sampling area follows The numbers in parenthesis refer to Figure 12
L
59 11 Ii1j r ji
J 1
o
c
0h r C
NOTE 2 OflO L S
I s C O 0 No I PolOI I CO I J fi
17
46 1
II
hGttlGmll
ctl Dllco ry I
Tf rr l l
I STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA
ISLANDS NOTE NUMBERS ADJACENT TO I REFER TO THE FEDERAL REGISTER
VOL 40 NO 172 SEPT 4 1975 1976 1 VOL 41 NO 147 JULY 29
Figure 10 Locations of areas included in the San Juan Wilderness Area numbers refer to Tables 9 10
60 12
5 1 4 I
Figure 11 Harbor seal Phoca vitulina richardsi haul out site locations in A northern puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca Letters Z refer to T 11 12 numbers 1 17 refer to T 13 14 This figure does not include locations in the San Juan Wilderness Area refer to Figure 10
61 J
t I CV
t
H5 2 h y
J 1 I i t i1 I t9J I j 7 l l t IiJ u pT 1
t t J t f L i
I I t sJ 1 1 I l Q t F f I
t I
F i Y2 G 1 iai are s i7ytn noi th tri Sound andtl1e straLit of tgU 1 l pdgel c i v h I r y s t 1 2 f 4r 1 f Juan ae Fuca for wh ch abundance est mates of harbor s ea ls Pfloca v tul na ej f ltl r l I n richaros 1 Were made tableJ 16 L t1ur I rt
62 TABLE IG Summary of aerial survey counts of harbor seals taken from November 1977 to October 1978
Dashed lines indicate the area was not eros surveyec 0 mean no animals were present reference numbers refer 12 map to figure Pup counts are in parenthesis and are not included in the adult totals
Map
Reference 1977 1978 Number General Area ov De Ja l Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct
1 Cherry Pt to Pt Roberts 0 0 0 2 patos I to LUtnml I 86 86 25 114 93 46 150 128 12 245 20 229 3 3 Haro Stralt 279 17 49 90 103 178 256 126 42 52 7 102 8 69 4 San Juan Is 118 0 58 29 14 0 60 140 243 6 247 W 10 355 31 188 348 5 RosarlO Stralt 0 40 43 41 54 57 44 66 65 2 197 21 122 7 122 6 Bel1lngharn to Padllla Bay 0 12 23 1 15 39 12 27 35 11915 169 1 35 7 Srnlth Mlnor Is 50 164 165 257 116 74 25 162 20 44 206 196 17 2 155 8 Skaglt Bay to Port Susan 0 0 0 10 0 9 POlnt Wllson to Hood Canal 8rldge 24 6 10 21 9 8 14 3 20 1 31 49 10 Protectlon I 100 183 134 155 164 149 87 71 15 113 11319 128 223 11 Dungeness to Sequlrn Bay 0 0 90 81 90 81 35 41 45 3 54 8 8 12 66 Angeles pt to Green Pt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 2 3 13 Plllar Pt to Angeles Pt 51 1 8 18 9 7 1 2 2 47 37 3 14 Neah to Plllar Bay Pt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 Cape Flattery Tatoosh I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 16 0 Cervantes Pt to Sooke Bay 0 0 3 5 0 20 0 2 9 0 6 17 42 Becher Bay to Dlscovery I 26 120 242 230 243 335 190 2l0 3 145 3 83 144
1 Total 21 Monthly 643 785 991 1 004 1 075 963 90 26 J J 7 97 1 618 143 1 074 11 1 587
II Partlal survey Cherry Point to Point Roberts 1
No hauling sites are known for this area from the literature or the presen t stu 9Y Since this area Iorders population lltrrati QP m 9i y to the south sonc c undoubtedly rsome harbor sears ar e expec ted to be forag ing here although to what extent is unknown Aerial urveys were flown only four times here no boat surveys M re made
l Tidal area in Lumm Flats produce suitable ab tat for harbor seals and they migh t be eXpected to occass nally there haUlllout r
C v Patos Island to Lummi Island 2
i Impor ant hauling areas are found on Sucia s pnd Matia and uffin Islands rBarnes Island and on an offshore p 1 i I 1 ri islet near et Migley Lummi Island Harbor seal s were observed on Clark ts an Q lwint r months and in heLfall j Ul g At Sucta Island two areas are utilized North bf the main island is an unnamed island which is part of th San Juan W ilder ness AreaCmap referen ce number 45 F 10 I Q fgtire I A se cond lqca ion in Echo Bay map reference L Ri jure 11 s is utilize1 Jir g u r 9 r ipg w ir ter an sptJtjglmont AnImals wer regularly s en a t th lS slt e durIng th QreedIng season and this was the only si e where pups were Qbserved nea Sucia Island Wilson 1978 suggests that pups are Ii com only bor n on nursery s n es away from the nonib teed ing population Harbor seals all but abandoned Mati sland durlng the su mer shifting to Puffin Island which was little used in winter and spring The possibility tQat harassment to the Matia Island area caused by increased recreational use of the Marine State Park may be s onsible for this movement A minimum of 20 pups were prop c d in this area in Augqs A m ximum count of harbor seal in this area was maq e in OctQQer in the study area 1his area accounted for 15 of the tota l Augu t population p13 279 animals
Haro Strait 3
This area includes six hauling sites from SkiRj ack Island to Sentinal Island No concentrations of seals are
64 known along the west side of Henry Island or San Juan Island though they occur there sinqly in the water and a few harbor seals occassionally haul out in Andrews Bay R Osborne pers commun
All of the hauling sites are part of the San Juan Wilderness system which affords protection to these animals The only exception is Sentinal Island where animals would haul out on instead of or in addition to the offshore rocks only the rocks are part of the refuge Most of the harbor seals in Haro Strait are found in the islands and reefs north of Sentinal Island Few pups were observed here during aerial surveys However during a small boat survey on 30 September at least 20 weaned pups were observed The total pup production was probably higher since older pups may have been mistaken for immature animals
The high count for this area was 256 in April This area accounted for 6 3 of the maximum population estimate in August
San Juan Islands 4
This area includes the interior waters on either side of Haro and Rosario Strait Nine hauling areas are included here Most animals were observed south of Lopez Island where disturbance from pleasure craft may be minimal A group of 50 animals was monitored near Dinner Island by Mr and Mrs D Ward Bellevue Washington who kindly provided us with information
All haulin areas except Twin Rocks East Sound Orcas Island are protected as part of the San Juan Wilderness area A high count of 21 pups were see on the unnamed rocks off Dinner Island map reference number 74 Figure 10 Nursing was observed away from non breeding animals at Dinner Island M Ward pers commun
The high count for area 4 was 355 harbor seals in August an additional 31 pups were also observed This represents 21 9 of the total population estimate in the study area for that month
65 Rosario Strait 5 2 r rr 2 j J Jtrc l r t4 tile W 1 J pn r t Z iq j J ft ill i rnIe s d 1L O e rr UC f J b1s were d in Ros St t fJ F iv e ha ulhig lS iteSJ recp r ed ariq r aJ s rl durinq this study This includes w iILiamson Ro cks dniOG Burrows Bay although we observed animals there only on 18 Augus t fourt to six h arbor seals are s eem in Butx ows Bay f throughout the year D Lively pers commun Alkdi ve l
C haul ing s ites are par t pf the Wildernes areq J L t i O l I oj i 1 l c g t 1 J I B ird RockS and Peapod Rocks are th IDosJ tJmpQr tpn t3J v ar ea m were haul s ites in cth q nd ctni qJs obp rve ing issummqry q surv ati these ite on all yso7 Fewer haJ bprseals wer rL c obp rv d In w Inter and spr lng than summer and falL Thed q di f rence was more than might be expacted as a res lt f f c e nt tid al inf luence P 1 05indicat ing some sepsonal mbv ein 2Y J c thtough Rosario Str aiLl tls LW lrc j 01 ri d5 l 7i l j E
A m aximum cpunt 0 197 h arbor ise al s wa s m de ln1 ROSar io t E t sen t 12 2 of t I Augus repq ing the max fmum qj1 ai in r t ion A tofal of 21 pups were observed there in th Is pobulcjJ area in August
r l I t Ot f I n r 1 Bellingham Bay to Padilla Bay 6
1 Y 1 j e i r t G t f SJ t i5 aiiT f 5 This area includ s Gueme ahd Cypress Islands and ot5 F idalgo Bay in addi t1on 2 to the larger bay s S even hauJ ing 7 d a ar ea these ck areas are 10C ted Sinth is s Of only ElIza R9 Jsl r eJ em T s cr nuo protect ed by the wildJife efug syst i iden flat I Figure 1 2 r n Belling hamr Sa inishJ a d Pa Hlla Baysate 1 isolated from most boat traff ic andperh aps as a reLittt ar enc the most important areas in terms of total animals hauling oultO lG cnf c2 s3 2 AJ J 1 1 1 t F XS Zf S pnt usf 1 I t 8 llrJ f1 UL lG2 sof 10 jt 25 f2 C 9 17 bnS as suryeyed e t m6er 7 F idalgo Bay only 6nrC bn 13 Sep 19 8 and ten animals we r obs erved ha ured out om anchbre a log c booms pr T h is bay w YJ bepome part of theregu l ari survey 9 u i 1 t track during 1 9 9 0 2 a jf1 wsl rsn G 5 E l
Most ofi the an ima1s rn this area we re found jnlrPadt1la 1 Bay Th et rrrEig ular fy of otcurrerice fIr SamishJ andJ 12 j I r om Bell ing amJ Bayso shgg es tse alsmay move iiht6 the sei bay si fr r other are as perhaps follow ing fluctuat ing j foodj resources f
A high count of 169 animals was taken in this area in 7 4 of the September The August count of 119 represents total for the study area Fifteen pups were observed in six from August seven of these were from Padilla Bay and Skmish Bay I
66 L9 II I I
Y Smith Minor Islands 7
I
Smith Island and Minor Island are wildlife refu e administered by the Nisqually Wil dlife Refug e Olympia cess is controlled An abando ed Washingtoni Ac trictly I I Coast Guard lighthouse now automated stands on the western side of Smith isiand a ight rid horn are 6 Minor Isiand Figure 14 Harbor seals h aul out on the tidal spit est of the Minor Island light Fig re 15 During the pupping season females ith new pups were most often observe near to the th light and the ariimals appeared habituated I continued blast of the horn
is aea III Newby 9 73b reported 150 harbor seals from th and Calambokldis et ale 1978observed 245 animals hauled i I out in A st 197i The highest count was tak n in th ls gu I s study was h February 1978 when 257 adults ahd immatuf I w c the month f our il ion ere observed During 9 largest popul rt I est lmate for the s tudy area Augu t 206 adul ts and riUTi tures an9 17 pups were recordea total 233 anim ls 44 e The pup was made in when pupswer fdghestt count July d first were se en e on2 June 1 78 observe Tne pups her 1 the high count44 was made one month la ter oh 27 Jury 1978 The last obvious pup s were observed an 29 Augus t i lasted at l ast weekS 78 thus the pUJ 9 season
The averaqe number of an im al s see ii by sea15n fo a ll surveys hot aEcounting for tidal or weathei inffuen e is It 93 as follows fall 117 winter 133 spring summei123 the differences between anyone survey Itlay be attributable to v arying environmental conditi6m bu t the of anima ls data fndicates a reasonably stable number of throughout the year Further assessment tbis question
t I will be a ided by data collected through 1979 yO t Smith Minor Islands are the most important sin l hauling site in the study area in terms of total numoer of 25 the mimals and total pup product i9n 8 of maxiIlum pup al areas comes from Smith Minor Islands count for summary l I
Whi le th is ar ea is protected as a w ildlife refuge or iricidences of harassment were observed to take place weather hindered survey effort in September 1978 but did I aflow a survey of Minor Island on 14 September were seen hE 1978 At 13 35 on tnat day two people walkJng had traversed the spit at Minor Island Apparently they Island and had spit at low tide leaving their boat on Smith of these become stranded by the incoming tide The presence
68 69 70 two people accounted for a total lack of harbor seals in the area only two were observed in the water near Smith Island During aerial surveys on 23 and 25 May only 25 harbor seals were estimated in the water and none were hauled out Many small sport fishing boats were observed close to the islands a boat During survey to the islands on 21 July 1978 a small sport fish boat was seen approaching close enough to hauled out animals to cause them to flee into the water
Smith Minor Islands accounted for 12 7 of the harbor seal population estimated for the study area in August
Skagit Bay to Port Susan 8
This arp a comprises the protected waters from Deception Pass southeast to Port Susan and southwest to Rocky Pt Whidbey Island Aerial surveys were flown through this area infrequently March July August usually when local fog on the west side of Whidbey Island forced our approach to northern puget Sound from the east side
During a small boat survey from Deception Pass to Goat Island on 26 May 1978 three harbor seals were observed in the water near Hope Island No animals were seen in the Bay from boat surveys on 27 Mav and 3 to 4 September 1978 During an aerial survey of the southern tide flats in Skagit Bay on 14 August 1978 ten harbor seals were observed hauled out
There are probably more harbor seals in this area than our low survey effort revealed Ninety seals were reported in Skagit Bay from yearly observations 1970 to 1972 Newby 1973b Calambokidis et al 1978 reported 14 harbor sea1s in Skagit Bay on 23 October 1977
Point Wilson to the Hood Canal Bridge 9
This area extends from Point Wilson on the Quimper Peninsula south to the Port Gamble Bay including the east side of Marrowstone Island Three hauling areas were found in this area rocks off the west side of Marrowstone Island Colvus Rocks and anchored log booms in the south end of Port Gamble
71 f l G mbi t s edl o C i e k9 y i g a0 t i tc r ve o 12 Sepfem6 38 6p al weFe h ul oyt pn c f on seals were seen c ra ted and I4 t 36 OctoberI lo t 1 V 1 logsi 0 fl c The in lusio rOfn hese co nts nto e r a s ary pr se e total est for 4 I l iiriates 31 I Octooer 9J 1 and highest t September I L I local residents at ts from J Repor l Cape George Washington G Q I I
es t ome be in Port L that harbor seals found l J c 1 sU99 J f t 1 J I I J can Gamblef year round I I seals s u Co vus bot Clrbqr e ry x F y qn qcks fr m r to c r 1 0 th on t it1a r9ll AI r ly y 7 E observation made were of two animals on 23 May 1978 and one onl 28 June 1978 By 18 August 1978 nine animals were observed and they have been seen egula rly thrqllgh Q C 9 I Thlis varia ble use sug gests seasonar moverrleritsaway from thbse rocks in the and summer The west side of I spring Marrowstone Island was not March harbor l r surveyed until s E al reTegularly se en at 1h is haql ing s ite jL E
t c t I i rhe coun t of 20 h arbor seals in August repr esen t c Jl of t e tptal C ou tlt tqt tqat Il onth In tqe study area 0 j L Yt t el 0 1 J h l 1 40 fnt J U L C f I 1J rlij
te ct ion 10 i T Prp Island i J 3 i l j r E fA1j JG
l r c s i 0 E j
r I L f r t C r1 l L cated at the head of Discovery Bay Protection Is and resen an s h ts important ingle ul ing area second C ply t9 G fo ar a Mt1 P 3l nA t study cJi ptse al sc haul ou 1 al opt exclusively on Violet Point southeast spit F ure 16 Although once disturbed some animals move to E t sou hwest d s and een Kare olltrye t en 9ftl land hqv p u ll t r iO S 1 J h n ti c 1 Dp r ng i th J2 pg ing season f lale s ith neT07 pups w exe 2 J to haul out th side of l e s b ob1perved ta op J1qrJ h i t PoiI1t WJ o t e main group This area was abandoned by the time of weaning C c I Calambokidis et tr l y9 8 p r ea a h igff fh lr5 165 harbor seals on Protection Island in September During t e coun b a a ken in pr s nJ t1dy la hJghr of 2iJ nimaJs w stta Octo o 6 0 w t I per i Jlhp iltiAeast reip mpl c D fll9 upj the S a l h th gfZ t1 hi9D S t 91i nt torr the tu9Y are I arbor smqDal 7 W r pp ye9 repr l ti g 9 Ofi thec total s Jhe s for th land wa 19 in J h 9P t P uP CQ DJt f s2 i taken ugtlst Tqe first pups were observed on 20 July 1978 and pups were s en until 29 August for a pupping period lasting about 6 iweeks I
72 t
73 I i Analysis of population variability throughout the I evaluation of se ons is unclear at the tim A preliminary ladd and aerial observations indicate moie animals haul out and on Island in fall and winter than spring iProtection more addressed summer p 09 This question Will be fully with additional information collected in 1979 t Prote ction Island is presently undergoing commercial I a of the development The state of Washington owns p6rtion Kanem Point and has we tern end of the island including of detlared it a wildlife sanctuary However the remainder th island is subjected to severe human pressure Di turbances of harbor seals was most evident during the lot su mer weekends when the island is most heavily used by owners and small boat traffic in surrounding waters is r A of disturbance data was not prepared in grt test summary ti for this report but will be included in the f na report prrectDupgeness to Sequim Bay 11 I This summary area extends from Sequim Bay north to and in luding all of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge During aerial surveys of Dungeness the coastline south to 1 These K l apot Pt entrance to Sequim Bay was surveyed didri6t far into Sequim Bay Of the few surveys penetrate was examine as small boat surveys to Dungeness Sequim Bay of four t me fuel reserves and weather allowed A total r il Ju and bdats surveys were made in this area March Ap ly for this AJgust Only two hauling sites are known general Kulakala a ea Dungeness Refuge and a rarely used site off Point
observ d On only one occasion were harbor seals inside 35 seals were SequimI Bay On 15 March 1978 an estimated seen i the water inside Kiapot Point Considering th e at of Sequim Bay to large harbor seal populations proximityt Protection Island and Dungeness Refuge we expect some this Conversations with local a rmals regularly enter bay sport fishermen indicate that it is not uncommon to see s gle harbor seals inside Sequim Bay I Calambokidis et ale 1978 report d 36 harbo seals Point in s hauled out on the tide flats off Kulakala ptember 1977 During the present study animals were seen near the the Hauled out pbint in all seasons usually in water 28 1978 were observed sbals were observed on January Pups when two mother were ohlY once on 19 July 1978 pup pairs sben together in the water
74 The Dungeness Refuge represents an important sanctuary for harbor seals in this area Animals were most often the observed in water The common presence of small in pleasure boats he area may limit the daytime hauling here activity Th highest count was taken from an aerial on 28 1978 of survey April 81 harbor seals The expanse of shallow water and shoals limited the effectiveness of boat surveys in the Refuge
Pups were first seen at Dungeness on 27 July 1978 The was largest count made during a boat survey on 10 August 1978 Twelve pups were counted along with 63 adults and immatures The last identifiable pups were observed the last week of August
The high count for Area 11 was 90 harbor seals in February and March This summary area accounted for 3 3 of the total August count for the study area
Angeles Point to Green Point 12
This area stretches from just west of Dungeness to Angeles Point west of Port Angeles WashingtoD Single seals were seen the harbor in water from June through August from aerial surveys The observation of a small pup and mother of east Freshwater Bay was the only record of a pup on the Olympic Coast outside of Dungeness
Because of restrictions to low flying aircraft near Port Angeles no surveys were made in the immediate vicinity of the town Harbor seals were reported hauling out near the easternmost pier in Port Angles Sixteen harbor seals were seen there on 6 April 1978 J Brueggeman pers commun Seals were regularly seen in Port Angeles during bird surveys conducted by another MESA directed st dy Observations were made in the su mer and fall indicating some harbor seals may be resident there Exact counts were not avalable as of this writing
The two harbor seals observed in this area in August represent 0 1 of the total that month
Pillar Point to Angeles Point 13
Harbor seals in this area which includes Freshwater Bay and Crescent Bay were obs rved to haul out in three
75 J t f1 r 4 j 11 J q 1 lJ j i1f 8 J fL f 1 1 t i f i lrl S9c al j n r Ja 1 1ht 4 1 O 121 J 9 J
l O j C 1 lS E r OS C U flfUt J H e9 r I I r 1 C I l r t r 0 r ld r r4 r r f r1 r ar as Low D ek an c ep Cr illat Ppt1 4 gery ti PofJ1t J of rock s 10w tide hear Low Poiht The fshore exposed at i 1 llU 1 v u6 weiiles the are as most heavl iy utiiized U 5 Lt I J 1 L r8 l t i t PI C 1
r f ol fr J r Harbor seals were observed here during alI seasons rr g e s ap gus ll r fn I1ganc fro tate flrsugq Thoug NovemberOf the seals seen In th IS area 74 were observed duf in9 tr s mOI h I s em probabJ iha t afte he th ar br e i g lson ome Darbo a s move to is fo lowlng fIshes WhICh ar abun ant he e n t e schoollng J Je fall
r i u 7 rbO g t t THkAB t Cq f h p gi tliJ to al estlmate s udy are that m n h loy tpe fP0 J In count In October may be attq butable to poorsurvey copditions on 31 October 1978 I U 1lt o r 1 4 8 c j 2Cr l I L 0 Neah Bay to Pillar Point 14
i l r It r r t j K s1f f l 1 I I k Jj 1 I 7 I I
from P t o ti Thls lI afy ea e tends ii r o t r ThIS an a was P01II t wrst of Neah Bay surveyed monthl N v mbe r t9 October 197 he only h rlor seal frem J977 r ob d were gr up ten hauled out on Seal ock o eFV of f 00 28 February 1978 No harbor seals were observed here In
v t ft August L f c f1 I J 1 t J1 L 61 J 6 J J At J J
r t r f1 1 l r 1 t I l W oX t t J 0 t J I JL l J t Af 4 J rI rI o f l i t J c G S Sin 0 I 0 l n cape fatt r l at sh i F f15 rfj 1 t h f t f C fd J 9 r r I r t r i t l G N t l r c 1 o r oCl l t t t WI 1 t J l t l1 c t J 1 l 1 f t Oll t l r r c uc ape l af y and Tatoosh Island w er thE wes 1 er11mos g l h kt are a Harbor se ls Je e obs e ved t t mi r dy j l a y c L ugu ree seat were ee oti l Op J 19 l d h uled out on rocks offshore tQC T Q frq ofu ilnx as 2 000 harbor seals are found on the outer coast effe and a W sQing ont JQl nsop and r r e9 1977 sIJlall J uTIber r a r the s eYoccur north of D e s t c i 1 1 n9 f te of few B y sen ior au thor pers obs Apparently frequent were tne Cape Flattery area for any length of time No pups I seen Inth IS area
The three harbor seal e A s e e I o s s d a a IJ
ql I gJ q L q t QtSl L 1 A it Q q 2t n r Y J Jrveq rs IL R7 m0ntrf J u 2 1 J 1 illl rL J 108 Cj f 1
I 76 I I Cervantes Point to Sooke Bay 16
This area includes extensive coastline along the southwestern end of Vancouver Island The only location where harbor seals were observed hauling out was on offshore rocks near Providence Cove and they were seen there only three times once each in February March and July The largest count for this hauling site was 35 on 28 February 1978 In June and July a few single harbor seals in the water were observed off Possession Point Sherringham Point and the Jordan River No pups were observed here No seals were seen in August
Becher Bay to Discovery Island 17
This area from Becher Bay to Discovery Island in British Columbia includes Race Rocks and Chain Islets which are the two most heavily used hauling sites Other areas where harbor seals were observed were Trial Island and small islets in Becher Bay
The largest number of animals was observed here in the spring the fewest in fall and winter The number of harbor seals at Race Rocks increased in the spring and summer from lower levels in the fall and winter This corresponds to a decrease in sea lions at Race Rocks in the spring and an increase in fall suggesting that competition for hauling space may limit the harbor seals here in winter
Chain Islets are a series of tidal rocks and islets off Victoria B C A sizable population of harbor seals resides was here year long A concentration of se ls high count 144 in July 1978 this close to a major metropolitan area is unique in the study area
No more than three pups were ever observed in this area Aerial surveys will tend to underestimate pups since their small size often makes them unobservable However if pups were produced here in any number we would expect to observe more of them This area may contain a higher percentage of non breeding animals than elsewhere in the study area or may suffer a higher pup mortality or reproductive dysfunction perhaps associated with the close proximity to large human populations
77 cou s n t Th e h h n t for th i rJ a W as2 take i nM ar Q ig cJ r5 243 harbor seals The August count of 145 animals 9 0 of th total count for that month in the represents high Ie C V L tt Pr J 1 1 e k dt s e tflJ stu rea 1 IdY il q r r I r f r r i p Ii 1 I I t j c 4 r 1 r 1 J Lf11 t 0 L b t f 1 J 1 1 f r I f 2 J t t r r C l t1 0 t 2 W i 1 J
1 h r C r t I EC0loglcalf Problems lI J j iSSI1 2 1 J e t e j
J t w 1 I 10 t r J T Jc r i I 1 c6nfi icts betw eii harbor seals ana omrilerciai fIsheryt I j erests over certaln fISh specles partIcularly s almonlds rt is bf p redom1nent concern Results of food habi t stud ies l iJ t d l tidled earl ier indicate that harbor seals are a jw opp ortunistic feeders and its impact on commercial fish may belfess than 5 of the human harvest Fiscus 1978 The effect of th is take on the5flshe r isY uiiknown but isf undg tl in e tigation in Alaska and the Columbia River A recently prhposed study by the Washington Department of Game is de to address this on the coast to I igned question Damage fish ing gear by harbor seals occurs at an unknown level r s6 nv rohme tal p01iu ants ol blY CB s a Tr Ll been shown to cause difficulties ih halfe reproductive many bit53 and mammal species PCB contaminants have been imelicated in reproductive faliGre for pinnipedsY in tfre j 1 eh nne l Isl ndsCal iforhia DeLong et al 1973 j fO 2 f jj t 1Y cNe bY 1971 first report ed a high rate of pre tal rid 8r at and in Si nepn a t l 0eaths J1 arb9 seals Gertrudel Puget Sound Arndt 1973 fobnd high leV ls bf PCB E a anaSopthernDDT in the tissue of seals cofle ct ed from Gertrud O c Isf aI1d and sogges tea that these high concentra i9ns may be sr fe spons ible for the h igh pup mortal ity ihth1s area A v 7 h a shbwn tHe e t S tudY of thi same popuiatlonI s blGl oe rl corelncentration of these twopo llu fantsremains highe rltna n H1jC1t for harbor sealsr1k any therare aJ on the we strboa ti 2 1 j f J I gun u C alambokidis et al 1978 Anas 1974
t m c onc nt ra tCio ilsJ infh e tTssue of haroorC seals pb t liu t I 1 fj t the on f n10m north ern Sound and outer Washingt coastFi9i v Puget j abeas of 1 imi ted industr ial impact are less than those for ok id is e t 19 78 Wh iTev somer thern Sound Ca1amb n ar tHe soo n r r I 3 O pollutantsare potentially damag ing to plnn lpeds ana a h1 exfstC in PugetSound harbor s ea ls stuaie sl to r prtobiem yS t 9 I l IL7c da te have yet to positively correlate envlron mental r ur 0 00 p6il utants i tli 10wt r eprodu tiv ity for tl1s srfebies t j 1 ii 10 C6ns id er ing the recent eviden ce tnat hasti acC umuHtt ed dJmonstrating the toxicity of some pollutants to wild and
78 domestic animals it seems likely that a thorough study of Sound harbor Puget seals on the order of the study performed in California may produce similar results
Southern Puget Sound bounded by major industrial areas from Olympia to Seattle and having limited tidal circulation will tend to concentrate industrial pollutants more than waters to the north or on the coast These chemicals enter the food chain at the lowest level and become concentrated within the top consumer In Southern Puget Sound this includes the resident harbor seal population Even though the use of PCB s are strictly controlLed and DDT has been banned for some years these pollutants are still retained in the system and may be present for some time to come An increase in these pollutants or the introduction of new ones into the system could combine to produce f rther depression of the local harbor seal population in Southern Puget So nd Seals in other Washington waters do not appear to be severely loaded with chemical pollutants and the danger of increasing loads appears limited in the future
Another area of concern is the threat of oil contamination particularly in Northern Puget Sound The effect of oil pollution on harbor seals has not been well documented see Section III B although young animals and older weaker animals would probably be most severely impacted Geraci and Smith 1977
Distribution of harbor seal hauling areas by human activities can lead to abandonment of some areas a change in hauling behavior and or increased pup mortality due to abandonment by mothers Bishop 1967 Johnson 1976 Calamboridis 1978 A summary of observed disturbances during the course of this study is in preparation While harbor seals are protected by federal law i e the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 it is not uncommon for animals to be shot Johnson and Jeffries 1977 included such human activities as gunshot wounds underwater blasts and propeller wounds as factors contributing to mortality
79 I II A l f Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostri CJ J 1 J r tt vJ
r r r S pIec ie s ti 1 f oJ
r 1 t c t t c rL C 4 J t t tJ riJ c d nr fIF u
f f I la esf The nor thern e1ephant seal is the rg pinniped es fie ilia f h n rther h Th is spec 18 7te lllr ltfncr hemisI 4 8 m d IC adul t males at ta In lng a length of and IIDorpn J s r w igh t b f 0x frna t 1800 kg and female are smafle ap pr elY Se 900 D eLon r a 2 5 m in and about kg r ching length weiglft t iJ j e eadTly id erifif ied a 19177 dVlt m ales aJ cr by iong l color priobosci s whrch they are capable of fnfl it ing PE ge i uni orni varying from gray to brown o At the rsurface of and uie water elephalt seals restil an upii9 ht pos itt6n d r appear som what 1 ike a par tially subm erged deadhea w ith l c 2J li l rt ons o f e h ad a d nec e c p9sed orl i l J j C I C 1C 1 CJ f ldr icJ C j Thi bree s no f r h no th tha n h e ar F pe e r alldIr far tslqnds II C E ntrar CalIfornIa and south as as Guadalupe tJ land Baja C alifornia Rice 19i7 Adult breedi ng males 6 e ter the rookeries in November and establish territories 11 l a c eBoue 1972 Pr egnan fema r i inH B JTIber e orn a a s ng Ie pup IS In ab 1 n ySi pUP borry u1 v c a r from December to February but most in late Janu ary LeBotie f ers a n imals ons al 192 peak ryumS of oE r t are suckled for four w eeKs I February CGogan 1977 Pups wtdc t me are weaned Shortly thereafte they r d after are bred etar f IT ales come Into estrus and LeBouef 1 72 mol th I lack a e l g e sh r ly er rup rc l r
t Pemales weanIng and remaIn on the rookerles through I r Aprll a d adu t e r09 e ie Il id M rch e9v lff YE7 n r1l I Or fly re e 1 O l 1 9 AprJi iul t 1 l I l r
r A rI C r r Hal t en I eal t s L on th A certa 1l I5 rt qf elephan sealpopula on out fn tlie wb L 1sqote T he br ging P9pulati6n it1aufs y e s a ad u les wh wrritet fQllowed il th Lsprf g l y immat irE l1d sse s th e hau l out to molt Odell 1974 This per i6d encompa s a a a t e r t nc ritt tioQ of an o hd l pf fge turr 11and contlnuea through summer In the fall imm moltIng r befote th e f reed i h au l otii ireavir g the rookeries ng opulation arrives Gogan 1977
of I Little published information on the feeding habits the horthern elephant seals is available In a review of 1iterature Antonelis and Fiscus 1978 suggest that this pecies feeds principally on benthc neritic and demersal and prey but does prey to some extent on epipelagic area no esopelagic species In the MESA study stomach dontent data exists Cowan and Guiget 1965 report the I I I 80 stomach contents of an elephant seal driven ashore by killer whales at Ucluelet B C northwest coast of Vancouver Island Its stomach contained only Pacific hagfish eggs and vertebral column probably also hagfish Prey items from specimens examined in other areas include sardines ratfish dogfish swell shark skate anchovy cusk eels catsharks rockfish flatfish Pacific lamprey and Cephalopods Townsend 1912 Huey 1930 Brown and Norris 1956 Morejohn and Baltz 1970 Antonelis and Fiscus 1978
Abundance and Distribution
The northern elephant seal population has recovered from a low of about 100 animals in 1890 to about 50 000 today LeBouef 1977 DeLong 1977 Commercial seal ing for oil from blubber was responsible for its near extinction and recent protection has allowed the population to increase Over half the population is found on the breedinq rookeries of Baja California San Miguel Island in the California Channel Islands is the largest breeding area in u s waters DeLong 1977 No breeding occurs north of central California Animals leave the rookeries singly and from sight records appear to remain solitary while at sea Cowan and Carl 1945 Pike and MacAskie 1969 Gogan 1977 Antonelis and Fiscus 1978 this study Evidence from tagging studies show a northward shift in distribution in the spring Gogan 1977 The extreme northern extp nt of the range comes from three recent sightings in the eastern Aleutian Islands D W Withrow and R D Everitt unpublished data Two records from the northwestern Hawaiian Leeward Islands reported by Antonelis and Fiscus 1978 suggest that some offshore movement occurs
Observations of elephant seals in north Pacifie waters are not uncommon Gogan 1977 summarized published records which demonstrated a higher frequency of observations in April May and September October and a seasona l northward shift in distribution These peak pelagic sightings correspond to movements on and off the breeding grounds i e after the breeding period and following the spring molt of immature animals
Cowan and Carl 1945 reported that the Makah Indians regularly hunted for elephant seaJ s off the Strait of Juan de Fuca in the 1800 s demonstrating that these animals have historically occurred in these waters The Indians hunted for elephant seals only in the spring and thus had no information on its presence in other seasons
81 Table 17 summarizes records of northern elephant seals in the inland waters of Washington Figures 17 and 18 show t b ese td season of occarr ence 1 9 tr t loQ iof tl is igh ngs f by Of 3 s tj he 01 Va t on 15 were made in the spr irig L c 15 Ap 17 ay t2 ld r tltese s ightings are dt str ibttted througndut lb the stu y eye observ tio s of elephanf se l e ec 9 mad1 J sp ng n Haro Stra t Osborne per 2 commune r 1 but the detaIls were not avaIlable at the tIme of th r port 1 The outhernmost ighting report as nea r J Bal brl g s and n 1977 Elephant seals have not been n7a reR9r t a InLsou tlte rn I uget Souna and no re cords are known b north of the San Juan Islands into the Strait of Georgia Pike and MacAskie 1969 list records from Hectate Strait and n I Queen Ch arlotte Sound none for E e eae t sige Ot b jl OP Van ouver Island
E cb e fter and Kenyon 19 63 r reportedn the firs t eleph ant sea in J II recorq Puget Sound and Crad docJt tI9 68 publ ished a sec J1 t qrd BotlL Of these qbserv at ton s came frq th l t sa are nearLEdTIonqs Many of the s gh tIn s compIl ed for 0 thl T e report we from spor fIshermen II1 AdmIralty I et and p pro abl ref ect th concentrated ffort there partIcularly in he al moI1ths1 when plieasure boating in open waters is req cedand is concentrated in prote ted areas 1 J CS U J M t f t1ie i hant eal rep t d we e Ur q li rl A mp Ing femal e was se n for se veraJ day s In DIscovery Ba y in pr il 1977 indicating both sexes can occ ur her e t TheS Q se of this animal was verified by a tag attached to th o rA reari j flipper l tri F i P mal ith g eeri f1ipr tagshavebee r r e sl I e a f 7 ln as h IJlgtonwaters These tags are part of rt tag9 ing program us ing d i ferent colors for rQokery islahd G 6 ideht ifJcation conduc ted by Dr B J LeBouef Un ive rsi ty of I Cafifornicia t S a n ta Cruz Thegreen tags were pface d on 1r ani als at Ano N evo Island in central California I just I sO h f S s J 2
fl 2 I i n 5 J k j
I
4 l r r f r i rf 1 1 l j 5 r 1 ti f n r b l j 5 n 1 J l O I E coil og ical P roblems e L 5 f 3 d 0 1 S l i o f bLi Ii l qi I 2 Jf bb J 0Jl q eeq 3 ft1 c no21uf i jBt nr J I brifJo eii O I j 10 1 ns C O ri Xli OJ bm qas T1 1 The effect of environinental n tS nt j I polluta onfelephii seals is virtually unknown ElephantCseal pups cont inatedn by the Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969 were compared with uncptltam ina te9 pups onS an M ig ue 1sl andLeBouef 619 71 c At the Eime ofi the spill these pupsf wereweaned andr nQ j Q dif eredbe in mortality be ween oi e nd 61 ri pu s as lJ r obs rved 1 Had the spill occurred earlh r before weaning mor serious Ldamage resul 1 ing Jrorri J inge tion jof soil may have occurred LeBouef 19 7l 1 n 10 1i f C
82 TABLE 17 Records of northern elephant seal Mirounga augustirostris sightings for the inland waters of Washington by month Records compiled at the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle WA are described as files records from the Platforms of Opportunity Program are described as POP Dashed line indicates data not available
Date Time Number Data tvlo Da Yr Hour Sighted Location Comments Source
Aprll
4 21 63 1630 1 m W of Edmonds Flrst state record adult male Scheffer and Kenyon 8 rnm movies taken 1963
4 72 1 New Dungeness Llght Green tag 994 hIes
4 873 1 Becher Bay Vanc0uver I Male stranded allve J B Colby flIes recovered by Sealand of the Paclfic Ltd escaped 5 13 73
4 1 1175 Vlctorla B C Green tag 2006 M Blgg hIes
00 4 2275 1 Pt Wllson S Guill files w
4 2875 1 pt Wllson S GUllI flIes
4 2776 1530 1 Adrnlralty Inlet Subadult male Orca Survey flIes
4 27 76 1743 1 off Yeomolt Pt Subadult male Orca Survey flIes Balnbrldge I
4 1077 1 Dlscovery Bay Present for 3 4 days 7 moltlng female A Barrle flIes green tag 3433
4 19 78 1 Dallas Bank J Sweat flIes
May 5 27 70 1 Edmonds PosseSSlon Pt Seattle PI 29 May 1970
2 5 247 1 Sequlm Bay Green tag 1207 or 1067 MMD hIes
7 5 76 1420 1 N of Sllp pt Subadult male Orca Survey flIes
5 15 76 2015 1 Spelden Channel Subadult male Orca Survey flIes
5 3077 1200 1 Blakely Rk off 12 15 length sex A Barrle flIes Balnbrldge I 1 1
I I t il j J J
7t J L T
ti t Ii I t ilJ U j I lsJ
0 I TAB LE 17 Cont I J If J d J St 1
l I t 1 I i j bl h 1
J i
Date 4 Time Number t fJ Data Mo Da Yr Hour Sighted Location nts Source 1 Qmm
c Ii Ii 5 578 1150 1 2 mi N of Foulweather Bluff rr LW l J I t iJl q Whidby R Murphy POP 5 78 1 Vi I tcr17 t lPrcrtection Hauled out on spit near M I I 110 I 0J JJI l arbor 5eals nPitherick P0P
SFfbng 1970 1 C ag da unknown MMD fHes I I P n t eYj1 l JpDe te green 897 tag 1 Ul t c l 2 rJ 00 August r ll eJ I J f 1 1 827 75 1530 Turn Pt Stuart I Adult male J E l MqQdavl1 files l J I Hl lJ J l J f l J1 c rc f J f 8 26 17 1 4 1 m W of Smith I Observed w fish in mouth C Llnden flles I 1 Cj f in September L I If1 1i Ls P I q 1 C t f l c 64 J 2 9 1730 1 1 5 NW 68 I fE9fnOI q c I 1 I jAd1Jlt mal Eiecond Washlngton Craddock 1 10968 r cord t J t I t led H III c 7 a
October i J r J Hi r8 f Lr
t I l 1 H J I I I 1 I I r f 10 875 1935 1 N l of l Kingston Pt Adultmale E Osterhaug files r y 10 2678 1 E of Pllot Pt Adul t male E L0ng P0P
f I I 1 I it r j f l jir t It t
I J J l f f1 t
r L I t j J s I t rp
1 I I l 1 II JI Ij j J 10 I 1 1 t I I 1 I 1 I l JhI 1 P
l t J1 f 111 1 I JJ q L I d f i J O 4 J 1 I 0 f y r 1 01 U j l l JlJI L t oJ L 1 1 CANADA 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
Stra t Or Jua o de uCa
480
Olympic Peninsula
o spr ing
470
1240 1230
Figure 17 Distribution of elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris and the Strait of sightings in spring March May in puget Sound Juan de Fuca data from table 17
85 l Z4 l L
1 I
J G I l l ljI i 3T A Ta t j T T 490 1 I
I Vancouver Island I i I i l H I
j
t
t r 0 f
I
I t
t l 7T l
L 48 I il I fi r L 1 1 t
I E I
I 1
i
h
1 4z I 1240 1230 I I
seal F gure i8 Distrib tiorLo r Jephant MiroungaL angustirostris sightingsJ in summer Juhe August and fall SeptemberTNovEfmb in I from puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data tableI17
86 III A 2 Order Mysticeti
Two families of the order Mysticeti are represented in the study area Eschrichtiidae and Balaenopteridae Two of the four species occuring here can be considered common the gray whale Eschrichtius robustus and minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Information on all species was collected from the literature and sighting data from several sources Several specimen records are presented in the literature for the first time here A
1 Data collection on both mysticetes and odontocetes is d iff icul t ilii th is area But for a few 1 exceptions these species do riot occur in the inland waters in any great abundance sd considerable effort must be expended to obtain sighting data an expensive process not usually affordable The Whale H6 line a NMFS funded public reporting system maintained by the Moclips Cetelogical Society proved to be a valuable soGrce f data Local pleasure boating activity the source Df most calls decreases dramatically in the fall and wi tpi hich may give a false impression of species abundance due t6the decreased effort Boran an Osborne 1978 in a repol t on th is sys tern to NMFS state As it nds sta nqi the system does not provide any reI iable data on seasonal migrat on or population sizes of the cetaceans withiri the study area page 1 but the system does provide valuable distifbution data Figure 9 shows the d ifferences in r c over he r qalfs ived ye Response is highest Ih the s uminer and decreases1rapidly in the fall to its lowest point in the winter The data in this report reflects this low winter effort and gives a poor picture of species occurring during that season
III A 2 a Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus
Species Description
Historic evidence indicates this stock occurred in the North Atlantic Ocean but is now extinct there Two stocks occur in the North Pacific on the western side the Asia stock is nearly extinct Bowen 1974 in the east the stock once greatly reduced in numbers has now recovered and undergoes an extensive yearly migration that brings it into northwest waters seasonally Physical maturity for gray whales is reached at a mean age of 4 years and a length of 13 0 m for males 14 1 m for females Rice and Wolman
87 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 6 5
60 55 50 45 40
Percent 35 1 30 25 20
I lr r I Jun flOct Nov Dec IlLIJan Feb Ac rfay Jul AU9 Sep
Figure 19 Percent of maximum monthly response August for each month from October 1977 to October 1978 of calls received by the public cetacean reporting system Whale Hotline Figure source Boran and Osborne 1978
88 1971 Sexual is attained maturity at about 8 years and 11 m for both sexes Parturition and breeding occur in the winter peaking in the month of February Nishiwaki 1972 The gestation period is 13 months females bear calves every 2 or more years
Feeding takes place during northward migration Of whales examined during southward movement almost all had empty stomachs indicating fasting during this time period Rice and Wolman 1971 Impprtant food items known include euehausiids nektonic fishes and anchovy Feeding behavior has been observed during the northern migration route off Vancouver Island Hatler and Darling 1974 and in the Bering Sea H Braham unpubl dataThe stomach of a young calf which died near Edmonds on 21 June 1978 contained dungeness crab zoea L Tsunoda pers commun Feeding behavior has been described and it appears these animals feed along the shallow muddy bottom either by scooping or sweeptng over an area straining food through plates of baleen
Abundance and Distribution
The eastern Pacific stock ranges from the Gulf of California to the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas Rice 1977 This stock spends the summer in the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea although some animals occur infrequently in coastal localities as far south as northern California Southbound migration from the Chukchi and Bering Seas occurs in November and December and takes this species south to the west coast of Baja California and into portions of the Gulf of California Both north and south migrations are primarily coastal The southward migration is composed of three segments of the population Nishiwaki 1972 the first group of migrants consist primarily of pregnant females followed by non pregnant females and mature males and the last migrants a e imma re males and nursing females A few animals are known to winter further north i e off Vancouver Island B C which are presumed to be non breeding animal Hatler and Darling 1974 Most births take place in shallow lagoons in the southern winter range notably Scammons Lagoon Guerrero Negro Lagoon and San Ignacia Lagoon Females with calves remain in tDese areas longer than other segments of the population Rice and Wolman 1971 The northward migration from the southern range be9ins in late February and lasts to April Animals follow the coast to British Columbia where some may cross the Gulf of Alaska although at least a portion of the
89 population remains coastal Fiscus et al 1976 Migration into the Bering Sea appears to be coastal along Unimak Island and the Alaskan Peninsula H Braham and D Rugh unpubl data North from the Alaska Peninsula their movements are less clear though large numbers of animals have been observed feeding near St Lawrence Island before proceeding into the Chukchi Sea Senior author pers obs
Gray whales were afforded international protection in 1947 and its numbers have increased steadilv since Ric ann Wolman 1971 gave a population estimate of ll OOO animals based on counts from shore observation points Henderson 1972 placed the original population at about 15 000 animals rreliminary estimates of stock size from shore counts at Cape Sarichef Alaska in 1977 and 1978 indicate the population may now number 15 000 D Rugh unpubl data
This species is abundant in Washington waters during migration periods They appear in coastal waters during northward migration between February and April and in December and January during the southern migration Pike and MacAskie 1969 Fiscus and Niggol 1965 reported over and 200 gray whales offshore between Destruction James Islands in April 1957 and Wahl 1977 reported sightings in the of Juan de Fuca May Gray whales generally cro Strait Island between ape Flattery and pachena Pt Vancouver Hatler and Darling 1974
Northward migrants pause often to rest or feed in British Columbia waters while in the winter the fasting southbound whales do not Pike and MacAskie 1969 which local may account for the spring take of this species by natives historically Scheffer and Slipp 1948 during the time when the whales would be most vulnerable
Scheffer and Slipp 1948 postulated that this nearshore species would probably occur infrequently in inland waters They su pected that report of a whale near Pt Defiance in 1938 was probably a gray whale The scarcity of records in Puget Sound indicate that few animals venture very far into Washington inside waters
Table 18 summarizes observations of gray whales in inland Washington waters Peak occurrence of this specie is from March May and again from August to September Boran and Osborne 1978 At least one report has been received some for every month of the year which may indicate that individuals remain in these waters for extended periods Observations are concentrated in Admiralty Inlet and the
90 robustus for the inland waters of TABLE 18 Recent observations of gray whales Eschrichtius Washington Records at the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle Sightings are presented by month compiled records from the Platforms of Program are described as Washingt n are described as files opportunity H L records from Orca POP records reported to the Whale Hotline NMFS funded are described as Survey indicate data not available rp described as O S Dashed lines
Date Tlme No Locatlon Comments Source
January 1777 1 Green Pt H L
1 278 1340 1 Elliot Bay Pler 69 H L 1 2078 PM 1 Rich Passage Bainbridge I H L 1 2078 PM 1 Sinclalr Inlet H L 1 2478 1600 1 Tacoma Narrows H L
February 2 2 78 2 Port Gamble H L
10 March 3 3076 1 Clam Bay RlCh Passage Tentative 1 0 POP
3 178 1040 2 Port Gamble H L
II 3 278 2 H L 3 378 2 H L 3 478 2 H L 3 578 2 H L 3 9 78 1530 1 Wing Pt Balnbridge I H L 3 1078 1230 1 Pt Defiance H L 3 2578 0900 1 Off Edmonds H L
April 4 24 77 PM 2 Budd Inlet H L 4 26 77 2 Eld Inlet Tentative 1 0 H L 4 3077 1 2 Budd Inlet H L
4 278 1 Green Pl H L 4 978 0630 1 HaQllicrsley Inlet H L 4 978 1230 5 5 ml n Clallam Bay H L 4 9 78 1 Colvus Passage Vashon I H L J fl1es 4 1478 1 PDrt Angeles Brueggeman j J J L
1 I I ABLl8 Cont I J 1 r iJL t
H I
d p
O J I Hoop 1 J I
en I Source No I 1 tsh Date Time J 1 L9cation Cglll I 11 1 1
wI I May H L 5 147 11 H ep leygIn1et Junlet 5 157 lj 11 Harnmers ey Ellliot H L 5 23718 2115 1i Bay B Ic1 I 5 2f1 8 0600 1 Green Pt H L 5 247 8 1400 1 Bush Pt H L 5 2478 1530 1 A1kipt H L 5 2678 0800 2 Commencement Bay H L
r June
77 1 Hammer tInIet I J 0 5 D 611 sley lJ 6 17 8 2 Pt No POlnt H L 6 178 1800 1 possession Pt H L 6 2478 0830 1 Chuckanut 1Bay H L
II 6 24 78 0835 1 H L
II 6 2478 0900 1 H L H 6 28 7 8 0930 1 v itihRk I Lummi I Tentative I D I LJ J J ly j l II 7 1l 1200 1 Whidbe f H I i7 partrldgen yt I r f I G r 1 7 178 1010 1 Slnc1air Inlet H b 7 2 78 1240 1 Pt No point H L
11 August 8 1476 2100 1 Bush Pt Tentative LD H L II H 8 1600 1 J l 24176 Victoria j dili J L 8 2976 1100 1 Elliot Bay H II 1400 Robinson pt H L 8 1 f 297f 1 1 I 1 i 1 J JH 1 1 2 3 rpJ 83 L Carr Inlet H L 176 1209 l I t ib j Q 1413 1 Seal Rock Rist1 s urface This j study 8f 978 L c ngYat o l c lJc A obbY d I t t J J 1 c
I 1 I l rt J1 11 uf WSl 1 I J I
I Ji a I r of tl
TABLE 18 Cont
Date Time No Locatlon Comments Source
September 9 276 1045 2 Dalco Passage H L 9 376 1000 1 Dana Passage H L 9 376 1130 1 Budd Inlet H L 9 376 1315 1 Hunter Point H L 9 5 76 AM 1 01ele Pt Oak Bay H L 9 676 0609 1 S Fox I H L 9 1276 0730 1 Three Tree Pt ILL 9 977 1 R1Ch Passage o s 9 977 1 Sinclair Inlet O S
0 9 1077 1 Sinclalr Inlet O S w October
10 1276 1535 1 Poverty Bay H L
November
11 8 77 1 Ediz Hook 0 8
December
12 476 1 Gooseberry Pt Lummi pt H L Strait of Juan de Fuca Figures 20 to 22 In September 19 6 and again in April 1977 several sightings were reported fr m Southern Puget Sound indicating a stragqler is capable ofipenetrating any of the waters of Puget Sound Few sightings were made in the San Juan Island area A gray whale was sighted in Chukanut Bay near Bellingham three separate times on 24 June 1978 The few records from the Strait of Juan de Fuca reduced westernI probably represent effort of whale watchers although we suspect this area has th largest numher of gray whales passing through
I At lea3t 20 individual gray whales can be accounted for a lowing for duplicate sightings in the inland waters in rebent years This count is undoubtedly low and does not re lect the movement of animals in the western Strait of Jubn de Fuca I There are two recent specimen records for the inside waters On 19 June 1978 a dead gray whale floating in Possession Sound was reported This animal an 8 1 m female calf was towed to a beach near Edmonds where it was necropsied by J Rodzilsky and other personnel of the Burke Museum University of Washington Seattle Washington and of the MMD The skeleton will be retained in the Mupeumpejrsonnels collection A second whale entangled in a gillnet O f Neah Bay Washington on 14 September 1978 MMD 78 003 was a young 8 37 m male Table 19 Also entangled were s veral species of marine birds and one harbor seal pup The whale was examined by Dr R Stroud Oregon State U iversity Corvallis OR and personnel of the MMD
Eloloqical Problems
This species is protected internationally from c J mmercial exploitation through a subsistance harvest is allowed for Siberian and Alaskan natives
A developinq tourist industry in southern California a I d Mexico are subjecting migrating animals to unknown levels of harassment from sightseeing and whale watching ctuises Movements of these tour vessels on the calving gtounds are now restricted by the Mexican Government As c6mmercial development in these lagoon areas increase so dbes the potential for detrimental harrassment Commercial b1rging has been shown to change distribution and habitat uke in lagoons and bays Gard 1974 Some harrasment by sfuall boat operators undoubtedly occurs when large whales ate sighted in Washington
94 CANADA Lll UNITED STAT Vancouver Island
Stra toT JUa de F Uca
4 0
p lympic Peninsula
o winter observation fall observation
470
1240 1230
whale Eschrichtius robustus Figure 20 Distribution of gray December sightings in fall September November and winter Juan de Fuca data fiom February in puget Sound and the Strait of table 18
j5 t i 6 CANADA 0
l 490 t r l i t 1 t UNITED STATES Vancouver Island q t t jl
t JL
ti
I r
1 I 4 0 r q 1 1 1
I I U 1 fI i i tI f 1 f i i i r j k Qlymp ic Peninsula h l J 1 It b
I
I r t i I c s pr ng qb s ry t on r f r f1I t l i1 crr if I
i I
470L
1240 1230
Figure 21 Di tributi9n of gr y whale Eschrichtius rObustus sightings In spring Ma rcnMay in puget Sound ilnd the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from taqle 18
96 1 1
I j 1
1I I
1 l 1 CANADA 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
I j
1 1 Stra tor JUa de UCa
u 480
Olympic Peninsula 1
o summer observation
470
1240 1230
robustus Figure 22 Distribution of gray whale Eschrichtius and the sightings in the summer June August in puget Sound 18 Strait of Juan de Fuca data from table
97 TABLE 19 Measurements in m of a male gray whale Eschrichtlus robustus dr6wned in a gill net and examined at Neah Bay Washington on 14 September I 1978 MMD 78 003 I II Measrrement Length m I to notch of flukes 7 37 snouj to insertion of flipper 2 03 snouf to ear snoul 1 70 Snout to center of blowhole 96 snout to eye 1 37 snoult to gape 1 25 I Eye to ear 38
Eye to angle of gape 13
Snout to umbilicus 3 89 snoJt to genital aperture 4 50
SnoutII to anus 5 23
SnoJIt to throat creases 1 47 I Blubber thickness mid lateral 07 I Blubber thickness mid ventral 06 I Throat crease length max 1 27 Ii Throat crease length min 69
GirJh max 4 17 I Length genltal slit 51
Ana opening 05 I Anterior length of flipper 1 32
Axi lary length of flipper 99
MaxJmum width of flipper 51 I Span of flukes 1 80
WidJh of flukes 25 I
98 The effect of oil pollution on this species is unknown Stranded animals were examined after the Santa Barbara oil leakage in 1969 No mortality could be attributed to the and most spill strandingsappeared to have occurred prior to the spill Brownell 1971
III 2 A b Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Species Descrip iori
The minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata referred to in the literature by other common names including little piked whale and sharp nosed finner is the smallest member of the family Balaenopteridae Geographically isolated populations are recognized as three subspecies B a bonaerensis is found in the southern hemisphere B a acutorostrata in the North Atlantic and B a davidsoni in the North Pacific Rice 1977 The latter subspecies is the only one that occurs in Washington waters
Minke whales rarely exceed 10 m or weigh more than 10 000 kg In the North Pacific breeding occurs from February to April and calves are born from January throu h May peaking in March Nishiwaki 1972 The gestation period is 10 to 11 months Sexual maturity i attained t length of 6 to 7 m for males and 7 3 m for female
Because of its small size the minke whale is of little importance to commercial whaling however as the stocks of larger whales decrease or are protected whaling emphasis could shift to this species Historical records from lo l whaling stations indicate that this species was taken rarely in Washington Scheffer and Slipp 1948 Pike a d MacAskie 1969 Consequently local feeding habit data is scarce stomach contents examined from specimens taken in other areas indicates that this species exploits a variety of prey items including euphausiids small fishes copepod and squid Scattergood 1949 Omura and Sakuira 1956 and Nemota 1959
Killer whales orcinus orca are known to prey on thls species In 1976 in the Gulf of Alaska a pod of killer whales was observed to attack and kill a single minke whae Fiscus et al 1976 Hanc6ck 1965 describes the att k and killing of a minke whale by killer whales in Barkley Sound B C in May 1964 Predation by other animals otbr than man are not known
99 tr 1 C t
tioriHafid r Distrit A8un n6 1 t f J L t
J E n 1 1 t 0 1 j p
B a davidsoni is distributed througfiout the North Pacific In the eastern North Pacific it ranges north into tHe ice and to the r south California t polarf packl t e t I f i OIS 1 i r tO t Baja 7 l J during S ummer 1 S s H f0 a l tr1bIl t10n sh Jfts s0u th Tn W l nter e x tend 1 ng td just north of the equator Migration through Japanese w ters occurs and during the spring summehoT9 t S2 northward and fall and winter months s ou thward
I t e S f Ep tl fW 2jJ ffi1z g c h i in leii ifcft In fJ e North Pacif ic thou A not eh0u h j 1 d 1t Wa li gIe t6 4GantffyLth a6 cin c tjlfi fi rW kr 72 Etii s 0 Eist as c6 of gg d tockc Jw os e a ofI a50tf l 000 r iJ 11 J LJ J
r animals r 19 c l Nj 1Qc cJ i C 3 119 1 nJ J
I r r J QrloS j s L L5 ILi 1 fl1 tr r e i 7 Y ia i 1 al r z f f an lq l tor 9 e99 q uITI rl h br rS tr t S PR r f a J r10If t Qt JjQFt adiOfiB T stJEtd J9i ahfmanL These records o ccurred on the coast in Admiral I ty I11et and from several locations in Puget Sound Of the f ve J Tf 1 Jp lt Ylh ol urp ti pm t EBdi l js Id X WO q M1cAskte P2g J i s lr9ll A tn1bw r J i 91 11 q t e q d e 1 s el9 pJ lbr ss 1 IJ f f 1 EO 6fLt ha ret l t fr e C I 1ry W t Ec r t 8n lI 1 l rjSr 1f h r ql a 1 sec9 I 1 t Xj ry 1ey 1 Iq eq U9 kt y 19 s a Q h deh ts S n h R r e p n s t 9Iiom tx t n i9 l rrh ccILl ns 10 freshwat r are unaoubtedly rare Slnce none have been ted e p se rs p ci th2 p t ctst f r ff j1lr ttf i pt YA rlr CffL 6r1W 1 rn o Jj a lb r P i If eF ls s tr cihdYrjg zrn u 9 Sound as Q A 9 L e J F l mroC neat lr B ra ri ih S Jrr ftcrtb hbe i t Ii l wJasnf g 6nv in ound on T tI1e t Sbu il i t 1 ri J 11 Q J g il e d rt r S674 P a lari n irrla 1 Ffef ecd DF 1 ali and ny Mrs Johnson was examIned G J Ba 1nfles and f by R e cfhz 9 9 a d l pt Eltl iH5h 2Q t i a4 fte r notes 0 1 6Je J J a f I 11 oj tJi tipr 1 t b 1 4 h6t3gJ 1 J cipIrsti I OI at lie r e en ate q r l Sr ft c efPF c r iI Fi s tJs h S0Uth 11 a t fPi 8p tl tr n 19 Off thlS sRecc l Sj 1n S und tre 8 e ar a D1 f7 ilbuti6fiJ rrike wha b season I 6f f ie J I lt J r 1 J JJy yt E lri 1SI dep 1ctea 1n F 19ures 23 to 25 taken from obs ry tlon s mmaries Table 21 The paucity of sightings in
there4 t of t winterc that is some movemen out fhll I t n J J these imply J j J 1 i J i L I t J wa e er s in thOse se asons 13 1 th t efforL 1S rea It ough sigh ing f j g I t c r J J J tly thes e of reducea atrr monrths Recordsi from areas f 1 lng t oJ healY I II 1 r 1 J J J t v e e A et the S an ua n r drnj ii tyo In t1d Iplan ds I d 1C usf a t some a mals rema 1n the ar r nd ttiey tn r Ini area y s In the sp rIng and summer are common and thIS Silghtrng1 0 1 1 l J is spe cfe s regularly found near produ tiv e ba9 s e g Partridge Bank Hein Bank and Middle Bank where the
100 TABLE 20 Measurements in m of a minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata t lat stranded near Long Branch wA approx location Lat 4701u 1J long 122050 W on 15 April 1964
Measurement Length m
Snout to notch of flukes 4 91
Snout to insertion of flipper 141
Snout to center of blowhole 55
Snout to center of eye 78
Snout to gape 80
Notch of flukes to genital aperture 1 35
Notch of flukes to anus 1 30
Anterior length of flipper 64
Maximum width of flipper 14
Span of flukes 128
101 o l
CANADA 490 UNITED STATES
t
I
480
Olympic Peninsula
o fall observation winter observation
470
1240 1230
of minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Figure 23 Distribution and winter December February sightings in fall September November of de Fuca data from table 21 in puget Sound and the Strait Juan
102 ANAqA 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
Strao tOF JUa O e A UCa
o
480
Olympic Peninsula
o spring
470
1240 1230
Figure 24 Distribution of minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata sightings in spring in puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from table 21
103 J
j i P
f J C j CANADA d1 L f 490 r r u UNITED STATES lq I I Vancouver Isi nd j Vt l f U Ii r
i I
I
11 j jl 1 i Ii
b 80 1
i
L
I 1 l l i 10 j I If
t
I
I I
I 470 I 1230 I 1240 i of minke whale acutorostrata igtlre 25 Distributiop Balaenoptera and the Strait of sightings in summer une August in puget Sound Juan de Fuca data from table 21
104 TABLE Recent minke whales 21 observatlons of alaenoptera acutorostrata for the inland WntAr or washington Sightings are presented by month Records compiled at the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC are described as files records from the Platforms Seattle Washington of Opportunity Program are described as POP records reported to the Whale Hotline NMFS funded are described as H L records from Orca Survey Moclips Cetological Society are descrlbed as O S Dashed lines indicate data not nVnilable
Date Tlme No Locatlon Comments Source
January 1 2778 1035 1 Glg Harbor H L
March
3 2978 0748 1 Andrews Bay H L
Apr II f 4 2276 1427 1 Heln Bank O S 0 V1 4 29 76 1830 2 Salmon Bank O S
4 10 78 1400 1 Tacoma Narrows H L
414 78 1600 1 Shaw I San Juan Channel H L
4 1578 1400 1 N Camano Is H L 4 22 78 1730 1 Sandy Pt Waldron I H L
430 78 0930 1 Cattle Pass H L
430 78 1300 1 Cattle Pass H L
May
5 176 1610 1 Cattle Pass O S
5 778 1400 1 Boundary Pass H L
531 78 1300 1 2 PosseSSlon Pt H L
531 78 2000 1 2 Sachet Hd Whldbey I H L
June
6 276 1505 1 partrldge Bank o s 6 276 1520 1 partrldge Bank O S
6 1476 1115 1 Heln Bank O S 2 6 1778 1200 Heln Bank H L TABLE 21 Cont
Comments Source Date Tlme No DocatcpI I
t July F1SCUS 1965 7 6 65 1 W San Juan I Hunted unsuccessfully KaJlmura 7 65 2 San Juan Channel 717 65 3 Shaw 1 or 7 8 65 1 7 8 65 2
7 9 65 2 I urn I N San Juan Channe 7 65 1 T t 1 91 1 1 l 7 9 65 SpelpEm GP rH 7 9 65 1 Grif in Bay to Cattle Pt I 7 2 San Juan Channel 0 10 65 0 7 11 65 2 p rtrldg Pt 7 12 65 1 San Juan Channel 7 14 65 3 I O S 7 276 1005 2 S W Sml th 1 O S 7 276 1507 1 Haro St 0 H L 7 2576 1500 2 S Haro St Tentatlve 1 O S 7 2876 1105 2 Cattle Pt Tentatlve 1 0 H L 7 2976 0925 1 Spe lden Channel Tentatl 1O H L 730 76 0600 1 off Frlday Harbor ve 7 478 1430 1 Ebbey Landlng H L 7 1578 1400 1 2 SklPJack I H L 7 1578 1630 1 E Sml th I H L 7l 7 1 Llmestone Pt SJI H L 7 0 1 tr ThlS 912 aJ I I study 1978 I p ldge J1f J j j c t J 0955 1 Channel TD1 r I study 78 SpeLden J l j Lf t 719 l d J L 7 1978 1130 2 eSS1 H I c osl ft t 1 it L 7 978 AM 1 Spelden I H L 1 I dJ Urlf I l JC H 7 PM 1 par a fJ i t 1978 tridge 1 c01 TABLE 21 Cont
Date Tlme No Locatlon Comments Source
August 8 576 1835 1 Spelden Channel Tentatlve 10 H L 8 976 2100 1 w Jones 1 Tentatlve 10 H L 8 10 76 H2O 1 Salmon Bank O S 8 1476 1600 1 E Sucia 1 Tentatlve 10 H L 8 14 76 1820 1 w Matla I O S 8 1776 1040 2 w Sml th 1 O S 8 24 76 1730 1 w Shaw I Tentatlve 10 H L 8 2476 2030 1 N Barnes 1 Tentatlve 10 H L 8 2976 1200 1 Spelden Channel Tentative 10 H L I 8 377 1359 1 Partridge Bank MMO flles 0 J September 9 276 1547 1 Presldent s Channel O S 9 576 1840 1 Spelden Channel o s 9 576 1900 1 Ke11et Bluff O S 9 676 0700 1 Hansvllle H L 9 676 1430 1 Waldron I O S 9 976 1217 1 fJ James I Tentatlve 10 H L 9 107G 0655 1 off tiLelllerton Tentatlve 10 H L 9 1076 0912 1 Mlddle Pt R1Cb Passagf Tentatlve 10 H L 910 76 HOO 1 James 1 O S 9 1076 1130 1 E Mlddle PL Tentatlve 10 H L 9 1176 1411 2 Battleshlp Rk O S 9 1376 1345 1 E Oeceptlon Pass Tentatlve 10 H L 9 1476 1600 1 Spelden Channel Tentative 10 H L 9 1676 1330 1 Spelden Channel Tentatlve 10 H L 917 76 1700 2 w Spelden 1 O S 9 1776 1950 1 N Spe lden 1 Tentatlve 10 H L 9 2076 1300 2 N Spelden 1 Tentatlve 10 H L TABLE 21 Cont
Source Locatlon Comments Date Tlme No
september Tentatlve 1D H L 1 Hansvllle 9 1540 2076 O S Llmestone Pt S J 1 9 1745 1 2176 O S I 1300 1 W Smlth 9 2476 O S N 1 25 76 1648 1 Henry 9 H L Channel Tentatlve 1D 1300 2 Spelden 9 2776 H L 1 Tentatlve 1D 1500 1 S Waldron 9 2976 L Tentatlve 10 H 1250 1 N Spelden 1 930 76 MMD flles 1340 1 Grlffln Bay 9 1077 MMD flles off Llme Klln 9 10 77 1354 2 3 I 0 ex October Tentatlve 1D H L 1345 1 pt No point 10 276 O S N E 1 lO 1825 1 Spelden 476 1D H L Hansvllle Tentatlve 10 576 0900 1 1 pt No POlnt 10 8 76 1845 Pt No pOlnt 10 1 76 1715 1 Tentatlve 10 H L S 1 Jones 1 10 2076 1310 1
December Tentatlve 10 H L 1 1 Hat 1 12 2076 1425 abundance of small fishes and other potential prey items are greatest The northern part of Haro Strait is also important sightings are made there regularly throughout the year Sighting reports of this species by the public are greatest n April Sept mber Bora and Osborne 1978 L
Minke whales appear to remain in more protecte0 waters than other Balaenoptera Observations in the Strait of Juan de Fuca are rare although their presence in that area is known from a subsistence native take in the vicinity of Cape Flattery Wahl 1977 reported a sighting offshore from Westport Washington Coastal records have also been compiled in POP data files
Rice 1974 describes this species as abundant in the Puget Sound area though offers no estimates Examination of the data suggests that at l ast 15 20 animals may be present in summer assuming duplicate sightings although this figure may underestimate the acutal population size
Ecological Problems
This species is taken in the nearshore fishery off Japan and in the past other nearshore fisheries but is not taken in any substantial amount by the high seas whaling fleets Aboriginal whaling on the west coast of North America for this species has not occurred in modern times
III A 2 c Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus
Species Description
Two forms of this species are recogniz d in the southern hemisphere E quoyi occurs and a smaller form B E physalus is recognize in the northern emisphere Rice 1977 This species is one of the largest whales second only to the blue whale Bala noptera musculus and may reach 23 2 m in length This species is usually sighted in small pods data from Fiscus et al 1976 for the North Pacific and Gulf of Alaska show verage group size of fin whales to be 1 67 ranging from 1 to 4 individuals n 48 Sexual maturity occurs from 6 to 12 years of age which corresponds to a body length of 17 7 m Mating and calving occur in the winter and females give birth every 2 or 3 years The gestation period lasts about 1 year
109 t c 1 s l Cf
2 j r 5 J r J J ri Lr L I pCi 3tl1 i 2 it 0h If
r J 1 DC Cpr l fy prJ ltE fus for2 i wh iesare euphaus1iids a1 tthough hchovle re tak R Hi sorn rrlareaSof tflef North Pa ific Seasonal movements correlate with seasonal M c f u be oi a i sb 19 b f f at 1 1 I t P C Y 14111 it I b Jlt t rJ 1 k J i v t l L A a1 lF t r i S L2i 1 t i t e FJ r h r S ptt I I r q 1 r r t n flr t 1 p I 1 rn 1 Di tr ibu tion ana Abundance 5 1 e t 1f I C 51 I11 c cs r i H l I i C J 1 tv ED b 3 I f s i 1 L c s j O 3
B physalus occurs in all oceank f6tjl ld btit irY in pO re s ice In he raq rC Iip r nR af 97n ea ternpt North Pacif iC th is species summers fromCallfornia Ja i b f6 2i Je T2 SG hwa d into tlfE Chukcf L S a btt l e t r J t i lL l 1 l 5 LJ 2 18Bt ri d3 J6 r a 11 P Nb1iH P ict t k 6 fitrl w lesSflS riti th Blf o r Lf rlir considereaibel w rrl Kimurit susla inab le yleid iev iti ah mh1Q bebn protected from commercial harvest since 1976 MMPA 1978 The original stock size has been estimated at S 000 the current level is approximatelyi7 O ooJ 6EibJufJl 441and Wada 1975 The number of animals of legal m 9 Ric hkrv s iz may appr te qOo 97 J J t H l til L tapJe J 1 f t f c J e C I j iP r f r i J PS r ha es ccur e t ai Qu e it Fl J 1K i iIt ct r afl9 Cfl J1 r S bund occasi onally appea ring in th e Strai t of Geor g i a P lke arl M c scie 19 6 7 F in h a tere import an t ii ith c t o1Jr I oth British Columbia and Washingtoh haling statiCms I Scheffer and Slipp 1948 Eaton 1975 determined this h n in s ec es r e t I 9 JI tEGq ti tt fo la 1I t 9 Washington waters
While an offshore ocean c pe es ff primar ly J 1 recordsI from the lnland waters of Washlngton areknown At ptobable fin whale appeared in Puget Sound and was harpooned The n ar Pt Defiance in 1915 Scheffer and Slipp 1948 J and w1ls e kt irrl t ed Ito be 2 P 3 nr ln leng Eh rwa s no tl wfuale i 3 0 1 fe c A sec6n i rec6rd in 19 was 16 ilsTrlg Hi ed1 po August 0 p i J I i r j i a im t n e Sl 9 Ar 1 9i1 7 rift lr ef1 rSph r 5 48JtJ l Js g seve of e was I killed aftec ral d Tfue whal 1 ays r f t eventually tr I C rl lr triA j 4 a m est ma at purs uiJ localres 1 dents It wa15 ale J tea by Ji fe 5 tra nd ings f frlwhalesf I f t 8 m7 oe t 1 1ri t 1 f i2 b JI8 iri I i I I tj j t length i 1 u es e r s n lt ute are l lc1d lrp 5h RO t r r porl s Ie s Y c n ice p in tp r I r ep Rfb Cf cf fn r ipiapd Wash waters no recentlrJ record are kn own TheJ heavy lngtbn 31 1 cbmrne r i h ive s t 20f otf1i s les h as1 redlicedJ the ii ipec r n A riew i al occur p n of dtad iti rare rences t f fiobatnl ft f t f liyI 1 i C r r I J j v an s i s be t r Ju g 9jft dr fr J f ca htir ml l c R ne i Fr WhiCh is most ac ce sslJHe treo thiS oceanrc spec les I
110 Ecologicql Problems
Other than the harvest by whaling nations which is regulated the by International Whaling Commission none are known
III A 2 d Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Species Desciption
The humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae is geographically isolated into three separate populations no sl though lspecies are recognized These stocks are located in the North Pacific Ocean North Atlantic Ocean and southern Mature animals hemisphere reach lengths up to 15 6 m and sexual is attained maturity at 6 to 12 years Wolman 1978 In the North Pacific breeding and calving occurs in the winter months and is centered in the Hawaiian Islands and off California Baja Gestation lasts for a year terminating in birth of a single calf births occur in successive years
Megaptera are often observed engaged in spectacular behavioral displays including breaching and tail lobbing the functions of which are unknown One behavioral trait that is partially understood is bubblenet feeding which is used to restrict movement of prey Humpbacks feed primarily on euphausiids but do occasionally take smaller fishes bubblenet During feeding a series of air bubbles are released enclosing a school of fish the whale then can lunge through the prey for maximum feeding efficiency Wolman 1978
Abundance and Distribution
Humpback whales are distributed nearly worldwide but do not extend into polar ice areas Rice 1977 In the North Pacific seasonal migrations take place from productive feeding grounds in high latitudes in summer to tropical waters in winter Temporal separation by age and sex occurs during migration Humpback migration pathways are little known animals wintering in the Hawaiian Islands are thought to move into the Aleutian Islands in summer while animals
111 wintering off Mexico probably move northward along the coast tolsummer in Southeast Alaska and the Gulf 9f lqek These migrants reach Vancouver Island in May or June fWolmEn 1978 The catch of this species by local whaling stations the and summer before a in spr increasedr V a C f j l r through ing f Ii beganI r 1 rl t J r ea f l e S I a aIf t rt eJ pf ng tl C 1 q Cff c tD gX n t c animals linge red in the area before departi ng sou tJ1wa fd in th fall Scheffer and Slipp 1948 During the first naIf oflthis century humpbacks were the most common of the larger wh les a eFs rd r ar r ports J i r dr frgul 6 t Fel an Imals HF Southen1nJ PugetSound we re made4 Scheffer ana S 1 i pp 19 48
The orlginal population size of the North pa6 iffc stocksI numbered about 15 000 animals and intensive whaling of re uced this to its level 1aboul 830 populationt 1 present c r I I I t J suf f MMPA 1978 IThe other two I stocks eYed 4eographic 1 0b 0 s o tion ri ilarlk e ita ti6ns pr tec was g ve lilt t itn r r t Completer r c 11 t I xpf i r r aI s I9 6 4 if iean t at I1 r thougn nq ign popul iori humpbqsJ5 r a no d The huinp ack n9 me t ilSF 9E r fe t t rarest wh al es second only to the two r rgh t whales Batlaena 1 I 1 g llac ial ili and Balaena mys ticetus fnt J I I l U I L I 1 t Jihe i1 ack a s th moJt n t c orrlIn rcf r haf j uIllpi Hnp6r1tfa c U s J IC rt J l r t i i Pike and MacAskie 1969 Commercial extin ctronof 19148t es l t t demip o a ng i ash ng ton iis pe d S the 9 40 s records of humba kihs n the Inland wate s 5 0 o rar recent s reco ds IllnceWCsh ngtoI ar Two ighting nable 22 Figure 26 came from nearlY the same area tnough 7 wnales s a rate f byrhtw6 yeii is On May 1976 two humpoack jJ W slo f ariirri s obsl om tJle ie in 1 wdre rrY l botlii ir j j j Fye Seatt l J I J h l Oeg er se nt to Lt R W e r wETre breas ng r ph rcETt an tjOAA C PS X q le r f d hf iq e t ca iolr lj adf th aV F our near the arlable FauntleroyY sIgh tIngst Y humpbacks c rl r f ltl r 11 10 IJ j were in S e Sea ttle ton I district Washin eporte q l t rl 1978 These records confIrm that thIS specles st lI i habits its former range though the rarity of records the reduced No sigh ting 9 pb ack reflect population d lIlpl th hu whales was made dur ing the present study Alc ougl1mpback wnales at one time were common in the inland waters they can
r a I n6w c ro i G k r P riC A9g G r r o L Lt c r r r 1 1 f j Q J
is J I J l em EC010 q i 6bl s J I
I r L r 7 1 fs khbrellD dd kY6pnfen c1ntirues in th bI ecfi ng I h e act frdm r su l tant haras sment m ind t t L ranI g rinp 0 Y iE j t f r of thIS stock
rrcoveryI 112 I I I TABLE 22 Recent observations of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae for the inland waters of Washington Sightings are presented by month Records compiled at the Marine Mammal Divlsion NWAFC Seattle described as files records from the Washington are Platforms of Opportunity Program are
described as POP records reported to the whale hotline NMFS funded are described as H L Dashed lines indicate data not available
I Date Time No Location Comments SourGe I w
May 5 776 1403 2 Restoration Pt Observed from ferry Bainbridge I photos verified I D POP
September 9 778 1000 4 off Fauntleroy Movoing north H L CANADA 490 c UJ ITED STATES Vancouver Island l
480
4 J
e i t 0 j
OI ympic Peninsula
3 470 I 1240 1 230 I I I F gure 26 Location of two humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae bghtings in puget So nd see table 22
114 III A 3 Order Odontoceti
Three families of the Odontoceti De1phinidae and Physeteridae Ziphiidae are known to occur in the area Most of the study current indormation on the members of thse families comes from sighting data collected by various research and groups organizations Several new specimen records are reported
III A 3 a Whitehead Grampus Grampus Griseus
Species Description
The whitehead grampus Risso s dolphin Grampus is griseus little known in the North Pacific Ocean Information available is restricted to rare pelagic observations and data obtained from a few strandings This species may attain a length of 4 0 m and its skin is characteristically marked by numerous white scratches which be caused may by other individuals of the species
Of the few stomachs available for examination only cephalopods have been reported Guiguet and Pike 1965 Stroud 1968 One stomach of an animal stranded in British Columbia contained only eelgrass which suggested to the author that cetaceans may ingest some vegetables when sick Hatler 1971
Abundance and Distribution
G griseus is distributed through all temperate and seas tropical Rice 1977 The first specimen from North America since the late 19th Century was a male found in 1963 near San Mateo California Orr 1966 Based on pelagic observations of this species Fiscus and Niggol 1965 extended its range in the eastern North Pacific to northern California Since then other sightings have been reported further north On 20 1972 April Fiscus sighted one of the largest pods ever reported numbering about 200 animals 44 miles west of Cape Alava Washington The first specimen record for this north species of California was from an animal shot near Stuart Island British Columbia in May 1964 and Pike 1965 Guiguet Sighting records of this species
115 from a fixed weather ship lat 500N lonq 1450W in 1958 1960 corlfirmed this range extension Guiguet and Pike 1965 Pike and MacAskie 1969 The first record for Washington State i 1967 ng Grampus a s Cl 2q ARr whetl t yp fIlal foundoC9urred Mukkaw south of on e ter at 1 tn J pu Bay Just Cap Flattery 1 t r l coa st Stroud 1968 A th lrd spe clmen fr om th IS area was J r o t tr deOd e est e s ef SF ar O1 o var ef i aqp 01 qoi0 17 Apri1 970 CHcltler 97lJ r
J in p evio s ec rd S o e species c o rft ti lY fr lm coastal waters the report of a recent stranding in the wate s of is of considerable interest On inland r 1 WashingtonI J I t I l March 75 3 m emale s trand ed southwest of 10 l9 a 28 Grampus pott Townsend in Port Discovery A pod of killer whales Otcinus orca were in the area at the tirn and appeared o o 1 turn the animal into the beach when it aifernpf edt sWim into open water A successful rescue attempt was made by of the M and the animal was Seattle arine I 1 Aquarium p I I 1 petsonnelI J t l 1 L jJ r d to a a e a lL m the t transpo pool tl ia9 pe x paYr f B i p of M rch 7 5 tre n iIl aI led Meis ure ments i li f 121 c c l n N a 7 5 a e spe me 19 L presentedJ 1 t sPTr lmen JMMD j rc T Cl e 23 s keleta ar n are s r a In th coll c t ltH l J C m9t MMD Th is r nts the st randing n I preset 1 1 AnimalI l V Lgecpnd c9r dl 9J tOn r r hl lng f r o t 9 is Waph P ll1e Jlfsr 8 1ap9 Jla l g un oubtedly an a cclde ntal occurrence for thIS area
0 0 l1 J f re 2 5 2 jl 5nj I 1 Tt2 rlOl fi 1 lr r r l 1 A r l r jO r ic i F l ft si R Table 23 Measuremen ts In rilJ oJ a female RISSO Sr Dolph In r J J i l I r e s s a nded q i t in Port bfscovety 1 0 J Grampus lO Ma rch 197 5 men Washington Sp ecj J l r 1 H It 1 NPI MMDL1 9i5 I I J 1
Me asurement Length mr I i Snout to notch of flukes 3 27 Srlout to insertion of 62 1 flipperI r 1 j 1 I i center of 30 Sriout lto blowhole t Srlbut toce terrro f eye 32 8 Ndtbhj of f ukes tb umbil icus r ehgt p r l e 71 A1t rf9r Qf ti 3 l r 1 fl V 29 MaxlmumCwldth h of o T fllppert of 1 h r f of dorsal fin 47 I Height c
l 7 r of f1 ukes r StDan t 1 Wrath of fruk s f 25 Biubb i hickn ssl 028 7 J t I i r 1 Mid lateral oppos dorsal 1 fin
7
1
116 Ecological Problems
Unknown
III A 3 b Pacific Whiteside dolphin Lagenorhychus obliquidens
Species Description
The Pacific Whiteside dolphin Lagenorhychus obliquidens is an oceanic species common off the coast of North America Pike 1956 This species attains an adult to 2 length up 3 m and can weigh 180 kg Birth and breeding occur from summe spring to r and the gestation per iod is approximately 10 to 12 month Nishiwaki 1972 Lagenorhyncus are gregarious and sightings of large schools are not uncommon A pod of 1000 was observed off the coast of British Columbia 1959 in Pike 1960 Large groups 200 250 are common in inside waters in the winter smaller groups are seen during summer Pike and MacAskie 1969
This species preys primarily upon cephalopods though stomach contents have been reported that contain anchovy and hake Fiscus and Niggol 1965
Abundance and Distribution
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens ranges in the waters off North America from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California and off the Asian coast Rice 1977 They are most commonly found beyond the 100 fm depth curve bu t ins ide the 1 000 fm curve F iscus and N iggol 1965 Reports from inside waters in British Columbia and Washington are not uncommon The species is found year round in coastal California waters some seasonality is apparent in the northern areas No estimate of abundance is available for the population off the North American coast though it is considered one of the most abundant dolphins off California MMPA 1978 The population in Japanese waters has been estimated at 30 000 50 000 Nishiwaki 19V2
Strandings of Pacific whiteside dolphins are not uncommon in Washington Most records come from coastal areas Scheffer and Slipp 1948 Scheffer 1950 Cowan and Guiget 1952 A recent stranding of this species at the LaPush River was reported on 3 May 1978 Boran and Osborene
117 I
I I 8 A female was collected In the StraIt of Juan de Fuca 191in 1936 which may be the only modern specimen record from in and waters Scheffer and Slipp 1948
Observations of Lagenorhynchus in Washington coastal waI ers are common Fiscus ftnd Niggol 1965 report records far north as Pt Grenville Recent records from British Columbia and northern Washington were summarized by Pike and MacAskieasl 1969 They suggested that this species moves in hore into protected waters in winter months and in the su mer move to offshore areas Group sizes were larger in th1e winter than summer Cowan and Guiguit 1965 also rt i n sflOre movements in winter in waters north and south Strait of J uan de Fuca of Vancouver Island The oniy rer1pore9 nk c9rd we have from Puget Sound come from an objser yat iOJ1 of 17 iln imals north of Foulweatl1er Bluff in Admiralty Inlet on 5 September 1975 This suggests that Lagenorhynchu rarely en ter these waters and restrict to the Straits No observations of thlemselvesLagenorhynchus were made during the present study
c EqologicalIi Problems
Unknown
III A 3 c Saddleback Dolphin Delphinus delphis
Species Description
I The saddleback dolphin Delphinus delphis also known a the whitebelly or common dolphin demonstrates g ographicai variations in several characteristics Rice 1177 and may be separated into other distinct species in tne future Adult males in the North Pacific attain lengths ofi 2 6 m females are slightly smaller Two mating seasons odcur in the North Pacific January to April and August to N6vember Estrus occurs after parturition two calving p riods January to April August to November are thus closely correlated with the mating season Large aggregations beyond the 100 fathom line are often seen in tropical waters where this species occur most frequently offshore Leatherwood and Reeves 1978 I I Some feeding habits has been documented and in the North Pacific primary prey items include anchovy cJphalopods and lantern fish
118 Abundance and Distribution
Dephinus delphis is widely distributed in warm temperature and tropical waters including the Black Sea 1977 Rice In the eastern North Pacific the northern limit of the range occurs off northern California This species is present off southern California throughout the year but is most abundant in August through January Evans 1975 A population estimate for the eastern tropical Pacific in 1976 was 1 4 million MMPA 1978
No offshore sightings are known for Washington or British Columbia but its occurrence here is established by two specimens A photograph taken of a stranded animal on the Washington coast in February 1942 is the only record for Washington Scheffer and Slipp 1948 The only record for inland waters is from a dead animal on the beach at Victoria B C on April 8 1953 Guiguet 1954 The stomach of this animal was filled with herring
No new specimens or siqhtings have been verified in in 25 Washington the past years This species can be considered of rare or accidental occurrence in the study area
Ecological Problems
Delphinus is taken incidentally in the eastern tropical Pacific tuna purse seine fishery The take steadily increased from 4 000 in 1971 to 22 000 in 1973 but is still considered not great enough to adversely impact the population in that area MMPA 1978
An increase the in anchovy or squid fishery major prey items of Delphinus has potential to affect this population
III A 3 d False Killer Whale Pseudorca crassidens
Species Description
The false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens its common name from a resemblance to the killer whale Orcinus orca however this species lacks a tall dorsal
119 fin and is completely black Males are slightly larger than fe ales attaining a length of 6 1 m n9L Jl al grr9ws t9c 4 9 m Scheffer 1978 These anima1 s areerx tr emely grJgarious and it is not uncommon to see grqups of several hu dred T he rle d n9l p IJpdL app Fs t r9 tr f t 8H xer h ts a t Pseudorca I thEi ye f c F C9 al J po rJ Ys1 nowp p J 3 n f th0ughtlt pl y 9 UJ iiin g f iD 1 3 r r I r i 1 j 1 J 1 0 r m i ri1 v 5 1 t s j i l1 1 c J pr J l 3di r tLi i 1 1 1J ILO r J i JCP CI rt lC and Distribution r 0 Abundance LJP JI rl jrt l CI 20iTl It E w t l j tIo Lt i Ji if qo J lii 13 j I q r I I fv c I J i t 1 l fi l 1 rff f r 1 c i f1 Pseudorca is an oceanic species distributed through all and seas Rice 197 7 Th is lfil temperate 1 J specfes I tropical h a rds y p cc urf3 no 9f B aj JfpE ad th s9I 1 j r cR 1 rafe a ar kno n c en tra1 ia U SlUgh r iI S irorl Felt ndaD tf 50 b s r i4 unKl pwJl t tp tl sp 9i iptlm9 Im9tt nf flOPJt it fl9 N MMP 19 7 u8 I r f 1 10j I fc f Aj Tn rf l 8 f q 2 ne 1 1 pr 1 r f t 1 i l17 bl i n The orth of comes a i nly ecord 1 lifprnJa rp i i J ojL j W S S d ki e in th rn P 2 sPfc imenthat 9t an 1 f pu g J 139un9sr illc May 1937 Scheffer and Slipp 1948 This animal sex unknown was about 5 4 m Jlong and weighed 900 kg It was in r ic 1 tion and de1kcr ibed S b e ing poc phys c9nd j ba 0i r eE 01 s s he L Pfe sUs rJfl 19 h9t9 D 1jgrJ f L 0 cU1 O occurrenceulffer of this single animal so far north of its usuai range can be considered accidental
m ldo q L6Jl olo 3 E ological Problems
1 L r lt p r S is J c j j j f t1 r 1 J 10 11 S 0 S J ri r1 fJ i p Th s p j 2os a3 i9nellY fer itP JlttH 9f19 x1 D 9 t G h C g f J D r Jlisb rYuin il1 1 tfCpf c xJ90 s ffg strandings 9 JPseudorca 0 9Y 9c9 s 2na lY stbe cau ot r
n
H a r 7fC t J which is unknown v vJ 1 J J I e Sh Whale macrorhynchus I1 A 3 rtf in Pilot Globicephalac 4 r r 1 r 21 r Of 1r l7 H C O j r r I l sU
SpeciesI Description 1 2 i q h t l j
Taxonomy of the genus Globicephala is unsettled In tfue North Pacific Globicephala sieboldii iSrG0D P G fJc wit Giopicephala macrorhynchus The correct classlffcatinn of these two forms and their relationship with the Atlantic r f rm Globicephala mel aena isr 9 rren 1 ly und tnv e tJg at iQn w e r in the P P9sre r of Uf 9 f p f r tgn hok f Frr These mals re pilotl q s ap G macrorhynchus aD knQwD
120 by other common names such as pothead and blackfish names that refer to their large bulbous heads and coloration The male can attain a length of 6 9 m while the female is slightly smaller no more than 5 3 m long Reilly 1978 Little known is of the breeding biology of this species The Atlantic species has been more extensively studied and exhihit may similar behavior In G malaena females mature at 6 7 to years of age males at 12 and the peak calving period is the summer though well developed fetuses have been found in other seasons Gestation may last as long as 16 months and cows give birth every three years A social occurs with dominant males hierarchy controllinq a harem part of the Some year species segregation by age and sex may occur
Food habits of this species is not well described though squid is a primary fbod item In southern California the abundance and distribution of this species correlates with the presence of spawning squid Reilly 1978
Abundance and Distribution
Globicephala macrorhynchus occurs in tropical and warm waters of the Atlantic Indian and Pacific Oceans Rice 1977 In North the Pacific it occurs off Japan and along the western coast of North America north to the Gulf of Alaska The northern most record comes from a specimen taken near Kanatak on the Alaska Peninsula in 1937 Orr 1951 Three juveniles caught in a gillnet about 400 miles of west Dixon Entrance British Columbia represent the northernmost Canadian records Pike and MacAskie 1969 The largest numbers of this species occur in the eastern North Pacific in winter off California while fewer are observed in summer months MMPA 1978
In Washington the strandinq of a 3 4 m animal near Queets is the first state record Scheffer and Slipp 1948 Four sight records have been reported off northern Washington in 1957 and 1958 Fiscus and Niggol 1965 The only specimen record for the inland waters of Washing on is an from animal captured by the Seattle Marine Aquarium in Pleasant Harbor Hood Canal on 24 March 1968 This animal a 3 05 m male died in captivity six days later on 30 March 1968 Scientists from the MMD examined and measured the carcase Table 24
In the three seasons that the public cetacean reporting system or Whale Hotline has been in operation pilot
121 l asJe L sli n p Cd ha Gf6b 6phala tJ M l j TABLE 2 U ii I d j L7fl1 1 Ol I J c h f l t L J pf 91 jt f l 1 r J
I r 1 r r 1 1 i r M 1 fl 3 I t nr d r t 1 1 whichdied in vity I c in pn cisant Harbor Hood Canal capti macrohynchus J r apttiredc i c 16 1J r lE v Ll t l Of
I h e Manw l Div SIorl s ilttlle VIA f orrl fd2 t M i 30 t Mk 1 M rch 7natci 1 J V c j t I T96Slt l lc J Ol i J Lc J
k 1 1 J W n t ri 1 E 1 t pp f J Sp et1Lmen I06 d 1I 196S 5 L J em r E i 0 21 G 1 tri n s 1 1 1 Oh J o Cl I h w a e S j 0 E if f1 J 5 e rC8 l J L gth Z t b i 1Q Measurelm t le iJ J i C J3 591 V1 n Ld p
I j I k
C r l l 3 r 3 O 5 Snout 8 J6 6H offl ci U II
Jot i si clj l 1 li x J r f h i t E l 1 1 681 J Jl L j 18 1 Jt tJlJ ic t 1 13 i 11 r 2 r 2 0 43 ri i Snout to ear o 1 lS1U psb C Y Jrc 1 I 1 j 9 icn J f II 0 31 Snout to center o f b16whole
II 0 32 SNout to center of eye 02 5Ictt sJt f E cJ Snout o gape o 1 30 Notch f flukes to genital aperture ISC flr 9Sr J Es iEF U 1 02 t Notch ofif f re to anUS rt lukf J 1E kj t i j 5 i Bi r f t5L j II al i l 4 nl Girth behind fl rs3 ic 1 e H f ippe t t d i t tf r t 1 1 1 l I f 1 F 70 Max iibh imum g f n tf t t i jat1R itff i r q A 0ib fiO k 55tl j ss a 1 AnteriJorI lengtl1 cif5flipperG Ni C f J 1P JfO 1 f StY ri7 of e1 O 4 7 g t frePP I r r a iJn r IJ AxiuJL uP J b t iJ 1 L 4 u j c 1 d l J f 16 t J fH MaximumIrywidth of fI H r rl Hg a Yj o eLOl ipper r lc 9 1tr4 f f N l n 1 i l t t 1 f j I 0 52 Lenthof lSaseof dorsa1 fin g C t f t j r 1 oj Y j
P I 0 20 Height of dorsal fin tj
I 0 70 of f Span f1ukr l t I 1 I j
4 C y 11 c H 19 i width of fluk s CH M r 1 r r I
I o 1 t 1 1 x 3 1 1 n iry j ll l bt
9 j I C r e rl 91U B J 0 fC 5 c 5 G q S 1c 4 p
i i l 1 r 1J
f 1 E i
I
r s 4 j C j t
122 whales were reported only in 1978 Table 25 Between 25 30 1978 5 April reports were made in southern Puget Sound of between 4 and 13 individuals These observations were listed as tentative the but descriptions were clear enough that members of Moc ips Cetological Society who received the reports felt they were accurate identifications Periodic observations continued in May and July that either the indicating original group was moving into other areas of Puget Sound or that new individuals were arriving No reports occurred North of Middle Bank 27 for Figure any season These records for inland waters occurred only in the spring and summer
The rarity of reports indicates that pilot whales occur accidentally in Washington inland waters These occurrences could be in response to an unusual incursion of oceanic water or to a unique local variation in a food resource This can occur in the species Strait of Juan de Fuca and any of the protected waters No records are known north of Haro Strait or the Strait of Georgia
Ecological Problems
This species is known to strand in large numbers periodically The reasons for this phenomenon Bre unclear and are currently under investigation Globicephala is taken in the J panese small whale fishery though the impact of this harvest on the population is not known
III A 3 f Killer Whale Orcinus orca
Species Description
The killer whale Orcinus orca is one of the most frequently observed and reported marine mammal of Washington waters thanks largely to the efforts of the Moclips Cetological Society s Friday Harbor Wa public education program certain asp cts of hich are supported by the MMD This group through the use of newspaper advertisements postcards posters and pamphlets has encouraged the boating public to report whale sightings to a toll free number as part of a data collection system known as Orca Much of the Survey recent information on O orca reported here is used courtesy of this group Observation of this made species during aerial surveys as part of this study
123 J III en 1 J C 1 ITl 11 j J Q cr 1 1 r 1 1 1 VI t t j t Lt1 f U t I J It 0 Jlr 1 I fJ r f d lt fj C tf Uf n t I r hr 1 r iJ 1 1 ry i t f I tF J the waters fdi inlandt of the shortfin GlobicephcilaInacrorhynchlis f TABLE 25 Recent observations pilotwhalefvt t e t Division NWAFC t It Records ed at the Marine Mammal 5 are ed by month compi o washington Sighting presen t l to Hotline NMFS funded cire the Whale t ll re described records reported I 2 o akifiles l washih4 1 seattle J gton e V ell t J 0 J available d datal not f r t iH L Da shed lines indiCateI t t r r as 1 describedl n t 1 l t f C 1 1 r t i j t 1 3 J t i 0 l l i j tce v o e s r L j N P J r Date e 6o 19 atiiIi j fri f l ri i t 4 I tl rt j I i l U 1 n JJ l J i iI 1 J v w f 1 t f u f 1 J J r h C r i 1 2 f 1 n t I 4 C tf II I Ii 1 u 1 t J r April I t 0 ID 1 B L u I TentativeI 1 Harstene 1 v u 1400 r 0 1 4 25718 1 3 1 1 QJ i i J I 1 tI h VI 1 e LA OJ tA Il c Inlet I 4 29 78 j J 1444 1 7 tf 0 i d 1 In t f l J r I L S t c 1 4 1100 5 Harstene I hi 1 30 113 l 10 1 1 I j f u 1 JI Ii J 1 dd In 1 t r t lj 4 3078 B P l t t i3io II 4f 1 j 1l t 1 IJl 1 C Harstene I PC0 0 Itj tl f l J I r J 4 78 j 14 to jr 30 1435 1 v l il J H L C V L q ative LD f 1 J I H61mes HlJ WhidBey 6T j 4 1440 l r i r 307f IS t t l 1 U 1 J t l tf i h c r i4t l c lCi 4 r t h h G 1 t t j m 1 5 J c r 1 0 eI Ul f i t f J oJ t il co 0 n I i r r tJl J l i May f 1 if t i D 0 HoLo 2 Case Inlet htqt ye I lf 5 4 8 12100 v b 1 h r AJ J Tj f H L i Ol r j 10 Bank n u I t tl C t 5 Middle rtt 0 j A 1 J f f f f l I t 13l7t i J h n J 1 I 1 I C I 1 I nj J l lit f j L 9 i j r 0 J 1 I I J j d 1 i j 1 I i M t tv f f 1 1 1 l n r I I J FJl tI I n July I I 41 I H L r 0 E Pt j S J r P J d rr 1 I 1430 1 I t t m 1 l 7 22 78 f i j J gle n I i L J t o t 4 H 1 f AM 0 ml Seguim Bay l t r I t t 7 2f 78 f 1 J j 0 e f r l t i l t t tD 1 t l J l fi l Ifl l L1 I J J Y Ul J r rJ t I 0 fll 3 I 4 J P 1 h I V J lt JI l 1 1 I f VI J c1 l j 1 I I J J Ii t l iJ 1 j r a J l r i t 1 7 4 v f r 1 t t 10 I J L t 1 ft 1 t I 0 1 tfo c r 1 J I C c CANADA 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
Slrq r OT JUa oe UCq
480
Olympic Peninsula
o spring summer
40 1240 1230
27 of Figure Distribution pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus in March and sightings spring May summer June August in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from table 25
125 the ir
ate 0 u w er t I t we re t Orca S rvey ano 5Ltn9 M gpor Jnto r relayed t o 8 recent report tothe MMD Boran and Osborne 197
Local jpecies Orig p te i th researlh ted e hd Canada in I e c fes in th n Sta d gprernment lnte rst it he and response Increased InI j capture k to publIC t l I r ident v of imals fo d fs A th d of ing l an aY IT ify efTI use f l n I 1 s f a f ml pod y C y 9upk rr y gro p Qr r was dev l an lolog R apfls opea y Carya l B t9 fled letter and lJ e t al 1976 Pods wer ldentl by fi1ljividualslotOg of each ipod by l1umb r This was the system II d n Balcomb a Pted by Orc sU v y an d s bSequent years F Goebel 197p r c r apd 1 t r I I H he f e l in ia o orca th e larges inb i t mily fIn I re p WhICh reach l easIly ogQlzed y large dersal llay 1 or on th e body l ngtQ in by igh t gray quarter of mqles behind the fin a eye pat ch patches ar1d DY fwhite ec c te r lljite iwaki 1 9 In a st udybf iIJIens coll inf 1 Iish males 3 to 6 f m l ng J pan se coasta waters adul t w ere t 6 1 m irShi 1972 d e e ller about lrr at femaless t a in Breedi ng apparently qC q E e r r Una1hOU9h pea occur summer Scheffer and ri callvingd m y incspr ing hr6ugh 48 N sn wa f 19 2 Nishiw ki and Hander 1958 18 last from s lipp that ge sta tIon In thIS specles may ijeculatEtd an adult female 111 to 16 f16nth s Balcomb 19 78 observed O with a small calf which he desig ated J 18 on f1 that this female ffi ecemb r1977 Balcomb states wast l i in sexual with o served to b l terously engage activitytr i I J some 15 months pr ior to th is b irth a adul mll e hree al ves ha n l cover the past Il le P c3 t v Qe bp q II tht contains mature tmree years It1 is assumed that the pod 81 c ate for th is per iod was 121 5 males thus th bi rth I dI l that C alcomb J97 Balcomb and Goebel 1976 suggested is four ars die intervcLt1 between hirtns for a female y r s of ich incl de yea r Or Il1oie of pregnancy two yea n rs an r ing t S2 t T 3 Yj j re g L f S ec l ha s been ttempted Age det t i iin tBls by fer 1978 9untingI the cem tum layers in the teeth Sche this technique ibports a 25 year oidlanimal aged by using 8 l L 0 c wttale J L rardeg I9 S 9Y he d l sal la B C ItS Bry I tIsh Columbia Prov lnclal Museum7 Vlctor 19 78 This tbeth suggested an age of 18 years Balcomb can be confirmed with known mbthod of age determination only I 1 ii L ag e arlJ l fJl 1 J t lL in B alcomb 19 76 k repor ts d iff iculty quantif ying a few behavioral data at the present time though he lists
126 general observations Sexual activity seems to be most apparent in the fall It is not uncommon to observe several pods coming together and extensive interplay of family be members which may an important behavioral adaptation to ensure gene flow between pods Pods are observed in constant movement averaging three or four knots becoming shortly waylaid near an abundant food resource and then moving on
An early summary of prey items for this species was presented by Scheffer and Slipp 1948 to include four main types marine mammals sea birds fishes and cephalopods Information from a study of 364 O orca stomachs taken by Japanese whalers over a ten year period showed this species to feed on in order of occurrence fishes squid and octopus striped dolphins and porpoises whales and seals salmon were found in only 1 6 of the stomachs Nishiwaki and Hander 1958 Rice 1968 in an account of stomach contents from ten whales from the eastern North Pacific found that eight of the ten contained marine mammal remains three stomachs contained fish and one stomach contained cephalopod remnants Fiscus and Niggol 1965 examined a stomach that contained remains of several elephant seals one California sea lion and one cetacean A recent report of O orca attacking and killing a minke whale and presumably eating it has been reported from the Gulf of Alaska Fiscus et aI 1976 A similar incident is known from the northwest coast of Vancouver Island Hancock 1965
While marine mammals may constitute important prey most items in parts of this species range they may not contribute significantly in Washington waters Rice 1968 that speculates in the Puget Sound region where the O orca population is large there may not be enough other marine mammal species available to them and in such a case they may rely more heavily on species of schooling fishes for their prey
Abundance and Distribution
1977 Rice describes this species as present in all the oceans of the world though primarily in coastal and cooler waters In the eastern North Pacific O orca is abundant off the Aleutian Islands Pribilof Islands and southeastern Alaska which are areas of high productivity Leatherwood and Dahlheim 1978 O orca is also abundant in coastal waters of British ColumbIa and Washington
127 e 1 69 l ipp l 9 fl ki 1 rh Sqhe t t g c 4 MacA E1d t r e u e hal pp to z t9 5 5C 2J t 9R 9 f s et occurr c s h t s of PF Y d J 1P J 3 p ciirEl 119 t9D atef c BJ g g a 6 B 1 7 p pu 1 a n el n 9TIb f c aD9 lfther 11 9 ler Q jl s the ence of to p ibution A that this seasonaL distr i 1 presJ I 1 I r due moDna d o other S ho1 pg f i9Jle jn r 1
r l 1 i ilSG 1 E E t Jt 6 J fJ c Lj uS tE are extenS Sight records in Washington waters Y Wi Basal comb and Goebel 1976 list reports from the public and 78 th irq9wtl surv y work in append ices as qoes Balc0mb 19
Th s da ta 1s on fi e f at theMMD Boran 21hd Osborne Cf9c78 1 r rted drl I r hales over a one t I of ili9 yti39i s1ghlings year l 8 9 l I 0 1 i per gd J 9 ORE r 27 t9 ctobert c J 1 1 M k p t r i t r 1 7 t i 1 t y d I1 1 1 L h qL j ara Fogr P89 qrei k1 w tg r qu D t Jpe lg tl O1ng a a ed J d et l 0 g iS 19nfit f d J aI 9 t99 Z6 ti djq s s 815Q VoGO R i A2 7p t IpalY 9 ye r C the PQd @ JE art h tr n i i v r g ng f Bai99 EH J tl1 iJEL r l oIJ1 r I tf errj ilg 9 seem to c i but these to1 be restricted Canadian unwrediIj I tablY t w a The movements of tWOfl t B et al 1976 Ie rsr f t n I general i wAit 01 gg o f x 1d L t r w i h a 1 arg e nlmbe f igh tin g t ar d d iIi Fi u 28 an 29 Jrqll c p 9 l 1 dS1t9 6ttlgFJ9Qg o t a po extens 1 a lS me to gene er At I Oj 2 I i tl ye enougl th S ar f In relative width I of these l a imi1 figures j POiSjri 4 igurest J the 1 1 ine represents roughly the relative number of occurrences n s ot t l in anT io r l dasb ed I r p re 1ted hy U movements based on unconf lrmed reports Movements nor th of of this lcted r a 1 tions th stud area oJ e not de p Obser J b k II not sp cies are fewest in the winter months which may indicate low abundance at that time but rather neeessarilyI c tq ld r ge l9 etfgrti G l pe q taj Sl 9g Sti tl 9 gn tlngs ofrefllk1 e li li t IJ1ay b gr eat l a lIller h9 D9 9r ys sk i I i 2 1 1 i J f liJs 1 nd lj l ct rr 1 f i
J rl n l 3 l J ElJ 1 C j rI tic i 1 i JC j l q l a l d p c s Jno 1iij9r C @r Y r 16 iir th s b t Qr ar Jh 9Dtge9d ch npe iX 9 ys L IQ tQ Le t gi q t offen n o an r a Juari1d fH IG grg ija osatio0 t app tol be important routes in and out of the study ar hid1 are most heavily utilized in the summer and fall
The distribution and abundanc Gf b toq an imqls aT 1976 and as identified and described by Bigg er Balcomb and Goebel 1976 discussed by pod follows
r
t r J 1 l a 1 s d J h is L the tn qu nt Y ot ry podT grouJ cJ pllq t o the pod q Q t i 99Qsiq e igent in1aDd tefe 9f Wa hi flgtqIl Qg 1 bti hlC 9 l1lJlb J P wa 1 Q as b n s igh tgd in e Wash ing tOl ter duti ng q 1 r repott r rom i G l11qnths ot theyee thr ughlm09 t and t rec n J sumTlerr f i311 s rpi f is t rC2unt o r Pqg
128 CANADA 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
Srra r o JUa Oe uCa
I
480 f
9
470
1240 1230
Flgure 28 Hovements of J Pod of klller whales QEcinus or 9 in Sound puget and the Stralt of Juan de Fuca in 1976 1977 The width of a line the number of represents relative occurences in anyone area dashed lines represents hypothetical movements based on unconflrmed reports chart of K courtesy Ba lcomb t10clips Cetological Society
129 CANADA 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
480
40
1240 1230
Figure 2 J Movements of ilL Pod of killer whales Orclnus orca in Puget Isound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca in 1976 l97i Th w dth of a line dashed represents the relative numbel of occurrences in anyone area I ines represent hypothetical movements based on unconfirmed reports chart courtesy of K Balcomb Moclips Cetological Society
130 was 18 whales which included three calves born since 1976 Balcomb 1978 This group has apparently adapted to small boat activity and tolerates them in close proximity The pod appears to remain exclusively in the Strait of Georgia Puget Sound and the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca a range of over 200 nm
K Pod This is more pod frequently reported from Canadian waters but does enter Washington waters at time of the any year Most recent sightings of this have pod been when in the company of other pods The pod appears to spend a considerable time in offshore waters The most recent population estimate is 12 animals
L Pod This is to group be the largest pod that enters Puget Sound Because it so is large some has difficulty been experienced in identifying all individuals an though estimate of 40 45 animals is considered most likely This pod which enters and leaves Puget Sound via the Strait of Juan de Fuca to be appears resident in coastal waters probably spending most of the time on the west coast of Vancouver Island although it frequently enters Sound Puget L Pod is less tolerant of human disturbance than the other pods indicating that those animals that are most often exposed to disturbance e g J and K Pods are more apt to become used to it
o Pod This small group of four whales has been observed for two consecutive years in the Bellingham area in Bay August and its appearance there may elate to the August run of Chinook salmon in the Nooksack River Balcomb 1978
J K and L 70 to 75 pods represent whales that appear in Puget Sound the during year Observations of all the pods together 5 times in 1977 indicate that regular occur The meetings addition of the four whales from 0 Pod the total brings to nearly 80 resident killer whales in Puget Sound While are they reported for all areas of the Sound are most common in they northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca Scheffer and Slipp 1948 Eaton 1975 Balcomb 1978
131 E ological Problems
I r
A live capture fifsnery for these wh ale s ihloc H waters was quite active from 1962 to 1976 By 1973 263 O orca h d bee IT cap tured in we s t co a g tw a ters of whrich S w ete dieo du re and 201 k pt for dj splay purpbsesli2 rln f captu or we re released lBigg andWolman 1975 The last cJptureedlcaped attemp ts occurred in March of 19 76 whei a gr oup of s c I was s whales w a ptured ea OTy p ti ti apr yal le Two of suchlx that the an lmalS eventuallywere alii re ased ttle animals des ignated S lY ana S 2 we reJ fI t teaj wi tl71r rad io and were northward for nine gt the ttansmitters tracked r days 16 rAte of 5 mi sJa d y bef6r c6fit bt s Er cks6n 1t jr 1 h 6 NOel ahs In tlii s iire aLl a repr e s ep tly capture pl l I I l l r 1 I c0nsld eredt J
E ff CJt nv o meht P i t ec es is 1 t beenr shown tls ls of ar nDtIi known I bras by suej ana1ys r cen nearflvfic B C tnat c rrain r tly stranded whale tbr ia wh1ales c ntaminantsf iitI in1 f issueOP 16ca1J kl1 ler dotldepbs H tii 1 l In J a1 amb 01 1d 1s et aIe L 978 i
Be i S c t t O i orca 1ma ci n to f1 sh C0mmerCIi ia J fi snstocRs locallylj s6me damage ing gear f B h s been reported Schefferand Sf ipp 1948 r lcbm6 1978 considers the possibility that the anrrna s randed at Victoria B C in September 1977 may qave p r t9 ts ine d ath 8 trarid becomeen t anarl in Ieadl and C1rowne9t I itrg anglea t a l
co to r tha Kiuer whalesLate aile aPt e tl1at come into Ofhuman activitY ln their nvifontrient Anfmals often to be tQan cbntact with humans appear m9re tolerant1 I thosecthat rar elyencoutiter d is tuaroan ces
If
f
132 III A 3 g Harbor Porpoise Phocoena phocoena
Species Description
1 One of the smaller porpoise s the harbor porpoise J Phocoena reaches a length of about 1 8 m and Il ll phocoena jlJ weighs up to 54 kg Nishiwaki 1972 Males are slightly larger than females Breeding and calving periods occur in the late spring and summer and females mature sexually in 3 to 4 years This species is shy seldom approaching vessels as do other porpoises and dolphins They are difficult to observe since they seldom jump clear of the water usually only the dorsal fin is seen when they surface and blows are seldom observed
Important prey items for harbor porpoise are probably small fishes and squid Scheffer and Slipp 1948 A male harbor porpoise stranded near Port Townsend was examined in May 1950 Wilke and Kenyon 1952 the stomach contained several Pacific herring Thirty seven capelin were found in the stomach of a harbor porpoise stranded on Twin Harbor Beach on the Washington coast near Grayland in 1952 Scheffer 1953 it had choked to death on a Pacific shad which had lodged in its throat A similar death was reported from the same location in 1948 Scheffer and Slipp 1948
Predators of this species probably include sharks killer whales Orcinus orca and man Scheffer and Slipp 1948 report Washington natives commonly taking this species for food although no modern take has been recorded
Abundance and Distribution
The harbor porpoise has a circumpolar distribution in the northern hemisphere In the North Pacific it ranges in coastal waters from Japan and Baja California north to the Arctic Ocean Rice 1977 Harbor porpoise are rarely seen in tropical waters Nishiwaki 1972 phocoena is an inshore species found in coastal waters estuaries harbors and bays This species is abundant in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Alaska though no estimate of abundance is known Fiscus et al 1976 The annual take of this species in the North Atlantic is estimated at oven 2 500 no comparable harvest occurs in the North Pacific MMPA 1978
133 Phocoena is a year round resident of the waters of British Columbia Cowan and Guiguet 1965 Pike and MatAskie 1969 and this species is regularly sighted in the co stal waters of Washington Eaton 1975 Wahl 1977 Scheffer and 1948 Slipp termed this species the most cetacean in rewularly sighted Washington occurring every mo th of the year and particularly abundant in southern Sound Puget Scheffer and Slipp resented 28 specimen records from all areas of the state
th During present study this species was regularly si hted in the San Juan Islands during all months of the r ye Figures 3D to 32 The n mber I large of sightings from th San Juan Island area probably reflect the degree of boat use since pl1asure most sightings were reported to the ic t sys tern Whale Hotl pUful sigh ing ine Table 26 No t were sigh rerords received west of Port Angeles perhaps partially because of less effort there but it also may be th t Phocoena is less abundant in this area as compared to th more protected waters inland We have no recent ob ervations south of Seattle Scheffer and 1948 st Slipp te In southern Pu et Sound the h rbor porpoise occurs at al seasbns rarely slngly usually ln groups of 2 to 5 oc 10 to 12 asionaliy Certainly if this species was still in aslcommon southern puget Sound we would expect at the verry least a few observations from that area where we now haJe none It seems likely that the loss of inshore habitat to commereial development has played an important role in th I of disappearance this species from the southern sound effect if of any industrial pollutants on Phocoena in th s area is unknown
I From ther records available Rosario and Haro Straits to b areas Th1apRear important for this species throughout the r We also ye have reports of animals from Guemes Channel n ar Anacortes A population estimate for the study area is to obtain with this Idifficult sketchy information but as as 100 many individuals can be accounted for from recent ob ervations though some may have been counted twice and ce tainly many go unreported
Two of specimens Phocoena from the inland waters of are Washington reported here for the first time One meals ur ing 1 6 m in sex was length stranded in Birch Bay on 1964 III August other measurements are not available the skuil is in the collection at the MMD Cherry Point the site of a major oil refining installation is located at Birch Bay A second specimen MMD 1971 1 stranded near Poulsbo Washington and was examined by staff scientists on 5 J 1971 27 nuary Table The stomach of this animal was emp ty
134 1 I 1 1 t t l 1 1f
CANADA 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
Strq t Or JUq 7 de UCq
480
Olympic Peninsula
o fall observation winter observation
470
1240 1230
Figure 3 Distribution of harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena sightings in fall September November and winter December February in puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from table 26
135 i CANADA 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
o
480
Olympic Peninsula
o spring
470
1240 1230
of harbor Phocoena phocoena Figure 3 Distribution porpoise and the March in puget Sound Strait sightings in spring May I of Juan de Fuca data from table 26
136 l
CANADA0 0 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
Straot Or JUa Oe uCa
480
Olympic Peninsula
0 summer observation
470
1240 1230
Figure 32 Distribution of harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena sightings in summer June August in puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from table 26
137 for the inland wat s of washington phocoena phocoena 2 Recent o servations for harbor porpoise files TABLE are descr a as records Seattle 1 Mammal Division NWAfC Washington 0at he Marine 4 of ine NMFS Recordsvcompile I I f to Whale Hotl as EOP 4recoras eported thE Un pr are descr1bed trom of ty ogram C S EnePTatfarms1 0Ppor are descriDed1as from ORCA Survey Moclips cetoloiiical Society H L records lc fundeSl l are dess ribed as ll ines i dicate data not available Dashed J w f 1 1 1 1 I l k Comments No Locatlo Date Time J jof f 0 JO Ik 1 f 1 11 1 I i f J ofljl r January Ii J j f wg p 8 s w N t19 r eg f fJ I r 1 2678 1052 Ii J t 1 l1 cf atlai 1 j J ry fj7ri 3 f t l i pi l L February J f J H Bellevuezpt J t L f li fr t 2 2678 1500 Q Y t 5c r 0v l r rr fr X G I t M N i Li I 1t A r c O
Aprll J r Rks C b 4 t t 1 1015 7 peapod I 4 376 f 1l I V O S I 1 I k 20 f r Pt Waldron 1207 4 Sandy I i 4 2576 t f o S 4 t I 1 t t J 4 1 09 1 Dungeness Spi 2876 f if J 0 S C j 2 J 1 B i 4 277 tfGooch t n H lL J I 1830 I Andrews Bay S II 4 378 H L 4 e 3 Pt Waldron I 4 2378 1810 Sandy r I Is st IJ 7 15 L meklln Pt San Juan 4 1630 J w 29n8 IHaro r H Pt San Juan Is JRaro St t 1 00 4 51 Limekil J I I 4 30 78 iooo I f l J i n I Jr I r 0 May 1 rriJ 0 S 1 San JU D Channel 5 1 76 35 s fl r I b 1411 1 S ster s Clark 5 576 O S Rks B 5 1608 4 peapod 676 0 5 h 2 Off pt 1053 5 5776 I 0Angeles 1 I 0 n Pt 5 926 4 McCrack 5 1 6 0 5 5 BOllw iReef 5 23 76 p20 H IL 1 Cattle pass 57f78 L030 H St 1 Blrd Rocks Rosaio 5 1 78f il240 H t 30 0 3 Mlddle Bank 5 29 18 H L Iceberg Pt 5 21 78 1530 2
JunS t O s Channel 6 7 76 1440 2 pres dents O p 2 Peapod Rks 6776 t607 0 5 Pt 76 1645 1 RosarlO 67 0 5 Rk 710 1 Battleship 6 1876 0 5 t 1 Channel 6 22 76 231 Spelden O S Patos I H L 1706 2 J 6 27 76 m 1 J rho j B Reefsaturna I 1725 oirfng 6 2776 TABLE 26 Cont
Date Time No Location Comments Source
June
6 1500 2 RosarlO St 278 H L 6 478 0930 2 Andrews Bay H L 6 1650 1 1178 Andrews Bay H L 6 2000 2 Andrews 3078 Bay H L
July 7 3 65 3 Waldron L F1SCUS KaJlmura 1965 7 6 65 1 PL FranC1S 7 6 65 4 Bellingham Channel 7 6 65 2 Blrd Rocks 7 6 65 2 I Boulder I w 7 65 1 San Juan Channel 0 7 8 65 1 Spelden Channel 7 8 65 1 N E Speiden L 7 9 65 1 San Juan Channel 7 9 65 1 E Spelden T 7 9 65 1 W Spelden I 7 9 65 2 PllePt S J L 7 9 65 2 Grlffln Bay Hunted for 1 hour 7 10 65 1 RosarlO st 7 10 65 1 Cypress I 7 65 10 2 Bellingham Channel 65 710 1 Eliza T 7 11 65 4 Clark Pt Guemes I 7 11 65 8 Rosarlo SL 7 12 65 1 Pt Hammond Waldron L 7 65 13 2 Boundry Bay
7 14 76 1504 1 SklPJack I O S 7 1476 1605 1 Waldron I O S l
I
TABLE 26 Cont l1Jq
1 f
T 1 f f i
lc t c 7 J Source on Comments Date Tlme No lJ 1 J j it Loca1tJf
A i jr
I
f j11 f f j t July H L 3 5 B d Rks 7 1 78 1500 1J WI I Tentatlve 1 0 H L 7 6 78 1530 3 S peapod jRkS 1 ThlS rf study 7 2178 2020 J par1 dg eiiBc l1k H L lle P an an Is Haro St 7 21 i7 8 1510 2 I t Jt Tentatlve 1 0 H L 7 2278 1700 3 O evil s Head i ThlS study 7 23 78 0944 3 4 N protection J Sound H L I 7 2778 1 Shilsholel Bay puget H L 7 Pato BIs1 Pass SJI o 7 7178 1806 Boundary 2 H L B 7 29 78 1825 2 4 Sarnj sl1 Y
j U 1 nJL p tl P Jl t AugU O S Mid n l 8 176 1405 1 Cha II O S 1 ig stuart I 8 3 i76 1650 T Pt f J H L 8 6 77 2 O JVer st H L 77 2 Rosario t 8 I 1 ft4r rrY j H L 2 False Haro St 8 1777 Bay1 kC l JI lI l II KJ i tj H L Pt Is Haro st 8 378 0745 9 Turn IStuart H L 0830 4 Apple Tree Cove puget Sound 8jJj 78 H L San Juan Is Haro St 8 778 2020 8 10 Andrews Bay H L Juan Is Haro St 8 8 78 0900 5 Andrews Bay San l 1 1 pi C Pile San Juan Is Haro st H L 8 878 1930 5 Pt H L False San Juan Is Haro st 830 78 1745 4 6 Bay 5 Pt San Juan Is Haro St 8 31 78 1725 4 Llmeklln
t TABLE 26 Cant
Date T lIne No Locatlon Comments Source
September 9 1253 1 276 S San Juan 1 O S 9 1209 2 1576 N E Waldron 1 O S 9 1300 2 1976 Hein Bank O S 9 20 76 1215 1 2 Monarch Hd Saturna r O S
9 5 77 5 Turn Pt Stuart 1 H L 9 6 77 2 James r H L 9 1310 1 I 1077 Cattle Pt MMD flIes p 9 2 I 1277 Cattle Pt H L 9 1608 2 3 Deadman 678 s Cove San Juan Is Haro St H L 9 11 78 1835 2 Deadman s Cove San Juan Is Haro st H L 9 1832 1378 3 Deadman s Cove San Juan Is Haro St H L 9 1914 2 3 Deadman 2478 s Cove San Juan Is Haro St H L
October
10 2 Bank 576 1245 Mldd1e a s
10 1925 378 3 Llmekl1n Pt San Juan Is Haro st H L 10 3 4 578 0915 Andrews Bay San Juan Is Haro St H L 10 2 3 578 1730 Andrews Bay San Juan Is Haro St H L
December
12 8 77 0936 1 Rocks Bird ThlS study TABLE 27 Measurements in m of a male harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena
1971 1971 1 stranded near Poulsbo WA on 5 January MMD
MeasJrement Length cm I
1 50 snouJ to notch of fl es I 81 Snout to tip of dotsal fin i I 0 10 Snoutl to gape GirtHI behind flippers 0 88 II 0 97 Maxlmum glrtIh Notc of flukes to umbilicus 0 96 II Notch of flukes to genital aperture 0 74 0 49 Notcij of flUkes to anus Ante ior le of flipper 0 23 I gth 0 19 Axl length of qj llary flipper 1 1t ro 1 0 Maxi um width of flipper 08 I 0 C base 0 25 Leng 11 of dorsal fLn a of dorsal fin 0 11 Heigliit tl it 38 s anof flu es 5f 0 1 WldthI of flukes 0 11 Ii t l 1 E r tt
0 4 f tl t 0 tU
v l l
T
C V C t 0
0 i U
A l t r ill 4 t il 1
I 1 b
r
r
H2 Ecological Problems
Harbor are propoise occasionally caught in drift and salmon and drown gillnets Mortality in the gill net fishery was reported by Scheffer and Slipp 1948 although the numbers of porpoise caught was not reported Incidental take in the gillnet salmon fishery continues
Ge raci and Smi th 1977 state the harbor porpoise is most susceptible t6 human dis turbances including oil spills and industrial pollu tants The impact of oil spills on this speci s in ith conjunction commercial gillnet fisheries may eliminate or ed ce it greatly numbers in the stu y area
III A 3 h Dall Porpoise Phocoenoides dallii
Species D ripti6n
The Qall porpoise Phocoenoides dallii is a medium sized that attains a porpoise length of approximately 2 2 m and 150 may weigh kg at maturity A color phase known as True s is restricted porpoise to Japanese waters and was formerly considered distinct from P d llii Rice 1977 and Breeding calving occur in the spring and summer months The Dall porpoise is an agressive fast swimmer and when the breaking surface of the water to breath produce a charact ristic or spray roostertaii by which this species can be positively identified On 18 May 1978 a group of five P dalliiplayed ih the bow of our small 16 outboard boat Tn the vicini ty of Partr idge Bank They dlscont inued apparent feeding behavior as we passed c ose by approached the small wake produced by our boat and followed for several minutes until we had left the area After we had passed they r su ed th slow rolling movements characteristic of feeding activities
A Dall porpo collected in the Stait of Juan de Fuca in 1937 was reported to contain squid beaks and fish Scheffer and Slipp 1948 Pi e and MacAskie 1968 reported the stomach contents of five nimals collected in and Washington B itish Columbia two stomachs contained one contained squid herring and two w re empty Of five animals collected off northern California four stomachs contained squid remains and one was empty Fiscus and 1965 Niggol Throughout its range squid nd small schooling fishes are important prey items Nishiwaki 1972
143 Apundance and Distribution
Dall Porpoise occur In the offshore water of the North Pacific from Japan and southern California north to the Bbilng Sea Rice 1977 The animals are regularly sighted o fshore but do enter exposed seaways and straits Pike and M cAskie 1969 Inshore movements may occur in late winter ahd spring southerly movements are noted in winter and a n6rtherly movement occurs in summer Nishiwaki 1972 Dall PO oi appear t be more abu d nt offphore than III Inshore waters at most tImes of the and most year appear o ten in spiin d sum er in the inside waters occurrences ihside decrease in the fall and winter Pike and MacAskie 1969 Boran and Osborne 1978 This species is frequently sfen in the iarge and open straits and sounds of British Columbia but they are seldon seen in the more protected w ters e g the Strait of Georgia Pike and MacAskie 69 Fiscus and Niggol 1965 observed a few animals within11 50 km offshore the Washington coast in April 1959 W hl 1977 reported 9ffshore encouDters more frequently in t e summer than early Pike and MacAskie 1969 I spring report more sightihgs from the summer than any other season ih Br itish Columbia Movements in to the ins ide wa ters of wksl1ington may egin in the late spr ing wi th an offshre IPv nt i a t al t ugh a few anima ls may rema in in Inslae waters year round
N h akl 972 estimate t e population of dallii inI tHe western North Pacific at 20 000 to 30 000 Cowan and Guiquet 11965 describe this specIes as the most abundant orpoise north of Vancouver Island Fiscus 1978 considers th is species and the Pacif ic whiteside dolphin the most bundant small cetaceans f nd off Washington
Results of the present study indicate that P dallii are common in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca in the pring and summer Figures 33 to 35 Table 28 The only ecord during the present study for the western strait is from an observation ade near Tatoosh Island during an derial survey in N6vember 1977 We expect this area to dontain ani als hat do ot penetrate further east and the ack of sI htings may be i result of the lo survey effort tihere Dalr Porpoise are seen in both Haro and Rosario Straits in all seasons but winter there are no records orth of p atos Island They occur in Admiralty Inlet but relY penetrate furth r south into Puget Sound than the rilicinity of Seattle Several reports of what were probably
144 0 CANADA 0 0 490 UNITED STATES Vancouver Island
Stra t Or JUa 061 p uCq 00 o 0 00
480
Olympic Peninsula
o spring
470
1240 1230
Figure 33 Distribution of Dall porpoise Phocoenoides dalli sightings in spring March May in puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca data from table 28
145 L
490
I
p 1 1 Vancouver Island
f
480
470
1230 f 1240
Phocoenoides dalli I 34 Distribution of Dall porpoise Figure in Buget Sound and the sightings in the sUmmer June August from table 28 Strait of Juan de Fuca dafa
146 NAq 490 UNITED Vancouver Island STATES
o Srq r Or JVq7 08 VCa
480
Olympic Peninsula
0 fall observation
470 1240 1230
35 Distribution of Dall Figure porpoise Phocoenoides dalli sightings in fall September November in Puget Sound and the of Strait Juan de Fuca data from table 28
147 da11i for the inland waters of Washington of Dall porpoise Pho genoides TABLE 28 Recent observations C S eat ed at the rin ffia y qI NWP tLe onth Records compp 11alJ qi is s ghtoings a e p r J 1 P rEyFJl descr bed as files records from the Platforms 6f opporeun Iey programare are escribed as Washington H L records from Orca Survey funded are described as to the Whale Hotline NMFS POP records reported lines indicate data not yailable are des ribed as O S Dashed Moclips Cetological Society 1 l
I I Source Locat onJ N Comments I Date Time t 1 I J rr i r P J t V j L f t J 1 p J t 7
f I March to H L Budd In1et t til 3 1777 0930 J V r r I 0 5 April Is S E f 1 330 6 10 f Chain r 4 576 1 0 5 of Pt 4 rl 4 20 20 5 rnifN Angeles l 4 576 1 o s 15 E of Ediz Hook 4 8 76 0730 0 5 10 E of Pt Angeles l 4 876 Ip15 O S E I 5 of Saturna I 4 1500 0 5 2176 f I r t 3 4 Hall I near Lopez b 4 S 2676 1910 Bow ride Z O Pt t 2 Iceberg c 00 4 1 25 0 5 2776 Bow iilde 8 Iceberg Pt 4 2776 1440 O S i 105 4 Juan de Fuca f 4 2976 1 O S Bank J Salmon I 4 2976 1755 5 I 1 H L Juan de Fuca 13 off A Buoy 4 1478 HI r I 2 1 2 N 5ucia 4 2378 J mj I This study partridrge Bank 4 1020 4 2578 j
H L May I 8 1 2 rni E of Sucia 5 1276 900 This study 320 5 partridOe Banl 5 1878 H L 2 4 Thatcher Pass 5 2078 r445 H L 2 pt No Point 5 2678 iioo H L Ban AM 3 Middle 5 2978 H L Sachet Hd I 5 0800 3 6 Whidbey 3178 i June H L 2 Ste lacoorn k j 6lTT18 1030 H L 1530 2 Johnson Pt 6 3 78 H L Johnson Pt 6 478 0600 5 0 S 6 478 0830 2 Andrews Bay TABLE 28 Cont
Date Time No Location Corrunents Source
8 une 6 478 2000 4 5 San Juan Channel H L 6 678 5 Marrowstone I H L 6 1178 1836 1 Johnson Pt H L 6 1778 2000 6 7 Possession Pt H L 6 2078 1500 4 Pt Wilson H L 6 2378 1045 2 4 Marrowstone 1 H L July 7 7 76 1030 2 W Smlth I Tentative 1D H L 7 18 76 1000 6 Lagoon Pt 1 Tentative 1D 0 Wludbey H L 7 2076 1700 2 E Patos I Tentatlve 1 D H L 7 2376 1530 6 8 N W Smith I H L 7 2976 1300 2 Inlet Admlralty H L 7 3176 0900 5 pt Jefferson H L 7 6 77 6 Carl Bay O S 7 29 77 15 O S 7 678 1430 6 7 Inlet Admlralty H 7 L 978 1400 3 4 pt No Point H L 7 0700 1378 10 20 Possession Pt H L 7 17 78 1500 6 Admiral pt ty H 7 L 18 78 1800 2 off Mukilteo H L 7 19 78 1237 2 S Race Rocks ThlS 7 study 19 78 1335 6 S Useless Bay This 7 21 78 study 0745 1 Mltchell S J I Bay H L 7 2278 0800 3 off Edmonds H L 7 25 78 2000 8 15 Case Inlet H L 7 2778 1036 1 N E Dunqeness Refuge This study TABLE 28 Cont
l Cormnents Source a No tion Date Time LOC
August Tentatlve LD H L PL No point 1508 3 L 8776 LD H offJ Richmond Beach Tentative 1400 4 5 8 1176 LD 0 S J L Tentatlve 4 Cattle Pt 1015 5 8 1776 Tentatlve LD 0 2 Pt No point 8 1876 1600 O S 1 Partrldge Bank 8 2876 1610 0 5 3 5 Dungeness spit 8 2976 1550 0 5 1 3 mi NE Pt Angeles 8jJ2976 1630 0 5 2 4mi NE Pt Angeles 8 2976 1645 0 5 2 off Crescent Bay 8 2976 1655 0 5 10 12 protection 1 I 8 1677 J I 0 5 U1 1 Burrows Bay 0 8 1777 fl 0 5 12 Admiralty INlet Skunk Bay 8 2577 10 This study 2 Harney Chan e1 8 1113 R L DeLong fl1es 1878 Pt 6 Admiralty Inlet Bush 8 2378 2045 5
september 0 5 1945 1 Discovery I 9776 O S 1 2 w San Juan I 9 1676 1144 0 5 2 Mldd1e Bank 9 19 76 1515 0 5 I 3 6 Double Bluff Whldbey 9 2976 1600 0 5 1 smith I 9 177 0 5 5 Admiralty Inlet 9 477 0 5 6 7 Pt No point 9 0 5 577 T 4 Pt Flda1go 9 5 77 Langley 0 5 3 Thatcher Pass 9 10 77 0 5 possession Head 9 2377 6 10 W B McAlister fl1es Bush pt 9 6 1000 6 8 MMD fl1es pt No POlnt Bow rlde 9 1078 1700 6 8 2 mi off TABLE 28 Cont
Date Time No Location Comments Source
October
1015 76 1605 3 4 Bush Pt I Whidbey O S 10 1376 6 Double Bluff I Whidbey POP 10 1278 1130 2 I Vashon B L November f 11 U1 3078 1357 2 N Cape Flattery This f study ttie same group of animals were received from Case Inlet in t e southern Sound in June 1978 No records are known from I tne protected waters of Hood Canal and to the east of Whidbey Island
The complete absence of any reports of this species in tijII winter from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and puget Sound II s ggest it does not occur in the area at that time An e aluation of sighting data for this species accounting for d plicate observations suggested that the maximum number of a imals in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and puget Sound is 77 ff om 25 to 30 Boran and Osborne 1978 Of the recent sight records compiled in this study a few single animals of 2 to 20 w re reported but most sightings were of groups i dividuals and the average group size was 5 animals Pike arid MacAskie 1969 report group size in British Columbia 6 w ters from 5 to 14 with a group size of the average They also reported the largest groups 30 to 100 occurring i shore We have no records of any group larger than 20
Considering the regular occurrence of this species IpcallyI surprisingly few specimens have been reported in the literature Scheffer and Slipp 1948 report on two species and Pike an MacAskie 19697 examined five new specimens and report on several oth rs A recent specimen se of w as drowned in a commercial ine i t south Iceberg t Lopez Island on 18 July 1978 ThiS was a 1 95 m lactating fl male wh ich was collected and fro n whofe by personnel of Marine Mammal Division LMT 00178 Complete I measurementstlh and necropsy are scheduled pending ihvestigation of the incident and rezlease of the specimen by MFS enforcement
Ecological Problems
Dall porpoise are taken incidentally in the Japanese I seas fishery in the western North Pacific HighII gillnet 20 Kasuya 1974 reports that the take may exceed 000 Animals annually A National Marine Fisheries Service tesearch project is currently assessing the incidental take in this fishery Some adverse interaction between the species and commercial fisheries occurs locally as indicated by the specimen caught near Lopez Island and another orpoise that was caught in a seiDe net near Lip Lip Pt arrowstone Island on 4 October 1978 This animal appeared mnharmed and was released L Ts unda pers commun
152 III A 3 i Pygmy Sperm Whale Kogia breviceps
Species Description
The pygmy sperm whale Kogia breviceps is a species known from scattered only stranding records and a few observations at sea These animals measure up to 3 4 m and sexes are indistinguishable based on size Rice 1978 The blowhole is centrally located on the top of the head in contrast to a close relative the sperm whale Physeter macropcephalus which has an assymetric arrangement Kogia also has a series of light markings behind the eye which look like superficially gill slits Food habits are nown from a few stranded specimens and include primarily squids and cuttlefish The stomach contents of a recent specimen stranded locally contained cephalopods representinq at least seven groups and 78 individuals Table 29 Breeding behavior is unknown though some evidence indicates calves be born may every other year
Abundance and Distribution
Kogia breviceps has a worldwide distribution in tropical and warm waters In the eastern North Pacific Ocean its northern limit is Washington the southern limits of its are range less well known Abundance of this is unknown species though it is considered rare MMPA 1978
In the Washington pygmy sperm whale probably occurs offshore The primarily first and only confirmed coastal record comes from a specimen stranded just south of Grayland Washington in May 1942 Scheffer and Slipp 1948 These authors also speculate from evidence obtained from Makah Indians that one other Kogia may have stranded near Cape Flattery
a Recently freshly dead carcass of this species washed ashore 13 km north of Oak on Harbor Whidbey Island on 5 October 1977 attesting to the rare occurrence of in inland waters Kogia This is the first record for protected Washington waters The animal a 2 79 m male was collected by personnel of the Burke Museum University of Washington Seattle Skeletal were parts retianed in the collection of that museum
153 whale stranded TABLE 29 Stomach contents of a Pygmy sperm Kogia beviceps Stomach content identification by 5 ctober 1977 on Whidbey Island NW C Se tt1e C H iscus w l
I Food item No Individuals represented 1 I r C
ft
Fl rS Ch CULuJer I lit I
1 q t 1 octopoteuthl s sp J c
q t t 5 J f 1 t
f l
f 8 is s t
seCl tc 2 f t 1 4rl
Jk 1 l C 1 l e 18 t F c GO l rYe 1 J ll g 0 ohi q iTrl 12 1
r 1 1 sli borealis C p to15ably Gonatop f J
6 Onychoteuthis borealijaponicus
Chranchidae 1
14 Gonatu iJ sPr r 1 r
t 1 J J 4 UnLaet t Hed a
r Oft 3 1 E
Th rd Chi unber 1 t
2 octopqteuthis s
T V f l 1 Hrstlot eJlth i p r 7
I Pr I r t t f beak Unidentlrledtl 1
l
154 Ecological Problems
Unknown
cavirostris Goosebeak Whale Ziphius III A 3 j
Species Description
s beaked whale Zipr whale Cuvier K The wi th Jf irn goosebeak sized beaked whale Urn a moderately irostr is is males tencto b e cav to 7 0 m though in both sexes Adults hie a body lengths Rice 1978 than females oli slightly smaller well developed in r head and nape particulary or light own white scarred and are tan bodies are well th a males at 5 5 m Other maturity occurs in color Sexual of stranded found in the stomachs few squid remains is known Pre tion habit information u no feeding a specimens the account of Zip is unknown although in the wild sharks has been reportedErorn a being attacked by idelt if ied apparently the article incorrectly article though newspaper 1968 the whale Mitchell
Abundance and Distribution
it isthe unknown although of Ziphius is The status Records of strandjl1gS ar e observed ziphiid whale and most frequently than other beaked for this species 19 more common abundant Mitchell it be fairly as suggest that may and tropical found in all temperate This species is Rice 1977 inland waters are known for but of Ziphius from a Two records One record comes exist for Washington no records near during clearing operations skull unearthed 1952 The secona comes C Cowan and Guiguet ashore Victoria B male that washed one carcasS of a the decomposed coast of from River on the southwest of the Jordan 1969 mile south 1954 Pike and MacAskie Island in January Vancouver 4 9 m in length an estimated This animal was to from shores exposed records come Both of these Fuca Jf live Strait of Juan de influences in the not oceanic would this area they probably animals occur in the straits penetrate beyond 155 Ecological Problems
Unknown
I A 3 k North Pacific iant bottlenose whale I Berardius bairdii pecles Description
The North Pacific Iot giant tlenose whale bottlenose whale qiant il BairdJs beaked whale a y Berardius P98r knqwn p Ofr the o bairdii lS r C alges e tger b 9 fi n tlJ t g tl q d ha g It th al s 8 r Jieng j 1 9 1 eS a91 an1 t ema es e Op4jx Imtiin 8 m s jg h S r tlYol i1rger 112 they gH t e regch i g ed9 a tn PQs Jof O t 2 lY C9mp ed qf r Qt j nilj liidua s g i el g 1 gm cgeQgraphic l gA te 196 slpgggs g g Berarditl s 2 qD qff s ttldi ot 1g p n inq c s I t sh g 9r es bf r qeml e DRtld 9i ng 1 PJ cice a e ay g l l 2 lVi 1 2 f th S En ifrl Qe9 lQd nCci mbEq qIDu e t 9 tyg j o f9J 1 1 2 t n Ji ornClcb f90n z ts ftolll eSi1Jl all oH Va1S I t rJ1 q f sh gnd uy i s nil c i1ed 19k9 t gg c9 P lK t qu jlj H RIJg 9 9 Macl1 1 L C e C P I f J lliundanceII and Distribution I J G t Berardius is distributed t9 north into the 1lS palJ gr tl e je Bering Sea f lz r1 ul tmi t l b1 e Qd th n l3 c Re C tQ QU rn t t c 9 a i 1167 1 t r frorn d Dd g t@ Q c r wh elco stQ tg g@ 9 I I1esT ql1 ng n eg37c ter pe91 g wr th f lrreater aqlqaDg hQC9Jln I t g Q YOnd tq 1 OQ oin iQEED taL I f N i h Q m cqnj 9uof the opulation tg fvi q Og ldro 1971 status of Berardius is Tq Ilncornmon but not unknown it is rare MMPA 1978 considered C e M t of Be rd ius aI shown ar q lIridwri N migration of tsg imura 19 O ava labi i Berardius tq co t 9f c qkq tp seftsonql epha lopods n ih western P a qific s h ffe dS 1 l I p c 8 r P eil erardius0 9r tqen S t record of w ashingtoq that of a Cl st in the tranded female spring Of 19 9 on tqe eight have been They SP 9l taken qt tl1at a3 many as a d by the MacAskie 196 9 Bay City Whaling Station Oh report 25 Berardius Pike t s offhe taken in a oz Vancouve whaling l1d cOast dllrpresented bqdy Isl from 1 950 to 19 6 measurements for l Th OQly r cord of
156 this species for the inland waters of comes from the Washington of a female near stranding Port Townsend on 6 December 1962 as reported by Aruthus S Einarsen Table 30 This animal was pregnant and had a near term fetus indicating that the in the calving period eastern Pacific is similar to that reported for the western portion of its range Any future occurrences of this species are likely to be restricted to the Strait of Juan de Fuca No observtions of live animals are known from the study area and any occurrence can be considered unlikely and rare
Ecological Problems
One hundred to 400 of these whales have been taken annually in the Japanese small whale fishery during the past 20 years The effect of this take on the population is unknown
Table 30 Measurements in m from a female Berardius bairdii stranded near Port Townsend on 6 December 1962 Data from MMD files
Measurement Length m
l Total length 9 25
2 Girth 4 27
3 Tip of snout to blowhole 1 17
4 of Tip snout to angle of gape 6 86
5 Upper jaw 64
6 Lower jaw 81
7 Total notch to anus 3 05
8 He igh t of dorsal fin 25
9 Length of base of dorsal fin 61
10 Flipper length 38
157 III B Oil Effects on Marine Mammals
i
t
III B l Ditera ture Rev iew If
O l TankeT traffic through the Strai t of Juan de Fuca and northern Pug etS ounafs exPE c ted to r1 crease over the n x tdeCci de fS the developrnerfti of A11a sk an 9Brea ches futl r d f P Oduction and ef nerY P ce g7 ip Pu elt Sou feases As tanker trafflc ln thee are a lncreases so does the pdssibility of large spills of crude oil Potential impact td components of the ecosystem must be anticipat d before a rdg ional plan to control these spills can be formulated With respect to marine mammals information on seasonal and a undance and distribution det iled earlie is needed aril unde r tanding of the P9t tr ti ai iintiact of 01F td tf se ari ima ls is heces s arY L lttfe rearl documentat loh of the in paoV ofb il oIY inarThe marrlm alse Ists ino the 1 1 teratllrce bJt as interest in this problem increases more opporruhit f r research occurs The literature that is currently a ail ab i b i h ief2 l f I f l f CetaceansII 1
N Fd tation n the dire t e ff e c i 0ilon lcdtaceans i available Following the S ntajBa afa oil b owout in 1969 some popular accounts appeareq attributing II small cetacean and gray whale strandings to the 6i1 leakage B ownwell 1971 summarized details of cetacean strandings d ring that period and was Ilnabie to find evidence linking of t ese strandings to oil pollution In the analysis tissue samples from stranded gray whaies no evidence of ekcessive hydrocarbon loads was documented
Ger i and Smith 1977 specula te that s tress produced byIi oil c0otamination may be an important effect on those e the c taceans most sensitive to environmental changes g hkrbor p0rpoise Another potential danger to cetaceans is mucous the of oil the membranev through J lining absorption y I bilow hole beyond the nasal plug Norr is USDI 1975 Th is atea is always exposed to wqter and could become oiled dGring normal respiration Eventually if penetration of the of n res occurs a thin film of oil would cover much the in in ibition of IGngs an respiratory passages resultfhi and cbmpleter oxygen exchange distruption of normal diving f eding behavior and eventual weakening the animal pbeumonia and prabable death could result Norris USDI 119 7 5 I I 158 Pinnipeds and Mustileds
Irving and Hart 1957 described the metabolism of the harbor seal Phoca vitulina and harp seal Phoca groenlandica a study that provided descriptive physiolgical data that is useful for comparison with oiled animals Metabolic rate for these seals ranged from 1 6 to 2 0 times that of man BMR 1 at lower critical temperature Core body temperatures are maintained by vasoconstriction in peripheral areas and in the highly vasculated appendages Blubber is the effective insulating agent for the seal Shepeleva 1973 Miller and Irving 1975 and Miller et al 1975 Controlling blood flow through the appendages is the primary means of thermoregulation
Newborn phocid pups have a subcutaneous fat layer which is considerably less than th t of immatures Shepeleva 1973 and demonstrate a metabolic rate 2 6 times that of an adult terrestrial mammal of the same weight Miller and Irving 1975 The resting rate in pups is greater than that for older seals Irving and Hart 1975 and infers that the higher metabolic rate helps compensate for cold during the first weeks after birth when blubber reserves are low An intensive nursing period and high milk fat content Shepeleva 1973 provide for the rapid addition of the blubber layer by the time of weaning which in harbor seals is 3 to 5 weeks after birth Bishop 1968
The hair covering of phocids when wet is less than 1 mm thick on the skin surface Irving and Hart 1957 and is considered of negligible value in thermoregulation Hair covering may also be of negligible value to those ottariids which have a single hair layer and large blubber deposits Irving and Hart 1957 The fur seal Callorhinus ursinus and the sea otter Enhydra lutris depend on a still air layer trapped between hair and fur layers for insulation Scheffer 1962 Kenyon 1969
The sea otter s metabolism was studied extensively in metabolic chambers of Amchitka Island Alaska Morrison et al 1974 The basal metabolic rate was determined to 2 5 be times that for a terrestrial mammal but comparable to that for other marine mammals as described above
Kenyon 1969 describes a captive otter spending 48 of its time grooming a practice vital to maintaining the insularive properties of the fur Dirty fur results in loss
159 1969 Otter of heat preservation and rapid death Kenyon after several hours de ths after accidental oilinq occur I 1971 KenyonI
76 cond ctance of yman et al 9 measyred permal K8 and from several blubberI free pelts olled cleaned washed A wasrun across tH e of atei bath pelts pinnfpeds0 l 1 r i speciesI r the ce l n water and t dry ant th e dl ffe ren plate emperatures ts of Ja senta tlve s of h e was measiiredt Pei iepre ide peftiif t r 1 1 1 id Er barJ5atus and s ion Zalophus pnoc ignathus the showed no cO nductive ch ange However callifornianus s urs ln us rcind E HrfraF fu r begi ing p s taiforntnu nhydra of oiied nd effe cts C1Q ance del onsfr 4 ed mor 0profo nduct ts andJ from ts increased 2 r times in Enhydra pel rangedr peli fur C irius s ani b ing 1 2 O t ip r th allorh ples rnEis ean increased seal17 wnerrt9 30 coafedwi th crude oil showed e ra te aiid be m ic rate f tlm es th fest fng qame assumed that th l S ltabol to enter the water I twas wild its r rd1luctant an in the reducingp feeding result in animal r to It w6uldfrf f f J e e t w6 1 lt e for ld r qe E7 rIl id f I t t Squ I t e le ha l ms n r ase t gyJ 9f m t Y l q r ttg 1 I lie anlma i ft lJ0 rml f l I 1 l f 1 e
r J f III 6 cU S C lec e P g c r ng f 9 f be rl J q 11r to one was oBserved to sea r research from 19 64 1971 only Ji oi1 in the er1 oii ci tJ ug 3e st lng fur s e ais rarely contact op c6fi tH s faKe h dear tne gnima r s a 1971Y H weverf i Kenyon r n s h fanes 12 0f Stra it of juan de Fu6a i busy ippiiig JC t S h ce no CbS ervgt ions of r 1 Ql i1nalsl 1rl ib ifed o f f1 ng afl r ade tlie oreea i grolinds rt o liled afif e al ghave been on rig urive retuin Eo larid i doubtful contamin ted anfmals s to oiled 1971 although it is possible that the Kenyon C 1 the tlme reached anlmals have cleaned themselves by they may n Slb Ir iT tih Pribl16f Isfands r l J 1 1 I cJ f al tirostr is r E t ph pups eM irounga cingus pxit Barbara rwere compated with Santa A spi1ir r t I dontaminated r bycUlet 7 I i r Island alifotnla a d nd c4ean pup dn Sa M guel LeBoeuf 1971 A a if ferences in mortal ity was 6bserveci H licfiberGs grypus was imii r bb rvation fdi gray seals1 have dade with the suggestion that any differences may of oiled esulted in the continual haras ment pups by 1 1 re D and A d@rsoh 76 id f f r 18rieI ci Shi gCl efl f t t r t t found between olled and No dlfference In survlval was Z cal iforn ianus no ledlC l iforn ia sea 1 io pllps a1bpnus
at1d LeBoeuf L r SI971 Bra neli r
i of the effect of In these studies no determination i seals Phoca oii by suckling pups was made Ringed irigested ab orb sted crude hispid j h b eri sfio n t6 rapidl ing j I I
160 oil et al 1977 Engelhardt Low levels of hydrocarbons were found in tissues and body high levels were seen in the bile and urine indicating rapid excretion Harbor seals maintain fluids body metabolically however salt water is taken coincident with feeding Hart and Fisher 1971 and could represent an avenue of oil ingestion
Immersion studies of ringed seals in the field and have shown laboratory some kidney and liver damage but in insignificant amounts that may not be permanent Geraci and Smith 1976 A sonic temperature telemetry pill administered in these studies showed no significant changes in core body temperature between oiled and unoiled seals All seals used the in laboratory immersion study died within 71 minutes of exposure to oil perhaps due to stress experienced by the captive animals Geraci and Smith 1976 Stress was also correlated with age older seals transported to the died within study two months while the younger seals lived These results suggest that any environmental disturbance would a not effect seal population uniformly Older seals and those in poor health are likely to be more sensitive than younger healthy animals to oil contamination Geraci and Smith 1977
The pinniped eye may be the organ most sensitive to oil All have pinnipeds eyes morphologically the same Jamieson and Fisher 1972 Geraci and Smith 1976 reported as eye damage one the potentially serious effects of oiling in seals which may result in blindness Blindness reduce an may animal s anIlity to cope with its environment and increase mortality however a blind female harbor seal cause of blindness unknown has been observed breeding for at successfully least eight years on Gertrude Island commun and Washington Newby pers blindness may not be critical to survival
Oil pollution does not appear to interfere with the normal mother pup bond in elephant seals California sea lions and harbor seals Brownell and LeBoeuf 1971 David and Anderson 1976 Premature pupping has been associated with high organochlorine levels in California sea lions et al 1973 DeLong but no data exists to suggest hydrocarbon contamination causing similar problems
161 II B 2 Discussion
t Jl 1 C r5 o Vb r
f l j J n6 2k l f1 j s J ed c ra t o f IQar J ne mammals as c9IlpaJ 5I1 j h9h i IJI tabol s if f6i with terr estrial mammai s has arl adaptl ve lgn lcancel le of t ith tl devetjIopfuehtcx c ine envlionrrienl f th cool mar coupled I I t J tl I Lt r I a 9 g i h oc ur ncreased a thro of rom o l tion d gh k t Y qoulq4 j 1 L l J 1 poll dangerl1JI A a o u O lay i ni ng e ns 1 D 9f tJh t J 9t L c9 l aIr er would andc fur s als Loss cof thIS st J lqy probalj y s u to r n l p ove fa fa n mo n tan9 p c pot iJIr fa d i ds a t i j u t Q9 fg q F ating fI gQa 2o Q 1I1l ot r d s L l s o Y s P lla dY fOn i l UJ pn tl1e whf n f 0 t tu d r t 1J I I t 3 tFr19 l i tht 35ir IPlJ IJ IEPEe 1 tCl b d m l d y g ph p C3iJtJ9 n y be S st L qi iIig X Koi E ff an indife r i p m if oiled ealOly I t j 1 be affectede adverselyr l t y l j 4 before 6 c dev sp 0 l sJ and for these11 0 uate rha l t l j laye l6ped aciJeqr qlubber o iD9 J sei 2 ul ee q t 2 5 1 entAl t E I1g th e Y 1 se ason C ri6 tl11 j H tI S 1 t dVf16 e1 J i J it y t i t P f 1 r r f t t tV 2 a c e e r I 16 e t s s 5 n i rHe 19 po 1 g 9i Ib ained af b prolongJ g ve may 1 sust I r i t damage d l 1 J 1 f iJJisib1eJ 4 r kidney of ex cre as a of metaboll Z and tlng i 14 e posurce result lng O II adverse Geraci anq Smi tl 1 9 6 Externally hydrocarbons er n d ffe s b e fe s h bee mons ra q J ts t Cl y not been observed and can probably d o gans and t ssues bave 0i1 b1e 1 r e9 i y r 1I1 t 9 S dem6q 4 c 1 1 t r 1 r c e I 1 i i f f 1 t l J r f 0 V I 11 t n fJ m a f 2d i 9 l I6 E qrt 9i 1i t cti 2f it f r l t enL m2 Yc Ig Ril IIl L P r b SfI I 1 iJ lJ 9 riot fOE does an wii is effective yetc Development of such agent ich a n 5 acnieved arm the animar rs ne ede d before a ny stlccess c
te L il Iti r o ot t r r spif n eals c
clr of tf Jo sea I arit J L p I 1 1 1 n Pe r f s fgu9 cP 9Y b Ht 7 CU trtg RtSePl q I9 c be r U aft and should attemptedif I 1 i lOecontamiri ted easily only C I major spills are contained H j l l nJ l U V j l v 1 11 I s a1 W e5qhjsp Si c gt t eP8 e Q s J t lL ct I s I i r1 q f e l Y g e lHng tb nd fy cd 9gl U iqlC lfop ren p @ f I 1 lV c sE cm J it y t Qn t Jl bg 9 on thIs r must done to resolve questll t oe varlous age r j t I classes f 1 c
r I i J t i z
t i
162 IV SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
A summary of the marine mammals of northern Puget Sound follows The occurrence of species is summarized for four general areas the Strait of Juan de Fuca east and west Haro Strait Rosario Strait and protected waters of the San Juan Islands The relative seasonal vulnerability of these species to oil activities is discussed
The effect of oil activities on these two animal groups is difficult to assess at this time See Section III For the purpose of this discussion we consider these animals vulnerable when they are in areas associated with oil activities
IV A Cetaceans
Although our data is poor for the winter months it appears that generally speaking cetaceans a general term which includes the order Mysticeti and Odontoceti occur with the greatest abundance and frequency in spring and summer months This is a time when migrants moving north may wander into Puget Sound as well as more regularly occurring species which remain in the area for protracted periods during these months perhaps in response to increased productivity in the area
Cetaceans in this area can be considered common C rare R or accidental A
Species Presence
Order Mysticeti Gray whale Eschrichtius robustus C Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata C Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus A Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae R Order Odontoceti Whitehead grampus Grampus griseus A Pacific white sided dolphin Largenorhynchus obliquidens R Saddleback dolphin Delphinus delphis A False Killer whale Pseudorca crassidens A
163 4 J i L4 ll J Shortfin pilot whale Globicephala R macrorhynchus Killer whale Orcinus orca C C Harbor porpoise Phocoenaphocoena s dahlii r t G uF Dalb porpo is e c Phocoenoide r u J S A 1 J lygmi sperm wh al e Kog ia breviceps j GoOsehack whale Z tphius carirostris l 2 0 1 nos e i Gr 7 If f t Nbrth Pa cLfic Igi ant bottl whale j iBera rdius b aird if 1 C s grtj s 1 Hb1
1 4 11 l c rj t i 1 eJi L
ce aceans r wh we e a ll D 11he Ll s pe ciesof fo icn ha e ca n be consid ered rn s e in en ecords onIy L v cqmmon spef here l a easor are sp c les F ay occux rregularls t any s r o hav occu rredU c c U qn9 Th remaind e f spec iesJc I e a identa y 1 s represent an animal wandering far outside of litf prqibably carried into the area ocean no mal range or a carcass by cuJrents
Table 31 summarize f se sori r Jistribution and cetaceans in relativeI abundance of the commonly occurring II ins j j Abundance for Lbeg tQI the s tudy area all species s in E 3 indre ase in spr ng tomaximum number sJJII1fleta aQC w o LThe ex is the g hal deolin e in fall ception j ray its late falLthfl arid sp rl rb w h s m st aQundant in 1g tc 1 ne ar s aro ra t l s tant o 1 y rail pe 1 91LH m 19 ra l OI S H t J J J PQr q a hal Stiai t f Jtian iiC t i as i tne t rp pf t1e J I r Rosar lo tralt h as anlmals present ye round
t t V lL i in e s The t7 e ti i ab lI Brr of can occur in an II summer when the greatest variety species atr ee E o a th is otime Lbr qing O th st udy are r tItzis alS t rth an r Qd fQ bepavior is at a peak and represene important p ea ly survival of young
C 1 L Jfl 1 IV B Mustelids
c 7 i t j j J i tftJ
c Lutra The only mustelicii studied ther river otter Q n the ca nadensts is locallyahunda nti ali portions Lof An bundanc estima e is sttudy area year round T exact I betwee n f Yseasona 1 Ili gf tiohs my 09221r resqnand uIfknown o salt water I f 1 t H I 3 r J 1 T ii vulnerable to iJ Thi sp cies is particu I t loss i lnQl eased developmen t In two ways 1 diabl through a ct ion shorel ine developmenfccouTdiesul t C fn populatTQn reqlJ I ta t w ith oil would a d 2 an an imaJ c6miI1g hn Eon spilled to death A large s ccumb to rapid hypothermia leading I 164 TABLE 31 common 0ccurrence of Mystlcetes and Odontocetes In the Stralt of Juan de Fuca and northern puget Sound the four seasons of the 0 durlng year species present greatest abundance not present or known to occur
Specles Loca tlon Season
Juan de Fuca Haro Stralt Rosarlo Stralt Protected
West East waters
Gray whale 0 0 0 Sp
Eschrlchtlus 0 0 0 Su robustus
0 0 0 F
0 0 0 W
Mlnke whale 0 Sp
Balaneoptera 0 Su acutorostrata 0 0 0 CJ F V1 0 0 0 n
Klller whale 0 Sp Ore inus orca 0 Su
F
0 0 0 W
Harbor Porpoise 0 0 Sp
Phocoena phocoena 0 0 Su
0 0 0 F
0 C 0 0 W
Da11 Porpolse 0 0 0 0 Sp Phocoenoldes Su dalll D 0 F
W from a sc le spill would effectively eliminate this species local area
IV C Pinnipeds
The pinnipeds a general term used to describe the families Ottariidae and Phocidae are represented in the area by five species Two of these the elephant seal fur stJ1dyM rounga angustirost ls and the northern seal C llorhinus ursinus are uncommon occurring duririg seasonal fall moiements offshore usually during the spring and Two otlter species the Cal iforn ia sea 1 ion Z alophus catifornianus and northern sea lion Eumetopias jubatus ar seasonally abundant in the study area The remaining Phoca vitulina rfchardsi sP the Pacific harbor seal is that isla year round resident and the only pinniped breedsllcies in hese waters Table 32 I
The northern fur seal is expected in the wester Strait of IJuan de Fuca in fall and winter months Numbers are not t kn9wn but are expected to be low This species is mO ab ndant offshore Occurrence of fur seals in Haro Strait r re Ro ario Strait and the inland protected waters is Fo ling of the hair of a northern fur seal with oil would limited in local pr bably prove fatal Its appearance to this related to wa ers precludes any serious damage stoqk de leloprneht of oil activ it ies in Wa hi gt n a ers
The elephant seal also occurs In InsIgnIfIcan numbers in the study area Primary periods of maximum numbers ar expected to be spring and fall This species can probably found most often in the Strait of Juan de Fuca though recordsbell exist for all areas The large number of sightings fr6m Admiraity Inle1 reflects the high density of s all bokts in that and not the relative abundance of the I region ar found in elephant seal Only immature and adult animals oil wabhington lmpact to these individuals from an spill are cated in expected to be mimimal No rookery areas lo Washingtonisl and thus no breeding habitat would be impacted
sea The two species of sea lions the California lion e area anpI northern a lion o cur in study simultaneously Both sp cies ar most abund nt in the StiraitJ of Juan de Fuca They begi n arriving during a rooker ies pdst breeding season movement of animals off the can be found irl fie fall Both sexes of northern sea lions ace in h re although no breeding ctiv ty take pI lIons a e to Washington On y male CalIfornIa sea thought m ve ih Washington waters
r66 TABLE 32 0ccurrence of pinnlpeds In the Stralt of Juan de Fuca and northern puget Sound during the four seasons of the year 0 species present greatest abundance not present or known to occur
Specles Locatlon Season Juan de Fuca Haro Stralt RosarlO Stralt Protected West East waters
Callfornla sea llon Sp Zalopus
cal ifornianus Su
o o o F
o o W
Northern sea llon Sp Eumetoplas jubatus Su
o o o F I 0 o J o W
Northern fur seal Sp Callorhinus urslnus Su
o o o F
o o o W
Harbor seal Sp Phoca vLtullna Su rlchardSl
F
W
Northern elephant seal o o o o o Mlrounga Sp
angustlrostrls Su
Q v o o r
w I I I
Rosario Strait and Haro California sea lions occur in site is known at StraitI in limited numbers A small hauling Island Narrows near southwestern Vancouver Blgg Dodq in Haro Strait than 197 ore animals would be expected sea lions haul out regularly oth r in and waters Northern of the inland waters the northern side at nly one site in is also sucia Island Their abundance in the inside waters low l
sea lions haul Both Northern sea lions and California Point on the southeast out on Race RocKs andSombrio summer absence Island After a late spring and Vanpouver in October The both species first appear at these sites taken in December maximum count of California sea lions was The number of 76 positively identified animals fluctuated197p at slightly lower levels during January through in No California sea 110ns Mar r idly declining May remalrred In the study area by June
Dec Northern sea lions are most abundant during mqer 1977 J anuary j nd th I March The counts for December a 200 A decline i the Mar h 1978 were about animals rapid June sea was observed in by numperr10ugh of northern lions May 9nd on the areas no borthern sea lions remained hauling
of sea lions in he Figure 36 depicts the abundance I Animals that cduld not stJdy area during the present study s rncluded in the be os i tl vely identif red to specie are Ip most vulnerable to oil act vities total Sea lions would be half of the Strait in the winter primarily in the eastern The effect of an oil spill on either of of IJuan de Fuca these two species is unknown
the acific har or is The emain ng seaf pinniped in area round pupplng beg ris abmndantIi 1 the study year the middle of laie June and lasts eleven weeks ending by the month of Peak pupping takes place during September are c ntered in the Important breeding gro nds August Island Protection eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca at Minor wildlife accounting for at Is and and Dungeness Refuge area The lekst 4t of the total productivity for the study are the next two areas Sah Juan Islands and Rosar10 Strait ac a minimum impor tance for pup prOIuction ounting fpr ofi during 1978 pr9ductivity of 18 and 12 respectively I I immatuies in the area i A5undance of adults and study Table 33 lists th relative seasonal v ries seasonally as a of the total a e of harbor seals percentage unaa n d of l The eastern Strai t counted dur ing aer ial surveys nulmbet of the JJan de uca contains the largest percentage
lE8 300
225
150
75
Dee Feb Apr Jun Aug Oet
Figure 36 Total number of northern sea lions and California sea lions occurring in the waters of northern puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca December 1977 to October 1978
169 population for any season The numbers decreased here in fall and winter corresponding to an increase in outlying ar as particularly the western Strait of Juan de Fuca and Ha o Strait indicating some seasonal movement may occur
An overall rank of areas of importance to the harbor seal population in descending order is Strait of Juan de Fupa east Haro Strait San Juan Islands Rosario Strait other areas bays and estuaries and Strait of Juan de Fuca I
TstII 33 of total of Pac able Percentages the population fic harbor seals Phoca vi tul ina richards i fbi selected areas in northern PugetSound and the Strait of Juan de Fuqa 5 sea n Perce tages were taken from aerial sur eys made in 1 77 1978 numbers in par nthes is refer to T aE ie H I I I I t H Season r t GeneralII area Fall Winter Spring Slimmer v I o Strait 24 8 18 1 30 1 116 9 HJ I 2 3 f i 1 I t j I Ro1I ario Strait 8 5 5 1 5 1 9 0 5 f
I l L l L 1 San Juan Is l 4 2 6 23 3 O J dl 61
i i 8 1 11 j fun lh1 S 1 1 S a 0f J u F u a 3 4 9 8 5 3 6 42 7 tilrli4 it an de c r r r P h L i 7 10 11 12i 17 E 1
OtiherIieast areas 9 9 3 1 3 4 6 3 dll 6 8 9
PG V ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors wish to express their gratitude to the many people who contributed to this research effort Pilots M Hainsworth H D Johnson and Schaeffer provided us with safe flights and capable observations T Bray J Calambokidis G Carroll P Cole J Cubbage R Deede R Dickinson R Fritzen B Hacker W Harrington S Hill K Hirsch S Jeffries E Long R Mercer C Peterson K Raedeke D M Rauzon Rugh N Severinghaus A Wagner K Wilson D Withrow and A Wolman all participat d as observers for one or more of the aerial surveys Help with boat surveys was kindly provided by J Cubbage T Coralline R Dickinson R Fritzen B Krogman S Minzelli J MacKenzie R MacKenzie and K Raedeke
Personnel of the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge U S Fish and Wildlife Service Olympia Wa allowed access to Dungeness Wildlife Refuge and the San Juan Wilderness area D Manuwal S Speich and R Taber of the Wildlife Sciences group College of Forest Resources University of Washington Seattle Washington provided data from heir own work and stimulating dialogues throughout the planning and implementation of this study R Hirschi Washington State Department of Game Seattle Washington generously contributed his expertise The Moclips Cetological Society allowed us to use some of their data and provided logistic support particular thanks are due to K Balcomb Boran and R Osborne K Kenyon contributed invaluable advice and guidance J Rodzilsky contributed specimen material
Special thanks are extended to Mr and Mrs Dan Ward who allowed us to visit Dinner Island and were interested enough to provide us with many valuable observations of the harbor seals there Tim and Laura Coralline as caretakers of Protection Island supplied logistic support use of facilities and much hospitality Their cooperation was paramount to the success of this study
Help and advice of the staff at the Marine Mammal Division NWAFC Seattle Washington is gratefully acknowledged
Lisa Everitt provided invaluable assistance in the field lab and with the preparation of this report
171 vr BIBLIOGRAPHY
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ffi Wash d t 7858f O ce U J printing I t c 1 i ri i J 3 2 fi L G l i tJ e I t j r J t f lblu Sot naroOr se als f An I R il P9 74 001 pltXS PCB S ln b61er 7 Ji L 1 tJ 1t q f i J i n Ii 8 f 1 14 H o tf s jr I p t l 1 I l r j iS r 5 S E 1 E 1 IG 1 fi V
f u 9 75j rfs6ii bertwee ii two An S R EL ELadtrrY d wo rl nd Cornpa Seals for methpds of blubber of Northern Fur subsampling r f l f8n ff f J f 8 4 126 26 2 h tODT PCB Ii cIies c r8t r y l 1 pHis J a 1 S l 1 l bn if j fi 5 a t 0 r tl c
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u S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1979 677 072 1280 Reg 8
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