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Home , Iony Island, Korsakov (town), Magadan, Matua (island), Port of Korsakov, Sakhalin

Summary: IUCN compilation on cruises/expeditions to Piltun & elsewhere in the

April 2015

At WGWAP-14, the issue of cruise ship visits to the Piltun feeding area was brought to the Panel’s attention for the first time. Alexander Burdin of the -US field team reported that in the summer of 2014, a large cruise ship anchored approximately a kilometer from the entrance of Piltun Lagoon and launched eight or nine inflatable boats with tourists on-board. These boats were seen to approach groups of , including mother/calf pairs, and remained clustered, with the people on several boats often observing the same group of whales at the same time. This led to a brief discussion and a request by the Panel that IUCN “compile information on the tour companies that are known to advertise or offer cruises to Piltun” with the expectation that the compilation would be presented and discussed at this meeting.” In response to the Panel’s request, IUCN carried out an extensive online search using public web page content analysis. Web pages for analysis were determined through main search engines using key words and key word combinations such as cruises, expeditions, tours, , Piltun, Kamchatka, etc. in both English and Russian. This search confirmed that several expeditions which include a 1-day visit to Piltun lagoon (via kayaks or inflatable boats, or ‘Zodiacs’) for gray watching are likely to occur each summer. Also, there are tourism routes visiting other parts of the Sea of Okhotsk, Kamchatka or the Kuril known to be visited by gray whales (e.g. Olga Bay, ). These cruises often operate from/to the ports of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk or Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky during the period from June to September. Cruise routes that cross the routes of the tagged gray whales that were satellite-tracked in 2010-2012 are also included in the compilation for reference. Two specific cruises/expeditions offering a 1-day visit to Piltun in 2015 were identified – one between 9- 20 June and the other between 23-27 September. One other was found in the search but without specified dates. Numerous other cruises/expeditions are being advertised for elsewhere in the Sea of Okhotsk in 2015. At least one tour that includes a stop at Piltun is being advertised for 2016.

The cruise by „The World-Luxury Residences at Sea” – observed by SEIC (Joint Program) teams and reported to the Panel in 2014 – visited Piltun only once in 2014 and are planning to sail elsewhere in the world in 2015 and 2016: www.aboardtheworld.com

The information on relevant cruises/expeditions is summarized in Table 1 (more details, vessel information, routes, etc. are available in a seperate document available from IUCN).

Table 1. Information on cruises/expeditions

Expedition/ cruise Commander Islands and Sakhalin Company name No precise information on the operator, but the tour cruise is offered/advertised by several tour operators/companies, for instance, http://www.rusadventures.ru or http://www.rucolumb.ru, http://www.waterproof-expeditions.com and others. Headquarters location No precise information on the operator Has visited Piltun (yes or Planned tour dates 13 – 27 September 2015 no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour Yes, Piltun is visited on 12th day of the cruise, i.e. on 24 September 2015 itineraries (yes or no, with dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Places visited: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky - Olga Bay - Commander itineraries Islands - Bay of Russian Kamchatka - Second Kuril Strait - Kambalny Bay, Kamchatka - Shantar Archipelago - Piltun Bay, Sakhalin - Seal Island - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Comments The trip includes 1 day visit of Piltun lagoon using inflatable boats (Zodiac), searching for gray whales and disembarkation near lighthouse that is located on the shore of the Piltun lagoon. No information found on number of Zodiacs used. Website address • http://www.rusadventures.ru/offers/13902.aspx • http://www.rucolumb.ru/country/arktika-i-severnyij-polyus/turyi-v- arktike/ot-kamchatki-do-saxalina-komandorskie-i-shantarskie- ostrova.html?pdf=1 Expedition/ cruise Sea of Okhotsk & Sakhalin Company name Heritage Expeditions Headquarters location Heritage Expeditions New Zealand Ltd 53B Montreal Street Christchurch, 8023, New Zealand Has visited Piltun (yes or Yes, no, with year if possible) Previous tour: 11- 22 June, 2014. Piltun lagoon visited on 13th of June. Planned tour dates: 09 - 20 June, 2015. Also 09 - 20 June, 2016 Includes Piltun on tour Yes, Piltun is visited on third day of the cruise itineraries (yes or no, with dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Places visited: Sakhalin Island, Port of - Tyuleniy Island - Piltun itineraries Bay, and Sakhalin Island- - Shantar Archipelago - Mal’minskie Islands – Okhotsk town – Talan Island – Koni Peninsula - Yamskiye Islands Comments The trip is 13 days long and includes searching of the Gray Whales in Piltun lagoon (1 day) travelling by Zodiac (or kayak) inshore to the shallower waters where whales are known to feed. Website address http://www.heritage-expeditions.com/trip/okhotsk-sakhalin-sea-okhotsk-9- june-2015/#!prettyPhoto This expedition is advertised by many other tour operators, for instance: • http://www.adventure-life.com/ • http://www.exodus.co.uk • http://www.into-russia.co.uk • http://www.polarcruises.com/ • http://www.expeditiontrips.com • http://www.rockjumperbirding.com • http://www.wildwings.co.uk/

Expedition/ cruise Sea of Okhotsk Company name Heritage Expeditions Headquarters location Heritage Expeditions New Zealand Ltd, 53B Montreal Street, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand Has visited Piltun (yes or Yes, in 2013 no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour This expedition includes Piltun, but has no scheduled departures at this itineraries (yes or no, with time dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Route: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy - Utashud Island - At Sea - Northern itineraries Sakhalin Island - Shantar Archipelago - Mal'minskie Islands and Fedora Bay - Iony Island - Okhotsk Town - Talan Island – Koni Peninsula – Zavyalov Island and Magadan - Yamskiye Island - Magadan - (West Coast) - Bukhta Russkaya - Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky. Comments - Website address http://www.polarcruises.com/arctic/ships/expedition-ships/spirit-enderby- arctic/sea-okhotsk-2013 Expedition/ cruise Sea of Okhotsk Company name The World – Luxury Residences at Sea Headquarters location 1551 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323, USA Has visited Piltun (yes or Yes, in August 2014 no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour No detailed itinerary available itineraries (yes or no, with dates if possible) Other relevant sites on No detailed itinerary available itineraries Comments The cruise was observed by SEIC teams in 2014. Visited Piltun only once in 2014 and is planning to sail elsewhere in the world in 2015 and 2016. Website address www.aboardtheworld.com Expedition/ cruise Wild : Kamchatka, Sea of Okhotsk & Sakhalin Company name Zegrahm Expeditions Headquarters location 3131 Elliott Ave, Suite 250, , WA 98121, Has visited Piltun (yes or No information on past cruises no, with year if possible) No scheduled departures at this time Includes Piltun on tour No detailed itinerary available but includes a stop at “Sakhalin Island” that itineraries (yes or no, with probably means Piltun; no scheduled departures at this time dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Anchorage/Petropavlovsk - Atlasova Island - Cape Utkholokskiy - itineraries Shelekova Bay - Shelekova Bay -Cape Alevina - Talan Island - Okhotsk Town – Fedora bay - Shantar Archipelago – Iony Island - Sakhalin Island / Expedition Stop - Tyuleniy Island – Korsakov – Comments - Website address http://www.zegrahm.com/expeditions/asia/wild-siberia-kamchatka-sea- okhotsk-sakhalin/itinerary Expedition/ cruise Nome to Otaru Company name Silversea Luxury Cruises Headquarters location Gildo Pastor Center, 7, Rue du Gabian, 98000 Monaco Has visited Piltun (yes or Yes, 17 June 2014 no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour Itinerary on Silversea official web page does not include Piltun as a stop. itineraries (yes or no, with However, other tour operators indicate Piltun as one of sites of interest. dates if possible) Please see also section “Other relevant sites on itineraries”. Tour dates: 13-31 August 2015, also mentioned 21August – 8 September 2015 Other relevant sites on According to the Silversea official webpage the cruise route for 2015 is itineraries following: Nome – Provideniya - Gabriela Bay - Dezneva Bay - Lavrova bay -Verkhoturov Island –Tymlat - Karaginskiy Island - Cape Severo-Zapadnyi – Nikolskoe –Chazma River -Kamenistaya Bay Zupanova River - Morzovaya Bay – Petrapavlovsk Kamchatsky - Island - Atlasova Island - Island - Lovyshki Islands - Island - Yankicha Island - Chirpoy Island - Tyuleniy Island (Sakhalin) – Korsakov (Sakhalin)- Otaru. However, according to other tour operators it included in 2014 and will include in 2015 stops at: Otaru, - Korsakov (Yuzhno- Sakhalinsk) - Sakhalin Island - Tuleniy Island - Piltun Lagoon/Nobilsky Bay – Island Iony Island - Shantar Islands - Malminskie Islands and Fedora Bay – Okhotsk - Talan Island and Zaviyalova Island - Yamskie Islands and Cape Japon - Kvachina River and Utkholok Peninsula - Kamchatka Peninsula (West Coast)/Expedition/River - - Korsakov (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) – Otaru Comments • Cruise is 17 days • Silver Discoverer’s shallow draft allows ship to navigate close to shore, and with a fleet of 12 Zodiacs, guests can land on isolated shores and explore wetlands and submerged ecosystems, up-close and in-depth • Cruise operator (Silversea) mentions observing as one of main trip Website address The operator’s web site: • http://www.silversea.com/destinations/russian-far-east- cruise/9518/?ga=list#itinerary Other tour operators: • http://www.iglucruise.com/silver-discoverer/20th-august-2015_c75625 • http://www.sixstarcruises.co.uk/luxury-cruise/silversea-silver- discoverer/itinerary/21st-Aug-2015/27172/ • http://www.alexanderroberts.com/Destination/South-Pacific/Sea-of- Okhotsk-and-Kamchatka.aspx#itinerary Kuril Islands Company name Heritage Expeditions Headquarters location Heritage Expeditions New Zealand Ltd, 53B Montreal Street, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand Has visited Piltun (yes or No no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour No itineraries (yes or no, with dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Route starts at Yuzhno-Sakhalin, includes Kuril Islands and Commander itineraries Islands Comments Tour dates 27 May – 8 June 2015 Website address http://www.heritage-expeditions.com/trip/kamchatka-kuril-islands-russias- ring-fire/ Nome – Kanazawa / Otaru Company name Hapad – Lloyd Cruise Headquarters location Berliner Bogen, Anckelmannsplatz, 120537 Hamburg Has visited Piltun (yes or No no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour No itineraries (yes or no, with dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Cruise route: Nome - Chukchi Peninsula (including Provideniya, Achen itineraries Lagoon, Preobrazhenya Bay) - Kamchatka (including Anastasia Bay, Bogoslof Island, Verkhoturova, Bering, Morzovaya Bay, Petropavlovsk) – Kuril Islands (including Shumshu, Atlasova, Matua, Yankicho, ) - Sakhalin (Tyuleniy, Korsakov) - (Aomori, Sado) - Kanazawa/Japan or Otaru. Comments The tour dates: • 7 September – 1 October 2015 (final destination – Kanazawa) • 10 September - 1 October 2016 (final destination – Otaru) Fleet of 12 or 14 Zodiacs (depending on ship used) deployed to access wilderness areas Website address • http://www.hl-cruises.com/reise-finden/HAN1617 • http://www.hl-cruises.com/reise-finden/BRE1517

Sakhalin – Kuril Islands – Kamchatka Company name Company "VICAAR" Headquarters location 191002, St. Petersburg, ul. Dostoevsky St., 24/9., Office 3H Has visited Piltun (yes or No no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour No itineraries (yes or no, with dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Route includes stops at: – Island Moneron – Kunashir – – itineraries Urup - Island – ( Ryponkicha and Manamisima) - Onekotan - Makanru island - Atlasova island – Utashud (through bay Herald) – Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (through Avacha Bay) Comments Trip is 13 days long Web page http://www.northpolextreme.com/iindex.html – Yuzhno Sakhalinsk – Tokyo Company name Princess Cruise Headquarters location 24844 Avenue Rockefeller, Santa Clarita, CA 91355, USA Has visited Piltun (yes or No no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour No itineraries (yes or no, with dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Route includes stops at: Tokyo - Kushiro - Shiretoko - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - itineraries - - Aomori – Tokyo Comments Tour dates: 8 July, 17 July, and 19 August 2015 Web page http://tour.shamora.info/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE% D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5- %D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%B8- %D0%AF%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B8- %D0%A1%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE- %D0%B8- %D0%A1%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD- %D0%BA%D1%80%D1%83%D0%B8%D0%B7/ Sakhalin-Iturup Company name No precise information on operator Headquarters location - Has visited Piltun (yes or No no, with year if possible) Includes Piltun on tour No itineraries (yes or no, with dates if possible) Other relevant sites on Port Korsakov - Kuril Islands itineraries Comments Arrival schedule in 2015: − June - 9, 16, 23, 31 − July - 7, 14, 21 − August - 4, 11, 18 − September - 1, 8, 15 Web page http://www.rusadventures.ru/offers/14787.aspx