Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Washington
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

The Cook Inlet Beluga Whale is a federally endangered population with a declining trend and a lack of clarity on the causes of decline. A better understanding of the dynamics of this population is needed to assess hypothesized causes of decline and evaluate potential conservation actions. In collaboration with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, we are developing an integrated population model for the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale. This model will be used to improve our understanding of the causes of, and potential solutions to, the ongoing decline of this iconic animal.