Local Georgia Aquarium Research Aids in Conservation of Alaska's Endangered Beluga Whales

A recent study at the Georgia Aquarium has provided important data on beluga whales' dietary needs. This information will help conservation efforts for endangered belugas in Alaska's Cook Inlet. The research was led by Terrie M. Williams and Jason John from the University of California-Santa Cruz, in partnership with Georgia Aquarium and NOAA Fisheries' Alaska Region. The study was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. It suggests that the whales' high caloric needs and unique metabolism may affect their ability to avoid human disturbances.

The Cook Inlet beluga population was declared endangered in 2008 due to over-hunting. Despite stopping whaling and implementing conservation efforts, the population hasn't recovered. The reasons for this are still unknown. Gathering data on wild belugas has been difficult, making it hard for scientists to understand why the population hasn't rebounded.

The study, which started in 2018, collected data on the energy output of three adult belugas at the Georgia Aquarium. The data was gathered while the whales were resting, swimming, and diving for food. This research will help develop energy models to assess the potential impact of human activities on beluga whales and Arctic narwhals.

Over six months, the Georgia Aquarium scientists prepared the belugas for the study. They used positive reinforcement and conditioning techniques to measure the whales' metabolic rates in different states. They used tools to measure oxygen consumption and movement in the water.

The research will help ensure that Cook Inlet belugas have enough resources to meet their caloric needs. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, any activity that could impact a threatened species must be reviewed. This includes activities like oil and gas exploration, marine construction, and commercial fishing. The data on the belugas' caloric needs will help inform these reviews and lessen the impact of these activities on the beluga population.

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