United States. Marine Mammal Commission

“ Changes in the biological environment induced by human activity may be contributory to the movement of whales. Movement from Lynn Canal may have resulted from direct competition for the same resource at the same time, by depletion of the resource below levels sufficient to support humpbacks or as a result of noise or the presence of fishing vessels. ”

“ There are many individuals, groups and organizations interested or involved in finding solutions to problems associated with humpback whales and human activities in Glacier Bay. The need for management planning and research [Pg 27] programs has been identified. The identification of interested and responsible organizations is necessary so that cooperative, coordinated planning and research can occur. Hopefully, by developing such plans or projects, minimum resources will be expended to obtain satisfactory solutions. ”

“ The scientists conducting the whale studies believed that the early departure of the whales was precipitated by increased boat traffic in the Bay and, in 1979, the Park Service, in consultation with the cruise ship industry, developed and implemented operational guidelines for vessel course and speed in designated areas, where it was felt that vessel interactions with incoming whales could cause the most disturbance. ”

“ Finally, we recommend that monitoring of the humpback population and of whale-vessel interactions be continued and that all current data be fully analyzed. New research should also be undertaken (1) to characterize the food and feeding behavior of humpback whales in Glacier Bay and other areas; (2) to ascertain the acoustic characteristics of vessels within the Bay and in other areas with the aim of identifying equipment and/or modes of operation which are inimical to the whales ”

“ Based upon aerial and vessel surveys, the population that spends the summer in the inside waters of southeastern Alaska numbers at least 70. Photoidentification studies now underway tentatively reveal that the population may exceed 100. Although it ranges throughout the area from Sumner Strait northward, its main concentration areas are Frederick Sound-Stephens Passage, where a minimum of 40 whales occurs, and Glacier Bay, where 20-25 whales occur. Humpback whales congregate in these areas to feed upon the summer blooms of euphausiids, herring, and capelin. ”

“ In the North Pacific, humpback whales winter in tropical regions over the shallow coastal shelfs associated with the Hawaiian Islands, Baja California, central Mexico, the Ryukyu Islands, Bonin Islands, and Mariana Islands. They summer in cold temperate regions, also over shallow coastal shelfs, from Point Conception, California, north through Alaska, west through the Aleutians, and south to Honshu Island, Japan. Calving and probably breeding occur on the wintering grounds. Feeding is believed to occur primarily in the summering grounds. ”

“ The data collected by the Juraszs are extensive (including human use of Glacier Bay) but have not yet been completely analyzed.
[3] This summary is based on information provided at the meeting by Charles and Virginia Jurasz.
Human Use of Glacier Bay [4]
John Muir popularized Glacier Bay, leading to tourist activity into the early 1900's, when loose ice resulting from earthquake activity prevented cruise vessels from operating within the Bay. Glacier Bay was designated a National Monument February 26, 1925, the area being added to April 18, 1939. ”

“ The age composition of identified whales using Glacier Bay was categorized by the Juraszs' for 1976-1978 (Table 3) .
During the period spent in the Bay, humpback whales have been observed to feed on capelin, euphausiids (Euphausia pacifica) , and pandalid shrimp (Pandulus borealis) . There appear to be three generalized feeding relationships: 1) early-season feeding on shrimp in the upper Bay; 2) mid-season feeding by concentrations of whales on capelin in the lower Bay; and 3) late-season feeding (around August 5) by concentrations of whales on euphausiids in mid-Bay. ”

“ To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. ”