SC/58/BRG21 Subsistence harvest of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) by Alaskan Eskimos during 2005
In 2005, 68 bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) were struck during the Alaskan subsistence hunt resulting in 55 animals landed. The efficiency ( # landed / # struck) of the hunt was 81%, which is similar to the average efficiency over the past 10 years (1995-2004: mean = 79%, standard deviation = 8%...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.464.4804 http://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/B/648772492/648772492-2005.pdf |
| Summary: | In 2005, 68 bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) were struck during the Alaskan subsistence hunt resulting in 55 animals landed. The efficiency ( # landed / # struck) of the hunt was 81%, which is similar to the average efficiency over the past 10 years (1995-2004: mean = 79%, standard deviation = 8%). Twenty-five of the landed whales were males, 28 were females and the sex of two animals was not determined. Of the females, eight were presumably mature (>13.4m in length). Four were pregnant; although only sex and length were recorded for three of the fetuses. The three fetuses were all females and their lengths were 273 cm, 277 cm, and 450 cm. A fifth female may also have been pregnant (based on the presence of a large corpus luteum on one of the ovaries), although we were not able to examine her uterus for confirmation. A hunting captain examined a sixth mature female that was not pregnant. The other two sexually mature females were not examined closely. |
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