1 Subsistence harvest of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) by Alaskan Eskimos during 2009
In 2009, 38 bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) were struck during the Alaskan subsistence hunt resulting in 31 animals landed. Total landed for 2009 was a bit less than the average over the past 10 years (1999-2008: mean = 40.1; SD = 7.2). The efficiency ( # landed / # struck) of the hunt was 82%,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.464.8547 http://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/B/648772492/648772492-2009.pdf |
| Summary: | In 2009, 38 bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) were struck during the Alaskan subsistence hunt resulting in 31 animals landed. Total landed for 2009 was a bit less than the average over the past 10 years (1999-2008: mean = 40.1; SD = 7.2). The efficiency ( # landed / # struck) of the hunt was 82%, which is about the average during 1999-2008 (mean = 78%, SD = 8%). Spring hunts are logistically more difficult than autumn hunts because of cold weather conditions and the dynamic physical challenges associated with hunting whales in sea ice. Typically, hunt efficiency during spring is lower than autumn. In 2009, however, the efficiency of the spring hunt (85%) was somewhat similar to the autumn efficiency (80%). This is likely due to the extremely difficult environmental conditions during spring 2009, which resulted in relatively few strikes at Barrow, Wainwright and Point Hope. The few strikes that were used were mostly successful. Of the landed whales, 18 were females, 12 were males, and sex was not determined for one animal. Based on total length, 6 of the 18 females were presumed mature (>13.4m in length). Two of the mature females were examined closely. One was pregnant with a 1.63m female fetus and the other was not pregnant. The other mature females were not closely examined as biologists were either not stationed in the villages or the whales were butchered in the water and access to internal organs was limited. Two landed whales were female calves; 6.2 and 6.6m in length. Both animals were taken during the autumn. Fall calves are nearly the size of yearlings and the hunters mistakenly thought these animals were independent subadults. |
|---|