Mammifères marins

• Published in: Le Naturaliste canadien
• Main Authors: Samuel Turgeon, Nadia Ménard, Manuela Conversano
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: French
• Published: La Société Provancher d'histoire naturelle du Canada 2018
• Subjects: Sciences Humaines et Sociales; Social Sciences and Humanities; approches spatiales de conservation; béluga du Saint-Laurent; protection de l’habitat; parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent; trafic maritime; spatial approaches to conservation; habitat protection; maritime traffic; Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park; St. Lawrence Estuary beluga whale population; envir; demo; Canada; Beluga; Beluga whale; Beluga*; Béluga*; Delphinapterus leucas
• Online Access: http://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/natcan/2018-v142-n2-natcan03735/1047151ar.pdf; https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/natcan/2018-v142-n2-natcan03735/1047151ar.pdf; https://doi.org/10.7202/1047151ar; https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/1047151ar; https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/natcan/2018-v142-n2-natcan03735/1047151ar/; https://academic.microsoft.com/#/detail/2808436963

The main initiatives undertaken between 1978 and 2018 to identify and protect the habitat of the St. Lawrence Estuary (Québec, Canada) beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) population are presented. Despite these efforts, over the past 20 years, the state of the population has deteriorated. Not only is it declining, but the proportion of young has dropped to approximately a third of what it was, and female and calf mortality has risen. Recent information on the spatial distribution of beluga whales, their prey and marine traffic in the critical habitat in and around the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park are provided. Considerations and opportunities to develop spatial approaches to promote better cohabitation between human activities and beluga whales are given. In addition to the actions already undertaken, two strategies are outlined to promote recovery of the population: 1) the management of fisheries to account for the dietary needs of beluga whales and to prevent the resuspension of persistent contaminants by fishing gear; and 2) the reduction of disturbance due to disruption of vital activities, or through noise, in habitat used by females and young. Access to key prey and quiet areas in summer would improve the resilience of the population to degradations of its habitat, including those resulting from climate change. Les principales initiatives réalisées de 1978 à 2018 pour définir et protéger l’habitat du béluga (Delphinapterus leucas) de l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent sont présentées. Malgré ces efforts, l’état de la population s’est détérioré depuis 20 ans : celle-ci est en déclin, la proportion de jeunes a diminué par un facteur d’environ 3, et la mortalité des veaux et des femelles est en hausse. Nous présentons ici des informations récentes sur la répartition spatiale des bélugas, de leurs proies et du trafic maritime dans la portion de l’habitat essentiel dans et autour du parc marin du Saguenay–Saint-Laurent. Des considérations et des occasions pour mettre en place des approches spatiales pour ...