Project Information

Title: LTM Program: Long-term killer whale monitoring in Prince William Sound/ Kenai Fjords 15120114-M

Project Year and Number: 2015: 15120114-M

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2024: 24120114-N, 2023: 23120114-N, 2022: 22120114-N , 2021: 21120114-N, 2020: 20120114-N, 2019: 19120114-N, 2018: 18120114-N, 2017: 17120114-N, 2016: 16120114-M, 2014: 14120114-M, 2013: 13120114-M, 2012: 12120114-M

Principal Investigator (PI): Craig Matkin

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: None

Project Website: https://gulfwatchalaska.org/monitoring/pelagic-ecosystem/killer-whales/

Research Location: Prince William Sound

Restoration Category: Monitoring, Research

Injured Resources Addressed: Killer Whales

Abstract:

The proposed project is a continuation of the annual monitoring of AB pod and the AT1 population killer whales in Prince William Sound-Kenai Fjords. These groups of whales suffered significant losses at the time of the oil spill and have not recovered at projected rates. Monitoring of all the major pods and their current movements, range, feeding habits, and contaminant levels will help determine their vulnerability to future perturbations, including oil spills. The project also extends the scope of the basic monitoring to include an innovative satellite tagging program used to examine habitat preference, feeding ecology and assist in relocating whales for feeding studies. It continues examination of feeding habits using observation, prey sampling and innovative chemical techniques. The study will delineate important habitat, variations in pod specific movements and feeding behavior within a temporal and geographic framework. We will examine the role of both fish eating and mammal eating killer whales in the near-shore ecosystem and their impacts on prey species. Community based initiatives, educational programs (including our websites and Facebook page), and programs for tour boat operators will continue to be integrated into the work to help foster restoration by improving public understanding and reducing harassment of the whales.


Proposal: View (452 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY15: View (595 KB)
Final Report: See Project 16120114-M

Publications from this Project: None Available