• Home
  • Restoration Projects
  • Project Search
  • Monitoring, Tagging, Feeding Studies, and Restoration of Killer Whales in Prince William Sound/Kenai Fjords 2010-2012 Submitted under the BAA 10100742

Project Information

Title: Monitoring, Tagging, Feeding Studies, and Restoration of Killer Whales in Prince William Sound/Kenai Fjords 2010-2012 Submitted under the BAA 10100742

Project Year and Number: 2010: 10100742

Other Fiscal Years and Numbers for this Project: 2009: 090742, 2008: 080742, 2007: 070742, 2005: 050742, 2004: 040012, 2003: 030012, 2002: 02012-BAA, 2001: 01012-BAA, 2000: 00012-A-BAA, 1999: 99012-A-BAA, 1998: 98012-A, 1997: 97012-BAA, 1996: 96012-A, 1995: 95012

Principal Investigator (PI): Craig Matkin (North Gulf Oceanic Society)

Managing Agency: NOAA

Assisting Personnel: None

Research Location: Prince William Sound/ Kenai Fjords

Restoration Category: Monitoring

Injured Resources Addressed: Killer Whales

Abstract: The proposed project is a continuation of the monitoring of AB pod and the AT1 population killer whale populations in Prince William Sound. These groups of whales suffered serious losses at the time of the spill and have not recovered at projected rates. The project also extends the scope of the basic monitoring to include an innovative satellite tagging program to examine habitat preference and incorporates a more extensive examination of feeding habits using observational and chemical techniques. The project will delineate important habitat and variations in pod specific movements and feeding behavior within a temporal and geographic framework. Results will allow us to more closely examine the potential for restoration. The project will more clearly delineate the role of killer whales, both fish eating and mammal eating in the nearshore ecosystem and possible effects on the restoration recovery of harbor seals and sea otters. Community based initiatives, educational programs, 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 (608 KB)

Reports:
Annual Report FY10: View (78 KB)
Final Report: View (2,179 KB)

Publications from this Project: None Available