Aspects of Inupiat Subsistence Whaling at Cross Island, Alaska and Whaler Perceptions of Industry Influences on Whaling

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Whaling Open Water Meeting, 18 April 2006, Anchorage

1 Aspects of Inupiat Subsistence Whaling at Cross Island, Alaska and Whaler Perceptions of Industry Influences on Whaling Open Water Meeting, 18 April 2006, Anchorage Michael Galginaitis, Applied Sociocultural Research Please do not use or distribute photos without the permission of the Nuiqsut Whaling Captains Association

2 A GUIDE TO THIS TALK Introduction to Nuiqsut/Cross Island Whaling: A Quick Overview Objective of the Specific Task for BPXA, 2005 Approach Field Methods Discussion of GPS Tracks for 2005 Discussion of GPS Tracks for (Comparative) Nuiqsut Whalers Perceptions of Industry Influences

Location Map, Landmarks, and Routes Between Nuiqsut and Cross Island BEAUFORT SEA Figure 1 0 5 10 20 Miles August 2004 0 10 20 40 Km Harrison Bay Thetis Island Spy Island Oliktok Point Pingok Island

3 Location Map, Landmarks, and Routes Between Nuiqsut and Cross Island BEAUFORT SEA Figure Miles August Km Harrison Bay Thetis Island Spy Island Oliktok Point Pingok Island Route between Nuiqsut & Cross Island Simpson Lagoon Northstar Oil Field West Dock Cross Island Nechelik Channel Alpine Oil Field Milne Point Oil Field Gwydyr Bay Prudhoe Bay Niakuk Narwhal Island Endicott Oil Field Pole Island Nuiqsut Kuparuk River Oil Field Kuparuk River Prudhoe Bay Oil Field Dalton Highway TAPS Deadhorse Foggy Island Bay Liberty Prospect Stockton Islands Tigvariak Island Bullen Point Mikkelsen Bay Badami Oil Field Maguire Islands ms14953_location.mxd

4 Preparing the Ice Cellar NOAA Archive

5 Crew Leaving Nuiqsut for Cross Island, 09/01/02

6 Nuiqsut Crew Boats (various crews, various years)

7 Darting Gun and Shoulder Gun -- Adopted by Alaskan Subsistence Whalers NOAA Archive

8 New, Unloaded, Whale Bombs (No Cap or Powder) U.S. quarter used for scale

9 Whales Taken in 2004 Aqargiun crew 9/05/04 (42 to45 feet) Billy Oyagak whale #1 of /06/04 (about 32 feet) Billy Oyagak whale #2 of 2004 (about 32 feet)

10 The First Cuts: Defining Tufsi (and further divisions of the whale)

11 Typical Butchering Attire, 9/07/03

12 Butchering

13 Boxed Whale Ready for Shipment (9/17/04)

14 Successful Crew Ready to Leave for Nuiqsut Nukapigak Crew Flag (Nukapigak boat #2)

15 Captain Distributing Candy -- Blanket Toss

16 OBJECTIVES Incorporation of local and traditional knowledge into the BP Northstar marine mammal and acoustic monitoring program Recommendation of NSB SAC to BP (03/2005) Offshore distribution of whales Feeding behavior Skittish behavior of whales Number of non-whaling vessels and whale reactions

17 APPROACH Build on ongoing MMS project, using and amplifying the same methods to focus on those issues of main concern to the BP Northstar monitoring program Additional field component for 2005 field season Compilation of additional relevant information from prior-year work ( ) Winter meeting with whalers in Nuiqsut to review, discuss, and modify the report and discussion of relevant information

18 FIELD METHODS ( ) GPS units carried by all whaling vessels to document: Complete track while whaling Locations of whale sightings and whaling events Conversations with and reports from whalers during each season Researcher observations while on Cross Island during each season (present for majority of each season) Review of draft reports and presentations by NWCA Periodic meetings and visits to Nuiqsut BP funding allowed additional effort in each of these areas for 2005 field season

19 Cross Island Whale Scouting GPS Tracks, 2005

20 Days of Most Probable Interference from Non-Whaling Vessels 9/14/05 - Canadian Tug/Barge (NTC) in transit (east) to Barrow 9/21/05 - Crowley Tug/Barge reported to be in transit (west) to Badami

Cross Island Whale Scouting GPS Tracks, 2001-2005 Selected Measures of Cross Island Whaling Whales Taken/Struck and Lost 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 3/0 4/1 4/0 3/0 1/0 Length of Season (days) 24 23 19

21 Cross Island Whale Scouting GPS Tracks, Selected Measures of Cross Island Whaling Whales Taken/Struck and Lost /0 4/1 4/0 3/0 1/0 Length of Season (days) Weather Days Days Out Scouting Average Length of Scouting Trip (miles/hours:minutes) 85.6/9: /8: /4: /7: /9:44 Average Furthest Point from Cross Island (miles) Average Strike Distance from Cross Island (miles) Total Effort (time on the water - hours)

platform in background Above 9/13/02, 9:37 PM Towing a

22 Nuiqsut Whalers Perceptions of Industry and Its Effects Below 9/17/02 Towing a 2-day old stinker McCovey drilling platform in background Above 9/13/02, 9:37 PM Towing a recently killed whale McCovey drilling platform in background

23 Summary Nuiqsut Whalers Perceptions of Industry Influences Whales sometimes avoid industry (and other) vessels (tugs/barges) In prior years, whales have been deflected offshore by seismic operations by drilling operations east of Cross Island Whales are often more difficult to approach and strike when influenced by industry (or other human) activities Northstar, about 17 miles west of Cross island, and exploratory drillsites west of Cross Island have not been reported as having affected the accessibility of whales or rate of success for Nuiqsut whalers based at Cross Island. Rather, Nuiqsut whalers indicate industry activities to the east of Cross Island are those that adversely affect their whaling, with historical examples of Hammerhead (1985/86), Harvard/Sandpiper (1985/86), Corona (1986), Galahad (1991), and Kuvlum (1992/93) -- as well as some seismic activities.

24 Please do not use or distribute photos without the permission of the Nuiqsut Whaling Captains Association Acknowledgments Residents of Nuiqsut, for their hospitality on all of my visits, from 1982 through the present, and especially the whalers who have allowed me to accompany them to Cross Island for I have been privileged to stay so far with the Kittick, Akiviana, Oyagak, and Napageak crews while on Cross Island. Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) Minerals Management Service for sponsorship of many projects with Nuiqsut components since 1982 BP Alaska Exploration for supplemental funding in 2005, logistical assistance , and other help in times of need LGL, and especially W. John Richardson

Report of the Norwegian 2008 survey for minke whales in the Small Management Area ES - Svalbard

Report of the Norwegian 2008 survey for minke whales in the Small Management Area ES - Svalbard NILS ØIEN Institute of Marine Research, P.O.Box 1870 Nordnes, N-5817 Bergen, Norway nils@imr.no ABSTRACT