The Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program

The Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program is responsible for conducting studies to assess the status of whales in Alaskan waters. Our recent studies have focused on North Pacific right, bowhead, gray, humpback, beluga and killer whales, and Dall’s, and harbor porpoise. Past studies have looked at blue, fin, sei, minke, sperm, and beaked whales, and the Pacific white-sided dolphin. We gather species-specific information on abundance, trends, stock structure, habitat, and feeding habits using aerial, vessel or shore-based survey counts, acoustic studies, radio or satellite telemetry, genetic studies, and photo-identification.