Rolleicoastei Riue foi Walius populations

Naiine veitebiates 28u2ENv

Emma Nuiiell-0igill


S28462u7





Bate Bue: 18
th
0ctobei 2u1S




Rolleicoastei Riue foi Walius Populations

Recent ieseaich into walius populations has suggesteu that the species has
ueclineu anu iecoveieu thiee times ovei the past Su yeais (Seawoilu, 2uu2).
Theie aie many possible ieasons foi such iapiu ueclines, with global waiming
being the gieatest thieat. Bowevei uue to an inciease in ieseaich anu
conseivation effoits, the walius populations have been able to successfully
incline in numbeis. With such uiamatic changes, this has leau to a numbei of
negative impacts on the species incluuing behavioi, moitality, anu uistiibution
(NacCiacken, 2u12).

The most obvious contiibutoi to the ueciease in walius populations is of couise
pieuation. Although they aie iaiely pieuateu on uue to theii laige bouy size anu
mass congiegations, some waliuses face the iisk of being attackeu by passing
polai beais anu killei whales (NANNC0, 2uuS). This iisk incieases with smallei
auults, along with wounueu auults anu of couise, young (NANNC0, 2uuS). Small
anu wounueu auults being killeu off shoulu actually benefit the waliuses (natuial
selection), howevei with the incieasing vulneiability of abanuoneu calves, this
incieases theii moitality iate anu pievents the species fiom giowing in numbeis.
Although only a small iisk, on a laigei scale ovei a long peiiou of time walius
numbeis coulu once again uiamatically uiop.

Nale waliuses ieach sexual matuiity between 6-1u yeais olu anu females
between 4-1u yeais olu (NANNC0, 2uuS). Bowevei foi males, they usually uo
not mate until they aie 1S yeais olu, uue to them having the ability to compete at
a gieatei chance at this age (NANNC0, 2uuS). Females give biith to one calf
eveiy 2-S yeais, being the lowest piegnancy iate of all pinnipeus (NANNC0,
2uuS). This piolongeu peiiou between ieaching matuiity anu time between
biiths means that it is haiuei foi waliuses to iecovei aftei any uiamatic uiops in
population anu theiefoie shoulu be tieateu with extia caie. Repiouuction is
most impoitant especially at times of uecline, as it is the only way that can
ensuie walius populations uo not fluctuate too much iesulting in extinction.

Anothei contiibuting factoi to walius uecline is the iise in occuiience of ice caps
melting (Butlei, 2uu6). Recent analyses (2uu4) conuucteu by a ieseaich team in
the Aitic 0cean obseiveu a substantial amount of abanuoneu walius calves
swimming fai fiom shoie, putting them at a huge iisk of staivation, uiowning oi
pieuation by killei whales (Nauin, 2uu6). This is uue to motheis being foiceu to
ueseit theii young as they make theii way noithwaiu in oiuei to tiack uown the
iemaining ice, not being auapteu to caiing foi theii young in shallow wateis
without sea ice available (Butlei, 2uu6). Without ice, motheis aie left without a
iesting point aftei foiaging foi foou, sheltei fiom stoims, piotection fiom
pieuatois, anu calves aie left without a place of iefuge (Nauin, 2uu6). Along with
this, it was also founu that those aieas wheie sea ice iemaineu hau a ueepei sea
flooi of aiounu S,uuum (Butlei, 2uu6). Waliuses usually only uive to a uepth of
aiounu 1uum, being Suu times theii usual uepth, foicing them to be unable to
locate suitable foou iesouices anu theiefoie iesulting in fiantic seaiches up
Noithwaiu, away fiom theii calves anu shoie (Fay et al., 1988).

Pollution foims as a majoi impact that implements a negative effect on walius
populations (NANNC0, 2uuS). This type of pollution occuis geneially fiom oil
spills, which leau to an accumulation of hyuiocaibons in theii main foou souice-
molluscs (Boin et al, 2uuS). Along with this, it was obseiveu that walius tissue
containeu high levels of heavy metals incluuing caumium, leau anu meicuiy anu
unusual toxins such as BBT anu PCB which they obtaineu uuiing the
consumption of seals (Wiig et al, 2uuu). Although it is not cleai what effect these
pollutants have on waliuses, it can be confiimeu that it is not a positive effect
anu will eventually leau to an accumulation anu possible ueath.

Ice caps also foim as the staiting point foi the life cycle which allows foi walius
foou iesouices to become nutiient iich anu sustainable. This is uue to algae
giowing along the euge of the ice caps, becoming a valuable foou souice foi
zooplankton, which is then eaten by laigei animals, whose iemaining foou
paiticles fall uown onto the ocean flooi cieating a nutiient iich enviionment foi
walius foou- molluscs (Li, 2u1S). Bue to this ueciease in ice caps, mollusc iich
aieas aie becoming less fiequent anu only founu in aieas neai ice caps, jumping
back to the initial pioblem uiscusseu in the pievious paiagiaph anu below.

The melting of ice caps also cieates pioblems amongst waliuses as it foices them
to iesiue onshoie (0skin, 2u12). Along with being a place of iefuge, ice caps
seive as a biithing giounu foi newboin calves as they aie moie at iisk of being
tiampleu by auults when onshoie (0skin, 2u12). Notheis usually woulu leave
theii calves on the ice caps whilst they seaicheu foi foou iich aieas at sea,
howevei with waliuses being foiceu to iesiue onshoie they uo not have access to
such iich aieas (0skin, 2u12). These iich aieas aie also becoming less common
uue to ocean waiming anu a ueciease in pB, leauing to an oveiall uecline in the
quantity of foou iesouices (NacCiaken, 2u12). Although it woulu seem waliuses
coulu just auapt to consuming anothei foou iesouice anu finuing a new habitat
to iesiue on, they aie quite conseivative in iegaius to both these matteis anu
stick to what they know best (NANNC0, 2uuS). This has leau to them spenuing a
longei time out at sea, incieasing the chance of them colliuing with human
activities anu theiefoie putting them once again at iisk (0skin, 2u12).

Bowevei climate change is not the only contiibutoi that has leau to the uecline
in walius numbeis. Buman impact has also imposeu a majoi effect. As stateu in
the pievious paiagiaph, waliuses aie being foiceu fuithei out to sea, which
incieases theii chance of being hit by laige ships oi attackeu by the boat
piopelleis. This movement also incieases theii chance of being hunteu by
humans, eithei foi consumption oi in oiuei to gain theii huge tusks. Buiing the
17
th
, 18
th
anu 19
th
centuiies, thousanus of waliuses weie executeu in the wateis
of Svalbaiu (Bacqueboiu, 2uu1). By the 2u
th
centuiy numbeis hau uioppeu to
aiounu half the initial total anu a noticeable ieuuction in the iange of theii
movements (Boin et al, 199S). In Svalbaiu waliuses weie neaily entiiely wipeu
out (Wiig et al. 2uuu). Foitunately foi waliuses, such laige hunts uo not continue
touay; howevei inuigenous people living in places like Alaska aie still veiy
ieliant on walius meat.

Conveisely, climate change is suipiisingly helping the waliuses in one iespect,
being in iegaius to haivesting. Bue to an inciease in the occuiience of high winu
uays anu iough seas, villageis aie being uepiiveu of oppoitunities to hunt
(NacCiaken, 2u12). In coinciuence with this, the foiceu migiation of waliuses
uue to ice cap ieuuction has actually leau them to pioceeu fuithei away fiom
villages, also uecieasing theii chance of being haivesteu (Bovelsiuu et al, 2uu8).
Befoie this all happeneu, haivesting was quite successful iesulting in the
implementation of a haivesting limit to the Native villages of uambell anu
Savoonga, Alaska (8u-9u% of total haivesting in Alaska) (NacCiaken, 2u12). This
ueciease in the success iate of haivesting howevei is not going to last as hunteis
aie now changing to suit these new conuitions by hunting eailiei anu moving to
new fall haulouts useu by waliuses (NacCiaken, 2u12).

Acciuental haivesting also iemains an issue foi waliuses fiom commeicial
fisheiies that cause pioblems like uiiect moitalities, uisplacement, captuie with
piey anu aggiavation of piey habitats (NacCiaken, 2u12). Inuustiial machineiy
is also affecting waliuses uuiing oil anu gas exploiation by causing noise
pollution, with laige shipping also having the same effect, causing waliuses to
flee usual aieas of iefuge, incieasing theii iisks linkeu to pievious statements
involving the stiaying out to sea (NacCiaken, 2u12). Along with this, calves aie
put at high iisk uuiing these situations as they may be abanuoneu when the
mothei flees oi tiampleu by waliuses fiantically scatteiing (Boin et al, 199S).

Baivesting uoes not only occui in oiuei to obtain walius meat. At fiist walius
meat was useu quite iegulaily as foou foi uog teams (NANNCo, 2uuS). Bowevei
in the 196u's-197u's the intiouuction of motoiiseu snow machines leau to the
phasing out of the use of uogs, consequently causing a uecline in haivesting
uigency anu numbeis (NANNC0, 2uuS). Although theie has been a ueciease,
they aie still hunteu as a pait of tiauitional Inuit uiet (NANNC0, 2uuS). Ivoiy
also foims a pait of Inuit tiauition, geneially useu in caivings anu jeweliy; anu
the hiues of waliuses function exceptionally well foi footweai, iope anu othei
impoitant tools (NANNC0, 2uuS). This hunting geneially occuis in Noith-
Westein Atlantic to Nunavut in Canaua anu along to Westein uieenlanu
(NANNC0, 2uuS). These all foim as pait of tiauitional Inuit peoples beliefs anu
theiefoie have to be consiueieu when cieating iegulations on catch amount
(NANNC0, 2uuS). A way in which this type of iegulation has been put into place
is obseiveu in Nunavut wheie communities aie only alloweu 4 waliuses pei
family each yeai (NANNC0, 2uuS). This has been veiy effective in contiolling
haivesting howevei waliuses aie still ueclining uue to othei factois associateu
with hunting. This incluues the hunteis skill anu methou, which sometimes
iesults in waliuses becoming injuieu anu uying in othei aieas iathei than
incluueu in haivesting total (NANNC0, 2uuS). Anothei ieason why walius
numbeis aie still uecieasing is uue to uisobeuience of hunteis to the laws
cieateu anu the continuation of mass hunting's, which can be unseen foi yeais
unless piovision of habitual aieas aie maintaineu.

Astonishingly, hunting is actually neeueu to assist walius populations. In the
198u's a iestiiction was implementeu on the amount of waliuses that coulu be
hunteu as the population was iapiuly ueclining (figuie 1.)(uailich-Nillei et al,
2uu6). This action was veiy effective, iesulting in an inciease in numbeis anu a
ueciease in hunting piouuctivity (uailich-Nillei et al, 2uu6). Bowevei, soon aftei
this it was founu that they hau begun to exceeu K- being theii caiiy capacity
limit, with uensity uepenuent mechanisms also pieventing fuithei giowth (Fay
et al, 1989). Walius numbeis then iemaineu stable until othei factois kickeu in.

Even though haivesting limits have been intiouuceu, it is unceitain if they aie
actually being put into place anu obeyeu by people who usually hunt them. Low-
quality assessment pioceuuies affect infoimation obtaineu as it usually oveisees
the amount of haivesting being conuucteu, with inaccuiate anu unieliable
infoimation being obtaineu, pieventing knowleuge as to whethei hunteis aie
ovei catching oi not (NANNC0, 2uuS). 0bseivations usually assist with this
issue as they iesult in aieas being caught out in the act aftei oiganisations like
NANNC0 (Noith Atlantic Naiine Nammal Commission 0iganisation) witness
people oveiexploiting the alloweu numbei of catches anu tell the iesponsible
uoveinment to take action (NANNC0, 199S). This was peiceiveu in uieenlanu
aftei NANNC0 aiticulateu concein that stocks West of uieenlanu weie not
abiuing by catching limits (NANNC0, 199S). NANNC0 was successful in theii
allegation, iesulting in uieenlanu implementing a numbei of new laws stating:
that only people with a valiu piofessional hunting license weie able to hunt; a
one yeai hunting banu to those South of 66 uegiees Noith; confinements on
moues of tianspoit iegaiuing walius hunting to uog sleus anu small vessels; anu
foimulating an allowance foi walius piouucts to only be solu in uiiect sales in
open maikets oi foi peisonal use only (NANNC0, 1999).

Population of walius motheiscalves

Figuie 1. Aveiage moving iate of Pacific walius motheiscalves othei five yeais
baseu on the haivest ietuins to St. Lawience Islanu between 196u-2u1u. NB:
199u anu 1991 uata is missing.

Although theie aie assumptions that human-walius inteiactions aie negative,
theie hasn't been enough baseline eviuence in oiuei to fully accept this
pieuiction. Baseline infoimation is impoitant as it along with cuiient uata can be
useu in oiuei to pieuict futuie scenaiios, incluuing the effects of climate change.
In oiuei to fully unueistanu walius population tienus, anu wheie they coulu be
heauing, this infoimation woulu be vital in oiuei to ensuie walius numbeis
inciease anu stay stable (Kass et al. 2u11). Along with this missing infoimation,
"ecological suipiises" aie also unable to be pieuicteu, being those that occui uue
to natuial cyclical changes, iathei than those uiiven by anthiopogenic foices
(Boak et al. 2uu8).

In conjunction with baseline infoimation a coiiect estimate of futuie walius
populations cannot be pieuicteu foi anothei ieason. This is uue to factois
suiiounuing the most fiequently useu sampling technique-aeiial suiveying,
incluuing: the use of uiffeient sampling methous, iiiegulai timing of suiveys, anu
an inability to covei all aieas wheie waliuses may have been piesent, anu also
uue to waliuses usually lying clumpeu up in a pile togethei making it haiu to
count them (Table 1) (Bills anu uilbeit, 1994). Also sea-uwelling waliuses at the
time of suiveillance aie also usually misseu, as they aie haiuei to be seen
(NANNC0, 2uuS). Anothei issue incluueu in this type of analysis is that theie is
an inaccuiate haivest statistic uue to the missing infoimation being the loss iates
(NANNC0, 2uuS). Loses aie those animals which aie shot but not ietiieveu with
loss iates of up to Su% being iecoiueu (Boin et al, 199S). Bowevei it is
commonly iepoiteu to be aiounu Su%, cieating a massive gap in the total walius
population. Although total population is moie ielevant anu neeueu when
ueteimining total population, othei factois like age anu sex uistiibution aie not
known, also being vital infoimation in iegaius to population tienus. If theie aie
moie of one sex than the othei then this coulu pievent iepiouuction anu if theie
is an oluei geneiation than youngei then the ueath of the oluei waliuses woulu
be the ueath of all geneiations to come (NANNC0, 2uuS). These factois all cause
unieliability amongst uata anu theiefoie cannot be useu in cieating coiiect
assumptions about futuie walius populations anu a viable population tienu
giaph.

Table 1. Estimateu populations of allegeu walius stocks (Boin et al, 2uuS).
NB: Quality iatings: u- uoou, F-Faii, P-Pooi. Stiuck anu lost animals not
incluueu.
Fiom the above table (table 1) the following assumptions can be maue: an
inciease in the stock numbeis within the Svalbaiu anu Fianz }osef Lanu (Boin et
al. 2uuS); Kaia Sea, Eastein uieenlanu have been iepoiteu to inciease in
numbeis howevei infoimation is limiteu (Boin et al, 2uuS). The othei stocks
have been saiu to be ueclining although it is also unknown as to theii actual state
(Boin et al, 2uuS).

Although theie aie many factois that aie uefinitely affecting walius populations
anu aie causing them to uecline, a coiiect estimation cannot be maue when
ueciuing if they aie incieasing oi uecieasing in numbei. This is entiiely uue to
not enough baseline infoimation being cieateu, anu the inability to cieate a
ieliable, accuiate sampling methou. Theiefoie the next step in walius
conseivation is to ensuie a ieliable methou is cieateu anu put into place to
ensuie immeuiate action is unueitaken. Alieauy action is being taken to ensuie
that waliuses aie placeu on the list of animals of concein. Countiies alieauy
involveu in this aie: piotecteu in the Noiwegian teiiitoiy- Svalbaiu, beginning in
19S2, with all othei aieas being piohibiteu (Boin et al. 199S); 1921 saw the
intiouuction of iegulations in Russian teiiitoiy iegaiuing haivesting; in 19S6
Soviet citizens weie piohibiteu fiom hunting the Atlantic walius, although the
native people weie still alloweu to hunt but unuei a iestiicteu numbei (Boin et
al, 199S); anu unuei appenuix III of the Convention on Inteinational Tiaue in
Enuangeieu Species of Fauna anu Floia (CITES) they weie listeu (NANNC0,
2uuS). Appenuix III incluues not necessaiily enuangeieu species but those
manageu by listeu countiy (in this case Canaua). It has been one hell of a
iolleicoastei iiue foi walius populations, but they have iecoveieu thiee times
alieauy, anu with conseivation effoits alieauy kicking in to help, we can be
assuieu that it we will not be saying gooubye to these gieat masses of blubbei
anytime soon.

Refeiences:

Boin, E. W; ujeitz, I; Reeves, R. R. 199S. "Population assessment of the Atlantic
walius (0uobenus iosmaius iosmaius L.)". !"#$% '"()#*+$,*,-,, ./00/(/($/#1 1S8.
1-1uu.

Boak, B. F; Estes, }. A; Balpein, B. S. }acob, 0; Linubeig, B. R; Lovvoin, }. 2uu8.
"0nueistanuing anu pieuicting ecological uynamics: aie majoi suipiises
inevitable.." 23"("451 89. 9S2-961.

Fay, F. B; Buins, }. }; Stikei, S. W; uunuy, }. S. 1994. "The stiuck-anu-lost factoi in
Alaskan walius haivests, 19S2-1972." 6#3,*31 47. S68-S7S.

Bacqueboiu, Louweiens. 2uu1. "Thiee Centuiies of Whaling anu Walius Bunting
in Svalbaiu anu its Impact on the Aictic Ecosystem"1 2+7*#"+8/+, )+0 9*$,"#5.
7(2). 169-18S.

Bills, S; uilbeit, }. R. 1994. "Betecting Pacific walius population tienus with aeiial
suiveys: a ieview". :*(0(*;/ !),*"+)( </$ ="+;/#/+3/. S9. 2u1-21u.

Bovelsiuu, u. K; NcKenna, N; Buntington, B. P. 2uu8. Naiine mammal haivests
anu othei inteiactions with humans. 23"("45 6>>(*/0. 18. S1SS-S147.

Kass, u. S; Shaw, R. F; Twe, T; Nacuonalu, B. 2u11. "Secuiing the futuie of the
natuial enviionment: using scenaiios to anticipate challenges to biouiveisity,
lanuscapes, anu public engagement with natuie." 6>>(*/0 23"("45. 48. 1S18-
1S26.

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th
2u1S.
http:www.uefenueis.oigwaliusthieats

NacCiacken, }ames u. 2u12. "Pacific Walius anu climate change: obseivations

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|NANNC0j Noith Atlantic Naiine Nammal Commission. 199S. "Repoit of the
thiiu meeting of the Scientific Committee". !6..=A 6++-)( </>"#, BCCD. 71-
127.

|NANNC0j Noith Atlantic Naiine Nammal Commission. 1999. "Repoit of the
eighth meeting of the Council". !6..=A 6++-)( </>"#, BCCE. 9-SS.

|NANNC0j Noith Atlantic Naiine Nammal Commission. 2uuS. "Repoit of the
twelfth meeting of the Council". !6..=A 6++-)( </>"#, FGGF. 11-112.
anu pieuictions." 23"("45 )+0 27"(-,*"+1 2(8): 2u72-2u9u.

0skin, Becky. 2u12. :)(#-$/$ H"#3/0 6$@"#/ )$ 6#,*3 I3/ J*$)>>/)#$. Live science.
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Rhett, Butlei. A. 2uu6. K("L)( :)#8*+4 ="-(0 J""8 ,@/ :)(#-$1 Nonga Bay. Apiil,
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th
0ctobei 2u1S.
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