Alaska’s endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales are under attack from a myriad of threats in the only place they call home. Within their federally designated critical habitat, NOAA is granting industry permits that directly impact this struggling beluga population’s ability to recover. From seismic activity from oil and gas exploration, increased underwater noise exposure from vessel traffic and the general industrialization of the Cook Inlet, pollution and contamination exposure, as well as the cumulative impact all these stressors have on their prey, these whales are under constant threat every day.
Pollution
Lack of Prey
Oil & Gas
Marine Vessel Activity
Pollution
The Cook Inlet is a region that has been impacted by pollution from various sources. This pollution has had a devastating impact on the environment, including the marine ecosystem that is home to the Cook Inlet beluga whale. Pollutants are from anthropogenic contaminants come can come from numerous sources such as discharge from wastewater treatment systems, accidental spills or discharge of oil from vessels and pipelines, gas releases, freshwater runoff from urban mining and agricultural areas, ballast water discharges, and other industrial activities. More emerging pollutants of concern are pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and viral and bacterial agents found in wastewater and biosolids. The potential for short and long-term toxic effects on belugas from these pollutants in marine environments is of concern. Effects are suspected to include health effects such as immune system depression, greater risk of infection, and reproductive disorders that can lead to population-level impacts.
When belugas were listed as endangered in 2008, there was already concern about the industrial activities that discharge pollutants into Cook Inlet. Belugas are predominantly found in near-shore waters, with their habitat overlapping areas with high levels of human activity. As the regional human population grows, the number of pollutants entering Cook Inlet is likely to increase. Today, there is continued concern about Cook Inlets' municipal wastewater treatment system and what is deemed as the criteria for treating and discharging to the marine waters of Cook Inlet. The John M. Asplund WasteWater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is one of the few facilities in the nation that is operating as a primary treatment facility and discharges into Cook Inlet. The absence or failure of an appropriate wastewater treatment plan can lead to putting many individuals and susceptible species at risk.
Another source of pollution that may accumulate with contaminants from wastewater discharge includes offshore oil and gas development. There has been an increase in pollution from oil and gas operations in Cook Inlet and it seems to be one of the only coastal locations in the US where oil and gas companies are being permitted to dump “produced water” and drilling wastes from their operations back into the inlet with little to no treatment. Small populations, such as this beluga population more vulnerable to catastrophic events like oil spills than large populations. Having restrictions on seismic exploration or drilling activities, increased inspections of vessel and pipeline maintenance areas, planned pipelines or vessel traffic being rerouted of known beluga concentrations, and ensuring sufficient resources are on hand to rapidly mobilize a response should spills or leaks occur.
Recommendations
Upgrading the Asplund Wastewater treatment facility from a primary to a secondary treatment facility would make a significant difference in the total amount of pollutants released into Cook Inlet. NMFS needs to work with the EPA to develop discharge limits and ensure marine point-source discharges are consistent with the recovery of the cook-inlet beluga whales. Mitigation will be effective if the efforts are developed collaboratively and can be used to help minimize runoff and stormwater pollution and reduce the incidence of toxic spills into Cook Inlet.Pollution had been identified as a threat of low concern in the NMFS’ Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Recovery Plan in 2016, and as a result, no recovery actions have been identified to address the threat, and no new evidence regarding the necessary steps needed to reduce the amount of pollution entering beluga habitat since.
EIA believes a threat like this should not be considered independently. The cumulative effects from multiple stressors are the most credible explanation that is preventing recovery for Cook Inlet Belugas. Pollution alone as a threat to beluga whales may be considered a low concern but experienced alongside a myriad of other human-caused threats like Oil and Gas activities, increased marine vessel activity in the area, and the lack of prey availability can be considered to be death by a thousand cuts.
Lack of Prey
The Cook Inlet Beluga population has been in decline in recent years due to various factors, including the lack of prey in their habitat. Reduction in the abundance, seasonality, quality, and availability of Cook Inlet Beluga prey species was identified as a threat of high concern in NMFS’ 2016 Cook Inlet Beluga’s recovery plan and is continuing to significantly impact beluga whale health and recovery. Without enough prey, Cook Inlet belugas are not able to build up the necessary blubber reserves in the summer to get them through the winter, and can lower their reproductive success. Salmon and Euclachon make up a significant portion of the whale's diet. Throughout spring and summer months, these whales are dependent on these species, and negative changes to prey's health or habitat may reduce their availability and distribution, which will in turn present foraging challenges for beluga if their usual prey is not found in their usual habitats.
Any threats that Belugas face in their environment is safe to say their prey is experiencing them too. High marine vessel traffic areas do not only influence prey movement by driving prey away but bring increased levels of underwater noise which can disturb the behavior of species like eulachon and salmon, altering their survival and thus reducing CIBW foraging efficiency. The decline in the availability of these species in their feeding habitat is taking a toll on their energetics; meaning beluga whales are struggling to have enough energy to find enough food; having to look longer and farther for prey.
Another reason for the decline in these important prey species is habitat degradation. Wastewater treatment, gas, and oil spills, the construction of dams, and other impermeable structures such as nearby buildings and roads that come with urbanization increase the risk of hazardous substances entering the water system. Marine vessel traffic within Cook Inlet brings further pollution with engine fluid leaks polluting and degrading critical prey habitat. Belugas may increase their exposure to environmental contaminants through the ingestion of contaminated prey in the vicinity of high human activity areas. The consumption of contaminated prey is not quality prey and the ingestion of poor-quality prey is resulting in whales becoming malnourished and weakened, making them more vulnerable to predation and disease.
Recommendations
The Cook Inlet Beluga Whale population continues to struggle. The lack of prey has made it difficult for them to recover, and the population continues to decline. To address this issue, it is essential to implement measures that protect and restore the habitat of salmon, eulachon, and other prey species. If action is not taken soon, the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale population could face extinction.A recent study found that Cook Inlet Beluga’s reproductive success is tied to the salmon abundance in the Deska River. It noted that if the Salmon from Deshka River increases by just a minimum of 20%, the current decline of Cook Inlet Beluga Whales would be reversed. If the salmon abundance doubled, recovery of belugas could occur regardless of impacts from other threats. This underscores the importance of focusing efforts on improving prey quality and availability in order to promote beluga growth and survival.
EIA recommends further studies that bring a better understanding between Cook Inlet Beluga whales and their prey. Sources of human-induced impacts need to include environmental assessments before, during, and after any activity with an emphasis on the effects of multiple stressors facing belugas and their prey.
Oil & Gas Development
Oil and gas exploration is a large sector of activity throughout Cook Inlet. Seismic survey programs, exploration drilling, various pipeline extension projects, and other oil and gas activities can last for decades with multiple activities occurring simultaneously. These activities produce an immense amount of harmful underwater noise and can drastically increase background noise levels within beluga whale critical habitat. This intense sound exposure not only increases baseline stress levels but can disrupt basic life functions like reproduction, foraging, navigation, and communication. Other significant sources of harmful underwater noise result from the increased “industrialization” of Upper Cook Inlet from Port of Alaska expansion and other coastal development activities such as channel dredging and pile-driving.
In addition to underwater noise, oil and gas development in the Inlet poses a risk of pollution. The transportation and storage of oil and gas in the inlet increase the risk of oil spills. These spills can occur due to accidents or leaks and can have devastating effects on the environment. Contaminants from leaks and spills can cause acute and chronic effects on these animals. These substances move up the food chain and accumulate in top predators such as belugas and are stored in their blubber. Direct contact can affect beluga whales' skin and eyes, and can also poison them if they ingest contaminated water or prey.
EIA is highly concerned about the impact of cumulative threats from human activities Cook Inlet belugas encounter daily. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the federal agency responsible for protecting these charismatic animals and has the ability to reduce these threats within beluga critical habitat. Unfortunately, NOAA routinely “rubber stamps” permits called Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHAs) that legally allow the industry to operate multiple concurrent projects within federally designated habitat that increases beluga whale stress levels and negatively impacts overall health.
Recommendations
NOAA continues to authorize IHAs on an individual basis without comprehensively assessing how such authorizations contribute cumulatively to increasing stress levels within the population, which is reducing the likelihood of recovery. It is imperative that NOAA institute an IHA cap of zero until a full comprehensive programmatic ESA consultation can occur to more effectively determine the cumulative threats that this already vulnerable population is experiencing.
Increased Marine Vessel Activity
Cook Inlet, Alaska experiences a very high volume of marine vessel traffic and as industrialization in this area continues, the beluga's way of life is being compromised and it is having a population-level impact (i.e., decreased reproduction and survival). An increased number of vessels within this federally designated critical habitat can potentially affect the distribution, migration, and essential behaviors of Cook Inlet belugas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) acknowledges there is a lack of understanding and additional information is needed to assess the impact of belugas from vessel traffic and coastal development. Waiting to take action until the need for more studies is met only delays recovery. Further research on CIBW is essential but if there is a disconnect with management It won’t lead to preventative action to promote recovery.
Marine vessels, particularly large ships, and boats, generate significant amounts of underwater noise that can interfere with the beluga whales' communication and navigation abilities. This in turn causes chronic stress. This stress can weaken beluga immune systems, decrease their reproductive success, and increase their susceptibility to diseases.
Further industrialization and development along the coast are occurring and contributing to the increase in marine vessel activity in Cook Inlet. Beluga whales are primarily found in close proximity to where coastline development is occurring along Cook Inlet. Belugas are essentially in competition for the use of the nearshore habitats they are found in. Further industrialization and development along the coast of Cook Inlet lead to additional loss of habitat. Range reduction can occur through the avoidance of areas with vessel traffic, bridges, noise, and other permanent structures. This alteration of habitat increases the vulnerability of a population and displaces belugas from important areas.
In Cook Inlet, recreational, commercial ships, and small vessels regularly transit near belugas, and although most times unintentionally there are many occasions where small vessels have been seen passing through or over groups of belugas without realizing they were there. This proximity can increase the risk of entanglement and vessel strikes. A recent analysis in 2021 found that activities identified in the CIBW recovery plan like entanglement and vessel strikes are in fact being experienced by belugas in cook inlet. Within the Inlet, vessels have no restrictions on speed limits or restrictions in what areas where they operate. There is clear evidence that reduced vessel speed decreases the probability of vessel collision with large whales such as the North Atlantic Right Whale. EIA is specifically concerned with smaller boats that travel at high speeds and change direction frequently, presenting a great threat to belugas.
