Aspects of Inupiat Subsistence Whaling at Cross Island, Alaska & Whaler Perceptions of Industry Influences on Whaling-2006 Open Water Meeting, 10 April 2007, Anchorage Michael Galginaitis, Applied Sociocultural Research 907-272-6811 msgalginaitis@alaska.net 2001 Aqarguin crew, 9/04/06 2002 Please do not use or distribute photos without the permission of the Nuiqsut Whaling Captains Association and Michael Galginaitis
Acknowledgments Residents of Nuiqsut, especially the whalers and the Kittick (2001), Ahkiviana (2002, 2005, 2006), Oyagak (2003), and Napageak (2004) crews for serving as hosts Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC) Minerals Management Service for primary sponsorship and overall oversight (2001-2006, ANIMIDA and canimida) BP provided supplemental funding for 2005 and 2006 related to their Northstar marine mammal and acoustic monitoring program Industry for help with logistics (2002-2006)
So Why Am I Here NSB Scientific Advisory Committee recommended that local and traditional knowledge of Nuiqsut whalers be incorporated into reports concerning BP s Northstar marine mammal and acoustic monitoring program (2005 first year) Focus on 4 topics or interests general offshore distribution of whales observed feeding behavior of whales observed skittish behavior of whales number of non-whaling vessels observed, whale behaviors, and effects on whaling Summary in a section of the Northstar annual report
Organization of the Presentation 1) Geographical context and introduction to Nuiqsut whaling (5 slides) 2) What does one really need to know about the 2006 Cross Island whaling season? (8 slides) 3) Optional - More of the 2006 Cross Island whaling season in pictures (9 slides) 4) If there are questions or interest - Comparison of the 2006 Cross Island whaling season with 2001-2005 (3 very busy slides)
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 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
Number of Whales Nuiqsut Whales Struck, 1973-2006 5 4 3 2 1 0 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Quota Landed Struck & Lost 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Aerial Photo of Cross Island -- from Carnahan 1979 (NSB)
Cross Island Cabins, 2006 (from top of Oyagak cabin)
Aqargiun Boat and Crew Nukapigak Boats 20 Fiberglass, 225 HP Yamaha 18 Aluminum, 115 HP Yamaha 18 Aluminum, 125 HP Mercury 20 Fiberglass, 200 HP Yamaha Ahkiviana Boats 18 Aluminum, 75 HP Yamaha 20 Fiberglass, 150 HP Yamaha Oyagak Boats 18 Fiberglass, 80 HP Yamaha 18 Aluminum, 70 HP Yamaha
Nukapigak Whale and Crew Ahkiviana Whale and Crew 9/13/06, 8:20 AM-42 6 9/14/06, 2:05 PM-28 10 Aqargiun Whale and Crew Oyagak Whale and Crew 9/15/06, 5:06 PM-35 1 9/18/06, 11:29 AM-34 0
Summary, 2006 Cross Island Whaling Season Weather and ice conditions greatly affect fall subsistence whaling as well as other maritime activities. Ice and weather conditions that limit these activities increase the likelihood that they could interfere with the other. In 2006, Nuiqsut whalers were able to find whales and landed their quota of four, once ice conditions moderated.
ICE CONDITIONS 9/04/2006
Cross Island Population and Scouting Activity, 2006 Scouting Activity 9/04-9/07, 9/10-9/11, 9/13-15, and 9/18
Cross Island GPS Whaling Tracks 2006 Season, All Tracks by Day Landmarks 2006 Whale Sightings/Events 2006 Whale Strike (landed) 2001 Whale Strike (landed) 2002-2005 Whale Strike Applied Sociocultural Research February 2007 09/04/06 09/05/06 09/06/07 09/07/06 09/10/06 09/11/06 09/13/06 09/14/06 09/15/06 09/18/06 Bodfish Is Beechey Pt Northstar Reindeer Is Cross Island West Dock Narwhal Is Endicott Liberty Pole Is Prudhoe Bay Foggy Is 0 10 mi Tigvariak Is Bullen Pt Flaxman Is
Bodfish Is Beechey Pt Northstar Reindeer Is Cross Island West Dock Narwhal Is Endicott Liberty Prudhoe Bay CROSS ISLAND GPS TRACKS 2001-2006, by Year Applied Sociocultural Reseach February 2007 0 10 mi Landmarks 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Pole Is Foggy Is Tigvariak Is Bullen Pt Flaxman Is
Summary of the Four Topical Interests Whales were perhaps as far north of Cross Island as they had been in 2001 (and thus farther than whales in 2002-2004). Whalers attributed this as most likely due to ice conditions. No observed feeding behavior was reported by the whalers. Only 2 of 4 whale stomachs were examined (no samples). One was very full, while the other was nearly empty. Skittish whale behavior was reported, but only for a minority of whales observed and it could not be associated with any specific factors or conditions. Non-whaling vessels were observed on most, and perhaps all, days when whalers were confined within the barrier islands. None were observed once the whalers could reach open water beyond the barrier islands. While whalers were concerned about the potential for such vessels adversely affecting the hunt, they did not report specific incidents of disruption for the 2006 season.
END HERE One additional slide was shown in response to questions, with some comparative information for all MMS study years of 2001-2006. A similar table for 2001-2005 appears in the LGL UCR, and the 2006 information is still draft in terms of the MMS report (currently undergoing MMS review). Thus the following table should be considered to be in DRAFT form.
Summary Scouting Trip Statistics, Cross Island Whaling, 2001-2006 (DRAFT) Selected Measures of Cross Island Whaling, 2001-2006 Metric Season Measure Type 2001 2002 2003 2004 7 2005 2006 Whales Taken/Whales Struck and Lost count 3/0 4/1 4/0 3/0 1/0 4/0 Active Crews on Cross Island (maximum) count 4 3 4 4 5 4 Scouting Boats on Cross Island (maximum) count 7 9 10 8 8 7 Cross Island Population average 27.7 26.6 20.4 18.9 29.8 29.2 Length of Season 1 count 24 23 19 30 27 21 Weather Days count 8-9 4 8 10 11-15 4 # days scouting 2 count 12 8 15 8 7 12 9 8 9 10 # days whales seen 3 count 9 9 7 6 7 8 # boat days 4 count 57 65 33 41 33 45 Boats scouting/day average 4.8 4.3 4.7 3.4 4.1 4.5 Length of trip (miles) average 85.6 65.1 36.4 47.8 83.0 61.0 Duration of trip (hours:minutes) average 9:55 8:04 4:28 7:24 9:44 8:12 Furthest point from Cross Island (miles) average 23.9 19.8 11.5 12.5 19.3 22.4 Strike distance from Cross Island (miles) average 19.5 13.4 9.3 9.7 25.9 17.0 Strike Direction from Cross Island degrees 5 average 64 67 56 36 82 59 Total Effort (Boat-Hours) 6 sum 575.3 532.5 156.4 299.4 331.0 418.2 1 Number of days with at least one crew on Cross Island, includes day of arrival at and departure from Cross Island. 2 Number of days when at least one boat went out scouting for whales 3 Number of days when at least one crew saw whales while scouting from a boat. Blows were seen from Cross Island on a few nonscouting days, but are not included in these totals. 4 Each boat scouting for whales on any given day counts as one boat day regardless of the duration of the trip or if whales are seen or not. Thus if 2 boats scout on one day and 4 boats scout on the next, the total for the two days would be 6 boat days. 5 Due north is 0 degrees, due east is 90 degrees 6 Yearly total equals aggregate sum of duration of all scouting trips by all boats 7 One crew went to Cross Island well before other crews, so total season measures may be somewhat misleading. See 2004 Annual Report. 8 On one of these days, only one crew with one boat went scouting. 9 On two of these days, only one crew with one boat went scouting. On another day in 2005, this same boat went out sealing (no whale gear).