MMS conducted aerial surveys from 1987-2007 aimed at evaluating the distribution and habitat use of bowhead whales in the Beaufort Sea during the fall migration period. Similar MMS-supported surveys have been conducted during the bowhead migration in the Beaufort Sea & Chukchi Sea since 1979. Beginning in 2007, the surveys are being conducted with MMS support by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Marine Mammal Laboratory through an interagency agreement. Data from all of these surveys are combined in a single database referred to as the BWASP database. In general, these data are intended to be used to: 1) evaluate inter-year differences in the area used by the whales during migration; 2) monitor trends in the distribution, relative abundance, habitat, and behavior (especially feeding) of endangered whales in arctic waters; 3) provide real-time data to MMS and NMFS on the general progress of the fall migration of bowhead whales across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea for use in protection of this species; and 4) provide an objective area-wide context for management interpretation of bowhead migrations and site-specific study results. Observations are also taken on other marine mammals and included in the database. Due to high interest in our bowhead survey data, MMS is providing preliminary data from the ongoing BWASP surveys listed below. The files below are maps and tabular summaries from individual survey flights completed during 2007. |
