OCS STUDY MMS 2005-035 

Final Report 

Distribution and Movements of Beluga Whales from the Eastern 

Chukchi Sea Stock During Summer and Early Autumn 

by 

Robert S. Suydam1

Lloyd F. Lowry2

Kathryn J. Frost2

1

North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management 

Box 69 

Barrow, AK 99723 

email: robert.suydam@north-slope.org 

2

Institute of Marine Science 

School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences 

University of Alaska Fairbanks 

Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220 

(present mailing address: 1550 Coyote Trail, Fairbanks, AK 99701) 

July 2005
Contact information 

e-mail: carter@sfos.uaf.edu 

 phone: 907.474.1811 

 fax: 907.474.1188 

 postal: Coastal Marine Institute 

 School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences 

 University of Alaska Fairbanks 

 Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220
i 

PROJECT ORGANIZATION 

This report includes data from two efforts to satellite tag beluga whales. The first was 

conducted by the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee (ABWC) through NOAA grant 

NA67FX0197, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), the National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS), the North Slope Borough (NSB), and the Village of Point Lay. This 

was the first time belugas in Alaska were instrumented with satellite tags. Ten belugas were 

tagged in 1998–1999. The second took place in 2000–2002. It was initiated by the ABWC and 

further supported by Minerals Management Service (MMS) through the Coastal Marine Institute. 

Other cooperators included NMFS, ADF&G, the NSB, the Village of Point Lay, and Alaska 

Marine Ecosystems Research. 

Minerals Management Service through the Coastal Marine Institute provided funding to 

purchase 9 satellite tags, data acquisition from Service Argos and some travel funds. The NSB 

provided funds for the salary for one of the principal investigators, Robert Suydam, as well as 

funding for field travel and logistics support. ADF&G provided salaries for principal 

investigators Kathy Frost and Lloyd Lowry while they were employed by ADF&G and for Lori 

Quakenbush to participate in field work, as well as additional support for travel, supplies and 

data acquisition. The ABWC contributed funds for travel, the purchase of satellite transmitters, 

logistics support, and tagging supplies. Alaska Marine Ecosystems Research contributed the 

salaries for Kathy Frost and Lloyd Lowry for all work conducted after December 2000. The 

NMFS National Marine Mammal Laboratory assisted in fieldwork and with permitting. 

The NSB and ADF&G had joint responsibility for project management. The NSB 

Department of Wildlife Management arranged logistics, coordinated fieldwork and acted as a 

liaison with the Village of Point Lay. ADF&G assisted in project planning, fieldwork and data 

analysis. Principal investigator Robert Suydam is a PhD candidate at the University of 

Washington and will include data from this study as part of his doctoral thesis. The University 

of Alaska Fairbanks coordinated accounting and reporting aspects of this study. All cooperators 

had input into project design, and have access to, and will be able to make use of, all data 

collected. 

Robert Suydam (NSB Department of Wildlife Management, PhD student at University of 

Washington) was one of the Principal Investigators for this project. He supervised and 

coordinated all field aspects of this project, acted as the primary liaison with the Village of Point 

Lay and Point Lay hunters, and participated in data analysis and was primarily responsible for 

report preparation and presentation of results at conferences and meetings. 

Kathryn J. Frost (ADF&G, now retired and affiliated with University of Alaska 

Fairbanks) was one of the Principal Investigators for this project. She participated in all aspects 

of the study including fieldwork, data acquisition and analysis and report preparation. 

Lloyd F. Lowry (ADF&G, now retired and affiliated with University of Alaska 

Fairbanks) was one of the Principal Investigators for this project. He participated in the study 

design, mapping, analysis and interpretation of data and report writing. 
ii 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PROJECT ORGANIZATION ........................................................................................................................ i 

LIST OF TABLES.......................................................................................................................................... ii 

LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................ ii 

ABSTRACT.................................................................................................................................................... 1 

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................... 2 

OBJECTIVES AND HYPOTHESES............................................................................................................. 3 

METHODS ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 

Capturing and Tagging of Whales.............................................................................................................. 4 

Satellite Tag Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 5 

RESULTS ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 

Capture and Tagging .................................................................................................................................. 6 

Movement Patterns..................................................................................................................................... 6 

Distribution Relative to Bathymetry and Ice Cover ................................................................................... 8 

Distribution Relative to the Beaufort Sea Outer Continental Shelf Lease Areas ....................................... 8 

DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................................. 8 

Tag attachments and longevity ................................................................................................................... 8 

Movements and distribution ....................................................................................................................... 9 

Gender- and age-related differences in movements ................................................................................... 11 

Movements in relation to ice and bathymetry ............................................................................................ 12 

Use of the Beaufort Sea Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale Area ............................................................ 13 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................................. 14 

STUDY PRODUCTS ..................................................................................................................................... 15 

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................... 16 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1. Beluga whales instrumented with tags at Point Lay, Alaska in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002 ........ 34 

Table 2. Number of average daily locations of satellite tagged belugas within the Beaufort Sea 

 OCS lease sale area, by longitude................................................................................................... 35

LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1. Configurations of satellite data recorders deployed on beluga whales in the eastern 

 Chukchi Sea in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002.................................................................................. 36 
Figure 2. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 8 July–10 October 1998 ........ 37 

Figure 3. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 30 June–24 September 

 1999............................................................................................................................................... 38 

Figure 4. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 3 July–5 December 2001....... 39 

Figure 5. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 7 July–29 September 

 2002 ............................................................................................................................................... 40 

Figure 6. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska in June and July...................... 41 

Figure 7. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska in August ................................ 42 

Figure 8. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska in September........................... 43 

Figure 9. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska in October–December ........... 44 

Figure 10. Locations of female belugas satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, by age class ......................... 45 

Figure 11. Locations of male belugas satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, by age class ............................ 46 

Figure 12. Locations of all belugas satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 1998–2002, in relation to 

 Beaufort Sea OSC lease sale areas ............................................................................................... 47 

Figure 13. Scars on the dorsum of a beluga at a transmitter attachment site ................................................. 48
1 

ABSTRACT 

At least five stocks of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) occur in Alaska. One of 

these stocks, the eastern Chukchi Sea stock, is most commonly seen in coastal waters near 

Kasegaluk Lagoon in northwestern Alaska during June and July. Despite protection under the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act and their importance to many Alaska Native hunters for 

subsistence, relatively little is known about the movements and seasonal distribution of these 

whales during the rest of the year. During 1998–2002 we instrumented 23 belugas with satellitelinked depth recorders (SDRs), including 12 adult males, 5 immature males, 2 adult females and 

4 immature females. SDRs provided location information for an average of 67 (range 5–154) 

days. Saddle mount tags averaged 52 days, spider mounts 68 days and side mounts 81 days, 

although there was no statistical difference in longevity among attachment types. Animals 

moved north and east into the northern Chukchi and western Beaufort Sea after capture. During 

July–September, movement patterns differed by age and/or sex. All belugas that moved north of 

75o

N in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean were males. Adult males tended to use deeper water 

and to remain there for most of the summer. Five of nine adult males tagged from all-male 

groups early in their northward migration traveled through 90% pack ice cover to reach 79oN–

80o

N by late July/early August. Adult males captured from groups that included adult females 

also moved into deep water but apparently for shorter periods of time. In all years, adult and 

immature females remained at or near the shelf break throughout summer and early fall. 

Immature males moved farther north than immature females, but not as far north as adult males 

based on our small sample size. Belugas of all ages and both sexes were most often found in 

water deeper than 200m along and beyond the continental shelf break. They rarely used the 

inshore waters within the Outer Continental Shelf lease sale area of the Beaufort Sea. Heavy ice 

apparently did not inhibit the movements of large adult males in summer since they traveled 

through and were often located in >90% ice cover. Only three tagged belugas transmitted data 

after October. Those animals migrated south through the Bering Strait into the northern Bering 

Sea north of Saint Lawrence Island. 

 

Key words: beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas, Arctic Ocean, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, 

movements, oil and gas development, satellite telemetry 
INTRODUCTION 

Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) occur throughout northern and western Alaska 

and are an important subsistence resource for Alaska Natives; approximately 300 belugas are 

harvested annually. Whales from northern and western Alaska may migrate through Alaskan, 

Russian and Canadian waters and are a subject of increasing interest in international cooperative 

management. Many belugas may migrate through or occur in offshore oil and gas leasing areas 

in Alaska and Canada. Concerns about potential effects of offshore oil and gas exploration and 

development on beluga whales exist at local, national, and international levels. Studies funded by 

the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program (OCSEAP) and the Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) in the early 1980s provided information about beluga reproduction 

(Burns and Seaman 1986), food habits (Seaman et al., 1982), and distribution and abundance in 

summer (Frost and Lowry, 1990). More recently studies conducted by the Alaska Beluga Whale 

Committee (ABWC), the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), the National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the North Slope Borough (NSB) have provided information about 

harvest levels, stock identity and genetic characteristics (O’Corry-Crowe et al., 1997, 2002), 

abundance in summering areas (Lowry and Frost 1998, Lowry et al., 1999 a,b), and satellite 

tracking (Suydam et al., 2001). Despite the importance of belugas as a subsistence resource and 

their protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, late summer distribution and fall 

migration patterns are poorly known, wintering areas are effectively unknown, and areas that are 

particularly important for feeding have not been identified. 

In Alaska, there are at least five stocks of beluga whales. These stocks were initially 

identified based on traditional summering areas (Frost and Lowry, 1990) and later confirmed 

with genetic analysis (O’Corry-Crowe et al., 1997, 2002). Two of these stocks, the eastern 

Beaufort Sea and the eastern Chukchi Sea stocks, occur seasonally in the Beaufort Sea. The 

Beaufort Sea stock migrates north and east along the spring lead in April and May from the 

Bering Sea to the eastern Beaufort Sea and returns west through the Beaufort Sea in September 

and October (Richard et al., 2001b). Beluga whales of the eastern Chukchi Sea stock are most 

common in Kotzebue Sound and near Kasegaluk Lagoon in early summer (Frost and Lowry, 

1990). Whales apparently have been using the Kasegaluk Lagoon region during summer for 

many years. Warren Neakok described hunting them there in about 1930 (Neakok et al., 1985). 

In recent years, the occurrence of belugas at Kasegaluk Lagoon has been quite predictable, and 

they usually arrive in late June or early July (Frost and Lowry, 1990; Huntington et al., 1999). 

The latest sightings of belugas near the lagoon usually occur in mid- to late July (Frost and 

Lowry, 1990; Huntington et al., 1999) and the distribution and movements of the whales after 

that time were completely unknown prior to satellite tracking (this study; Suydam et al., 2001). 

Before satellite tracking, we suspected that they moved north and spent the summer along the 

edge of the pack ice in the Chukchi or western Beaufort seas. 

Understanding movements, distribution and behavior of wildlife, especially marine 

mammals, has been greatly enhanced through the use of technology. Frost et al. (1985) first used 

telemetry to study the movements and behavior of belugas. They attached VHF radios to the 

dorsal ridges of two belugas in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and tracked their movements for about two 

weeks. Subsequently, similar techniques have been used to attach satellite-linked transmitters to 

belugas in many areas of the Arctic (Martin et al., 1993; Smith and Martin, 1994; Richard et al., 
1997, 1998a,b, 2001a,b; Lydersen et al., 2001, Suydam et al., 2001). Satellite-linked transmitters 

have allowed researchers to track belugas over large areas and long periods of time. More 

belugas have been instrumented with satellite transmitters than any other species of cetacean 

(Reeves and St. Aubin, 2001). Satellite tagging offers a proven, cost-effective and 

technologically sound approach to obtaining information on beluga distribution and movements. 

 An annual subsistence drive hunt for belugas at Point Lay, Alaska, offers a good 

opportunity to capture and tag belugas from the eastern Chukchi Sea stock. Residents of Point 

Lay, adjacent to Kasegaluk Lagoon, drive belugas into the lagoon to a traditional hunting 

location. This situation provides opportunities to capture belugas that remain alive in the lagoon 

after the hunt. The ABWC initiated a satellite tracking study at Point Lay and successfully 

tracked a total of nine adult males and one immature female in 1998 (Suydam et al., 2001) and 

1999. The Minerals Management Service (MMS), through the Coastal Marine Institute provided 

additional support for tagging more belugas, especially females and immature males, in 

subsequent years. 

This study increases our knowledge of the movements and behavior of beluga whales 

from the eastern Chukchi Sea stock. Understanding the distribution and timing of movements of 

these belugas will be important for planning future lease sales in the Beaufort Sea and designing 

possible mitigation measures. It will support pre-lease information needs on marine mammal 

species that are potentially affected by industrial activities and will develop information that 

addresses public concerns about the general lack of knowledge about beluga whale distribution 

and ecology. It is especially important to gather this information because of the prominence of 

beluga whales in Alaskan Native culture and subsistence practices. In this paper, we present 

results from the project initiated by the ABWC, and further supported by MMS, to live-capture 

and attach satellite-linked depth recorders (SDRs) to belugas. We worked cooperatively with 

people from the village of Point Lay from 1996 to 2002 to capture and tag belugas in Kasegaluk 

Lagoon. 

OBJECTIVES AND HYPOTHESES 

Our primary objective was to track movements of belugas of the eastern Chukchi Sea 

stock once they leave the area of Kasegaluk Lagoon. In this report, we have summarized and 

compared data from 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002. 

Our specific hypotheses were: 

• Belugas from the eastern Chukchi Sea population summer in the Beaufort Sea. 

• Belugas from the eastern Chukchi Sea population use the near shore Beaufort Sea oil and 

gas lease areas during summer and autumn. 

• Belugas from the eastern Chukchi Sea stock demonstrate age and/or gender related 

differences in movements and habitat use. 
METHODS 

Capturing and Tagging of Whales 

We attempted to capture belugas beginning in 1996 but were unable to do so in that year, 

or in 1997 or 2000. In 1996, few belugas were available for capture after the harvest. Ice 

conditions, weather and/or few animals prevented tagging in 1997 and 2000. We were 

successful at capturing and tagging whales in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002. In each of those years 

we captured animals during or up to five or six days after the annual subsistence drive hunt. The 

hunters of Point Lay landed three whales in 1997, 48 in 1998, 33 in 1999, none in 2000, 33 in 

2001 and 45 in 2002. In each of these years 10 to 40 belugas remained alive in the lagoon after 

the hunt. Our capture efforts focused on those remaining animals. 

Orr et al. (2001) described three techniques for capturing belugas. We used two of those 

and one additional technique. We captured one animal using the hoop net technique during the 

drive hunt in 1998. With this technique, a person jumps from a moving boat and puts a hoop net 

over a beluga’s head as it comes to the surface. The second technique was described by Orr et 

al. (2001) as an anchored “gill net”. They monitored the net while waiting for a beluga to swim 

into it and become entangled. We modified this second technique slightly. We set an 

unanchored net (~50 m long, 4 m deep, and with 37.5 cm stretched mesh) across a channel of the 

lagoon and drove one or two belugas at a time into the net. The third technique we used was to 

drive belugas into very shallow water, using small boats (usually inflatable) with outboard 

motors, until the whales could no longer maneuver easily. A person would jump into the water, 

wade to the whale and place a hoop net over the whale’s head. This technique was especially 

successful in Kasegaluk Lagoon where there is a considerable amount of shallow water. The last 

technique also minimized danger to the whale and people by eliminating long nets or leaping out 

of moving boats. In 1999 we also tagged four whales that had become stranded in shallow water 

during the drive hunt. 

After belugas were caught we handled them as described by Orr et al. (2001). We 

secured whales with a hoop net over their head and flippers. A padded rope was placed around 

the caudal peduncle and the beluga was slowly pulled to shore. The animals were held in water 

shallow enough that their dorsum was exposed. They were released immediately after the 

transmitters were attached. Most belugas that we captured remained in the channels of 

Kasegaluk Lagoon for 2–5 days after they were tagged with the exception of the one whale we 

captured with a hoop net. We guided that animal out of the lagoon shortly after tagging. In 

1999, we attempted to drive the belugas out of the lagoon but they remained in the deeper 

channels and would not cross over shallow areas until the water level in the lagoon rose and the 

belugas left of their own accord. 

We used 0.5-watt output satellite data recorders (SDRs) manufactured by Wildlife 

Computers (Redmond, WA). SDRs deployed in 1998 and 1999 (and one tag in 2001) were ST10 transmitters, while most of those used in 2001 and 2002 were ST-16 transmitters. In 2002, 

we also deployed one SPOT2 transmitter (location only). Most SDRs were glued to nylon 

belting in one of two configurations, saddle mount or side mount (Figure 1). We deployed nine 

saddle and 9 side mounted tags (Table 1). We also deployed five tags with spider mount 

configurations (Figure 1, Table 1). 
Each saddle mount weighed ~750 gm and measured 14.8 x 10.0 x 3.8 cm. Four C-cell 

lithium batteries powered the tags. The side mounts weighed ~300 gm and the spider mounts 

about 330 gm. Side, spider and SPOT tags measured approximately 13 x 5 x 3 cm and were 

powered with either two 2/3A batteries or 4 M1 (military grade) batteries. The saddle, side and 

spider tags used a pressure transducer to measure dive depth. All transmitters collected data 

continuously but a conductivity switch allowed transmissions only when the tag was out of the 

water. Transmitters were attached with three (for spider mounts) or four (for saddle and side 

mounts) nylon or dacron pins, approximately 0.33 m long. The pins were inserted through the 

skin and blubber of the dorsal ridge and fit through pre-cut holes in the belting of each 

transmitter or through adjustable loops of the spider mounts. Nylon or dacron washers and nuts 

were screwed onto the pins, which held the transmitter to the back of each animal. 

Satellite Tag Data Analysis 

 Data from the satellite-tagged belugas were obtained from Service ARGOS (see ARGOS, 

1988 and Fancy et al., 1988 for a detailed description of the ARGOS data collection and location 

system). Data included a location for the SDR if sufficient signals were received during a 

satellite pass, or dive and battery strength data if only one uplink occurred. Service ARGOS 

assigns a location quality code to each location record that it provides. In our analysis we used 

all location qualities except class "Z", which consists of those that do not pass ARGOS 

plausibility tests. ARGOS predicts that locations of quality code 3 are within 150 m of the actual 

location, code 2 are within 350 m, code 1 are within 1 km, and code 0 are >1 km (ARGOS, 

1988), although there is evidence that the locations may not be this accurate in some cases 

(Burns and Castellini, 1998; Goulet et al., 1999; Vincent et al., 2002). 

 We screened location records using a computer program that calculated the time, 

distance, and speed between sequential pairs of locations. The program identified pairs of 

records that indicated apparent speeds greater than 20 km/hour over periods longer than 10 

minutes. The identified records were inspected visually and the ones that appeared erroneous 

were deleted. The location records used in this paper include only those that remained after the 

screening process. This screening process was similar to that used by Lowry et al. (1998). 

 

 For analysis and presentation, dates and times reported by Service ARGOS were 

converted from Greenwich mean time to true local time (Alaska Standard Time) by subtracting 

11 hours. A computer program calculated the average daily position for each whale based on all 

records obtained during a 24-hour period, local time. 

 Data on sea ice coverage were obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration’s National Ice Center. Average daily positions for belugas and sea ice coverage 

maps were displayed and analyzed with the geographic information systems ArcInfo and 

ArcView. 
RESULTS 

Capture and Tagging 

We captured and tagged 23 belugas near Point Lay in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002 (Table 

1). In 1998 and 1999, the hunters drove belugas into the lagoon from among the first groups of 

animals to pass by Kasegaluk Lagoon. These early groups consisted almost entirely of males. In 

1998, Point Lay hunters drove belugas into Kasegaluk Lagoon on 26 June. All forty-eight 

hunted and also the five tagged whales were adult males. In 1999, whales were driven into the 

lagoon on 30 June. Twenty-eight of thirty-three hunted and four of five tagged animals were 

adult males. The hunts in 2001 and 2002 occurred later in the season and included many more 

females and young animals. In 2001, sixteen males and thirteen females were taken in the hunt 

on 3 July. We tagged five males (three adults and two immature) and three females (one adult 

and two immature). In 2002, twenty-seven males and eighteen females were taken in the hunt on 

7 July. We tagged three males (all immature) and two females (one adult and one immature). In 

total we tagged twelve adult males, five immature males, two adult females and four immature 

females. The sixteen male belugas ranged in length from 267 to 441 cm and the seven females 

from 266 to 368 cm (Table 1). 

 SDRs provided location information over periods ranging from 5 to 154 days. Two of 

the tags failed within the first week, another six transmitted for about six weeks and the 

remaining fifteen lasted about two months or longer. On average, tags transmitted data for 67 

days. Saddle mounts averaged 52 days, spider mounts 68 days and side mounts 81 days, 

although there was no significant difference among longevity of tag types (Kruskal-Wallis: 

χ

2

=1.86, p=0.39). One tag failed because a polar bear (Ursus maritimus) killed one of the 

belugas in 1999 while the whale was still in Kasegaluk Lagoon. We do not know why the other 

tags failed; however, we suspect most failed because the tag fell off, was rubbed off or the 

antennae broke when belugas rubbed against ice or the sea floor. In this report we discuss only 

those tags that operated for more than five days. 

Movement Patterns 

After capture and tagging in 1998, the animals moved northeast from Kasegaluk Lagoon 

paralleling the coast toward Point Barrow. There was some movement back toward the 

southwest but the overall movement was to the northeast. The three males with functioning tags 

after 15 days traveled due north of Barrow to about 75o

N and then moved to the northeast, 

apparently traveling together (Figure 2). They ceased their northward movement in early August 

just north of 80o

N 134oW and turned to the south after remaining near 80oN for five or six days. 

After turning south, they separated and used a large extent of the Beaufort Sea at least until the 

tags ceased sending signals, between late August and mid-October. 

In 1999, initial movements of the tagged whales were similar to 1998, they moved 

northeastward from Kasegaluk Lagoon to the area north of Point Barrow (Figure 3). The 

immature female (99-2) remained near the shelf break just north of Barrow (near Barrow 

Canyon) throughout the summer. One of the males (99-1) moved north and east of Point Barrow 

to approximately 77o

N 126oW, then turned south. The two remaining males (99-3 and 99-4) 

followed almost the exact same northern/northeastern route as was used in 1998. In 1999, the 
whales turned south at about 79o

N after remaining there for approximately four days. Again, the 

males used a vast amount of the Beaufort Sea during the late summer. 

Belugas tagged in 2001 also moved north and east after tagging, from Kasegaluk Lagoon 

to the area east of Point Barrow (Figure 4). Most of the whales spent July and August along the 

continental shelf break between Point Barrow and the Canadian border. In July, several animals 

(01-1, 01-3 and 01-4) moved north into deeper water, to between 73o

N and about 75oN, for 

excursions that lasted 5 to 6 days, but then returned to the shelf break. Two of those animals also 

moved east, one (01-4) as far northeast as 76o

N, 128oW in mid-September. Four tags transmitted 

data through October, later than in any other year of the study. Those four whales moved 

southwest from the Beaufort Sea into the Chukchi Sea. They moved a considerable distance to 

the west through the Chukchi Sea, into Russian waters, before returning to U.S. waters off 

Alaska. Three of the tags continued sending signals into November and early December. The 

belugas moved south through the eastern portion of Bering Strait. The last signals were received 

when the whales were in the Bering Sea north of St. Lawrence Island (Figure 4). 

In 2002, the initial movements of belugas differed from other years. Instead of moving 

northeast toward Point Barrow, the animals tended to move to the west before traveling north 

(Figure 5). In one case, an immature female (02-1), moved southwest along the coast before 

turning to the north. She then traveled approximately 900 km to the west before returning east to 

the shelf break north of Point Barrow. As in 2001, the animals tagged in 2002 tended to stay 

along the shelf break through the summer. One animal (02-4), in immature male, made an 

excursion to 76o

N that lasted for several days. 

Monthly movements were generally similar among years. In June and July, animals 

tended to move north and east from the Kasegaluk Lagoon area into the northern Chukchi Sea, 

western and northern Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean (Figure 6). In August, belugas used a large 

extent of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas and portions of the Arctic Ocean (Figure 7). Barrow 

Canyon (just northeast of Point Barrow) and the shelf break of the Beaufort Sea were used 

extensively. In September, Barrow Canyon and the Beaufort Sea shelf break were still used, as 

were portions of the eastern Beaufort Sea (Figure 8). In October and November, whales began 

their fall migration. They moved west and south through the western Beaufort Sea, the Chukchi 

Sea and south through the eastern portion of the Bering Strait (Figure 9). 

Summer movement patterns differed between sexes. Adult females tended to remain 

near the continental shelf break (Figure 10) while adult males tended to venture into the deep 

waters of the northern Beaufort Sea and the Arctic Ocean (Figure 11). This was especially true 

of the males that were tagged early in the summer in 1998 and 1999. The adult males moved 

into deep ice-covered waters and remained there for most of the summer. Adult males that were 

captured from groups that also included adult females also ventured into deep water but 

apparently for shorter periods of time and not to the same extent as males in 1998 and 1999. 

Immature females (Figure 10) and males (Figure 11) tended to remain in shallower waters, near 

the shelf break during the summer, although one female and three males occasionally ventured 

into deeper waters. One of these northern excursions occurred in late July but the other three 

occurred in mid- to late September, once the ice had retreated farther to the north. 
Distribution Relative to Bathymetry and Ice Cover 

Once belugas left the shallow Chukchi Sea, they rarely used the inshore waters of the 

Beaufort Sea (Figure 12). The shelf break and deep waters of the northern Beaufort Sea and the 

southern Arctic Ocean were used extensively by many of the tagged whales from July to 

September. Many of the whales spent a considerable amount of time near Barrow Canyon, 

approximately 50 km northeast of Point Barrow. They also spent much time along the 

continental shelf break, both east and west of Barrow Canyon. 

Beluga locations along the shelf break occurred in water depths of approximately 200 m 

and deeper. Whales also occurred frequently in the northern Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean 

during the summer where water depths were up to approximately 4000 m deep. 

 

Ice cover was greater than 90% for many of the beluga locations in late June and early 

July. For the whales that traveled into the northern Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean, ice cover 

was also frequently 90% or greater. The pack ice retreats to the north during the summer, 

typically reaching its farthest north retreat in August or early September. In 1998 and 2002, ice 

retreat was among the greatest ever observed, while 1999 was closer to average, and 2001 was a 

more severe year. Figures 2 to 5 show ice concentrations in mid-July and early September along 

with beluga locations throughout the summer in each year. It is unknown how the extent of ice 

retreat in August and September affected beluga movements; however, movements in June and 

July did not seem to be limited by ice, as ice covered most of the areas of the Beaufort Sea and 

northern Chukchi Sea that were used by tagged belugas. 

Distribution Relative to the Beaufort Sea Outer Continental Shelf Lease Areas 

Use of the lease areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the Beaufort Sea by the 

belugas that we tagged was confined to the western and northern areas (Figure 13). Only 159 

(12.4%) of 1,282 average daily locations were within the OCS lease area (Table 2). Of the 

locations within the lease area, only 11 (0.9% of the total) were east of 150o

W. Most of the 

remaining locations (n=95; 7.4%) were west of 154oW, mostly off Point Barrow or near Barrow 

Canyon. 

DISCUSSION 

Tag attachments and longevity 

The attachment technique we used appears to have little long-term impact on beluga 

whales. Orr et al. (1998) reported recaptures and observations of three belugas previously tagged 

with SDRs, similar to those we deployed. They speculated, based on scarring patterns, that the 

nylon pins migrated out of the dorsal ridge leading to release of the transmitter and loss of 

signals. The three belugas they observed showed no sign of infection or excessive scarring. 

In 1999, Point Lay hunters harvested one of the belugas we tagged in 1998 (98-5, Figure 

13). This beluga was driven into the lagoon on 26 June in 1998 and on 30 June in 1999. The 

animal was obviously scarred but with no apparent adverse impacts. The scars appeared to be 

healed. Based on the scarring pattern on this beluga, it appeared that the pins at the anterior end 
of the tag had migrated out of the dorsal ridge first followed by the posterior pins at some later 

date. 

Our tag longevity, 5 to 154 days, was similar to that experienced in other studies of 

beluga whales. In the Canadian High Arctic, Smith and Martin (1994) received signals for <1 to 

75 days. Richard et al. (2001a), also in the Canadian High Arctic, had tags last from 1 to 126 

days. In the eastern Beaufort Sea, Richard et al. (2001b) had tags that lasted 1 to 129 days with a 

median tag longevity of 31, 38, and 81 days over three years. Our median tag longevity was 

more consistent ranging from 60 to 81 days. 

The longevity of the tags appears to be limited by the attachment technique and not 

battery power (Richard et al., 2001a). The nylon pins holding the tag onto the beluga eventually 

pull out of the blubber and skin of the dorsal ridge and the tag falls off (Orr et al., 1998). To 

obtain greater tag longevity, a different attachment technique, a modified transmitter size or 

shape, or both are needed. 

Movements and Distribution 

Most, if not all belugas, move into shallow coastal or estuarine waters during at least a 

portion of the summer (Caron and Smith, 1990; Frost and Lowry, 1990). These summer 

concentration areas are consistently used from year to year and the waters are usually brackish 

and relatively warm. The reasons for occupying coastal areas are not completely known but may 

include feeding (Frost et al., 1983; Seaman et al., 1988; Huntington et al., 1999), calving 

(Sergeant, 1973; Fraker et al., 1979; Brodie et al., 1981), and molting (St. Aubin et al., 1990). 

Moving into coastal areas may also provide a thermal advantage to adults and particularly 

neonates (Sergeant and Brodie, 1969; Fraker et al., 1979). Eastern Chukchi Sea belugas move 

into coastal areas along Kasegaluk Lagoon in late June and animals are sighted in the area until 

about mid-July (Frost and Lowry, 1990, Frost et al., 1993). The absence of significant stomach 

contents in belugas killed in the subsistence hunt (Suydam, Frost, and Lowry, unpubl. data) 

suggests feeding is not the major reason for their presence near Kasegaluk Lagoon. Frost et al. 

(1993) suggested that belugas likely congregate near Kasegaluk Lagoon to molt. Some of the 

largest gravel beds along the Chukchi Sea coast are located near the passes into Kasegaluk. 

Belugas often occur very near shore (sometimes only a few meters from shore) in these areas and 

stir up bottom sediments, possibly from rubbing to slough off old skin. The low saline and 

warmer water exiting the lagoons may facilitate the molting process. Belugas with both “old 

skin” and “new skin” are taken in the Point Lay hunt. 

Prior to this study, the movements of eastern Chukchi Sea belugas, after they left the 

Kasegaluk Lagoon area, were unknown. We expected the belugas to move north from 

Kasegaluk Lagoon and spend the summer in the northern Chukchi and western Beaufort seas. 

Initial movements of the belugas we tagged were as expected. Almost all of the tagged 

whales moved northeastward from the capture location near Point Lay toward Point Barrow. 

Frost and Lowry (1990) noted that sightings of belugas along the Chukchi Sea coast tended to 

occur progressively from south to north. Our results of tagged belugas fit their observations as 

the belugas generally moved from the south to the north. One of our tagged females was a 

notable exception. She initially moved south from Point Lay and then traveled a considerable 
distance to the north and west before returning to the east to near Barrow Canyon. No other 

tagged whales traveled so far to the west in our study. 

Movements of tagged belugas, after the initial northeastward movement, were 

unexpected in some cases. Males tagged in 1998 and 1999 are the most notable example. 

During July and August the tagged males traveled far to the north to deep offshore waters (~4000 

m deep) with heavy ice cover (>90%). They reached their northernmost locations by late July or 

early August, similar to whales tagged in the Mackenzie River Delta (Richard et al., 2001b). The 

use of deep, offshore, and ice-covered habitats during the summer was unexpected. Belugas 

have traditionally been thought to inhabit shallow, coastal waters in the summer. Other 

researchers have shown that belugas migrated through deep, offshore habitats during the summer 

but tended to remain in coastal waters, bays and estuaries, although occasionally animals moved 

into deep offshore waters (Smith and Martin, 1994; Richard et al., 2001a, b). Our results show 

that belugas consistently use deep, ice-covered, offshore areas during the summer. 

The reasons for the observed movements far to the north are unknown. The movements 

of the three animals in 1998 and two animals in 1999 were direct and coordinated, possibly 

indicating prior knowledge of a resource. Belugas may move north to exploit a food resource 

(Martin and Smith, 1992; Smith and Martin, 1994; Richard et al, 2001b). One such resource, 

arctic cod (Boreogadus saida), can occur in dense patches and is important prey of marine 

mammals in the Arctic (Frost and Lowry, 1981; Lowry and Frost, 1981; Welch et al., 1993). 

There are no data on distribution or concentrations of arctic cod or other beluga food items so far 

north. 

Belugas tagged later in the season in other years tended to behave differently than the 

males in 1998 and 1999. Males and females that were tagged later in the summer, tended to 

remain near the shelf break for most of the summer. Occasionally animals forayed a 

considerable distance to the north or east (or west on one occasion). The reasons for these forays 

are unknown. Richard et al (2001b) observed a similar situation. Animals that were captured 

early in the season moved to areas that animals captured later in the season did not. Males that 

were tagged early moved into the deep ice covered waters of Viscount Melville Sound where 

they appeared to forage (Richard et al., 2001b), whereas males tagged later in the season tended 

to remain farther to the south and in waters covered with less ice. Richard et al. (2001b) 

speculated that the later tagged whales remained farther south because of impending formation 

of ice in the fall or the possibility that prey availability may have been sufficient in the south. 

During fall migration, belugas tagged in the eastern Beaufort Sea mostly moved west 

along the shelf break of the Beaufort Sea, although a small number migrated far north of the 

shelf break through heavy ice near 75oN (Richard et al., 1997, 1998b, 2001b). Aerial surveys 

confirm the importance of shelf break habitat for belugas in the Beaufort Sea during fall 

migration (Moore et al., 2000). The westward fall migration of the eastern Beaufort Sea stock 

begins in late August to mid-September (Richard et al., 1997, 1998b, 2001b) with whales 

moving far to the west of Alaska into Russian waters. They may remain near Wrangel Island for 

weeks before moving south into the Bering Sea (Richard et al., 2001b). Whales occasionally 

remained in certain areas for periods of days, weeks or even a month, possibly to feed (Richard 

et al., 1998a). 
The whales we tagged in the eastern Chukchi Sea initiated fall migration in October or 

November, apparently later in the year than eastern Beaufort Sea belugas. If this is true, belugas 

of the eastern Beaufort Sea would have migrated west along the shelf break passing by whales 

from the eastern Chukchi Sea. During June, July and part of August it is likely that the ranges of 

these two stocks did not overlap much. In August and later in the year, eastern Chukchi Sea and 

eastern Beaufort Sea belugas may occur in similar places and similar times, assuming that the 

relatively small sample sizes over a few years of tagging are representative of typical movement 

patterns. The significance of the apparent overlap or the mingling of these two stocks in early 

fall is uncertain, particularly since studies of mitochondrial DNA clearly indicate the two stocks 

are genetically discrete (O’Corry-Crowe et al., 1997, 2002). 

Gender- and age-related differences in movements 

In 1998 and 1999, we tagged mostly large adult males because large adult males were 

available to be tagged. It is likely that the whales tagged in 1998 and 1999 belonged to one of 

the first groups to pass Point Lay in those years. Eskimos of Little Diomede Island (cited in 

Burns and Seaman, 1986) reported that the first groups to pass north during spring migration 

consisted of large adult males. Other males, females and young migrate later. Based on the sex 

compositions of the harvests and captures in 1998 and 1999 at Point Lay, it appears that sexual 

segregation, and possibly age segregation, occurs in the eastern Chukchi Sea stock of belugas. 

Movements of males tagged from among those first male groups passing by Point Lay in 

1998 and 1999 are considerably different than movements of animals tagged in 2001 and 2002. 

The 1998–1999 adult males moved much farther north and into much deeper water than the 

animals tagged from groups that contained more females and young animals. Early season males 

tagged in the eastern Beaufort Sea also tended to move farther to the north than animals tagged 

later in the season (Richard et al., 2001b). Richard et al. (2001b) suggested that the later tagged 

males might have remained farther south due to impending ice formation or distribution of prey 

resources. We think it unlikely that ice conditions per se were responsible for the differing 

behavior among years in our study. The 1998–1999 males were tagged only 4–9 days earlier 

than the two males that moved the farthest north in 2001–2002, and one was still north of 80o

N 

in August. Also, the 1998–1999 males moved through hundreds of kilometers of >90% ice 

cover to reach their northernmost location. Although it is possible that belugas might find prey 

resources at such northern locations, or alternately not move north because adequate prey are 

located elsewhere, there are no data to either confirm or reject these possibilities. 

In the high Canadian Arctic, the summer range did not differ between males and females 

(Richard et al., 2001a). Belugas of the high Canadian Arctic occur among the myriad of islands 

of the Canadian Archipelago. Use of those habitats may differ between males and females but 

not on a scale that is detectable with satellite telemetry. Shallow and deepwater habitats occur in 

close proximity in the Canadian Archipelago. Males may be using some of those deep-water 

habitats differently than females. 

Shallow water and deep-water habitats are farther apart in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas 

than in the Canadian high Arctic. Movement patterns of eastern Chukchi and Beaufort Sea 

belugas were more similar to each other than to those in the high Canadian Arctic. Males from 
both stocks tended to move to different locations than females and occupy different habitats. In 

this study, adult males moved farther north than subadult males and all belugas that moved north 

of 75oN were males. Males tagged in the Mackenzie River Delta spent little time in the delta and 

also traveled north to areas of heavy ice cover, while females remained mostly near shore and in 

relatively shallow water (Richard et al., 1997, 1998b). Unlike females in the Mackenzie, 

Chukchi Sea females were seldom found in water shallower than 200 m during summer. 

The behavior of the eastern Chukchi Sea stock of belugas seems to parallel that of 

another but much larger odontocete, the sperm whale (Physeter catodon). Large sperm whale 

males tend to occur at higher latitudes than females and immature animals except during mating 

when large males will accompany females groups (Whitehead, 1993). Males are larger than 

females in both sperm whales and belugas. The larger body sizes of male belugas may enable 

them to deal better with ice-covered waters than females and young (Martin and Smith, 1999). 

Larger animals should be able to dive deeper and longer than smaller ones, thus providing more 

security for finding openings in the ice for breathing and for accessing prey resources. 

Movements in relation to ice and bathymetry 

Ice influences the movements and distribution of marine mammals, including beluga 

whales (Fay, 1974). Belugas are frequently associated with sea ice (Frost and Lowry, 1990; 

Moore et al., 2000). The association with ice was typically thought to be weakest in summer 

(Hazard, 1988). This perception was probably due to the limited ability to collect data. 

Observing belugas in broken ice or ice-cover greater than 90% is difficult, at best. The use of 

satellite telemetry has allowed new insights into beluga’s association with and penetration of 

pack ice. 

Some of the belugas we tagged penetrated deep into the pack ice of the northern Beaufort 

Sea and southern Arctic Ocean. Belugas tagged in the eastern Beaufort Sea also penetrated deep 

into the ice, especially between the islands of northwest Canada (Richard et al., 2001b). In both 

these studies, ice-cover was often greater than 90%; however, during summer the ice is 

frequently in motion and cracks form as the ice shifts. Additionally, the relatively warm summer 

temperatures dictate that open water does not freeze quickly. Movement of the ice in 

combination with warm temperatures should allow belugas to easily find breathing holes in the 

pack ice, and in fact the movements of the belugas tagged in these two studies strongly suggest 

that ice-cover in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean does not limit beluga movements during the 

summer. 

Other stocks of belugas may be more restricted by ice. In the high Canadian Arctic, ice 

between islands blocks movements of belugas (Smith and Martin, 1994; Richard et al., 2001a). 

Ice between islands and in fjords is likely different from ice in an ocean basin. On the ocean, ice 

is frequently in motion. As the ice moves, cracks, leads or polynyas form, providing belugas 

access to the ocean surface to breath. Ice between islands or in fjords likely does not move or 

shift as readily as ice on the open ocean. Therefore, there may be a greater risk of entrapment to 

belugas that penetrate ice in narrow passages between landmasses than on the open ocean. 

Entrapments have occurred in areas other than between islands or in fjords, but only when rapid 

extreme freezing conditions exist (e.g. air temperatures are very low and the there is no wind) 

(Burns and Seaman, 1986; Siegstad and Heide-Jørgenson, 1994). When the sea surface freezes 
quickly and ice becomes stationary, belugas may become entrapped and are easily hunted or 

preyed upon by polar bears (Ursus maritimus) (Burns and Seaman, 1986; Lowry et al., 1987; 

Siegstad and Heide-Jørgenson, 1994; Heide-Jørgenson et al., 2002). It is obvious that ice 

generally did not restrict movements of the belugas we tracked in the Arctic Ocean during the 

summer. 

Information from tagging studies has dramatically changed our understanding of habitat 

use, distribution and movements of belugas. For example, prior to satellite tagging efforts, 

eastern Beaufort Sea belugas were presumed to spend the summer in relatively nearshore 

Beaufort Sea waters of Amundsen Gulf and the Mackenzie Estuary. They were thought to be 

relatively shallow divers and primarily pelagic, mid-water feeders. It is now clear that many of 

the belugas tagged in the eastern Beaufort Sea and the eastern Chukchi Sea do not remain in 

shallow, nearshore waters but travel hundreds of kilometers to the north through heavy pack ice, 

presumably to feed. They often dive to depths exceeding 400 m (Martin et al., 1998; Martin and 

Smith, 1999; unpubl. data, this study). Those that do not travel into deep, ice covered waters 

remain near the shelf break, which is approximately 50 to 100 km north of the coast of Alaska 

and make dives of 100–300 m. 

Use of the Beaufort Sea Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale Area 

Evaluation of potential impacts from oil and gas activities in the Beaufort Sea has 

focused on bowhead whales and belugas from the eastern Beaufort Sea stock. Eastern Beaufort 

Sea stock belugas migrate east through the Beaufort Sea in April and May and return west in late 

August through October (Richard et al., 2001b) and thus may be exposed to industrial activities 

in the Beaufort Sea. Satellite tracking of eastern Chukchi Sea belugas has revealed that this 

stock also spends a portion of the summer in the Beaufort Sea (this study; Suydam et al., 2001). 

Those whales moved north along the Chukchi Sea coast of northwestern Alaska and into the 

Beaufort Sea. The animals spent most of the summer along the shelf break of the Beaufort Sea 

and the northeastern Chukchi Sea or farther to the north. They did not commonly use the 

nearshore shelf within the OCS lease area. 

Movements of belugas tagged in the eastern Beaufort Sea (Richard et al., 2001b), the 

eastern Chukchi Sea (this study) and those observed during aerial surveys in the Beaufort Sea 

(Moore et al., 2000), show that the shelf break of the Beaufort Sea is important to belugas. The 

reasons why belugas occur here so frequently are unknown, but could be related to upwelling 

seawater that concentrates prey. Belugas infrequently used nearshore habitats in the central 

Beaufort Sea, although there were considerable numbers of locations and sightings in the 

nearshore of the western Beaufort Sea, especially near Barrow Canyon. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

 

This project would not have happened without the contributions and support of multiple people 

and organizations. Minerals Management Service, through the Coastal Marine Institute at the University 

of Alaska Fairbanks, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided major funding 

to the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee through various grants. Funding and in-kind support were also 

provided by the Village of Point Lay, the North Slope Borough’s Department of Wildlife Management, 

Grants Division and School District, the National Marine Mammal Laboratory of the National Marine 

Fisheries Service, Commander Northwest, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the University of 

Alaska Fairbanks, and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit at the School of 

Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at University of Washington. 

 

This project would not have been possible without the help and cooperation of the people and 

hunters of Point Lay. They invited us into their village to live and work, they allowed us to tag in 

conjunction with their hunt, and they shared their knowledge about belugas in this area. We especially 

thank Warren and Dorcus Neakok, Ben Neakok, Bill and Marie Tracey, Gordon Upicksoun, Thomas 

Nukapigak, Amos Agnasagga, Julius Rexford and Danny Pikok. Many thanks to Charles Aniskette, 

Alvin Ashby, Vince Dollarhide, Leo Ferreira III, Nick Hank, Lauren Hansen, Rod Hobbs, Laura Litzky, 

Thomas Nukapigak, Greg O’Corry-Crowe, Jack Orr, Lori Quakenbush, Todd Robeck, Tracy Romano, 

Bob Small, Heather Smith, Michelle Sparck, Suzann Speckman, Danny Susook, Jim Tazruk, and Glenn 

and Kris VanBlaricom for assisting with capturing and tagging. Logistical support in Point Lay was 

provided by Bill and Marie Tracey, Jack Talyor, Jerry Edwards, Julius Rexford and Danny Susook and in 

Barrow by Dave Ramey and Benny Achootchook. Additional support was received from Douglas 

DeMaster, Thomas F. Albert, Charles D.N. Brower, Dolores Vinas, Liza Delarosa, April Brower, and 

John Bengston. Gay Sheffield helped with analysis and presentation of SDR location data. Janice Waite 

assisted with permit requirements. 
STUDY PRODUCTS 

2000 Frost, K.J., L.F. Lowry and R. Suydam. Satellite tracking of eastern Chukchi Sea beluga whales 

in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean. In University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute. Annual 

Reports. Fairbanks, AK, University of Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and USDOI, MMS, 

Alaska OCS Region. 

2001 Frost, K.J., L.F. Lowry and R. Suydam. Satellite tracking of eastern Chukchi Sea beluga whales 

in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean. In University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute. Annual 

Reports. Fairbanks, AK, University of Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and USDOI, MMS, 

Alaska OCS Region. 

2001 Frost, K.J., L.F. Lowry and R. Suydam. Satellite tracking of eastern Chukchi Sea beluga whales 

in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean. Univ. Alaska Coastal Marine Institute Annual Research 

Review, Fairbanks, AK. Feb. 2001 (abstr.) 

2001 Suydam, R., L.F. Lowry and K.J. Frost. Satellite tracking of beluga whales in the central Arctic 

Ocean. In Alaska OCS Region 8th Information Transfer Meeting Proceedings, Preparer MBC 

Applied Environmental Sciences Anchorage: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region. 

2002 Frost, K.J., L.F. Lowry and R. Suydam. Satellite tracking of eastern Chukchi Sea beluga whales 

in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean. In University of Alaska Coastal Marine Institute. Annual 

Reports. Fairbanks, AK, University of Alaska, Coastal Marine Institute and USDOI, MMS, 

Alaska OCS Region. 

2002 Suydam, R., K.J. Frost and L.F. Lowry. Satellite tracking of eastern Chukchi Sea beluga whales 

in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean. Univ. Alaska Coastal Marine Institute Annual Research 

Review, Fairbanks, AK, Feb. 2002 (abstr.) 

2003 Suydam, R., K.J. Frost and L.F. Lowry. Satellite tracking of eastern Chukchi Sea beluga whales 

in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean. Univ. Alaska Coastal Marine Institute Annual Research 

Review, Fairbanks, AK, 19 Feb. 2003 (abstr.) 

2003 Suydam, R. Satellite tracking of eastern Chukchi Sea beluga whales in the Beaufort Sea and 

Arctic Ocean. In Alaska OCS Region 9th Information Transfer Meeting Proceedings, Preparer 

MBC Applied Environmental Sciences Anchorage: USDOI, MMS, Alaska OCS Region. 

2003 Suydam, R., L. Lowry, K. Frost, G. O’Corry-Crowe and G. VanBlaricom. Satellite tracking of 

eastern Chukchi Sea beluga whales in the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean, 1998–2002. 15th 

Conf. Biology of Marine Mammals, 14–19 December 2003 (abstr. and presented paper). 
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34 

Table 1. Beluga whales instrumented with tags at Point Lay, Alaska in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002. 

ID 

Number 

Capture 

Date 

Sex Age 

class 

Color Length 

(cm) 

PTTID PTT Type Last Date Tag 

(d

 1998 98-1 26 June Male Adult White 440 11035 Saddle 8 July 98-2 28 June Male Adult White 432 2284 Saddle 12 July 98-3 29 June Male Adult White 398 11036 Saddle 10 October 98-4 29 June Male Adult White 415 2285 Saddle 28 September 98-5 1 July Male Adult White 414 2282 Saddle 29 August  1999 99-1 30 June Male Adult White 418 11035 Side mount 24 September 99-2 30 June Female Imm.2 Gray 266 11036 Side mount 18 September 99-3 30 June Male Adult White 424 11037 Saddle 25 August -------- 30 June Male Adult White 441 11039 Saddle 4 July 99-4 30 June Male Adult White 424 11041 Saddle 22 September  2001 01-1 3 July Male Adult White 381 2093 Spider 9 August 01-2 3 July Female Adult White 359 2094 Spider 21 July 01-3 5 July Female Imm. Gray 316 11038 Side mount 28 November 01-4 5 July Male Imm. Gray 324 11041 Side mount 5 December 01-5 5 July Female Imm. Gray 335 2280 Side mount 22 October 01-6 7 July Male Adult White 340 11037 Spider 16 November 01-7 7 July Male Imm. Lt. Gray 320 2281 Side mount 23 July 01-8 7 July Male Adult White 373 2282 Saddle 12 August  2002 02-1 7 July Female Imm. Gray 320 11036 Spider 13 September -------- 7 July Female Adult White 368 11042 Side mount 11 July 02-2 7 July Male Imm. Gray 276 11044 Spider 29 September 02-3 7 July Male Imm. Gray 274 2090 Side /SPOT 5 September 02-4 8 July Male Imm. Gray 267 2088 Side mount 12 September 1 Tag duration = the number of days from when the tag was attached to the beluga to the last day we received a good locati

passed data screening. 

2 Imm. = beluga that we classified as immature based on its color.
35 

Table 2. Number of average daily locations of satellite tagged belugas within the Beaufort Sea OCS lease 

sale area, by longitude. 

Longitude range # of beluga locations in OCS area 

143–144 0 

144–145 0 

145–146 1 

146–147 0 

147–148 3 

148–149 4 

149–150 3 

150–151 6 

151–152 10 

152–153 21 

153–154 16 

154–155 43 

155–156 52 

Total number of locations 159 
Figure 1. Configurations of satellite data recorders deployed on beluga whales in the 

eastern Chukchi Sea in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002. Upper panel: saddle tag. 

Middle panel: side mount. Lower panel: spider tag. 
37 

Figure 2. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 8 July–10 

October 1998. Light stippling is >=30% ice cover on 16 July, dark stippling 

is >=30% ice cover on 4 September. 
Figure 3. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 30 June–

24 September 1999. Light stippling is >=30% ice cover on 16 July, dark 

stippling is >=30% ice cover on 4 September. 
Figure 4. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 3 July–5 

December 2001. Light stippling is >=30% ice cover on 13 July, dark 

stippling is >=30% ice cover on 10 September. 
Figure 5. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 7 

July–29 September 2002. Light stippling is >=30% ice cover on 15 

July, dark stippling is >=30% ice cover on 2 September. 
Figure 6. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, in June and 

July 1998–2002. (Each number represents a beluga location; locations for all 

belugas from each respective year are plotted.) 
Figure 7. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, in August 

1998–2002. (Each number represents a beluga location; locations for all 

belugas from each respective year are plotted.) 
Figure 8. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, in 

September 1998–2002. (Each number represents a beluga location; locations 

for all belugas from each respective year are plotted.) 
Figure 9. Locations of beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, in October–

December 1998–2002. (Each number represents a beluga location; locations for 

all belugas from each respective year are plotted.) 
Figure 10. Locations of female beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, in 

1998–2002, by age class. 
Figure 11. Locations of male beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, in 1998–

2002, by age class. 
Figure 12. Locations of all beluga whales satellite tagged at Point Lay, Alaska, 1998–

2002, in relation of Beaufort Sea OCS lease sale areas (thick dashed line). 
Figure 13. Scars on the dorsum of a beluga at a transmitter attachment site. This animal 

was taken in a subsistence hunt at Point Lay, Alaska on 30 June 1999 and had 

been tagged on 29 June 1998.