It’s the 50th anniversary for the Endangered Species Act, and there are still nine sea creatures at risk of extinction, according to NOAA Fisheries.
These creatures include the Atlantic Salmon, Central California Crest Coho, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle, North Atlantic Right Whale, the Killer Whale, the White Abalone, the Winter-Run Chinook Salmon, and the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale.
The most native to members of the Peninsula is the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale, which only has approximately 331 left in the area.
With there being such a low population, it is not uncommon to see these animals be bred in captive as an effort to increase their numbers.
There are other outliers such as at gas and oil exploration, pollution, habitat disturbance, and many other stressors that can harm the Beluga whale’s well-being.
In effort to try to save these whales, along with the other eight engendered pieces, NOAA Fisheries released the Species in the Spotlight initiative back in 2015 as an attempt to bring about more attention to these at-risk animals.
The Cook Inlet Beluga Whales are also under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). This policy works to prevent any marine mammal pieces and population to let their population decline so significantly that they stop from helping their ecosystem.
In other words, these beluga whales are important in helping maintain the overall ecosystem.
Unfortunately, their population in Alaska and the Sakhalin Bay-Nikolaya Bay-Amur River has fallen below their ideal population levels, hence why they are so close to reaching extinction.
NOAA Fisheries is determined to save, protect, and rebuild the homes of the Cook Inlet Beluga Whales, along with the eight other endangered species. But they need help too.
What can the community do to help?
Report any sightings of the Beluga whales, whether they be dead or alive, to the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo ID Project, participate in outreach events and practice beluga-friendly boat-operating techniques.
If you see something, say something. Report any type of harassment to the beluga whales that is seen to the NOAA Fisheries Enforcement Hotline at (800) 853-1964.
