1. Report No.

MMC-79/01

2.
3. Recipient's Accession No.

PB 80 141559

4. Title and Subtitle

Humpback Whales in Glacier Bay
National Monument, Alaska

5. Report Date

October 1979

6.
7. Author(s)

Marine Mammal Commission

8. Performing Organization
Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name
and Address

Marine Mammal Commission
1625 I Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006

12. Sponsoring Organization Name
and Address

Same as above.

10. Project/Task/Work
Unit No.
11. Contract or Grant No.
13. Type of Report

Final Report

14.
15. Supplementary Notes

16. Abstract

The waters of Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska, appear to be an important humpback whale (_Megaptera novaeangliae_) summering area. In 1979, fewer whales used Glacier Bay than expected, based on previous observations. This report, of an Interagency Review Meeting held in Seattle, Washington, on 12-13 October 1979, discusses management and research activities relating to humpback whales in Glacier Bay National Monument and surrounding waters.

17. Originator's Key Words

Humpback Whales
(_Megaptera novaeangliae_)
Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska
Southeast Alaska

18. Availability Statement

Availability unlimited

19. U.S. Security
Classif. of the
Report
20. U.S. Security
Classif. of This Page
21. No. of Pages

22. Price

This Form may be reproduced.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
[PREFACE] 1
[INTRODUCTION] 2
[BACKGROUND] 2
[Distribution and Abundance of Humpback Whales in the North Pacific] 2
[Glacier Bay] 3
[Humpback Whales in Glacier Bay] 7
[Human Use of Glacier Bay] 10
[POSSIBLE CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HUMAN USE OF GLACIER BAY AND THE DISPLACEMENT OF HUMPBACK WHALES FROM THE BAY] 13
[ADEQUACY OF EXISTING DATA] 21
[MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES TAKEN OR UNDER CONSIDERATION] 21
[ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS] 23
[IDENTIFYING AND SELECTING THE MOST APPROPRIATE RESEARCH/MANAGEMENT STRATEGY] 24
[AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES AND NEED FOR COOPERATION AND COORDINATION] 26
[SUMMARY] 27
[REFERENCES] 29
[APPENDICES]

LIST OF TABLES

Page
1.[Relative abundance and distribution of identified humpback whales in southeast Alaskan waters 1967-79] 8
2.[Number of humpback whales (individual census) entering Glacier Bay during "influxes"] 9
3.[Age composition of humpback whales per year in Glacier Bay] 9
4.[Juraszs' description of "stress behavior"] 11
5.[Juraszs' vessel/aircraft classes] 12
6.[Number of visitors and vessels to Glacier Bay
National Monument]		 14
7.[Number of vessel sightings per month in each class as seen from the Juraszs' R/V GINJUR] 15
8.[Average vessel sightings per day in each class as seen from the Juraszs' R/V GINJUR] 16