| Summary | The Beluga is a small-medium sized whale which also known as the white whale. It used to be a prime target for whaling because whales would often come close to the coasts and travel in pods. |
|---|
| Project | SESMAD |
|---|
| Subtype | Natural Resource Unit |
|---|
| Sector | Marine protected areas |
|---|
| Biotic | Yes |
|---|
| Explanation | |
|---|
| Commons Aggregation | Population |
|---|
| Explanation | |
|---|
| Commons Boundaries | Somewhat unclear boundaries (2) |
|---|
| Explanation | Belugas have been observed on the coasts all around Svalbard (MOSJ 2013a [Online ]), but there is very little data about the extent of their range and habitat preferences. One telemetry study indicates that Svalbard belugas typically stay quite close to the coasts, and often spend time near freshwater inputs from calving glaciers and river mouths (Lyderson et al 2001). Seasonal movements (if there are any) are uncertain.
|
|---|
| Commons Indicator | ["Status of highly migratory species"] |
|---|
| Explanation | Although the beluga is considered a migratory species, there is debate about the degree to which Svalbard whales are migratory. During the summer and into the fall (when other populations are often swimming to new locations), one study showed that Svalbard belugas remained near the coasts of Svalbard (Lyderson et al 2001). Although this telemetry study provides the first information about beluga movements near Svalbard, conclusive data is lacking about their migratory habits. It is possible that Svalbard belugas do not migrate, as a resident population has been observed in an Alaskan sound (Hobbs et al 2005). |
|---|
| Commons Unit Size | Large (4) |
|---|
| Explanation | Belugas are 4-6m long and in the range of 1100-1500kg. |
|---|
| Environmental Medium | Oceanic |
|---|
| Explanation | |
|---|
| Inter Annual Predictability | Moderate (2) |
|---|
| Explanation | Belugas are observed along the coasts of Svalbard each year (MOSJ 2013a [Online]), but there are no population estimates for the Belugas. |
|---|
| Intra Annual Predictability | Low (1) |
|---|
| Explanation | Apart from one telemetry study (Lyderson et al 2001), which indicates that belugas remain close to the coasts, it is difficult to predict where pods will be observed at any particular time. |
|---|
| Commons Renewability | Renewable (1) |
|---|
| Explanation | |
|---|
| Productivity | Poorly productive (1) |
|---|
| Explanation | Females produce one calf every 2-3 years, and the population may take many years to recover after a disturbance (Kingsley 1998). |
|---|
| Commons Accessibility | Somewhat accessible (2) |
|---|
| Explanation | Modern vessels have greatly increased the ability to travel in the oceans around Svalbard, but seasonal sea ice sometimes limits vessel traffic. Technologies such as sonar can make it easier to locate the belugas, but low densities of these whales make sightings relatively uncommon. |
|---|
| Commons Heterogeneity | Moderate (2) |
|---|
| Explanation | Modern vessels have greatly increased the ability to travel in the oceans around Svalbard, but seasonal sea ice sometimes limits vessel traffic. Technologies such as sonar can make it easier to locate the belugas, but low densities of these whales make sightings relatively uncommon.
|
|---|
| Commons Mobility | Medium (2) |
|---|
| Explanation | Belugas often show “local roaming” within regions in search of prey (e.g. within the boundaries of the nature reserves), and often show “long distance” movements between regions during different seasons (Boltunov & Belikov 2002). |
|---|
| Commons Spatial Extent | 10000000 |
|---|
| Explanation | In relation to the Svalbard population, belugas are found throughout the polar seas, except in the centre of the Arctic Ocean where there is (or at least used to be) permanent sea ice. |
|---|
| Technical Substitute | No |
|---|
| Explanation | With white skin and often found in large pods, belugas are unique animals that tourists are interested in seeing, for which there is no substitute. |
|---|
