On October 1, Protected Species Observers working at the Don Young Port of Alaska reported an entangled Cook Inlet beluga whale to NOAA’s stranding hotline. The Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network quickly coordinated with agencies and partners in Alaska and across the country to evaluate the beluga and its entanglement. At the same time, agencies, local businesses, organizations, and the community came together to monitor its movement and help support the response.
Imagery collected by the observers showed a beluga with a black object wrapped around its body. This entangled beluga was observed again on October 2, and observers were able to capture better photos of the entangling materials. The material appeared to be marine debris similar to a culvert liner or a tire innertube or flap. The entangled beluga was last observed swimming east in upper Knik Arm around 4 p.m. on October 2.
Researchers with the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo ID Project preliminarily matched the entangled beluga to an animal in their catalog of known individuals. The preliminary identification indicated that it is a subadult, at least 7 years old. Prior to this entanglement, the beluga was first photographed by researchers in June 2021 in the Susitna Delta.
Reports of entangled Cook Inlet belugas are very rare. This is only the third known incident of a free-swimming entangled Cook Inlet beluga. The previous cases were in 2005 and 2010.
Evaluating Conditions and Partnering for Success
We collaborated with partners to monitor and create a safety and a response plan to disentangle the beluga, including:
- 61 North Environmental
- Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Statewide Aviation
- Alaska SeaLife Center
- Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Colorado State University
- Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Project
- Don Young Port of Alaska
- Georgia Aquarium
- HDR, Inc.
- Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
- Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson/Department of Defense
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Police and Fire Department - Water Rescue Team
- TotalView Industrial Imaging
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- U.S. Geological Service
After the initial report, NOAA Fisheries received real-time updates from dedicated observers monitoring belugas in lower and upper Knik Arm. They were keeping an eye out for the entangled beluga. Meanwhile, the Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Network consulted with veterinarians, beluga researchers, and other partners to examine images of the whale and determine if any action was needed. Based on expert opinions, NOAA determined the entanglement was potentially life-threatening. We recommended preparing for a disentanglement effort if conditions allowed for a safe operation.
Attempting to disentangle any whale can be hazardous. In this case, disentangling the tightly wrapped item would require responders to deploy a net to safely handle the entangled beluga. Working in Knik Arm is complicated due to large tidal changes, strong currents, silty water with low visibility, and muddy conditions along the shores. Decreasing October temperatures and short day length also impacted planning efforts.
Preparing for a Response
Only authorized and trained personnel should respond to entangled or distressed marine mammals, which occurs under the authorization of a NOAA permit. In this case, a trained and authorized response team created communications, operations, safety, and observation plans. We organized an expert team, including biologists, boat captains, and veterinarians with experience handling free-ranging beluga whales and vessel operation in Cook Inlet.
The first step was to have observers monitor the entangled beluga's movements. More than 30 volunteers staffed four shore-based stations during daylight hours throughout October 2–5, with some volunteers at the stations into the following week. Some observers used specialized equipment (e.g., big-eye binoculars, spotting scope) on raised platforms that allowed better viewing to monitor belugas from shore. Authorized and licensed drone pilots also participated in monitoring efforts for the entangled beluga whale.
Observers kept a watch for the entangled beluga while documenting all marine mammals (e.g., other belugas, harbor porpoise, harbor seals) in the area. At the same time, a second team worked to organize the boats, gear, and people. The ASLC, AVPS, Aquarium of the Pacific, and Georgia Aquarium provided staff with extensive experience safely handling free-ranging belugas for health assessments in Bristol Bay, Alaska. JBER staff, with more than 20 years of boating experience in Knik Arm, and the ANC Rescue Team and Port staff, with more than eight years of boating experience in lower Knik Arm, provided the necessary leadership for boat safety. City, federal, and state agencies worked together to provide five boats with experienced captains.
While the observer team monitored upper Cook Inlet for the entangled beluga, the response team was prepared to activate should there be an observation of the animal. However, despite the extensive efforts of volunteers monitoring Knik Arm, after 80 hours without additional sightings, the response was canceled.
What Happens Next?
Field biologists will continue to look for the entangled beluga during their regular monitoring sessions. If they see the animal, we will again evaluate if a response can be conducted safely. However, colder temperatures, the continual loss of daylight, inclement weather, and tides will make a response this year very difficult. If a response cannot be mounted this fall, we and our partners will continue to look for the entangled whale and will consider a response in the future.
How You Can Help an Entangled Whale
If you see an entangled whale, do not approach it. Call NOAA’s 24/7 hotline at (877) 925-7773, or hail the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 and they will relay the report. It is vital that responders have the required authorization, training, and specialized equipment to respond to entangled marine mammals. Getting too close to an entangled, and likely distressed, animal can be dangerous—even life threatening. Entangled whales frequently avoid boats after repeated close encounters, making disentanglement efforts even more difficult. Cutting visible gear off the animal can actually make things worse. Be sure to maintain a safe distance of at least 100 yards and if possible, take photos of the whale and entangling gear from that distance.
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a first responder, take the online training developed by NOAA in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. It will teach you how to identify large whale species and what information to collect if you see an entangled whale. Your reports and photos are the best way to help an entangled animal. The information gained from your reports helps us better understand entanglements, and how to reduce entanglements and their impacts in the future. Learn more about marine mammal entanglements and marine debris in Alaska and how you can help.
Learn more about the endangered population of Cook Inlet beluga whales, how you can help, and how to submit your beluga photos to the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Photo-ID Project.
NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region would like to acknowledge and extend appreciation to the many, many volunteers, agencies, and companies who provided resources, gave of their personal time, and their expertise. The community of Anchorage came together around this event and we are grateful to work with such dedicated partners to collaborate and steward Alaska's wildlife together.
