Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Research Methods Workshop Report

Given the Cook Inlet beluga whale's (CIB's) lack of recovery and the lack of a clear explanation for CIB’s continued decline, it is likely that a greater diversity of research methods will be proposed in the future in an attempt to promote recovery. In anticipation of new research proposals incorporating various methodologies, and recognizing the concerns surrounding invasive research for this population, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region sought to obtain an objective assessment of invasive research methods that may be proposed for future studies of CIBs. As such, the purpose of the workshop was to obtain individual input from participants to help inform future management decisions.

The main body of this workshop report:

• provides an overview of the workshop structure
•  summarizes the upfront context-setting presentations
• discusses key themes emerging from workshop discussions
• synthesizes key findings from individual participant assessments of research methods

The appendices provide succinct summaries of individual participant input gathered on each of the pre-identified 47 research methods. A workshop agenda and a list of workshop participants is also provided.