Report of a Workshop on Cook Inlet Beluga Whale Biopsy

Based on recommendations from the Marine Mammal Commission, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (CIBW) Recovery Team and others, NOAA Fisheries Alaska Region sponsored a CIBW Biopsy Workshop to gather expert opinion about the risks, benefits, and structure of a potential biopsy program prior to conducting any biopsy studies on the CIBW. Workshop participants were invited based on their extensive expertise and experience with cetacean biopsy.