Presentation Details
| Marine Mammal Surveys of Kachemak Outer Bay & Flat Island Lauren C.Fliearman1, 2, Emelie E.Johnson1, 3, Tobi N.Poteat1, 4, Dr.Debbie D.Boege Tobin1, Marc A.Webber1. 1Alaska Anchorage-Kachemak Bay Campus, Homer, Alaska, USA.2Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA.3Appalachian State University, Appalachian, North Carolina, USA.4University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA |
Abstract
Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet encompass 229,000 acres of marine habitat that hosts various marine mammal species. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris), Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are among the few marine mammals that inhabit these waters. Despite being relatively common in this area, their ecology and behavior remain poorly understood. We present the results from our marine mammal boat survey conducted in September 2025. An all day survey to/from Flat Island in Lower Cook Inlet documented and photographed every marine mammal sighting, location, and their observed behaviors. Unique results include: sea otter and Glaucous-wing gull (Larus glaucescens) kleptoparasitism, two breaching humpback whales with one being a resighting from HappyWhale and other being a new calf, elusive harbor porpoises, and a resighting of a branded Steller sea lion previously tagged for a lactation study. While Kachemak Bay has critical habitat designation, much of Cook Inlet does not, making it susceptible to oil and gas exploration, human degradation, and need for more future studies and conservation efforts.
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