Environmental Studies Program Direction: Seismic and Acoustic Impacts: MMS Bowhead Whale
Monitoring Program
The MMS has been conducting aerial surveys in the Alaskan Arctic to ensure that
offshore industry activities are not significantly affecting bowhead whale distribution,
behavior and migratory pathways. The MMS has conducted these surveys since 1982 providing
a unique long-term data set to which current year information can be compared. The purpose
of the study is to coordinate efforts and manage data necessary to justify seasonal
offshore drilling regulations. In addition to the study’s importance for information
to ongoing operations, it provides a useful wide-area context for the interpretation and
understanding of any localized effects that may be documented by site-specific studies.
Also, it provides the ability to evaluate potential cumulative effects on the bowhead
migration corridor and also to analyze ice type and percentage bowhead sightings, as well
the relationship between sightings, general ice cover, and median water depth. These are
critical points which influence where the corridor that the whales follow will be and may
change each year with the varying presence and thickness of ice.
The bowhead whale is protected under the Endangered Species Act and is of great
importance to Alaskan Natives for cultural and subsistence purposes. This study addresses
their concern that seismic and drilling noise could block the fall migration and/or force
the overall migration farther offshore, from one year to the next, making it harder to
hunt the whales. Therefore it is important to understand what and how anthropogenic
activities could impact the whale migration in conjunction with the variations in the
water depth and ice coverage.
For more information, contact Lee Benner.
