522 



Fishery Bulletin 105(4) 



in 2002-2003 (CalambokidisS). Our estimates of blue 

 whale abundance decreased markedly in 2001 and 2005 

 compared to previous estimates, and they were more 

 widespread in offshore and northern waters than during 

 the 1990s. The lower abundance estimates, rather than 

 reflecting a true population decline, appear to be caused 

 by a redistribution of animals outside of the study 



^ Calambokidis, J. 2005. Personal commun. Cascadia 

 Research, 2I8V2 W. 4"^ Avenue, Olympia, WA 98501. 



area. Mark-recapture estimates of blue whale abun- 

 dance remained high (1781) in the period of 2000-2003, 

 but blue whales have recently been seen off British 

 Columbia (Calambokidis'') and in the Gulf of Alaska 

 (J. Barlow, unpubl. data). The recruitment of krill off 

 central and northern California was poor during 2005 

 (Peterson et al., 2006), and given that this is the sole 

 food for blue whales, the redistribution may be a result 

 of decreased food supplies. Fin whales appeared to be 

 monotonically increasing in abundance during the three 



