known whether these animals survive and are able to locate 

 and be accepted by other members of the species. To help 

 resolve these uncertainties, standard radio-tags were attached 

 to two of the whales and a satellite-linked radio-tag was 

 attached to the third before they were released east of Nan- 

 tucket, Massachusetts, on 29 June 1987. The Commission provided 

 funds to help support aerial and ship surveys to locate possible 

 optimal release sites (i.e., nearshore areas inhabited by 

 pilot whales) prior to the release and to attempt to relocate 

 and verify the health of the whales before expiration of the 

 70- to 90-day life expectancy of the batteries in the satellite- 

 linked radio. The transmitter functioned for at least 91 

 days during which 3,000 transmissions were received and 453 

 locations were determined. Efforts to visually confirm the 

 condition of the whale before expiration of transmitter bat- 

 teries were unsuccessful due to poor weather conditions during 

 the search period. The fact that transmissions were received 

 during the full life expectancy of the transmitter indicates 

 that at least one of the whales was alive and presumably healthy 

 at least 91 days after release. It also demonstrates the 

 value of satellite-linked radio tags. 



Analysis of Blubber Samples Obtained from Gulf of California 

 Harbor Porpoises to Determine the Presence and Levels of 

 Environmental Contaminants 

 (J. A. Calambokidis, Cascadia Research, Olympia, Washington) 



As noted in Chapter II, the Gulf of California harbor 

 porpoise is one of the smallest and rarest cetaceans. It was 

 listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1985 

 because of its limited numbers and the substantial incidental 

 take in totoaba gill net fisheries in the Gulf of California. 

 In addition, nutrient depletion and environmental contamination 

 may be affecting the harbor porpoise and its habitat. At 

 least 13 animals were caught and killed accidentally in the 

 spring of 1985 during experimental gill net fishing operations 

 for totoaba near El Golfo, Santa Clara, Sonora, Mexico. The 

 contractor is analyzing blubber samples from 8-10 of these 

 animals to determine the types and levels of environmental 

 contaminants present in the blubber. The results should provide 

 insight into the nature and significance of possible threats 

 to the species from environmental pollution. 



Harbor Seal Trend Counts in Selected Areas of Alaska 

 (Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Anchorage, Alaska) 



From 1983 through 1986, the Alaska Department of Fish 

 and Game conducted aerial surveys of harbor seals hauled out 

 at selected sites in the Ketchikan and Sitka area of south- 

 eastern Alaska, in Prince William Sound, in the Kodiak Island 



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