From 1974 to 1979, the Commission provided support for 

 periodic population surveys and behavior studies. From 1979 

 through 1982, the National Marine Fisheries Service provided 

 support to continue the studies and a substantial amount of 

 data, particularly on the northern elephant seal population, 

 was acquired. By 1982, it was clear that the elephant seal 

 data were sufficient to necessitate computer entry for 

 efficient storage, retrieval, and evaluation. Since the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service was unable to provide the 

 funds needed to organize the data, develop the necessary 

 computer programs, and enter the data into the computer, the 

 Commission transferred funds to the Service for those 

 purposes . 



Radio-Tagging Humpback Whales in and near Glacier Bay, Alaska 

 (National Marine Fisheries Service) 



Late in 1980, the National Park Service transferred 

 funds to the National Marine Fisheries Service to develop 

 and support a research program to determine whether vessel 

 traffic or other factors were causing humpback whales to 

 avoid entering or staying in the Glacier Bay National Park 

 (see Chapter VI of this Report for additional information) . 

 The studies carried out during the summer of 1981 did not 

 provide sufficient information to answer all relevant questions. 

 At a program review held by the Commission in December 19 81, 

 participants recommended that additional interdisciplinary 

 studies using radio and sonic tracking devices, sound 

 playback experiments, behavioral observations, and environmental 

 sampling be conducted to develop a better basis for decision- 

 making. The National Park Service was unable to provide 

 sufficient funds to fully support recommended radio-tracking 

 and other studies and the Commission transferred funds to 

 the National Marine Fisheries Service to purchase a full 

 complement of radio tags for the tagging work. One whale 

 was tagged and followed periodically for two weeks and three 

 other whales were successfully tagged just prior to the end 

 of the 1982 field season. Contractors' reports are due in 

 April 1983 and will be used to assist in determining whether 

 restrictions on vessel traffic are necessary to assure the 

 continued well-being of humpback whales in Glacier Bay and 

 adjacent waters. 



Demography and Behavior of Gray Whales in Laguna San 



Ignacio, Baja California Sur, Mexico 



(M. L. Jones and S. L. Swartz, Cetacean Research Associates) 



Whale-watching, exploration for and subsequent development 

 of offshore oil and gas resources, and other human activities 

 may adversely affect gray whales in the lagoons of Baja 



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