Terms of Reference

Updated Eastern Beaufort Sea Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Population Abundance Estimate, October 2022

Regional Peer Review – Arctic Region

October 25 and 27, 2022
Fort Garry Hotel, Winnipeg, MB and Virtual Meeting

Chairperson: Sean MacConnachie

Context

The Eastern Beaufort Sea (EBS) beluga population summers in Canadian waters, where it is co-managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC). Although the population migrates west along the Alaskan coastline to winter in the Bering Sea, the summer distribution is the main source to derive abundance estimates.

The EBS beluga population abundance was last assessed from an aerial survey of the Beaufort Sea Shelf, west Amundsen Gulf, and Mackenzie Estuary in July 1992, which resulted in a population estimate of ~40,000 individuals after correction for availability bias. There is evidence that the EBS beluga distribution extends beyond the area covered by the 1992 survey. In 2017, a CSAS stock assessment meeting concluded that a new population estimate was needed. Upon request from DFO Fisheries Management, FJMC and the Inuvialuit Game Council, a new aerial survey was co-designed and conducted in July 2019, attempting to cover a larger portion of the known summer distribution of EBS beluga in Canada.

In addition, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducted an aerial survey in August 2019 to estimate bowhead whale abundance. Although not the primary goal of the survey, beluga sightings were also recorded in the offshore areas and can potentially be used to provide an updated abundance estimate for the EBS beluga population.

Objectives

1. To estimate EBS beluga abundance in Canadian waters using aerial survey and telemetry data collected by DFO (July 2019).
2. Evaluate whether aerial survey data collected by NOAA can be used in combination with DFO data to provide an abundance estimate for the EBS beluga population.
3. To calculate Potential Biological Removal (PBR) using the best available information.

Expected Publications

• Proceedings
• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, Marine Planning and Conservation, and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Inuvialuit Game Council (IGC)
• Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Academic
• Other invited experts