Changes in cetacean occurrence in the Changes in cetacean occurrence in the

Salish Sea: anomalous sightings in southern Salish Sea: anomalous sightings in southern

Puget SoundPuget Sound

John CalambokidisJohn Calambokidis11

Jessie HugginsJessie Huggins11

Dyanna LamournDyanna Lamourn22

Steve JeffriesSteve Jeffries22

Bethany DiehlBethany Diehl1,21,2

Josh OliverJosh Oliver1,21,2

Brad HansonBrad Hanson33

11Cascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WACascadia Research Collective, Olympia, WA22Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Tacoma, WAWashington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Tacoma, WA

33NMFS/NOAA, Seattle ,WANMFS/NOAA, Seattle ,WA

Common larger cetaceans of the Salish sea

Minke Whale Killer whale

Gray whale Humpback whale

Common smaller cetaceans of the Salish sea

Dall’s porpoise Pacific white-sided dolphin

• Harbor porpoise

Harbor porpoises are the smallest cetacean in Harbor porpoises are the smallest cetacean in Washington StateWashington State

Harbor porpoiseHarbor porpoise Phocoena phocoenaPhocoena phocoena

Photo by Robin Baird

• Occur widely in coastal waters of Occur widely in coastal waters of the North Pacific and Atlanticthe North Pacific and Atlantic • Light gray dorsally with whitish Light gray dorsally with whitish bellybelly

• Females (6ft) larger than malesFemales (6ft) larger than males

• sexually mature – age 3sexually mature – age 3 • average lifespan - 10-15 yearsaverage lifespan - 10-15 years

• Vulnerable to entanglement in Vulnerable to entanglement in fishing netsfishing nets

Harbor porpoise stock boundaries- Harbor porpoise stock boundaries- E North Pacific E North Pacific

Historical occurrence in Puget SoundHistorical occurrence in Puget Sound• ““Harbor porpoise are doubtless seen more often than any Harbor porpoise are doubtless seen more often than any

other cetacean in the (Washington) state” … other cetacean in the (Washington) state” … “We have seen them within 30 feet of shore at Steilacoom “We have seen them within 30 feet of shore at Steilacoom and far out in Puget Sound”and far out in Puget Sound”“In southern Puget Sound the harbor porpoise occurs in all “In southern Puget Sound the harbor porpoise occurs in all seasons, rarely singly, usually in groups of 2 to 5, seasons, rarely singly, usually in groups of 2 to 5, occasionally 10 to 12”occasionally 10 to 12”Scheffer and Slipp (1948)Scheffer and Slipp (1948)

• Declines in latter half of 20Declines in latter half of 20thth century in other urban century in other urban protected waters including San Francisco Bay, Waden Sea, protected waters including San Francisco Bay, Waden Sea, and Baltic Sea.and Baltic Sea.

Disappearance in southern and Disappearance in southern and central Puget Sound by 1970scentral Puget Sound by 1970s

After the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 more research After the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 more research on marine mammal distribution and abundance in this and other on marine mammal distribution and abundance in this and other regionsregions

Lack of sighting reports, compiled in the mid-1970s suggested Lack of sighting reports, compiled in the mid-1970s suggested that harbor porpoise had already vanished from most of Puget that harbor porpoise had already vanished from most of Puget Sound (Everitt et al. 1979, Osborne et al. 1988)Sound (Everitt et al. 1979, Osborne et al. 1988)

Dedicated surveys noted no harbor porpoise sighted in south Dedicated surveys noted no harbor porpoise sighted in south Puget Sound and only a few sightings are made in the main Puget Sound and only a few sightings are made in the main basin (Osmek et al. 1995)basin (Osmek et al. 1995)

• Fisheries interactionsFisheries interactions– Harbor porpoise known to be vulnerable to entanglement in Harbor porpoise known to be vulnerable to entanglement in

gillnetsgillnets

• Increased vessel trafficIncreased vessel traffic– Harbor porpoise known to avoid boatsHarbor porpoise known to avoid boats– Increased noiseIncreased noise

• ContaminantsContaminants– High levels of PCBs in high level predators in Puget SoundHigh levels of PCBs in high level predators in Puget Sound

– Potential impacts on reproductionPotential impacts on reproduction

Reasons for decline in Puget Sound

Increase in sightings reports in Puget Sound (south and central)

Data from sighting reports to Cascadia Research from 2000 through Aug 2011

Winter WDFW aerial surveys for Winter WDFW aerial surveys for birds reveals shifting distributionbirds reveals shifting distribution

Why is the harbor porpoise population in Why is the harbor porpoise population in Puget Sound increasing?Puget Sound increasing?

• Favorable conditions in Puget Sound:Favorable conditions in Puget Sound:• Recovery of some prey species (herring)Recovery of some prey species (herring)• Decreased incidental take in fisheriesDecreased incidental take in fisheries• Lower contaminant levelsLower contaminant levels

• Growing overall population expanding from other regionsGrowing overall population expanding from other regions

• Worse conditions in outside areas: 2006-2007 Unusual Worse conditions in outside areas: 2006-2007 Unusual Mortality Event in coastal waters of Oregon and Mortality Event in coastal waters of Oregon and Washington may reflect unfavorable factors encouraging Washington may reflect unfavorable factors encouraging harbor porpoise to shift into areas like Puget Soundharbor porpoise to shift into areas like Puget Sound

Increases in harbor porpoise in Strait Increases in harbor porpoise in Strait of Juan de Fuca and San Juansof Juan de Fuca and San Juans

•Harbor porpoise population in adjacent waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and San Juan Islands has tripled since the early 1990s based pm aerial surveys•Closest areas where porpoise immigrated from into Puget Sound

Harbor porpoise strandings in Washington, 1990-2009

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

# st

rand

ings

Pre-UME UMEPost-UME

Northwest harbor porpoise Unusual Mortality Event, 2006-2007

•Strandings were widely dispersed

•Included both sexes and all age classes

•Did not extend into surrounding regions (BC and California)

•No single factor identified

Changes Changes in in strandings strandings of harbor of harbor porpoise porpoise in Puget in Puget SoundSound

Unusual sightings in Puget Sound 2010-11Unusual sightings in Puget Sound 2010-11 2-3 bottlenose dolphins 2-3 bottlenose dolphins

– 1st animal sighted in 4-13 June 2010, found dead 18 July 2010

– 2nd animal seen15 Dec 2010 – 18 Jan 2011, found dead 31 Jan

2 Bryde’s whales2 Bryde’s whales– Juv. male, seen alive Jan 2010 then found

dead in S PS 16 Jan.– 22ndnd Bryde’s whale 1 Bryde’s whale 1stst sighted 13 Nov. 2010, sighted 13 Nov. 2010,

found dead on 4 Dec 2010, ship strike injuryfound dead on 4 Dec 2010, ship strike injury

2 common dolphins2 common dolphins– Since June 2011 in S Puget SoundSince June 2011 in S Puget Sound

Bryde’s Whale, January 16, 2010 CRC-1022

•39 foot juvenile male, seen floating in South Puget Sound on Jan 16th, towed to a secure location for examination on the 18th

•Sighting reports that match description of this whale began in early January•No evidence of having been brought in by ship•Thin, dry blubber, no food remains

•Tropical species, usually not seen north of Southern California•First sighting or stranding ever recorded of this species in the Pacific Northwest

2nd Bryde’s whale sighted 13 Nov 2010, found dead on 4 Dec 2010• Juvenile whale with severe Juvenile whale with severe injuries reported in South injuries reported in South Puget Sound Puget Sound

• Photographed and Photographed and confirmed species in early confirmed species in early December in Totten InletDecember in Totten Inlet

• Found dead 4 December Found dead 4 December near Shelton. near Shelton.

• Necropsy showed Necropsy showed extensive injuries that were extensive injuries that were several weeks old, likely several weeks old, likely cause by collision with a cause by collision with a ship. ship.

Bottlenose Dolphin, June-July, 2010Bottlenose Dolphin, June-July, 2010

• Repeated sightings 4-13 June 2010 in Repeated sightings 4-13 June 2010 in S Puget SoundS Puget Sound• Found dead near Steilacoom, WA 18 Found dead near Steilacoom, WA 18 July 2010July 2010• Severely decomposed adult female,Severely decomposed adult female, 300 cm long 300 cm long •No clear cause of death.No clear cause of death.

•Only two other Tursiops stranding on Only two other Tursiops stranding on record in Washington was in 1988 and record in Washington was in 1988 and 2004 neither of them from Puget Sound 2004 neither of them from Puget Sound proper (Samish Bay and Strait of Juan proper (Samish Bay and Strait of Juan de Fuca)de Fuca)

Mike Julh, Eld Inlet, 9-Jun-10Mike Julh, Eld Inlet, 9-Jun-10

2nd bottlenose dolphin: S Puget Sound 2010-2011

•First seen 15 December 2010 at Port of Tacoma•All sightings in SPS including the last confirmed live sighting of 18 January All sightings in SPS including the last confirmed live sighting of 18 January near Nisqually Delta.near Nisqually Delta.•Found dead at Nisqually on 31 January. Necropsy conducted by WDFW and Found dead at Nisqually on 31 January. Necropsy conducted by WDFW and Cascadia Research Cascadia Research •Immature male (196 cm)Immature male (196 cm)• Thin blubber and very little food remains in its stomach or intestines but did Thin blubber and very little food remains in its stomach or intestines but did not appear to have starved to death. not appear to have starved to death. •There were also indications of trauma around the head that may have been There were also indications of trauma around the head that may have been the result of it stranding alive and thrashing around prior to deaththe result of it stranding alive and thrashing around prior to death.

Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatus

- Globally the most familiar small cetaceans, common in Aquaria and TV shows

-Coastal species and offshore forms seen in small groups

-Primary range in E North Pacific extends north to central California

-Generally not seen this far north, only two other Tursiops Generally not seen this far north, only two other Tursiops stranding on record in Washington was in 1988 and 2004 stranding on record in Washington was in 1988 and 2004 neither of them from Puget Sound proper (Samish Bay. And neither of them from Puget Sound proper (Samish Bay. And Strait of Juan de Fuca)Strait of Juan de Fuca)

Common Dolphin(Long-Beaked Delphinis capensis)(Short Beaked: Delphinus delphis)

Generally known from Generally known from tropical and temperate tropical and temperate waterswatersIn E North Pacific seen In E North Pacific seen north to NCalifornia north to NCalifornia In herds up to 2,000 In herds up to 2,000 animalsanimals

Slightly under 3ft at birth, 8 as adultsSlightly under 3ft at birth, 8 as adults

•2 June 2011 single dolphin reported off Boston Harbor lighthouse

•5 June- 6 October 1-2 dolphins are reported off Boston Harbor, Burfoot Park and Cooper Pt, occasionally in Eld Inlet and Dana Passage

Sightings off Boston Harbor light Sightings off Boston Harbor light househouse

Some reports to Cascadia from public indicated two individuals. Photos here confirm presence of at least two different dolphins present in June.

5 June 2011 11 June 2011

Common dolphin occurrence – previous Common dolphin occurrence – previous sightings in 2003 in WA and BCsightings in 2003 in WA and BC

Two long-beaked common dolphins sighted July and Two long-beaked common dolphins sighted July and Aug. 2003, in Budd Inlet and Dana Passage - one Aug. 2003, in Budd Inlet and Dana Passage - one dolphin has injured beak dolphin has injured beak

16 Aug. 2003 a long-beaked common dolphin live 16 Aug. 2003 a long-beaked common dolphin live stranded near Grayland on the Washington outer coaststranded near Grayland on the Washington outer coast

Common dolphin reports from British Columbia (Ford, Common dolphin reports from British Columbia (Ford, 2005)2005)– 2 Feb. 1993 Mayne Island, dolphin stranded and died 2 Feb. 1993 Mayne Island, dolphin stranded and died – Aug.-Nov. 2002 multiple sightings along southern Vancouver Aug.-Nov. 2002 multiple sightings along southern Vancouver

IslandIsland– 19 Sep. 2003 dolphins Victoria Harbor, individual with injured 19 Sep. 2003 dolphins Victoria Harbor, individual with injured

beak same as seen in South Soundbeak same as seen in South Sound– 7 Oct. 2003 two dolphins including the one with injured beak 7 Oct. 2003 two dolphins including the one with injured beak

entangled off W. Vancouver Island. Dolphin with injured beak entangled off W. Vancouver Island. Dolphin with injured beak released alive, other animal diedreleased alive, other animal died

ConclusionsConclusions Return of harbor porpoise to these regions of Puget Sound Return of harbor porpoise to these regions of Puget Sound

provides encouraging evidence that many of the provides encouraging evidence that many of the underlying ecosystem components, e.g., forage fish underlying ecosystem components, e.g., forage fish populations, are functioning at a level sufficient to support populations, are functioning at a level sufficient to support these and other top predatorsthese and other top predators

Five sightings of three other species in 2010 and 2011, all Five sightings of three other species in 2010 and 2011, all highly unusual or unprecedented in Puget Sound, suggest highly unusual or unprecedented in Puget Sound, suggest a broader underlying common factor bring these southern a broader underlying common factor bring these southern animals northanimals north

The eventual deal of most of the unusual species sighted The eventual deal of most of the unusual species sighted as well incidental deaths of harbor porpoise suggests such as well incidental deaths of harbor porpoise suggests such occurrences are not necessarily positive for these species occurrences are not necessarily positive for these species

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsAssistance with surveys:Assistance with surveys:

Observers from NWFSC, WDFW, and Cascadia Observers from NWFSC, WDFW, and Cascadia ResearchResearch

Assistance with porpoise stranding/necropsies:Assistance with porpoise stranding/necropsies:

Northwest Regional Stranding Network Northwest Regional Stranding Network

Bill Walker Steve Raverty Bill Walker Steve Raverty

Winter wildlife survey data thanks to Joe Evenson, Winter wildlife survey data thanks to Joe Evenson, WDFWWDFW

Common dolphin sighting data compiled by Annie Common dolphin sighting data compiled by Annie DouglasDouglas