Bowhead whales in the Beaufort Sea: a summary of their seasonal distribution and activities, and potential disturbance by offshore oil and gas exploration and development

Technical Report · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:5845032

Fraker, M A; Richardson, W J

A literature review was conducted to determine the status of information (as of 1980) on bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) behavior, potential sources of industrial disturbance during offshore oil and gas exploration and development, responses of bowheads to such disturbances and to identify data gaps. Approximately 102 references were reviewed in order to meet the goals of the literature summary. The spring and fall migration is described in terms of timing and distribution in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Individual sources of potential disturbance to bowheads due to offshore oil industry activities are described. A general discussion of the response of cetaceans to marine traffic, stationary marine industrial activities and effluents/discharges is presented.

• Research Organization: LGL Ecological Research Associates, Inc., Bryan, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5845032
• Report Number(s): PB-86-153590/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARCTIC OCEAN
BASELINE ECOLOGY
BEAUFORT SEA
CETACEANS
DISTRIBUTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
DRILLING
ECOLOGY
MAMMALS
NOISE POLLUTION
OFFSHORE DRILLING
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
REVIEWS
SEAS
SHIPS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE WATERS
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION