Project Update: October 2009

In July - September 2009 our team split into two parts: some of the members went to the camp at Avacha Gulf, and the others moved to Beringa Island (Commander Islands). At both places we observed the behaviour of killer whales in order to find out if they face food shortages in these areas. Avacha Gulf is an area of intensive commercial fishery, and the waters of Beringa Island are a marine protected area.

Comparison of killer whale behaviour and photographs in these areas will help us to find the differences between rich and poor feeding grounds. Waters of Beringa Island in July - August 2009 were crowded with salmon going to the rivers to spawn, while in Avacha Gulf fish stocks were depleted by the intensive fishery. Now we analyse our field observations to find out if there were any signs of food shortage in Avacha Gulf killer whales.