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### Long-term Monitoring Project: Humpback Whale Predation on Pacific Herring in Prince William Sound ####

The project aims to monitor humpback whale predation on Pacific herring in Prince William Sound for data-driven conservation efforts. Researchers will utilize photographic mark-recapture models to estimate whale population, track seasonal trends, assess dietary shifts, and calculate predation rates. By incorporating mortality rates into herring age structure models and collaborating with killer whale and seabird monitoring programs, the project seeks to support the recovery of herring stocks in the Sound through comprehensive data management and meaningful collaborations. ####

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### Long-term Monitoring Project: Humpback Whale Predation on Pacific Herring in Prince William Sound ####

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  1. Long-term monitoring of humpback whale predation on Pacific herring in Prince William Sound Primary Investigators: John Moran (NOAA) & Jan Straley (UAS Sitka) Co-operating investigator: Terry Quinn (UAF)

  2. Statement of Problem • Humpback whales eat herring. • Humpback whale population in the North Pacific increasing at 5-7% annually. • Predation in Prince William Sound is approaching 20% of the spawning stock biomass • Need to continue evaluating predation pressure on herring until stocks in Prince William Sound fully recover.

  3. Goals &Objectives • Population estimates of humpback whales through the use of photographic mark- recapture models. • Monitor the seasonal trends of humpback whales in Prince William Sound relative to prey. • Estimate inter-annual trends in humpback whale abundance. • Determine the diet and dietary shifts of humpback whales. • Estimate predation rates on herring by humpback whales. • Incorporate mortality rates into herring age structure models.

  4. Project Logistics Humpback whale vessel survey schedule for Prince William Sound. • Opportunistic surveys throughout the year. • Shore-based monitoring of Sawmill Bay.

  5. Distribution of Whales in PWSWhere we focus our effort.

  6. Data Management • Humpback whale data(observation, diet, photographs, etc.) will be stored in the Access Data managed at UAS Sitka. • Biological data from prey (chemistry, energy) will be stored in the Lipids data base at ABL.

  7. Alaska humpback whale database

  8. Collaborations • Killer whale monitoring - ID photographs when encountered.(LTM) • Seabirds – Seabird observer on all whale cruises.(LTM) • OA – Water sample and CTD cast. • Collection – Zooplankton and fish when requested.(Herring) • Other – Non EVOS ( stable isotopes, genetics) • Data that would help us: • Locations and numbers of whales. • Information on prey. • Effort (time and distance).

  9. Data from this project feed into herring ASA model.

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