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JULY 14, 2000

The Alaska State Fish and Game Commissioner Frank Rue won't designate Cook Inlet beluga whales as an endangered species under Alaska state law because he said they are not near extinction.

Rue said he won't list them as endangered because the whales are recognized by scientists as subspecies. The National Marine Fisheries Service isn't listing them as endangered either, but as depleted.

Many Alaskan Natives consider the beluga whale vital for cultural and subsistence purposes. The Tyonek are slated to harvest one beluga this summer and the NMFS hopes to come to an agreement to regulate beluga hunting with the Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Council, a coalition of tribal governments.

The NMFS formally designated the Cook Inlet beluga whale under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as depleted effective June 30.

Get the Story:
Whales' status upheld (AP 7/14)

Relevant Links:
Cook Inlet Beluga Whales, Agreements, Laws, Information - www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/whales/beluga.htm
The National Marine Fisheries Service - www.nmfs.gov