Alaska Beluga Monitoring Partnership
The Alaska Beluga Monitoring Program, established in 2019, is a community science program led by NOAA Fisheries. It aims to collect standardized shore-based observational data on Cook Inlet beluga whales through collaboration with organizations, communities, and individuals. The program partners with local organizations to co-host designated monitoring sites along the shores of Cook Inlet. The data collected is incorporated into existing databases and shared with researchers and federal managers to inform ongoing beluga research, conservation, and management efforts. The program also trains volunteers for shore-based beluga monitoring. The Cook Inlet beluga population is critically endangered, and the program helps fill existing knowledge gaps and contribute to beluga recovery. The program transitioned from “citizen science” to “community science” to be more inclusive and reflect its collaborative nature.
See also
External links
- https://akbmp.org/ Official website