Abstract
The population model of the HITTER-FITTER package is applied to compute trajectories for single and two stock scenarios for the beluga population wintering off West Greenland. Values of MSYR1+ from 1% to 4% are considered, with results computed to hit best estimates and lower 5%-iles for total abundance in 1999. Twenty year projections show that even for the most optimistic of these options in the single stock case, the resource is rendered extinct within 20 years if recent estimated annual catch levels of some 700 are continued. A time series of relative abundance information from surveys indicates that MSYR1+ may be no more than 0.5%. All scenarios considered are suggestive of a heavily depleted resource for which catch levels need to be substantially reduced to secure against possible further reduction of the population.
Highlights
The abundance of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) wintering off West Greenland appears to have been declining over the last two decades at least (HeideJørgensen and Reeves 1996), most likely as a result of overharvesting
This paper describes the application of the HITTERFITTER package to assess the status and productivity of the West Greenland beluga resource
For the range of MSYR1+ values considered in Table 1a for the single stock scenario, pre-exploitation 1801 population size is estimated at between about 25,000 to 60,000 belugas
Summary
The abundance of belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) wintering off West Greenland appears to have been declining over the last two decades at least (HeideJørgensen and Reeves 1996), most likely as a result of overharvesting. MSYR1+ for the “Upper” stock for the two stock scenario for beluga whales off West the pristine (pre-exploitation) total population size (K1+), and the current status of the mature component of the population relative to pristine
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