DISTRIBUTION OF SPERM WHALES IN THE NORTHERN KURILE ISLANDS FROM 1959 TO 1961 (Raspredelenie Kashalotov v Severnoi Chasti Kurilskikh Vod v 1959-1961),
Abstract
Sperm whales congregate in two areas of the Northern Kurile Islands: the Paramushir and the Onekotan-Shiashkatan areas. Commercially, the most valuable whales are obtained during April through August in the Paramushir area and during September through October in the Onekotan-Shiashkotan area. The number of pods has decreased recently, as has the areal distribution of sperm whales. This is evident by the decrease of habitat areas, the decrease of concentration periods, and a delay between the spring-summer and autumn migrations. In addition to the decrease in population size, the pods have become smaller, as a result of which the feeding conditions of small whales have deteriorated. This is especially true of females during the beginning of summer, in the northern portion of the region. This is confirmed by different feeding habits of males and females, by the predominance of the major species of squid in the food of males and by the predominance of secondary organisms in the food of females. The northern part of the Kurile Islands has lost its commercial whaling significance because of decreases in population and pod size of whales. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0704671
Entities
People
- M. N. Tarasevich
Organizations
- Naval Oceanographic Office