Cook Inlet Beluga Whale
(Delphinapterus leucas)
Policy Actions
1998
- Cook Inlet beluga whales were submitted as a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (PDF file)
- ESA status review initiated (PDF file)
1999
- Subsistence harvest of Cook Inlet belugas banned outside of a comanagement agreement (PDF file) (see pg. 111)
2000
- Designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (PDF file)
- NMFS determined ESA listing of Cook Inlet belugas not warranted (PDF file)
2004
- Cook Inlet belugas transferred from candidate species list to the Species of Concern list (PDF file)
2007
- NMFS proposed rule to list Cook Inlet belugas as endangered (PDF 86 kB)
- State of Alaska Comments on the proposed endangered species listing (PDF 1,055 kB)
- ADF&G Comments on the draft Conservation Plan (PDF 45 kB)
- ADF&G Request for 6-month extension on endangered species listing decision (PDF 93 kB)
2008
- NOAA Decision to extend Status Review by 6 months (PDF 64 kB)
- Listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (PDF file)
- Press Release: State Disappointed in Federal Listing of Cook Inlet Belugas (PDF 73 kB)
2009
- State of Alaska 60-day notice of intent to sue NOAA regarding endangered species listing (PDF 767 kB)
- NMFS Advance Notice of Proposed Critical Habitat designation. Request for information. (PDF file)
- State of Alaska Comments/Information regarding Advance Notice of Proposed Critical Habitat designation (PDF 2,503 kB)
- Critical habitat designation proposed by NMFS (PDF file)
2010
- NMFS propose development of a recovery plan for Cook Inlet belugas (PDF file)
- State of Alaska response to Proposed Critical Habitat Designation (PDF 1,465 kB)
- Press Release: State Objects to Critical Habitat for Beluga Whales (PDF 76 kB)
- State of Alaska sues National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over ESA listing of Cook Inlet belugas (PDF file)
- Press Release: State Files Suit Challenging Cook Inlet Beluga ESA Listing (PDF 204 kB)
2011
- Critical habitat designation finalized by NMFS (PDF 1,381 kB)