Estimate of Cumberland Sound beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) population size from the 2014 visual and photographic aerial survey / Marianne Marcoux … [et al.].: Fs70-5/2016-037E-PDF

Belugas (Delphinapterus leucas) in Cumberland Sound are a genetically distinct population in the Canadian eastern Arctic. They have been designated as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada due to a possible decline in abundance. To provide an update to the 2009 population estimate an aerial survey was conducted in August 2014. The 2014 survey had two components; a photographic survey of Clearwater Fiord (a small inlet in the northwest corner of Cumberland Sound), and a visual survey of the northern and western parts of Cumberland Sound. The photographic survey completely covered Clearwater Fiord four times as this is known to be an area where belugas aggregate in the summer months. The survey of the northern part of Cumberland Sound was completed twice, whereas the survey of the western part of Cumberland Sound was completed once. Different correction factors for availability bias were calculated according to the presumed depth at which belugas could be seen from the aircraft and on photos. The corrected estimate for Clearwater Fiord was 603 [coefficient of variance (CV) = 0.076, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 519–699], while the estimate for the northern part of Cumberland Sound was 548 (CV = 0.445, 95% CI = 240–1256). No belugas were seen in the western part of Cumberland Sound. This resulted in a total population abundance of 1151 (CV = 0.214, 95% CI = 760–1744) belugas.

Permanent link to this Catalogue record:
publications.gc.ca/pub?id=9.816820&sl=0

Publication information
Department/Agency Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat.
Title Estimate of Cumberland Sound beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) population size from the 2014 visual and photographic aerial survey / Marianne Marcoux … [et al.].
Variant title Title at head of French abstract : Abondance de la population de béluga (Delphinapterus leucas) de la baie Cumberland Sound obtenue à partir de relevés visuels et photographiques lors du survol de 2014
Series title Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat research document, 1919-5044 ; 2016/037, Central and Arctic Region
Publication type Series - View Master Record
Language [English]
Format Electronic
Electronic document
Note(s) “April 2016.”
Includes bibliographical references (p. 9-11).
Publishing information Ottawa : Fisheries and Oceans Canada, c2016.
Author / Contributor Marcoux, Marianne.
Description iv, 19 p. : ill.
Catalogue number
  • Fs70-5/2016-037E-PDF
Subject terms Fisheries resources
Whales
Fishing area
Fisheries management
Request alternate formats
To request an alternate format of a publication, complete the Government of Canada Publications email form. Use the form’s “question or comment” field to specify the requested publication.
Date modified: