International scientific experts on Beluga whales meet for the first time at the Oceanográfico

The Oceanográfico of the City of Arts and Sciences has organised, from 9th to 11th March, the 1st International Workshop on Beluga Whale Research, at which world scientists specialising in the study of beluga whales will be meeting for the first time and in which representatives of all the arctic countries (U.S.A., Canada, Russia, Norway, Denmark and Island) will be taking part. The meeting will focus on themes concerning beluga whales held in aquariums throughout the world, especially in Japan, Canada and the U.S.A. and representatives of native Eskimo communities from the arctic regions of Alaska and Canada will also be attending.

Taking part at the presentation were the general manager of the City of Arts and Sciences, Jorge Vela, the coordinator of research at the Oceanográfico, Manuel Castellote, the representative and assistant to the scientific programme of the Marine Mammal Commission (MMC), the U.S. governmental department that deals with the conservation of marine mammals throughout all the waters of that country, Mike Simpkins, and the director of Amherst Lodge Consulting, Canada, Ree Brennin who is participating in the PATOB project.

Jorge Vela said that for the City of Arts and Sciences “it is a great honour to be the venue for this meeting that will be held for the first time in history and at which subjects of such importance, both for the protection and preservation of beluga whales and the environment in general, will be discussed”. Furthermore, he added that the choice of the Oceanográfico “not only because it is now a point of reference for research into beluga whales, but also for the quality of its installations, confirms that it is fulfilling its main aims of being, not only a leisure centre but also a place where awareness is being raised on environmental conservation through research and educational activities”.

Manuel Castellote, for his part, stressed that the meeting “marks a landmark by being the first time that the groups of specialists working with the same species in two very different areas – the sea and aquariums- will exchange experience”. Moreover, Castellote explained that the cultural aspect in the preservation of beluga whales “will also have special importance due to the presence of the native inhabitants of Alaska and Canada, who know beluga whales well and can help to determine which activities have to be regulated for their conservation”.

Beluga whales are a very important species for the survival of many native communities in the Arctic and are an excellent indicator of climatic changes due to their dependence on the ice formation and recession cycle. The meetings, therefore, to be held at the Oceanográfico will fulfil a dial aim: the protection and conservation of beluga whales and finding out more about the effects of climatic change on that species in the Arctic ecosystem. Furthermore, the beluga whale is an ideal species for education on climatic change, the fragility of marine ecosystems and to promote understanding and collaboration between various cultures for conserving the Arctic.

The meeting on 9th, 10th and 11th March will deal with the main issues for the survival of this species on the planet: population management, their conservation and ecology faced with the problem of global warming. Moreover, one day will be devoted to an update on research into beluga whales, both in the wild and in captivity in order to draw up an overall agenda of recommendations that will include all the lines of work that the research centres of the countries involved should be covering over the forthcoming years. In addition, the educational activities undertaken in aquariums will be reviewed in order to strengthen awareness of the environmental problems affecting this species.

Parallel meetings

This meeting will be preceded by two scientific meetings of different countries that will take advantage of the main meeting at the Oceanográfico to undertake parallel projects related to beluga whales. The Marine Mammal Commission (MMC) of the U.S.A. will hold from 4th to 6th March a meeting dedicated to beluga whale and ringed seal population management in the Arctic, at which will be analysed the need to adapt management and follow-up of these species faced with global climatic change.

Mike Simpkins said that these two species had been chosen “ for their circumpolar distribution, the large amount of information, both current and historical, on their situation in several regions, as well as for their huge importance for local communities”.

Besides this, on 7th and 8th March, the final details will be worked out on beginning fieldwork with beluga whales in the wild, an international project set up to mark International Polar Year aimed at assessing the impact of global warming on the ecology of beluga whales. PATOB (Pan Artic Tracking of Beluga Whales Project) will provide information on the beluga whales’ capacity for adapting to climatic changes, as well as for encouraging collaboration between local hunters and scientists.

Ree Brennin explained that “100 beluga whales a year will be tagged over a period of three years: miniature satellite transmitters will be fitted to them that will provide data on the situation of the ice layer”. For this, Brennin claimed that the collaboration of native populations was essential, given their experience in the handling of these animals”.

On Saturday 10th March, a summary of the conclusions of both preparatory meetings will be presented.