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)