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AquaticMammals

Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters

Supported through Joint Sponsorship by the European Association for Aquatic Mammals, the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums,

and the International Marine Animal Trainer’s Association

Founded by EAAM in 1974

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Aquatic Mammals, Volume 41, Number 1, 2015 ISSN 0167-5427

ContentsS. M. Van Parijs: Letter of Introduction to the Biologically Important Areas Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

M. C. Ferguson, C. Curtice, J. Harrison, & S. M. Van Parijs: 1. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Overview and Rationale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

E. LaBrecque, C. Curtice, J. Harrison, S. M. Van Parijs, & P. N. Halpin: 2. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – East Coast Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

E. LaBrecque, C. Curtice, J. Harrison, S. M. Van Parijs, & P. N. Halpin: 3. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Gulf of Mexico Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

J. Calambokidis, G. H. Steiger, C. Curtice, J. Harrison, M. C. Ferguson, E. Becker, M. DeAngelis, & S. M. Van Parijs: 4. Biologically Important Areas for Selected Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – West Coast Region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

R. W. Baird, D. Cholewiak, D. L. Webster, G. S. Schorr, S. D. Mahaffy, C. Curtice, J. Harrison, & S. M. Van Parijs: 5. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Hawai‘i Region . . . .54

M. C. Ferguson, C. Curtice, & J. Harrison: 6. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Gulf of Alaska Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

M. C. Ferguson, J. M. Waite, C. Curtice, J. T. Clarke, & J. Harrison: 7. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

J. T. Clarke, M. C. Ferguson, C. Curtice, & J. Harrison: 8. Biologically Important Areas for Cetaceans Within U.S. Waters – Arctic Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104

Literature Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

Aquatic MammalsAquatic Mammals publishes hard copies on-demand, CDs, and online peer-reviewed scientific articles related to

marine mammals (whales, dolphins, seals, fur seals, sea lions, walrus, dugongs, manatees, sea otters, and polar bears). Topics of publication on both captive animals and wild marine mammals include aspects of husbandry; behavior; conservation; veterinary medicine; anatomy; physiology; training; population trends; and the effects of pollution,

climate change, and noise. In addition, Aquatic Mammals has the Historical Perspectives feature, which includes essays and high definition DVDs of interviews with prominent marine mammal scientists. The journal also publishes Book Reviews.

Copyright and Editor: Aquatic Mammals Journal, attn: Kathleen M. DudzinskiCo-Editors: Shane B. Kanatous, David A. S. Rosen, Deirdre Yeater, and Elizabeth Henderson

Mailing Address: PO Box 7485, Port St. Lucie, FL 34985, USA

Prepared and published by Document and Publication Services, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455, USA

Established by the EAAM in 1974

Aquatic MammalsThe European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM), the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA), and the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA)

jointly sponsor Aquatic Mammals (ISSN 0167-5427), published four times per year.

Managing EditorKathleen M. Dudzinski, Ph.D.

Mailing Address: PO Box 7485, Port St. Lucie, Florida 34985, USAE-mail: kathleen@dcpmail.org or aquaticmammals@gmail.com, Tel: +1 (860) 514-4704

Co-EditorsShane B. Kanatous, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Colorado State University

E-mail: Shane.Kanatous@ColoState.edu

David A. S. Rosen, Ph.D., Marine Mammal Research Unit, University of British ColumbiaE-mail: rosen@zoology.ubc.ca

Deirdre Yeater, Ph.D., Sacred Heart UniversityE-mail: yeaterd@sacredheart.edu

Elizabeth Henderson, Ph.D., National Marine Mammal Foundation, San Diego, CaliforniaE-mail: eehenders@gmail.com

Book Review EditorMaryEllen Mateleska, Mystic Aquarium

E-mail: mmateleska@searesearch.org

Editors EmeritiWillem H. Dudok van Heel, Victor J. A. Manton, Paul E. Nachtigall, Jeanette A. Thomas

Editorial BoardArne Bjørge, Institute of Marine Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway

Manuel E. dos Santos, ISPA – Instituto Universitário, Lisboa, PortugalManuel García Hartmann, Marineland Antibes, France

Heidi Harley, Division of Social Sciences, New College of Florida, Sarasota, Florida, USAA. Rus Hoelzel, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, Durham, UK

Christina Lockyer, North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission, Tromsø, NorwayLee A. Miller, Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

Paul E. Nachtigall, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, Kailua, Hawaii, USAGiuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Tethys Research Institute, Milano, ItalyDan Odell, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, Orlando, Florida, USA

Grey Stafford, Wildlife World Zoo, Litchfield Park, Arizona, USA

Publication and Administrative Services Document and Publication Services (DPS), Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois 61455, USA

Cover Photo CreditTop Left: Bryde’s whale in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo Credit: NOAA/Southeast Fisheries Science Center under

permit MMPA Permit #779-1633; Top Center: Bowhead whales in the Arctic. Photo Credit: Amelia Brower, NMFS Permit No. 14245, NOAA Fisheries, North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management;

Top Right: Harbor porpoise off the U.S. East Coast. Photo Credit: Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS); Middle Left: Humpback whale feeding off the U.S. East Coast. Photo Credit: NOAA/Stellwagen Bank

National Marine Sanctuary under permit MMPA #775-1875; Middle Right: North Atlantic right whale off the U.S. East Coast. Photo Credit: NOAA/Northeast Fisheries Science Center under permit MMPA #775-1875;

Bottom Left: Gray whale off the U.S. West Coast. Photo Credit: John Calambokidis, Cascadia Research; Bottom Center: Pseudorca mother and calf in Hawaiian waters. Photo Credit: Robin Baird, Cascadia Research;

Bottom Right: Spotted dolphins in Hawaiian waters. Photo Credit: Robin Baird, Cascadia Research

Aquatic MammalsBoard of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM)

www.eaam.orgPresident: Arlete Sogorb, Lisbon Zoo, president@eaam.org

President-Elect: Brad Andrews, Sea World Parks & Entertainment, president_elect@eaam.orgPast President: Jesús Fernández Morán, Zoo Aquarium Madrid, Parques Reunidos, S.A.,

past_president@eaam.orgSecretary/Treasurer: Camino Herreros Paris, Mundomar, camino.eaam@mundomar.es

Information Committee: Ann-Louise Jensen and Javier Almunia, information@eaam.org

Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums (AMMPA)www.ammpa.org

Executive Director: Kathleen DezioE-mail: executivedirector@ammpa.org

Board of DirectorsPresident: Rita Irwin, Dolphin Research Center, Rita@dolphins.org

Past President: Kevin Willis, Minnesota Zoo, kevin.willis@state.mn.usVice President: Stewart Clark, Discovery Cove, Stewart.Clark@DiscoveryCove.com

Treasurer: Bill Hughes, SeaWorld Orlando, bill.hughes@seaworld.comSecretary: Travis Burke, Dolphin Discovery, tburke@dolphindiscovery.com

Director-at-Large: Mike Muraco, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, mMuraco@sftp.comDirector-at-Large: Bill Zeigler, Chicago Zoological Society, bill.zeigler@czs.org

International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA)www.imata.org

c/o John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USABoard of Directors

President: Linda Erb, Dolphin Research Center, president@imata.orgPresident-Elect: Michele Sousa, Aquarium of the Pacific, presidentelect@imata.org

Past President: Bill Wolden, Dolphin Quest, pastpresident@imata.orgSecretary: Alex Mata, Dolphin Discovery, secretary@imata.org

Treasurer: Rita Stacey, Brookfield Zoo, treasurer@imata.orgPast Treasurer: Robert Roozendaal, pasttreasurer@imata.org

Second Vice President: Suzanne Smith, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, secondvp@imata.orgThird Vice President: Jennifer Pletcher, SeaWorld San Diego, thirdvp@imata.orgDirector-at-Large: Patty Schilling, New England Aquarium, director@imata.org

For subscriptions, instructions to authors, abstracts of previous issues, publication fees, hard copies, back issues, CDs, and Historical Perspectives DVDs, see the Aquatic Mammals website:

www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org

For details about the online versions of Aquatic Mammals, see the following websites:Aquatic Mammals: www.aquaticmammalsjournal.org

ProQuest: www.proquest.com (specific to library subscribers)