Comment from Mark Oslund

Since 1987 I have duck hunted in upper Cook Inlet and have observed beluga whales while doing so. My period od observations have been from Aug. 20 through Oct. 31. with an average of 6 outings per year. Without fail, for the past 22 years I have traveled form Ship Creek to Goose Bay Aug. 31 and Sept.1.. 22 years ago the belugas were plentiful and I was able to motor close to them. They have dramatically decreased throughout the 1990's however, and I have not spotted one in this area in the last 3 years. Coincidentally I have witnessed fewer and fewer sockeye and silver salmon returning to these upper Cook Inlet tributaries. Years ago these fish stocks are what the observed belugas seemed to be feeding on. This late summer feed are disappearing. Fewer salmon means less weight put on by the belugas. Less weight means less survival rate, thus no increase in the beluga population. I am definitely in favor of the critical habitat designation in Cook Inlet.