You may download the complete report by clicking the links below: Final Gray Whale Status Report Jul/97 - PDF Format (422K) The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife maintains a list of endangered, threatened and sensitive species (Washington Administrative Codes 232-12-014 and 232-12-011, Appendix A). In 1990, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted listing procedures developed by a group of citizens, interest groups, and state and federal agencies (Washington Administrative Code 232-12-297, Appendix B). The procedures include how species listing will be initiated, criteria for listing and de-listing, public review and recovery and management of listed species. The first step in the process is to develop a preliminary species status report. The report includes a review of information relevant to the species’ status in Washington and addresses factors affecting its status including, but not limited to: historic, current, and future species population trends, natural history including ecological relationships, historic and current habitat trends, population demographics and their relationship to long term sustainability, and historic and current species management activities. The procedures then provide for a 90-day public review opportunity for interested parties to submit new scientific data relevant to the status report, classification recommendation, and any State Environmental Policy Act findings. During the 90-day review period, the Department holds statewide public meetings to answer questions and take comments. At the close of the comment period, the Department completes the Final Status Report and Listing Recommendation for presentation to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Final Report and Recommendation are then released 30 days prior to the Commission presentation for public review. This is a Final Status Report for the Gray Whale. Submit written comments on this report by August 3, 1997 to: Endangered Species Program Manager, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501-1091 or e-mail your comments to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov. The Department will present the results of this status review to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for action at the August 8-9, 1997 meeting in Richland, Washington.

Final Gray Whale Status Report: Executive Summary The eastern Pacific population of the gray whale migrates through Washington waters when traveling between its Alaskan feeding waters and its Mexican breeding waters. A few gray whales reside in the state's nearshore waters during portions of the summer; these "summer residents" are known to move among Washington localities and into British Columbia. The abundance of gray whales in the eastern Pacific is estimated to be as great or greater now than it was prior to the onset of commercial exploitation around 1850. The population of approximately 23,000 whales is no longer in danger of extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted the species in 1994, based on the recommendation of the National Marine Fisheries Service (the western Pacific population remains endangered). The federal delisting of the eastern Pacific population was contentious. The Marine Mammal Commission and environmental organizations recommended downlisting to a threatened designation or maintaining the endangered status. These entities expressed concern over potential impacts of proposed salt mining at a major calving area (Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico), an increase in the frequency of "take" by recreational boaters and professional whale-watching operators, increased development along migratory corridors, impacts of oil and gas development, and possible influences of sonic experiments (e.g., acoustic thermometry) on gray whales. Public commenters on the draft status report raised these same issues. They also addressed uncertainty about effects of contaminants on whales foraging in inland marine waters of Washington and the need to manage migratory and summering gray whales distinctly. State Endangered status of the gray whale is no longer warranted, because the species is not "seriously threatened with extinction." State Threatened status is not warranted, because the species is not "likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future." Gray whales present in inland marine waters of Washington during summer may constitute a "significant portion of [the species'] range within the state." Although certain threats to Washington's summering whales may be greater than to migrating individuals, no available evidence indicates the foreseeable extirpation of the summer resident subpopulation. However, whale watching has increased, whales may eventually be subject to low-quota harvest by Washington tribes, and there are uncertainties about the status of and risks to gray whales summering in Washington. For these reasons, State Sensitive status is warranted, because the gray whale is "vulnerable" and requires "cooperative management or removal of threats" to avoid becoming threatened or endangered. If the gray whale is designated State Sensitive, the Department will be required to prepare a management plan within three years. The Department recommends the gray whale be downlisted to State Sensitive status. For more information on wildlife management issues, please contact WDFW Wildlife Management Program. Phone: 360-902-2515 E-mail: wildthing@dfw.wa.gov Files formatted in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) require the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print. You can download the free reader directly from Adobe. Windows versions are approximately 4MB in size.