2018 program for gray whale monitoring off the … · 2018 program for gray whale monitoring off...

APPROVED BY:

___________________

E.L. Mikolaevskaya Design and Approvals Manager,

Exxon Neftegas Limited

September, 2017

APPROVED BY:

_______________________

Stephanie Lock, HSE General Manager,

Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, Ltd.

September, 2017

2 0 1 8 P RO G R AM FO R G R AY W H ALE MO NI TO RI N G O F F THE NO RTH - E AS T C O AS T O F S AK H A L I N I S L AN D

2017

WESTERN GRAY WHALE ADVISORY PANEL 18th meeting

WGWAP-18/21-EN 15-17 November 2017

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2018 Program for Gray Whale Monitoring off the North-East Coast of Sakhalin Island

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 2

2. HISTORICAL DATA....................................................................................................................... 7

3. JOINT PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .......................................................................... 8

4. SAFETY ......................................................................................................................................... 9

5. DISTRIBUTION MONITORING ..................................................................................................... 9

5.1. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .......................................................................................................... 9

5.2. WORK COORDINATION ............................................................................................................. 10

5.3. DISTRIBUTION SURVEY METHODOLOGY .............................................................................. 10

6. PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION STUDIES ......................................................................... 11

6.1. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................ 11

6.2. WORK COORDINATION ............................................................................................................. 11

6.3. PHOTO-ID SURVEY METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................... 11

7. UNSCHEDULED STUDY ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................ 13

8. MINIMIZING MONITORING PROGRAM ADVERSE IMPACT ON GRAY WHALES ................. 13

9. INTERACTION AMONG PERSONNEL IMPLEMENTING THE FIELD PROGRAM .................. 13

10. REPORTING ................................................................................................................................ 14

11. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 15

ADDENDUM 1. HISTORICAL SIGHTINGS AT PILTUN AND OFFSHORE FEEDING AREAS ........ 17

ADDENDUM 2. WHALE SAFETY ASSURANCE GUIDELINES FOR THE JOINT PROGRAM FOR

MONITORING GRAY WHALES OFF NORTH-EAST SAKHALIN ...................................................... 18



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Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, Ltd. 2

1. INTRODUCTION

Exxon Neftegas Limited (ENL) and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd.

(Sakhalin Energy) (hereinafter Companies), Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 Project

operators respectively, are engaged in commercial development of oil and gas fields

on the continental shelf off the north-east coast of Sakhalin Island in the Sea of

Okhotsk. The primary feeding areas of the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) near

Sakhalin Island are in direct proximity to the Piltun-Astokh, Odoptu, Chayvo, and

Arkutun-Dagi oil and gas fields currently under development by the Companies. The

Okhotsk-Korean gray whale population is listed as Critically Endangered by the

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2007) and as Category 1

Threatened in the Russian Red Book (2001).

Pursuant to Russian Federation environmental laws (i.e., Federal Law on

Wildlife No. 7-FZ of January 10, 2002 and Federal Law on Environmental Protection

No. 52-FZ of April 24, 1995), measures to conserve wildlife habitats must be provided

and carried out in the course of business.

In addition, recommendations to conduct annual monitoring of the Okhotsk-

Korean gray whale have been provided to both Companies by Russian federal bodies.

The Sakhalin-1 and Sakhalin-2 Project documentations, including the Environmental

Impact Assessments (EIAs), have undergone extensive reviews through the State

Environmental Expert Review (SEER) process. The SEER conclusions for each

project contain recommendations regarding development of a comprehensive

program for gray whale monitoring. The SEER Conclusion on the Sakhalin-1 TEO of

Construction of January 23, 2004 states that such a monitoring program must include

“…regular monitoring observations”. The SEER Conclusion on the Sakhalin-2 TEO of

the Piltun-Astokh and Lunskoye License Areas Integrated Development (Phase 2)

Sakhalin-2 Project of July 21, 2003, recommends developing a program for gray whale

monitoring that would give the missing answers to the questions on the condition of

the Okhotsk-Korean population and how much gray whales are exposed to the impact

of business activities.

In 2002, ENL and Sakhalin Energy established the Joint Program for the Gray

Whale Monitoring off the North-East Coast of Sakhalin (hereafter Joint Program). The

area monitored under the Joint Program is the coastal portion of the north-east

Sakhalin Island, including the waters of the Sakhalin-1 license areas (the Odoptu,



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Chayvo and Arkutun-Dagi fields) and Sakhalin-2 license areas (the Piltun-Astokh and

the Lunskoye fields) (Figure 1).

The work scope outlined in the 2018 Joint Program is a continuation of

monitoring performed annually from 2002 to 2017 by the companies’ contractors:

Russian Fishery Agency’s and Russian Academy of Sciences’ scientific and research

Institutes and Universities of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Russian

Federation.

Joint Program activities conducted in previous years have made it possible to:

• Capacity building in Russian Research Institutes related to gray whale program.

• Identification of returning and/or new adults and calves through extensive photo

identification.

• Estimates of gray whale population size and population dynamics (population

continues to increase).

• Identification of two, distinct, feeding areas offshore Sakhalin Island: Piltun

(near-shore) and Morskoy (Offshore).

• Timing and duration of the main feeding period.

• Identification of a feeding area offshore the Kamchatka Peninsula.

• Identification of benthic food prey (location, type and abundance).

• Measurements of anthropogenic noises along with developments in acoustic

buoys.

• Characterization of the whales’ behaviors and responses to sources of potential

disturbance.

• Recognition that anthropogenic activities are not deterring gray whales

returning to feed.

• Physical condition: body condition recovers during the feeding period, the

proportion of the whales regaining condition over the summer retains the same

natural variability.

• Satellite tagging and telemetry development and implementation, yielding

significant scientific results questioning the population distinctions between

Western Pacific and Eastern Pacific gray whales.

• Genetic analysis of biopsy samples providing high quality information on

population genetics.



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• No evidence of a separate Western (Sakhalin) gray whale breeding population

or area.

• Sakhalin gray whales are considered increasingly to be a “feeding aggregate”

by whale experts.

• With assistance of expert scientific and technical groups, development of

rigorous protection measures implemented during anthropogenic activities to

minimize risk to gray whales, and made available for the wider oil and gas

industry with report sharing, presentations and publications.

• Observation and description of threats to Sakhalin gray whales posed by non-

company activities (e.g. entanglement from fishery nets, lines and equipment;

intrusion by tourist vessels) have been identified as presenting non-mitigated

risks to the whales. The profile of these threats in the eyes of the authorities

has been raised as a result.

The Joint Program is a major producer of new data and information on the gray

whales off Sakhalin. The information collected and analysis from it has increased the

knowledge base of these animals and their habitat, been used to assess and mitigate

real and perceived risks to the whales, and enable more effective management

through science and risk-based decisions.

Following completion of construction activities by ENL in 2017, both Companies

will be in operational phase for offshore assets. During the operational phase, it is

expected that the Companies will follow requests from the Russian Party (and other

stakeholders) to demonstrate value from the Joint Program. At the same time, it is

likely that the gray whales, currently classified as critically endangered, will retain an

endangered classification in the long term, so environmental risk and societal

expectations will remain.

The Companies intend to refresh the Joint Program to recognize the value of

the large volume of information already gained, determine what questions the program

would need to be able to answer in the medium to long term and design a program

that adequately demonstrates due diligence and no significant impact. The operational

phase Joint Program in 2018 and beyond will focus on two targets: diagnostic

monitoring (i.e. monitoring of potential impacts from company activities) and the

dissemination of the information produced by the program to the wider industry /

agencies.



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Program field elements, such as acoustics, behavior observations, and benthic

sampling will be discontinued by the Joint Program due to the significant quantity of

data already collected during routine operations. However, when a Company is

conducting special activities, such as seismic surveys, these elements may be

included in the monitoring program of that special activity.

It is anticipated that the Joint Program studies will continue to yield valuable

information that helps conserve wildlife habitat and minimize risk to gray whales. The

proposed work scope for the 2018 Joint Program is contingent on joint funding and

participation by both Companies. If either company chooses not to participate in any

aspect of the Joint Program, the scope of the proposed Joint Program may be

modified. As in previous years, the scope of the 2018 Joint Program will be adjusted

as necessary, in accordance with time, weather, safety, and logistical constraints.

The scope of work hereunder implies the use of only widely-accepted scientific

methods fully consistent with the specified Joint Program goals, particularly: collecting

representative data in a manner that has minimal impact to gray whales.



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Figure 1. Monitoring area map

Program for Gray Whale Monitoring off the North-East

Coast of Sakhalin Island On-shore/off-shore infrastructure elements

Off-shore pipelines ENL SEIC

License Areas ENL SEIC

Kilometers

Severny Bay

Piltun Bay

Terpeniya

Bay

Aniva

Bay

Cape Elizaveta

Cape Terpeniya

YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK

RUSSIA

CHINA

Sea of Okhotsk

JAPAN

P a c i f i c

O c e a n

S E A O F O K H O T S K

Odoptu

Platform PА-B

Piltun Bay

Chayvo Bay

Nyisk Bay

Nabilsk Bay

Lunsk Bay

Piltun Beacon

Platform PA-А («Molikpaq»)

Orlan Platform

Berkut Platform Chayvo OPF Yastreb Well

Bank

Nogliki

Piltun-Astokh

License Area

Lunskoye License

Area

Arkutun-Dagi License

Area Chayvo License

Area

Odoptu License

Area



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2. HISTORICAL DATA

Prior to the whale industry in the Pacific Ocean, the gray whales of the Pacific

Ocean were considered to comprise two populations: (1) the Okhotsk-Korean or

“western” population of gray whales which inhabited the NW Pacific coastal areas of

Asia (e.g., Russia, Japan, China, Korea), and (2) the Chukotsk-Californian or “eastern”

population which inhabited the Pacific coastal waters of North America (e.g., Canada,

USA, Mexico) and NE Russia. The Okhotsk-Korean population of gray whales was

believed to have been essentially hunted to extinction by the mid-20th century.

However, in 1983, approximately 20 gray whales were observed off NE Sakhalin

(Blokhin et al. 1985) and were assumed to be the remnants of the Okhotsk-Korean

gray whale population.

Since they were discovered in the 1980s, the numbers of gray whales observed

off NE Sakhalin has steadily increased each year. The latest population assessment

for the Sakhalin non-calf gray whales feeding aggregate is 180-220 individuals, and

the rate of growth of that feeding aggregate is approximately 2-5% a year (Cooke et

al., 2017).

Satellite tagging of gray whales off NE Sakhalin in 2010 and 2011 has made it

possible to better understand migration paths of gray whales that feed by Sakhalin. Of

the three satellite-tagged whales tracked from Sakhalin, all three left Sakhalin waters

in December, migrated to Kamchatka and then eastwardly to coastal North America,

where their migrations overlapped with those of the Chukotsk-Californian (“eastern”)

gray whales. The migration of tagged whales from Sakhalin to coastal North America

provided the first evidence that the gray whales observed off Sakhalin and those

observed off North America may be from a single population of “Pacific” gray whales.

The possibility that Sakhalin gray whales are members of the same population that

inhabits coastal North American areas has been previously suggested (Ilyashenko,

2009) and is further supported by photographic and genetic matching of >30 Sakhalin

gray whales being documented as occurring along the coast of North America. It is

currently acknowledged by a number of gray whale experts that the Sakhalin gray

whales constitute a “feeding aggregate” or subpopulation of a single Pacific gray whale

population that consists of the whales historically designated as “eastern” and

“western” gray whales, and that the Sakhalin gray whales do not meet the criteria to

be considered a separate population of gray whales.



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Gray whales are typical benthophages and, in contrast to all other cetaceans,

feed primarily on benthic (bottom) and epibenthic (near-bottom) invertebrates. The

Sakhalin gray whales are known to actively feed during the summer-fall (ice-free)

period while offshore NE Sakhalin and off the east coast of Kamchatka. The high

biomass of the gray whales’ benthic food resources off NE Sakhalin is evidently the

reason that the gray whales form feeding clusters here (Fadeev, 2007-2009). Two

primary feeding areas off NE Sakhalin are known: the Piltun (“near-shore” or “coastal”)

feeding area and the Morskoy (“offshore”) feeding area. The near-shore feeding area

is located just eastward of Piltun Bay, with most gray whales feeding in this area in

shallow waters with depths less than 20-25 m and not more than 4-5 km away from

shore. The offshore feeding area, discovered in 2001, is located 40-50 km south-

southeast of the Piltun area and eastward of Chayvo and Nyisky Bays, 25-50 km from

shore with depths of 35-60 m (Addendum 1).

In addition, a smaller numbers of Sakhalin gray whales (over 80 specimens)

have been sighted feeding in Olga Bay off the east coast of Kamchatka (Tyurneva et

al., 2010). Sighting gray wales in other parts of the Okhotsk Sea remain singular

events.

Each year gray whales begin to appear off the NE Sakhalin coast in late May -

early June as the sea ice clears. By late June - early July, their numbers increase, and

by August most of these whales are seen concentrated in the two primary feeding

areas. The whales remain in the area until they begin their winter migration during the

November-December period, and with the onset of ice along the coast by early

December essentially all gray whales have departed from NE Sakhalin.

3. JOINT PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of the 2018 Joint Program is to continue diagnostic monitoring of the

Sakhalin gray whales and its habitat based on the knowledge received since 2002 for

continious implemention of protective measures by the Companies.

Starting in 2017 Companies began to focus on analysis and publication of the

results for past years of distribution, benthic (food resources and trophic ecology of

gray whales), acoustic and genetics program components. In 2018 the Joint Program

field surveys will focus on the distribution and photo-identification components that



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allow the continued determination of the status of the population. The implementation

of specific components of the program will depend on the decisions of the Companies.

The objectives of the 2018 Joint Program include:

1. Determination of spatial distribution of the gray whale population off NE

Sakhalin during the main feeding period;

2. Assessment of the state of the gray whale population off NE Sakhalin,

including numbers, demographic indices, the structure of the population,

size dynamics and physical condition indices.

4. SAFETY

The safety of gray whales and the safety of the Joint Program personnel are

the highest priority of the Companies. Detailed safety plans prepared specifically for

the Joint Program activities are updated for each year’s program. The gray whale

safety plans for the Joint Program are provided in Addendum 2. Prior to the field

season, all Joint Program participants will receive training on the safety plans and

requirements.

5. DISTRIBUTION MONITORING

5.1. Goals and objectives

Studies will be conducted to determine whales’ distribution within and between

feeding areas on NE Sakhalin and to assist in assessing the abundance and status of

the Sakhalin gray whale feeding aggregate and potential disturbance associated with

Companies activities.

The distribution of gray whales across the monitoring area is documented by

shore-based and vessel-based (on-board) teams.

The objectives of distribution surveys are to:

1. Collect information on the spatial distribution of gray whales in the Piltun

and Morskoy feeding areas;

2. Assess the abundance of gray whale during the summer-fall feeding period;

3. Collect information about intra-seasonal and interannual changes in the

whales’ use of the feeding areas;

4. To collect information on the distribution and numbers of other marine

mammals observed during the Joint Program.



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5.2. Work Coordination

Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) will conduct distribution surveys under the

auspices of the Sakhalin State University.

5.3. Distribution Survey Methodology

The distribution surveys off NE Sakhalin with similar metholodies described in

previous programs and reports (2017 Program for Gray Whale Monitoring…, 2017;

Vladimirov et all, 2017).

Studies in the Morskoy feeding area will cover the aquatoria SE of the Chayvo

Bay (from 51°48´ N to 52°12´ N and from 143°30´ E to 143°56´ E). Depths of the study

area will be between 35-60 m. Vessels will transect the study area with approximately

six latitudinal tracks spaced 6.5 km apart.

Studies in the Piltun feeding area will cover the aquatoria to the north and south

of the mouth of Piltun Bay along a 120 km section of the coast bound by coordinates

53°24’45" N in the north and 52°28’55" N in the south (Addendum 1).

The distribution studies will be conducted regularly during the summer and fall

feeding seasons of the gray whales. The actual number of observations, locations and

trips will depend on weather and sea conditions and vessels’ availability. The

requirements for MMO competence, procedures for data logging and reporting,

equipment and PPE are the same as in previous years.



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6. PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION STUDIES

6.1. Goals and objectives

Studies will be conducted to identify individual gray whales, to assist in

assessing the status of the Sakhalin gray whale feeding aggregate, and to understand

the whales’ use of the feeding areas off NE Sakhalin.

The objectives of photo-identification surveys are to:

1. Update the photo-ID catalog with identification of each individual gray whale;

2. Assess the number, status, habitat use, and the observed dates of

separation of cow/calf pairs;

3. Assess the physical status, skin condition and health of individual gray

whales;

4. Assess fidelity of individual gray whales visiting offshore NE Sakhalin

feeding areas;

5. Determining the spatial distribution of gray whales in the Piltun feeding area

during the monitoring period;

6. Characterize gray whales’ demographics and structure;

7. Characterize habitat use (i.e., intra- and inter- year movements of individual

whales within each feeding area).

6.2. Work Coordination

The photo-identification studies will be conducted by the National Scientific

Center of Marine Biology (NSCMB, earlier - Institute of Marine Biology) of the Far

Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Vladivostok.

6.3. Photo-ID Survey Methodology

The photo-ID work off NE Sakhalin will be conducted during the summer-fall

feeding season of the gray whales. Individual gray whales are photographed, which

allows the whales to be identified based on spots, scars, and other marks of various

configurations and sizes on their flanks, backs, and fins that are unique for each whale,

readily observable and generally consistent over time. The photo-ID method has

shown good results when used by other researchers in gray whale studies at various

habitats (Calambokidis et al., 2002; Darling, 1984; Weller et al., 2006).



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Same as during previous studies implemented by the Companies between from

2002 through 2017, photography of Sakhalin gray whales will be conducted from sea

- using small boats launched from a vessel, and from land - using vehicle based on

existing camps, accordance previous years’ methodology (2017 Program for Gray

Whale Monitoring…, 2017; Yakovlev et all, 2017).

The vessel-based photo-ID efforts will focus on the both primary gray whale

feeding areas. Gray whales encountered outside of the primary feeding areas, along

NE Sakhalin and during vessel transits and sheltering from storms, will be

photographed if opportunities allow. Photo-ID efforts of the Piltun feeding area will also

be conducted, as opportunity allows, from the shore during July through September.

Most of the whales in the Piltun feeding area are found within 3-5 km of shore with

many observed only 1-2 km offshore. Vehicle-based teams will cover the entire 120

km coastal length of the Piltun feeding area (Addendum 1).

The requirments for small boat safety procedure, reporting, equipment and PPE

are the same as on previous years (Addendum 2).

In addition, the vehicle-based teams will use small unmanned aerial vehicles

(UAV or drones) equipped with high quality cameras. The drones provide the ability to

acquire photographs and video from directly above the whales. The photographers

are trained to safely operate a drone from shore out to discovered whales. Drones

have a flight time of 25-30 minutes and are capable of covering distances up to 5 km.

Photographs and video will be recorded by the drone from heights of 10-20 m above

the whales. Studies show that drone noise levels are very close to background noise

levels in shallow water habitats and do not disturb the whales.

All of the program’s camera equipment now have the ability to geotag each

photograph (i.e., record the GPS location in the metadata of the photograph). This

capacity allows the scientists to easily create a distribution map of all of the sightings.



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7. UNSCHEDULED STUDY ACTIVITIES

Monitoring work outside the original scope of this program that may be needed

in the course of gathering the research data or in case of unforeseeable changes in

the condition of the gray whales or their habitat, or for other reasons, will be

coordinated with the Russian Federation Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology

(Minprirody of Russia) and with the Federal Service of Natural Resources Use

Supervision (Rosprirodnadzor).

8. MINIMIZING MONITORING PROGRAM ADVERSE IMPACT ON GRAY WHALES

Since there was no known direct or indirect impact of shore-based surveys on

gray whales, no special measures are necessary to minimize the impact of the surveys

on the whales.

In conducting vessel-based distribution surveys, and performing photo-

identification from small boats, the Whale Safety Assurance Guidelines developed

in 2004 by the Companies and updated annually will be followed (Addendum 2). These

measures minimize the potential impact the vessel-based activities on the gray

whales.

In the Piltun feeding area, the potential adverse impact of utilizing small boats

for the photo-ID component has been eliminated with the change to using drones to

acquire the data.

9. INTERACTION AMONG PERSONNEL IMPLEMENTING THE FIELD PROGRAM

During the field study period, each team lead or coordinator of every component

of Joint Monitoring Program will maintain communication with other groups operating

on Sakhalin within the scope of the current program to coordinate their activities, as

opportunity allows, in order to obtain the most comprehensive and detailed information

possible on the biology and distribution patterns of gray whales off NE Sakhalin.

Based on logistics, weather and sea conditions, safety, and/or other factors, the

Joint Program plans and priorities may need to be adjusted. Under such

circumstances, flexibility in setting and meeting the objectives of the field program will

be required. Therefore, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Sakhalin Energy Investment



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Company, Ltd. and the work coordinators will do everything within their power to

collaborate well together and to coordinate any needed adjustments promptly and

effectively.

10. REPORTING

At the end of the field season, the Companies will prepare highlights of the Joint

Program operations for the 2018 field season for presentation to the Interdepartmental

Working Group (IWG) on Ensuring Conservation of the Okhotsk-Korean Gray Whale

Population under the Minprirody of Russia.

The final report on the 2018 Joint Program will be submitted to the Minprirody

of Russia, the Rosprirodnadzor and the Federal Fishery Agencies (Rosrybolovstvo) in

the second quarter of 2019, followed by presentations on the final results given to the

Minprirody of Russia and Rosprirodnadzor during a meeting of IWG.



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11. REFERENCES

2017 Program for Gray Whale Monitoring off the North-East Coast of Sakhalin

Island, 2017. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk - Moscow, 36 p.

Blokhin, S.A., M.K. Maminov, and G.M. Kosygom, 1985. On the Korean-Okhotsk

Population of Gray Whales. Rep. Int. Whales Commn. 35 p.

Calambokidis J., J.D. Darling, V. Deecke, P. Gearin, M. Gosho, W. Megill,

C.M. Tombach, D. Goley, C. Toropova and B. Gisborne. 2002. Abundance, range

and movements of a feeding aggregation of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus)

from California to southeastern Alaska in 1998. Journal of Cetacean Research

and Management 4(3), P. 267- 276.

Cooke J.G., Weller D.W., Bradford A.L., Sychenko O., Burdin A.M, Lang A.R, and

Brownell R.L. Jr. 2017. Population Assessment Update for Sakhalin Gray Whale,

with Reference to Stock Identity. Paper SC/67a/A17/GW08 to IWC Scientific

Committee, Bled, May 2017. iwc.int/sc67adocs.

Darling, J.D. 1984. Gray whales off Vancouver Island, British Columbia. p. 267-

287 In: M.L. Jones, S.L. Swartz, and S. Leatherwood (eds.), The gray whale

Eschrichtiusrobustus. Academic Press, Orlando, FL. 600 p.

Fadeev, V.I. 2007. Benthos and food supply studies in feeding areas of the

Okhotsk-Korean gray whale population. Unpublished contract report by the

Institute of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of

Science, Vladivostok, Russia, for Exxon Neftegas Limited, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk,

Russia and Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Limited, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk,

Russia. 119 pp.

Fadeev, V.I. 2008. Benthos studies in feeding grounds of the Okhotsk-Korean gray

whale population in 2007. Unpublished contract report by the Institute of Marine

Biology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Vladivostok,

Russia, for Exxon Neftegas Limited, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia and Sakhalin

Energy Investment Company Limited, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia. 91 pp.

Fadeev, V.I. 2009. Benthos studies in feeding grounds of Western Gray Whales

off the northeast coast of Sakhalin Island (Russia), 2004-2008 // Int'1 Whaling

Com., 61st meeting, doc. SC/61/BRG24 - 9 pp.

Ilyashenko, V.Y. 2009. How isolated is the “Western” Gray Whale Population?

Int'1 Whaling Com., 61st meeting, doc. SC/61/BRG22 - 3 pp.

International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List, 2007.

http://www.iucnredlist.org.



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Lerczak, J.A. and R.C. Hobbs. 1998. Calculating sighting distances from angular

readings during shipboard, aerial, and shore-based marine mammal surveys.

Marine Mammal Science 14:590-599.

Red List of the Russian Federation (Fauna), Moscow, Astrel Publishers, 2001.

Rice, D.W. and A.A. Wolman. 1971. The life history and ecology of the gray whale.

Spec. Publ. Am. Soc. Mammal. No. 3, 142 pp.

Tyurneva, O.Yu., Yu.M. Yakovlev, V.V. Vertyankin, G. Gailey, O. Sychenko,

J.E. Muir. 2010. Photographic identification of the Korean-Okhotsk gray whale

(Eschrichtiusrobustus) offshore northeast Sakhalin Island and southeast

Kamchatka Peninsula (Russia), 2009 // Int'1 Whaling Com., 62nd meeting, doc.

SC/62/BRG9 – 12 pp.

Vladimirov, V. A., Timokhin, I. A., Tyurin S. A. Distribution and abundance of

Gray Whales Offshore Northeast Sakhalin in August-September of 2016. Survey

report under the 2016 Program for Gray Whale Monitoring Offshore Northeast

Sakhalin Island. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 2017. 53 p.

Weller, D.W., A.L. Bradford, G.A. Tsidulko, Y.V. Ivashchenko, A.R. Lang, H. W.

Kim, S.H. Rickards, A.M. Burdin and R.L. Brownell, Jr. 2006. Western Gray

Whales off Sakhalin Island, Russia: A catalog of photo-identified individuals.

Document SC/58/BRG2, Scientific. Committee, International Whaling

Commission, Cambridge, UK.

Yakovlev, Yu. M., Tyurneva, O. M., Vertyankin V. V. and Peter van der Wolf. 2016.

Photo-identification of Gray Whales (Eschrichtius robustus) off the Northeast coast

of Sakhalin Island. Vladivostok. 96 p.



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Addendum 1. Historical sightings at Piltun and Offshore feeding areas



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Addendum 2. Whale Safety Assurance Guidelines for the Joint Program for Monitoring Gray Whales off North-East Sakhalin

Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, Ltd. and Exxon Neftegas Limited (the

Companies) strive to minimize the potential impact that coastal research and

monitoring work conducted on behalf of the Companies might have on the marine

environment and, in particular, on gray whales off NE Sakhalin.

This document describes the protection measures associated with vessel-

based gray whale monitoring and research work that will help to minimize potential

distress to these whales.

The scientific studies financed by the industry enterprises and implemented

using research and dedicated vessels, plus hard-body and inflated boats of Zodiac

type (Zodiac hereunder), will include vessel-based activities, including observations of

marine mammals, collection of benthic samples of gray whale food resources, photo-

ID, and acoustic monitoring. Small boats will be equipped with low-noise 4-stroke

outboard and water-jet motors. It is recognized that individual gray whales may

respond to the implementation of these studies along the NE coast of Sakhalin Island.

Visible signs of whale’s responding to monitoring activities may include:

- “running” or rapid movement away from the vessel or boat;

- change in direction or rate of motion;

- sudden diving;

- change in breathing patterns;

- tail slapping, lob tailing, or breaching;

- other behavioral changes, e.g. changing from resting or feeding to being

in motion.

If a gray whale is distressed it may:

- leave the feeding area;

- cease eating;

- cease nursing a calf;

- become stressed;

- get injured (in collision with vessel, mostly).

This document describes general protective measures that will be taken during

all operations conducted onboard the main vessels and Zodiac small boats, and

outlines special protective measures to be taken by the Joint Program monitoring

teams. These protective measures are based on Russian Federation laws, the Marine

Mammal Protection Programs of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company and Exxon



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Neftegas Limited, and international regulations for the protection of marine mammals,

such as the current restrictions of the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling

Commission on the distance that vessels, including small craft, must maintain from the

whales. Each year the protective measures outlined in this document shall be

assessed and, if necessary, shall be revised based on the latest available data on gray

whale ecology and (or) on the basis of data received from scientists working in the

field.

General protective measures

I. At all times, the safety of personnel is the highest priority, followed by

the safety of whales and other marine mammals. The acquisition of

data will never be of higher priority than the safety of personnel and

whales.

II. Vessels and boats, their motors, and other equipment must be maintained

and operated during the expedition in such a way that noise is minimized,

thereby reducing potential for effect on gray whales.

III. At least two marine mammal observers (MMO) must be on board the vessel

in order to ensure continuous observation while vessel is moving during

daylight hours and tracking of all gray whales or other marine mammals

that may appear near the vessel.

IV. MMOs watching for whales during any given survey or vessel journey shall

be able to communicate immediately with the vessel captain and, as

appropriate, to recommend that the captain reduce speed, stop the vessel,

or change course in order to evade a whale (or whales). During on-board

surveys, when a research vessel changes course to evade a whale (or

whales), this change of course should be away from shore.

V. Research vessels must stay within navigation corridors and must follow the

appropriate speed limits in those instances when vessels are in transit to

the operations area, unless otherwise required by safety concerns.

VI. Large research vessels will keep either to the 20-meter isobath line or on

the seaward side of it in those instances when research work is being

performed in the Piltun feeding area, except for situations when otherwise

required for conducting special operations.

VII. When in transit between areas, the research vessels must plot a course

that is outside any known feeding areas. Where possible, the research

vessels must stay outside the boundaries of any known feeding areas

during low visibility conditions (less than 1 km) and at night. When passing

through feeding areas under low visibility conditions (less than 1 km), the

applicable speed limit shall be 5 knots.

VIII. Sudden changes in vessel direction or speed must be avoided.



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IX. Whales must not be followed or have their path blocked, and whale groups

must not be surrounded or be separated from one another.

X. Vessels must not turn in front of or next to whales, whether the whales are

idle or in motion. When moving parallel to the motion of the whales, the

vessel must maintain a consistent speed and course.

XI. Research vessels must keep a distance of 1000 m from gray whales or

other large whales when said vessels are making crossings or are not

performing any kind of special scientific work.

On-board Surveys

XII. Due to the nature of on-board surveys in feeding areas, research vessels

may need to be less than 1000 m distance from the whales. If a whale is

observed to be moving toward the vessel, the captain must take all

necessary actions to avoid colliding or having a dangerous encounter with

the whale, and must try to keep a distance of at least 500 m from the whale.

XIII. If a whale surfaces in direct proximity to the research vessel, then all

necessary steps must be taken to avoid a collision. Such measures may

include stopping the vessel, reducing speed, and/or changing direction of

motion away from the whale.

XIV. The motion of the vessel must be within the speed limit. Research vessels

must travel at a speed of no more than 10 knots (~18 km/hr) when surveying

the Piltun area, and no more than 14 knots (~26 km/hr) in the Morskoy area.

In both areas the vessel’s speed must be reduced to 4-5 knots (~9 km/hr)

if it is anticipated that gray whales may enter the 1-kilometer safety zone.

Research Vessel Support of Boat Operations

XV. When small boats are within the Piltun feeding area, the research vessel

must travel on a parallel course and on the seaward side of the boats at

a distance of about 1 km away from them, i.e. outside the feeding gray

whales’ gathering location. In the Morskoy area the research vessel must

maintain a course that is parallel to that of the boats and must stay about 1

km away from any whale clusters. Under no circumstances whatsoever

may the research vessel travel behind the boats through a group of feeding

whales. The research vessel must not get any closer than 1 km from the

whales, regardless of whether they are feeding or not.

Deployment and Retrieval Acoustic Buoys from a Research Vessel

XVI. When deploying or retrieving acoustic buoys in the Piltun feeding area, the research vessel must travel parallel to the shoreline on the seaward side of the 20-meter isobath and must reduce its speed to 4-5 knots (no more than 9.3 km/hr) when the buoy is between the vessel and the shore. During this time the MMOs must report all gray whales that are within the range of visibility from the research vessel.



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XVII. If NO WHALES ARE SIGHTED within 1 km landward of the 20-meter isobath, the research vessel must slowly (4-5 knots, or even slower if necessary) move perpendicular to shore to either deploy or retrieve the buoy. If it has been decided to enter waters less than 20 m deep, the research vessel must keep 1 km away from any sighted whales. Doing so may require stopping, reducing speed, and/or turning away from the whale. Then the research vessel must slowly (4-5 knots, or more slowly if necessary) return to the 20-meter isobath, moving perpendicular to shore, and then continue traveling at a speed of 7-10 knots (9.3-16 km/hr) parallel to the 20-meter isobath.

XVIII. If WHALES ARE SIGHTED within 1 km landward of the 20-meter isobath, a small boat is launched from the research vessel in the vicinity of the 20-meter isobath and travels perpendicular to shore to either deploy or retrieve the buoy. Then the boat returns to the 20-meter isobath, moving perpendicular to shore at a speed of 4-5 knots (or more slowly, if necessary). There the boat is raised aboard the research vessel, after which the research vessel can continue on to the next acoustic buoy location, traveling at a speed of 7-10 km/hr and parallel to the 20-meter isobath, where the deployment / retrieval procedure is repeated.

XIX. Deployment and retrieval of buoys in the Piltun feeding area in waters less than 20 m deep should be conducted only during daylight hours in periods of good visibility (>1 km).

Sampling of Benthos from a Research Vessel

XX. When collecting benthic samples, the research vessel must not get any closer than 1 km to the whales, irregardless of whether they are feeding or not. Sampling the food resources must be performed only after the whales have moved at least 1 km away from the vessel. When collecting the benthic samples, the vessels must be anchored and must not use bow thrusters to stay in place.

XXI. Benthic sample acquisition time must be limited to roughly 1 hour. Time spent working near whales that have calves nearby, or whales having visible signs of poor health such as keratolysis or emaciation, should be further restricted.

XXII. When collecting benthic samples, the vessel must obey speed limits. In waters of the Piltun feeding area less than 20 m deep, during daylight hours and with visibility of at least 1 km, the research vessel must travel at a maximum speed of 4-5 knots (9.3 km/hr) or more slowly if necessary. The research vessel must not enter waters less than 20 m deep at night, during daylight hours if there is limited visibility (<1 km), or if whales are sighted within 1 km of the vessel.

Motor boat photo-ID operations

XXIII. The motor boat must maintain regular communication with the research vessel allow exchange of information concerning all whales sighted in the work area.



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XXIV. The motor boat must always travel in such a manner as to ensure the safety of the crew and of the whales. Photographic equipment must always be protected from water.

XXV. Sudden changes in speed and direction must be avoided (except for emergency situations posing a danger to the crew or whale).

XXVI. Whales must not be followed or have their path blocked, and whale groups must not be surrounded or be separated from one another.

XXVII. The boat must not be driven through or inside any groups of whales (mother-calf pairs must not be separated).

XXVIII. Circling around whales is not allowed (a parallel course must be maintained).

XXIX. The outboard motor must not be put into reverse when located next to whales (except for emergency situations posing a danger to the crew or whale).

XXX. Excessive noise of the outboard motor, changing of gear, maneuvering, or reverse motion near the whales should be avoided.

XXXI. The length of time the whales are exposed to the presence of the motor boats (while work is performed on the boats or food resource samples are being collected) should be limited to 30 minutes when photographing one side, and an additional 15-20 minutes when photographing the other side and the flukes.

XXXII. Whales should be approached at a slight angle, i.e. parallel or from the flank side, but never from directly behind (except for short-duration photography of the flukes); a whale must never be approached head on. The boat should move parallel to the whales at the appropriate speed and draw no closer than 50 m to them to take the photo-ID pictures.

XXXIII. It is acceptable to place the boat in a neutral position ahead of the whales, a little off to one side, and to wait for them to approach.

XXXIV. It is forbidden to approach the whales at a speed greater than that of the slowest whale.

XXXV.If a calf approaches the boat, the outboard motor should be placed into neutral until the calf is a safe distance from the boat (~50 m).

XXXVI. When initially approaching a group of whales, the motor should be gradually downshifted into neutral by the time the boat is 500 m out, and the size of the group and the whales’ behavior should be assessed prior to starting the photo-ID shoot.

XXXVII. After the initial assessment at 500 m out, the speed can be slowly increased so long as the whales are not “awoken” and the boat can be placed in position to begin taking photographs.

XXXVIII. When approaching a whale (or whales), one should reduce speed and attempt to keep a distance of at least 100 m.

XXXIX. Inside the 300-meter zone, one should move at a constant but not alarming speed (4-5 knots max.), except for those moments when photo-ID



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pictures are taken, when the boat must move no faster than the slowest-moving whale.

XL. When the boat is not moving, the outboard motors must be put into neutral.

XLI. The motor must never be shut off, but rather placed into neutral, idling, so that the noise tells the whale the location of the boat.

XLII. The boat motor must be placed into neutral when standing still and when whales are sighted surfacing near the boat.

XLIII. Before beginning to move, one must wait for the whale(s) to surface and then dive, in order to know their location. Then the motor can be started, while the whales are diving to feed.

XLIV. It is necessary to pay attention that a boat with motor in neutral does not drift too close to the whales.

XLV. If a whale (or whales) is/are observed to be distressed, the boat should immediately depart the area at a slow, unalarming speed (~4–5 knots).

XLVI. In departing from a whale or group of whales, one must move at a slow, unalarming speed (4-5 knots max.) until the outer boundary of the danger zone is reached (500 m), and only then can speed gradually be increased.

XLVII. Propellers may be started up when situated no closer than 100 m from the whale, and only with extreme caution and with precise knowledge of the whales’ location.

XLVIII. If a whale approaches the boat, the motor should be placed into neutral and the whale should be allowed to approach, or speed should be reduced and movement in the same direction should be continued in such a way that a potential collision is avoided or the boat should be steered away from the whale.

XLIX. Communication must be maintained between photo-ID team and the IFAW photo-ID team to reduce the likelihood of distressing the whales again on the same day at the same location.



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