This award for alaska begula whale committee, which is administered through the north slope borough, will bolster food security in vulnerable remote alaskan communities, increase knowledge about…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded the North Slope Borough a cooperative agreement valued at $627,471 on October 1, 2025, under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) to support the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee's work in Arctic Alaska.

The award funds data collection, regional planning, whole genome analysis of tissue samples to identify stock structure, hunter-tagger training and tagging, education and outreach activities, and a mentoring program. These projects aim to bolster food security in remote Alaskan communities, improve data practices on beluga subsistence harvest, incorporate beluga hunters into beluga whale management and research under the Marine Mammal Protection Act framework, and ensure sustainable harvest for future generations.

The North Slope Borough, administered through its Finance Division, is the recipient and serves as the administrative entity. Work is performed in Utqiagvik, Alaska. The period of performance extends from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. The Marine Mammal Data Program provides nondiscretionary funding to state and federal agencies for collection and analysis of information on marine mammals that interact with managed fisheries and other marine resources, with discretionary competitive funding available for research on marine mammal protection and conservation.

This award for alaska begula whale committee, which is administered through the north slope borough, will bolster food security in vulnerable remote alaskan communities, increase knowledge about belugas and subsistence harvest by continually improving data practices, and facilitate collaboration in the CO-management of beluga whales with federal partners under the umbrella of the marine mammal protection act. The award aims to incorporate beluga hunters in the management of beluga whales, involve beluga hunters in research, and to ensure that subsistence harvest of beluga whales is sustainable so that beluga whales are available for future generations. Projects feature data collection, regional planning, whole genome analysis of tissue samples to identify stock structure, and hunter-tagger training and tagging. There are education/outreach components of the award, as well as a mentoring program to cultivate future leaders in the field.