Symposium beluga 2023

Presented by: Pierre Béland, Canadian chair of the International Joint Commission that has jurisdiction over the boundary waters between Canada and the United States, and GREMM president Robert Michaud

Ecology and population

One of the objectives of several scientists attending the 2023 Beluga Symposium was to better understand St. Lawrence beluga ecology and the habitat frequented by the species. Under the “ecology and population” theme, several researchers took the floor to present the results of their work. Habitat use, diet, birth rate and the use of artificial intelligence are just a few examples of the research topics presented in this session.

Some of these research projects are still in progress and will provide a critical look at the beluga’s distribution, especially in those areas used by female communities. The summer and winter ranges of these white whales is rather well known: the species is believed to frequent the northeastern reaches of the gulf in winter, and the head of the Laurentian Channel mainly during the summer. In terms of food, belugas appear to be more generalists than before, with a considerable diversity of prey having been identified in their diet.

Artificial intelligence has clearly made its way into the field of whale research. It is now being used to study and assess the number of belugas in a given sector, which represents an important step forward. Great strides have also been made in the field of photo-identification, making it increasingly straightforward to identify an individual that has already been observed in the past, which saves scientists considerable time.

With discussions of cancer, contaminants and dystocia, the second main theme of the symposium drew reactions from within the scientific and student community.

The 40^th year of the beluga carcass recovery program raises concerns about the number of recorded cases of dystocia as well as postpartum and neonatal mortality. Changes in the beluga’s environment might be to blame, whether it be disturbance caused by ships or the presence of contaminants with the potential to disrupt the animals’ hormones

Stéphane Lair, professor at Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, had some positive news to share. “Cancer is no longer a conservation issue for the species,” he explains. Indeed, PAH (a contaminant responsible for cancer in belugas) concentrations have been trending downward since 1977. However, this statement should be interpreted with caution, as there are still a number of issues affecting the health of the St. Lawrence beluga, including parasites such as Toxoplasma, whose hosts include domestic cats.

Science working for St. Lawrence beluga conservation

Presented by: Nadia Ménard, ecosystem scientist for Parks Canada 

The second day of this scientific gathering kicked off with a presentation by Nadia Ménard. Nadia’s interest in belugas came late, as this Saguenay native grew up completely unaware that these famous white whales lived just a few kilometres from her home! She first studied the biology of pelagic fish before becoming a conservation biologist.

Nadia begins by recalling the importance of research: “If we don’t know what the problem is, how can we solve it?” Nadia also recognizes the importance of integrating human aspects and focusing on solutions. After a brief recap of the last 50 years in conservation science, she sums up the various changes taking place in the St. Lawrence and their impacts, in particular rising winter air temperatures, increased inflow from the Gulf Stream, decreased inflow from the Labrador Current, and the presence of contaminants. To counterbalance discussions on the threats faced by the St. Lawrence, she recalls some of the positive results that science has helped achieve such as the creation of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park or the designation of critical beluga habitat. The scientist ended with an inspiring quote from Charles Darwin: “In the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”

At the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, disturbance related to shipping and boating activities is particularly acute. Ferries, recreational boats, whale-watching cruises, and other types of watercraft travelling up the Saguenay make this a noisy corridor in the heart of the beluga’s critical habitat. Some projects therefore aim to improve our cohabitation with this endangered species by working to enforce speed limits. Solutions that were presented and assessed included the reduction of watercraft speeds and mitigation of ship noise at the source.

Challenges and successes of a small population exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors and climate change

Presented by: Véronique Lesage, researcher with Fisheries and Oceans Canada

The closing presentation of the symposium was an emotional one. “There are more belugas in the St. Lawrence than previously believed,” Véronique Lesage announced during her presentation. Using a new model, the most recent estimate (2022) indicates that there might be between 1,530 and 2,180 belugas in the St. Lawrence. However, this range of figures should not be taken at face value. In other words, it does not mean that the population is increasing; rather, it is the quantification method that has changed. 

The population still faces a number of major challenges that worry scientists. It would appear that females are dying younger than before, which has a direct impact on birth rates. That translates into 2 or 3 calves that each female will never produce. A decline is also being observed in the survival of newborns. “Mortality in calves and females is devastating the population’s chances to grow,” adds Véronique.

It should be recalled that although the number of belugas has been revised upwards, the population is not increasing. There is still a lot of knowledge to acquire before we fully understand what influences this species and how we can help it recover.