美國NOAA漁業局阿拉斯加分局8日宣布，將阿拉斯加庫克灣的兩個區域列為瀕臨絕種的庫克灣白鯨重要棲地。此次設置的重要棲地保護區面積共3016平方英里，涵蓋了科學家認為對白鯨生存至關重要的海洋和海口地區。
回顧歷史，此棲地劃設芻議在2009年12月時首見，當時，則是起因於非營利機構「生物多樣性中心」對當局提出的起訴警告。
生物多樣性中心的阿拉斯加處長瑞貝卡‧諾比琳(Rebecca Noblin)表示：「庫克灣白鯨已有高度的滅絕危機，規劃這些重要棲地帶給牠們極大的生存機會。漁業局為庫克灣白鯨拋出了一條牠們急需的生命線。」
科學家估計目前僅剩321隻野生庫克灣白鯨，比起過去的1300隻已大量減少。此主要族群在2008年10月被美國聯邦《瀕危物種法案》列為瀕危物種。
之前，阿拉斯加州政府對於將庫克灣白鯨列入瀕危物種一事提出訴訟，而生物多樣性中心和其他相關機構目前正展開防衛戰，以捍衛漁業局。
庫克灣白鯨構成了一種在基因和地理上獨特的白鯨族群，但近年來牠們的數量驟減。漁業局決定將庫克灣白鯨列入瀕危物種，這項決策受到各政府、與此議題相關的科學家們的支持。
一旦棲地在聯邦瀕危物種法案的保障之下成立，許多相關產業的活動就必須經過聯邦政府的批准許可才能進行，像是鑽油井的建造或運作、港口興建、挖泥等等；流入庫克灣的排放物更需要經美國環保署授權。
漁業局表示，這次重要棲地的設置基於過去二十多年來的調查結果，以及重要棲地上的經濟分析，此分析指出設置白鯨保護區所帶來的效益將大於成本。
諾比琳表示：「儘管此次保護區設置是拯救庫克灣白鯨的重要一步，此物種的保育工作與完整目標仍有一大段距離。漁業局一定要加快完成保育計畫，並不再許可會為白鯨在庫克灣重要棲息地帶來破壞的行動。」
Two areas of Alaska's Cook Inlet will be designated as critical habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, NOAA's Fisheries Service, Alaska Regional Office announced today.
The critical habitat designation encompasses 3,016 square miles of marine and estuarine environments considered by scientists to be essential for the whales' survival.
Today's rule finalizes critical habitat first proposed in December 2009, following a notice of intent to sue by the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity.
"The designation of critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale gives this highly imperiled whale a real chance of recovery," said Rebecca Noblin, Alaska director at the Center. "The Fisheries Service has thrown Cook Inlet belugas a much-needed lifeline."
The designated habitat covers feeding areas near the mouths of salmon streams, but not all of the current range of these white whales was found to be critical.
Scientists estimate there are just 321 Cook Inlet beluga whales left in the wild, down from 1,300 counted in the past. This distinct population segment was listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act in October 2008.
The Center and other organizations are currently defending the Fisheries Service in a lawsuit brought by the state of Alaska that challenges the listing of Cook Inlet belugas under the Endangered Species Act.
Cook Inlet belugas form a genetically distinct and geographically isolated group of belugas whose numbers have plummeted in recent years. The Fisheries Service's decision to list Cook Inlet belugas as endangered was supported by every government and agency scientist who weighed in on the issue.
Required under the Endangered Species Act, the critical habitat designation affects those activities that involve a federal permit, license or funding, such as construction and operation of oil rigs, port construction, dredging, or discharges into Cook Inlet that must be authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Fisheries Service said the critical habitat designation is based on the results of more than 20 years of research, and an economic analysis on the critical habitat designation which found that benefits of the designation to beluga whales exceeded the costs.
"While today's designation is an important step toward saving the Cook Inlet beluga, protections for the species remain far from complete," said Noblin. "The Fisheries Service must quickly finalize a recovery plan and must stop approving permits that allow for the destruction of important beluga habitat in Cook Inlet."
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