1970s-80s High harvests.
1978-84 Harvest monitored, samples collected (teeth, stomachs, reproduction) by ADFG.
1984 Eschscholtz Bay beluga harvest crashes.
1988 Aerial surveys of belugas in Kotzebue Sound (previously 1,000, now less than 200) (ADFG). Nathan Hadley notes many fewer belugas.
1989 Nathan Hadley, Buckland, recommends beluga management plan. Concerned about increasing boat traffic and that hunters no longer leave Chamisso Island and Choris Peninsula alone to protect females with young.
1990 Nathan Hadley, Buckland, concerned about disturbance of beluga females with calves near Chamisso Island and Franky Scott’s cabin. Now young hunters go where they should not.
1992 ABWC genetics study begins.
1996 Ross Schaeffer, ABWC Chairman, and Willie Goodwin, Kotzebue ABWC delegate, said the Kotzebue hunters will hold meetings (and include other Kotzebue Sound beluga hunters) to make proposals about the hunt and to discuss values, respect, etc.
1996 Aerial surveys of Kotzebue Sound (ABWC), few belugas seen.
1998 Aerial surveys of Kotzebue Sound (ABWC), one beluga seen. Genetics samples needed.
2001 Aerial surveys of Kotzebue Sound (Willie Goodwin + Kivalina people with Cominco funds), few belugas seen.
2001-03 Enoch Shiedts and ABWC Chairman Ross Schaeffer propose Regional Beluga Plan for Kotzebue Sound. To include guidelines about methods, appropriate ways of hunting, avoid females with young, etc. Visited Kivalina, will go to Buckland, Noatak. The plan is to start a local Marine Mammal Committee in Kotzebue and make it so others can join at a later date. Buckland also wants to join. Progress very slow. Guidelines are needed for young people.
2002 O’Corry-Crowe scientific paper indicates Kotzebue Sound belugas are genetically distinct from belugas harvested at Point Lay.
2005-06 ABWC recommends Kotzebue Sound develop a regional management plan for belugas. Willie Goodwin encourages Maniilaq to help. If belugas come back, harvest must stay small so belugas can increase.
2006 Samples from Kotzebue Sound for genetics badly needed.
2007 First pilot beluga acoustic study Kotzebue Sound.
2008 Kotzebue Sound beluga newsletter (abundance, harvest, genetics, acoustics study), 600 copies.
2013-16 Beluga acoustics study in Kotzebue Sound (Castellote et al.).
2013-15 The Buckland Beluga Whale Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Project; included TEK interviews and Wisdom Keeper Workshop in Buckland (funded by Buckland IRA; Buckland plus scientists). Recommended regional management plan, with plan put together by hunters.
2016 Native Village of Buckland received Tribal Wildlife Grant from FWS to develop a youth education program and a Kotzebue Sound Beluga Management Plan. Meetings (Buckland, Deering, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Noatak).
2016 Kotzebue Sound Wisdom Keeper Workshop (provide beluga information, develop draft management plan). Buckland, Deering, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Noatak, scientists, ABWC.
2016-17 Noatak Beluga Whale Traditional Knowledge Project. Draft Kotzebue Sound Beluga Plan developed.
2017 Kotzebue Sound Workshop (ABWC funded). Revise draft plan. Buckland, Deering, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Noatak, scientists, ABWC. Kotzebue Sound beluga newsletter (draft plan, planning process, biology) – 600 copies mailed.
2018 Kotzebue Sound Workshop. Finalize draft plan. The draft plan encourages no hunting in June or July, no hunting of females with calves, no use of nets, and no hunting in safe zones in Selawik and Kobuk lakes, Goodhope Bay, Kiwalik Lagoon, and Eschscholtz Bay. Genetics samples are badly needed to understand stock structure. Harvest highest since 2011.
2020 Kotzebue Sound beluga newsletter (draft plan, planning process, biology) – 225 copies mailed to TCs and Kotzebue Sound hunters. Bring Belugas Back poster to TCs, posted in Buckland, Deering, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Noatak.
2020-22 Resolutions to Adopt Tribal Beluga Management Plan signed by Buckland, Deering, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Noatak.
2021 Greg O’Corry-Crowe and ABWC publish scientific paper on status of Kotzebue Sound belugas as a separate stock.
2022 Native Village of Kotzebue declines ABWC plan to hold Beluga Plan implementation workshop prior to hunting season.
2023 ABWC requests assistance from NOAA but NOAA does not recognize the Kotzebue Stock; ABWC sends letter to NOAA requesting stock status for Kotzebue belugas. NOAA agrees to review stock status.
2025 Stock status is currently still being reviewed by NOAA.