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Appendix A Final COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEAnorthern California. No sei whales were sighted during the recent NMFS/SWFSC surveys in 1998–1999(Carretta et al., 2000).Fin WhaleThe fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is listed as endangered under the ESA, and the California/Oregon/Washington stock is, therefore, considered depleted and strategic under the MMPA. Fin whales have aworldwide distribution with two distinct stocks recognized in the North Pacific: the East China Sea stockand “the rest of the North Pacific stock” (Donovan, 1991). Currently, there are considered to be threestocks in the North Pacific for management purposes: an Alaska stock, a Hawaii stock, and aCalifornia/Oregon/Washington stock (Barlow et al. 1997). Currently, the best estimate for theCalifornia/Oregon/Washington Stock is 2,541 (CV=0.31), based on ship-based surveys (Carretta et al.,2005).The fin whale is found in continental shelf and oceanic waters (Gregr and Trites, 2001; Reeves et al.,2002). Globally, it tends to be aggregated in locations where populations of prey are most plentiful,irrespective of water depth, although those locations may shift seasonally or annually (Payne et al., 1986,1990; Kenney et al., 1997; Notarbartolo-di-Sciara et al., 2003). Fin whales in the North Pacific spend thesummer feeding along the cold eastern boundary currents (Perry et al., 1999).The North Pacific population summers from the Chukchi Sea to California, and winters from Californiasouthward (Gambell, 1985). Aggregations of fin whales are found year-round off southern and centralCalifornia (Dohl et al., 1983; Forney et al. 1995; Barlow 1997). In the NMFS 1998–1999 surveys inSCIRC, they were sighted most frequently during warm-water months (Carretta et al., 2000). The finwhale was the second most commonly-encountered baleen whale (after gray whales) during thosesurveys; there were 21 sightings, with most sightings on the western side of San Clemente Island. Finwhale sightings in the SOCAL Range Complex are shown in Figure A-6.Blue WhaleThe blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is listed as endangered under the ESA, and the Eastern NorthPacific Stock is, therefore, considered depleted and strategic under the MMPA. The population estimatefor blue whales in the Eastern North Pacific Stock is 1,384 (CV=0.28) individuals (Carretta et al., 2005).The blue whale has a worldwide distribution in circumpolar and temperate waters. The population incoastal waters of California is present primarily from June to November, with a peak in blue whale callingintensity observed in September (Burtenshaw et al., 2004). This population is thought to inhabit watersoff Central America from December to May (Calambokidis, 1995). During the cold-water months, veryfew blue whales are present in waters off California (Forney and Barlow, 1998; Larkman and Veit, 1998;U.S. Navy, 1998).A few blue whales were observed in or near the SOCAL Range Complex in early to mid spring (U.S.Navy, 1998), but were most common during July–September (Hill and Barlow, 1992; Mangels andGerrodette, 1994; Teranishi et al., 1997; Larkman and Veit, 1998; U.S. Navy, 1998). During theSWFSC/NMFS surveys in 1998–1999, blue whales arrived in late May and were common into August,with one whale seen as late as November (Carretta et al., 2000). In other years, blue whales werecommon in waters west of San Clemente Island as late as mid-October (e.g., in 1995) (Spikes and Clark,1996; Clark and Fristrup, 1997; Clark et al., 1998).Photographic studies have proven that blue whales remain in waters off California throughout thesummer, apparently to feed (Calambokidis, 1995; Larkman and Veit, 1998). Over 100 blue whales werepresent in the Santa Barbara Channel in 1992 and 1994 (Calambokidis, 1995). Concentrations of bluewhales have been seen elsewhere off southern California in some years. Blue whale sightings in theSOCAL Range Complex are shown in Figure A-7.February 2007 A-24