More Information
Summary Overview
Shelikof Strait opens to the Gulf of Alaska in the southwest and connects with Cook Inlet to the northeast. A major spawning area for Walleye pollock, the largest of Alaska’s fisheries, is in the strait. Loggerhead turtles have stranded as far north as western Kodiak Island and Short-tailed albatross are sighted here. Humpback whales come here to feed, migrating Gray whales pass by, and right, blue, fin and sperm whales all occur in this area.
Site Overview
Shelikof Strait opens to the Gulf of Alaska in the southwest and connects with Cook Inlet to the northeast. It borders a rugged coastline and glacial fjords off the Alaskan Peninsula and Kodiak Island. A seafloor trough reaching 300 meters in depth extends to the southwest from the mouth of Shelikof Strait. The relatively protected waters wash the rocky shores of countless inlets and headlands. A major spawning area for walleye pollock, the largest of Alaska’s fisheries, is in the strait. Herring spawning also occurs here. This productive marine area also supports halibut, Pacific cod, rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) and sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria).
Loggerhead turtles have stranded as far north as western Kodiak Island and short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) are sighted here. Nearly extirpated a century ago due to overhunting for their fur, sea otters in the thousands19 now roam these nearshore waters. Steller’s sea lions are common and haul out on both sides of the strait. Humpback whales come here to feed, migrating gray whales pass by, and right, blue (Balaenoptera musculus), fin (B. physalus) and sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) all occur in this area. Many of these whales feed in this area following breeding and calving in southern waters, such as those along the coast of Baja California, Mexico.
Fact Sheet
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, US FWS
Becharof National Wildlife Refuge, US FWS
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, US FWS
Katmai National Park and Preserve-National Park Service
NOAA Fisheries-designated Steller’s sea lion critical habitats with fishing restrictions
Aleutian Islands Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO
sea otter, killer whale, blue whale, humpback whale, northern right whale, gray whale
short-tailed albatross
Major spawning area for walleye pollock
Area known for northern right and humpback whales following migration from Mexican and lower US waters
300-meter-deep trough extends from mouth of Shelikof Strait
Threats
| PCA | Extratction of nonrenewable resources | Exploitation of renewable resources | Coastal land use change | Pollution at coast/at sea | Damagin recreational use | Physical alteration of coastline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Kodiak Island/Shelikof Strait (United States) |  |  |  |  | | |
MSCCC
MSCCC Mammals: sea otter, killer whale, blue whale, humpback whale, northern right whale, gray whaleMSCCC Birds: short-tailed albatross
Other Priority Conservation Areas
Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) are areas of trinational importance due to their ecological significance, threatened nature and opportunities for conservation.
