The Kachemak Bay Marine Mammal Forum
Homer, AK
April 18th-21st, 2022
About the kachemak bay marine mammal forum
Through education and celebration, this forum will bring a better understanding and awareness of marine mammals in Kachemak Bay and how people can be ethical viewers and stewards of their environment.
Every year near Homer, Alaska, new and exciting discoveries are being made about marine mammals. We aim to bring a deeper understanding to the public of the behaviors of marine mammals, their value to local culture, trends in their sightings over time, and how boaters and recreators can ethically and safely conduct themselves around them (including information on how to become Whale SENSE certified).
We seek to blend local knowledge, understandable science, and community engagement into one annual event that celebrates the marine mammals of Kachemak Bay. We look forward to having you join us!
This event will be free and family-friendly, and there will be an option to attend the symposium presentations virtually via Zoom (recordings below).
Event schedule and recordings
All activities Were in homer, ak
Monday, April 18th
Marine Mammal Discovery Lab at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Islands and Ocean Visitor Center
The public enjoyed hands-on and family-friendly opportunities to get to know more about the marine mammals in Kachemak Bay!
Tuesday, April 19th
Marine Mammal Forum at Land’s End Resort (Quarterdeck Room)
Marine mammals in native culture, Nancy Yeaton (Nanwalek Tribe)
contact: nancyy@chugachmiut.org or yartuliiq@google.com
Recent sightings and reports of humpback whales and killer whales in Kachemak Bay, Emma Luck (HappyWhale)
contact: emmaluck97@gmail.com
Culture and diet among killer whales, Dan Olsen (North Gulf Oceanic Society)
contact: whalesalaska@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 20th
Marine Mammal Forum at Land’s End Resort (Quarterdeck Room)
NOAA Law Enforcement and boater operations around marine mammals in Kachemak Bay, (NOAA Law Enforcement Officers)
contact: michael.fortier@noaa.gov
Kachemak Bay’s humpbacks and how you can help study them, Emma Luck (HappyWhale)
contact: emmaluck97@gmail.com
Marine mammals in Kachemak Bay, Deb Tobin and Olga von Ziegesar and Marc Webber (Kenai Peninsula College)
contacts: Deb- ddtobin@alaska.edu Mark- marcwebber@sbcglobal.net Olga- olgavonziegesar@hotmail.com
Thursday, April 21st
Marine Mammal Forum at Land’s End Resort (Quarterdeck Room)
Responsible marine mammal viewing and behavior, including information on becoming Whale SENSE certified, Barb Lake and Bonnie Easley-Appleyard and Suzie Teerlink (NOAA)
contacts: Barb- Barb.Lake@NOAA.gov Bonnie- bonnie.easley-appleyard@noaa.gov Suzie- suzie.teerlink@noaa.gov
Vessel operation guidance to avoid disturbing sea otters in Kachemak Bay, Caroline Cummings (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
contact: caroline_cummings@fws.gov
Alaska SeaLife Center’s Wildlife Response Program: Animal recovery and oil spill response, Jane Belovarac and Savannah Costner (Alaska SeaLife Center)
contact: wildliferesponse@alaskasealife.org
Thursday, April 21st
Marine Mammal Trivia Night at Alice’s Champagne Palace
Photo courtesy of Emma Luck
Give us your feedback!
Who we are
This forum is brought to you by Alaska Wildlife Alliance and our following partners:
Kenai Peninsula College (Kachemak Bay Campus)
We would additionally like to thank the Opportunity & Martha H. Briscoe Funds at the Homer Foundation for helping to make this event possible.
Become a sponsor
Plankton-level sponsor ($100):
Sponsors receive:
Stage recognition at the event
Salmon-level sponsor ($350):
Sponsors receive:
Logo on posters and website promotional materials
Stage recognition at the event
Harbor seal-level sponsor ($700):
Sponsors receive:
Logo on posters, website, and social media promotional materials
Stage recognition and logo in slideshow at the event
Orca-level sponsor ($1,200):
Sponsors receive:
Logo on posters, website, and social media promotional materials
Stage recognition and logo in slideshow at the event
Option to have business information and/or promotion distributed at the event
