The active phase of the foraging season for the rare Okhotsk Sea population of gray whales is concluding off the coast of Kamchatka. Throughout the autumn, the majority of these marine mammals, including young individuals and weaned calves, concentrated in the waters of Olga Bay in the northern part of the Kronotsky Gulf. With the onset of regular autumn storms, marine surveys were suspended, and monitoring of the animals transitioned to coastal observations.
The selection of this specific location is directly linked to the quality of the local food supply. The northern section of the gulf is characterized by highly productive benthic communities – bottom-dwelling organisms that form the primary diet of gray whales. Laboratory analyses of benthos samples collected directly from these feeding grounds are currently being processed to evaluate the ecological dynamics of the area.
The present physical condition of the population requires continued observation, as several individuals have not yet accumulated the blubber mass necessary for a safe wintering period. Gray whales frequently remain in the coastal waters of the peninsula until January. Given their current energy reserves, certain animals may completely forgo their seasonal migration and spend the entire winter in the gulf to conserve energy.