Basin‐Wide Shift in Bowhead Whale Migration in the Pacific Arctic.

In a rapidly changing Arctic, multiple lines of evidence suggest that bowhead whale migration is changing. To explore these changes further, we used passive acoustic data to examine bowhead whale presence in the western Beaufort Sea (12 years) and Chukchi Plateau (11 years) spanning 2008 to 2022. Departure from the western Beaufort Sea shifted 45 days later over the 12‐year period. Summer presence increased at both sites, suggesting feeding areas within the Chukchi Sea are becoming more favorable. Likewise, findings from the Bering Strait suggest that some whales are remaining north of the Bering Strait for the winter instead of in the Bering Sea. These Pacific Arctic‐wide changes to migration have occurred over only one decade. Questions remain about prey availability in the Chukchi Sea, implications of migratory changes, such as a northward shift in the core overwintering area, and impact to communities south of the Bering Strait. Plain Language Summary: Bowhead whales are an important top predator in the Pacific Arctic. With increasing temperatures and decreasing sea ice, changes are occurring in the migration patterns of this "ecosystem sentinel" throughout the Pacific Arctic. We analyzed passive acoustic data from the western Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Plateau from 2008 to 2022. Whales are delaying their fall departure from the western Beaufort Sea and spending more time in the western Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Plateau, which, along with increased habitat use on the Chukchi Shelf, suggests that conditions there are becoming more favorable for feeding. Combined with previous data from the Bering Strait, which showed that some whales are spending winter in the southern Chukchi Sea rather than in the northern Bering Sea, these findings suggests that changes are occurring over a short period of time throughout the Pacific Arctic. A northward shift could put bowhead whales in the direct path of ships, especially along the western side of the Chukchi Sea, and impact whaling communities south of the Bering Strait. Key Points: Acoustic data reinforce known delay in bowhead fall departure from the western Beaufort Sea and overwintering in the southern Chukchi SeaIncreased presence in the western Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Plateau suggests these regions are becoming more favorable for bowhead feedingWhales are adapting to a rapidly changing Arctic, but changes and emerging threats may impact them and communities south of Bering Strait [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]