Impacts of Sakhalin II phase 2 on western North Pacific gray whales and related biodiversity : report of the Independent Scientific Review Panel

The population of western gray whales numbers only about 100 animals and is classified on IUCN’s Red List as ‘critically endangered’. Under the auspices of IUCN, an independent scientific review panel was established to evaluate scientific aspects of western gray whale conservation in the context of Phase 2 of the Sakhalin II, an integrated oil and gas project being developed by the Sakhalin Energy Investment Company under a production sharing agreement with the Russian Federation and its Sakhalin Oblast. This report of the Panel provides a detailed consideration of the risks, the options for mitigation and the need for monitoring if and as oil and gas development proceeds.