The State of Circumpolar Walrus Populations

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105 Country Subspecies Hunt management Habitat Protection boards under the applicable sections of their respective land claims agreements, with scientific advice from DFO. Community and Aboriginal traditional knowledge are also used to manage walruses, and comanagement working groups are drafting a fisheries management plan. A limited sports hunt has been open for nonresident hunters since 1994 to benefit communities located near walrus populations. Most are conducted in northern Foxe Basin with some in northern Hudson Bay. Greenland Atlantic Walrus in Greenland have been hunted for the past millennium. Commercial hunting was prohibited in 1956 but licensed hunts continue for subsistence. Parliament Act No 12 of 29 October 1999 on harvest and hunting is a framework act that regulates hunting and is supplemented by a long list of ministerial orders issued by government to regulate details on harvest and hunting of specific species. In 2003 a new Nature Protection Act was adopted to protect biological diversity, ensure that exploitation is sustainable, and implement international agreements on the conservation of nature under Greenlandic law. A ministerial order on protection and harvest of walrus was announced in 2006. The Greenland Mineral Resources Act and other rules, regulations, and guidelines also stipulate a range of measures for protecting nature and the environment. Until 2005 walrus hunting in West Greenland Future large-scale hydrocarbon exploration might
106 Country Subspecies Hunt management Habitat Protection was regulated by limiting hunting seasons and methods but there were no quotas in place. Northeast Greenland walruses received complete protection from harvesting in 1951. In 2006, a quota system was established. Quotas are based on the recommendations of scientific assessments, using recent population estimates to allow population growth from a depleted population, and taking into account Nunavut catches in shared populations and struck and lost estimates. Quota decisions are made with regard to international agreements and in consultation with local hunting committees. Adult females are protected except in Northwest Greenland where walrus hunting is of great importance to the hunting community, walruses hauled out on land are completely protected, and animals must be harpooned with floats attached before receiving the finishing shot to reduce losses from sinking (there is concern however that struck and lost walruses are not being include activities that affect walrus habitat. Applications to conduct hydrocarbon exploration must include an environmental impact assessment. Before opening new areas for exploration and initiating a licensing process the Greenland Government has been conducting its own Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments. There are licenses for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the Greenland Sea but so far only seismic testing is taking place. The Melville Bay Nature Reserve was created in 1980 in northwestern Greenland, and Grønlands Nationalpark was established in 1974 in northeastern Greenland. Both offer some protection for terrestrial haulouts but their boundaries do not extend to offshore waters. Hunting by local residents is allowed. The parks also do not offer strict protection, as extensive exploration for minerals is occurring within the Nationalpark. In 1951 the island of Sandøen, in East Greenland, was named a game preserve, prohibiting access to protect a well-known haulout.
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REPORT © Mikhail Cherkasov / WWF-R
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2 ABSTRACT The walrus (Odobenus ros
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4 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The WWF Arctic
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6 beginning ca. 50,000 yBP that lim
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8 Walruses from the Foxe Basin stoc
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10 al. 2003). These differences coi
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12 under favourable environmental c
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14 appeared to be male. Crude measu
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16 comparable data for proper asses
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18 (Fay 1982). The walruses that ar
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20 A joint U.S.-Russia survey, with
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22 for the conservation of walruses
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24 provisions for walrus protection
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26 northwestern and northeastern Gr
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28 Franz Josef Land was discovered
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30 USFWS 2014). The population is c
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32 they return from hunting trips (
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34 The USFWS has also developed gui
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36 how many walruses are represente
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38 (www.iucn.org/about/). The IUCN
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40 Atlantic Walruses In Canada, the
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42 Pacific walruses The primary sou
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44 Foxe Basin (BIMC 2012). It has b
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46 define shipping channels, season
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48 Alaska may be a successful manag
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50 of the population (Born et al. 1
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52 In the Bering and Chukchi seas,
Page 55 and 56: 54 Garlich-Miller et al. (2011) ass
Page 57 and 58: 56 Hamilton et al. (2014) assessed
Page 59 and 60: 58 Canadian High Arctic - Northwest
Page 61 and 62: 60 2014a, b; Lindqvist et al. 2016)
Page 63 and 64: 62 reproduction and survival rates,
Page 65 and 66: 64 Jurisdictions with walrus popula
Page 67 and 68: 66 REFERENCES Allen, J.A. 1880. His
Page 69 and 70: 68 Boertmann, D., A. Mosbech, D. Sc
Page 71 and 72: 70 Chernook, V.I., C. Lydersen, D,M
Page 73 and 74: 72 Durner, G.M., D.C. Douglas, R.M.
Page 75 and 76: 74 Galicia, M.P., G.W. Thiemann, M.
Page 77 and 78: 76 Environmental Ltd., Edmonton AB
Page 79 and 80: 78 Collection of scientific papers
Page 81 and 82: 80 University of Guelph, Ontario, C
Page 83 and 84: 82 Noren S.R., M.S. Udevitz, and C.
Page 85 and 86: 84 Phillipa, J.D.W., F.A. Leighton,
Page 87 and 88: 86 Shitova M., M. Babushkin, A. Bol
Page 89 and 90: 88 Swenson, J.E., A. Bjørge, K. Ko
Page 91 and 92: 90 Witting, L. and E. Born. 2014. P
Page 93 and 94: 92 Figure 2. Atlantic walruses in F
Page 95 and 96: Figure 4. Map of Atlantic walrus po
Page 97 and 98: TABLES Table 1. Assessment of Atlan
Page 99 and 100: 98 Population 1 Stock or area 2 Sto
Page 101 and 102: 100 Table 2. Assessment of Pacific
Page 103 and 104: 102 Table 3. Conservation status of
Page 105: 104 Table 4. Summary of primary wal
Page 109 and 110: 108 Country Subspecies Hunt managem
Page 111 and 112: 110 Country Subspecies Hunt managem
Page 113 and 114: 112 Subspecies Population 1 Knowled
Page 115: 114 Subspecies Population 1 Knowled
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The State of Circumpolar Walrus Populations

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