The State of Circumpolar Walrus Populations

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Country Subspecies Hunt management Habitat Protection
United States Pacific Large-scale harvesting prior to the 1960s
reduced the population, which then
increased rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s in
response to management actions. The
population has since declined; it is currently
below carrying capacity and likely limited
primarily by subsistence harvest. Recent
harvest levels are much lower than the longterm
average.
USFWS is responsible for management and
conservation, via authority transferred from
the State of Alaska in 1972 under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Walrus are
protected by the MMPA and only qualified
coastal-dwelling Alaskan Natives are
permitted to hunt them for subsistence and
craft purposes. The MMPA also has
provisions for cooperative management
agreements to provide for co-management of
subsistence use. A conservation plan was
developed in 1994.
Prior to the MMPA walruses were managed
via state regulations, including quotas on
females. The MMPA has more liberal
regulations, and Natives can take walrus at
MMPA emphasizes habitat and ecosystem
protection, such as the protection of essential
habitats including rookeries and mating grounds.
Several important haulouts are protected through
state or Federal parks and protected areas. The
State of Alaska created the Walrus Island State
Game Sanctuary in 1960, which includes Round
Island. Round Island is managed by the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game and regulations are
in place to protect the haulout there. Access is
tightly controlled. A limited subsistence hunt is comanaged
on Round Island. In 1980 the Togiak
National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) was expanded.
The TNWR protects walrus haulouts at Cape
Peirce and Cape Newenham. The USFWS has
developed guideline to reduce human caused
disturbances at terrestrial haulouts in Bristol Bay
and along the Northwest coast of Alaska.
In recent years the number of walruses coming to
shore in summer and fall has increased, and
mortalities have occurred from disturbance events.
Walruses are expected to become increasingly
dependent on coastal haulouts, and efficient
management efforts to mitigate anthropogenic
disturbances and associated mortality will be an