The State of Circumpolar Walrus Populations

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Atlantic Walruses
In Canada, there has been a general shift in Atlantic walrus distribution away from human
communities to areas that are less accessible (Kopaq 1987; Born et al. 1995; Kuppaq 1996;
Immaroitok 1996; Paniaq 2005). This is not a new phenomenon and is related to changes in
technology (Brody 1976), beginning with the introduction of whaleboats in the 1920s, which
extended hunting ranges and enabled open-water hunting; accelerating with the introduction of
motorized technology ca. 1940-60; and continuing as the range and speed of boats increases (see
also Crowe 1969; Beaubier 1970; Orr et al. 1986). The extent to which distributional changes
reflect declines as opposed to shifts is not always clear (DFO 2002). Changes in socio-economic
conditions in Arctic Canada and Greenland (and the use of snowmobiles instead of dog teams in
Canada) since the 1960s have led to reduced walrus harvests, despite increasing human
population growth (D.B. Stewart et al. 2014a; Wiig et al. 2014).
Data on the historical harvests of Atlantic Walruses from Canadian waters are incomplete and
vary widely in quality (see D.B. Stewart et al. 2014a, which elaborates on their sources and
quality). The Walrus Protection Regulations under the Fisheries Act (Canada Privy Council 1980:
P.C. 1980 -1216) enacted in 1980 reduced the number of walruses “an Indian or Inuk” could hunt
and kill in one year from seven to four, except where annual community quotas were scheduled
instead (Coral Harbour: 60, Sanikiluaq: 10, Arctic Bay: 10, and Clyde River: 20, all in Nunavut).
Canadian harvest data were gathered mostly by DFO and by Makivik Corporation’s Nunavik
Research Centre. The data were not corrected for hunting losses and do not include information
on the age or sex composition of the catch (D.B. Stewart et al. 2014a).
When the removal rates of walruses are determined, uncertainties in the reported landed harvest
are compounded by uncertainty in loss rates (animals injured or killed but not secured) (D.B.
Stewart et al. 2014a). Few estimates of loss rates exist for subsistence hunts and none for sport
hunts. The existing loss rate data (Perey 1961; Freeman 1969-70, 1974-75; Beaubier 1970; Orr et
al. 1986) are over 25 years old and may not reflect current hunting practices. Lower loss rates
were observed at open water hunts in the Avanersuaq (Thule) area of northwest Greenland (15-
25%; Born and Kristensen 1981 cited in Born et al. 1995). Canadian Inuit hunters believe loss
rates to be much lower (~5%) (DFO 2013a).
The hunting mortality that Atlantic walrus populations can sustain is not known. Estimates of
sustainable yield range from 3 to 5% for a population that is between 59 and 91% of carrying
capacity (DeMaster 1984). DFO uses the potential biological removal (PBR) method to estimate
Canadian total allowable removals (TAR) as a step to estimating sustainable harvest levels. It is
not known where Canadian stocks stand in relation to their carrying capacities so DFO has been