The State of Circumpolar Walrus Populations

7
different Baffin Bay estimates, they should be treated with caution until there is better
geographical coverage and improved understanding of the current summer distribution and
movements of walruses in the CHA-NWG population.
The biggest change in distribution of this population is in the Avanersuaq (Quaunaaq) area of
west Greenland, where walruses were once abundant in summer but now absent (Vibe 1950;
Born et al. 1995). Freuchen (1921) and Vibe (1950) described substantial migrations of walruses
northward in the spring along the west coast of Greenland and southward in the fall along the
east coast of Baffin Island, but this no longer occurs (Born et al. 1995). The Baffin Bay stock is
listed as Critically Endangered on the Greenland Red List (Boertmann 2007) but the recent
population estimates and modelling of population dynamics (Witting and Born 2014) suggest the
stock may be in better condition than this designation suggests.
Canadian Central Arctic - West Greenland Population (CCA-WG)
The Canadian Central Arctic - West Greenland (CCA-WG) population occupies a large area of the
eastern Canadian Arctic and extends across Davis Strait to west Central Greenland (Figure 3)
(Richard and Campbell 1988; Born et al. 1995; Stewart 2002, 2008; Shafer et al. 2014). It has
been separated from the CHA-NWG population on the basis of apparent geographical
distributions (Born et al. 1995) and genetic differences (Buchanan et al. 1998; de March et al.
2002; Andersen et al. 2014; Shafer et al. 2014); and from the Canadian Low Arctic (CLA)
population on the basis of geographical distributions, changes in abundance (Born et al. 1995),
and lead isotope ratios (Outridge and Stewart 1999; Outridge et al. 2003). Walruses in West
Greenland and at southeastern Baffin Island, Canada, could not be distinguished from one
another genetically (Andersen et al. 2014).
Four management stocks have been tentatively identified within the CCA-WG population on the
basis of satellite-linked radio tagging studies, observed seasonal distribution, and lead isotope
ratios in the teeth (Stewart 2008; NAMMCO 2011; see also Outridge et al. 2003). These stocks
are located in Foxe Basin (Canada), north and west Hudson Bay (Canada), south and east Baffin
(Canada) and West Greenland, and southern Hudson Strait-Ungava Bay-Labrador (Canada) (see
D.B. Stewart et al. 2014a). Inuit elders recognize two groups of walruses in Foxe Basin on the
basis of differences in the animals’ size, colour, flavour of meat and blubber, and distribution
(DFO 2002). There is exchange of animals between south and east Baffin Island and West
Greenland across Davis Strait (Figure 3). Most of these stocks are likely reduced from their
historical levels but no trend can be established and survey coverage is incomplete. Inuit have
observed changes in walrus distribution and seasonal availability.