U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Seeks Comments on Plans for International Polar Bear Conservation

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has developed an Environmental Assessment (EA) on a proposed U.S./Russia (government-to-government) conservation agreement for polar bears of the Chukchi/Bering Seas. The draft EA describes three alternatives for entering into conservation agreements. The purpose of the agreements is to: unify management regimes; regulate take; enhance bio-monitoring, research, and protection of polar bear habitat; and provide for non-consumptive uses, such as eco-tourism, as well as consumptive uses.

In the July 19, 1996, Federal Register, the Service published a notice of public availability of the draft EA on the proposed action, which included a 60-day comment period ending on Sept. 17, 1996.Public meetings will be held in Washington, D.C., and in Anchorage on Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wilda Marston Theater of the Loussac Library, located at 3600 Denali Street.

In 1973, the U.S., Russia, Canada, Norway, and Denmark signed the International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears. This Agreement supported continued collaboration in research, and recognized the need for cooperative management of internationally-shared populations. Since then, satellite telemetry data has confirmed that the movements of adult female bears in this area cross international boundaries. In 1994, amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act directed the Service to develop a conservation agreement with Russia for polar bears in this region.

Currently, the polar bear population in the Chukchi/Bering Sea is being managed differently in Russia than in the U.S. An illegal and unquantified harvest is occurring in Russia, due to an inability of government to enforce the 1956 national ban on hunting polar bears. Russia has indicated that it is motivated to legalize a harvest and prefers to develop a unified management program with the U.S. and Native hunters from Alaska and Chukotka. In Alaska, subsistence hunting by Natives is not restricted, provided the population is not depleted.

Cooperative management was first promoted in 1988 at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resource) Polar Bear Specialist Group meeting. Numerous talks between the U.S. and Russia and Native users took place in the intervening years with four protocols signed, which summarize these discussions. A working group of major constituents has been involved in evaluating the need for this action and in developing conservation strategies for a future agreement. They include the Alaska Nanuuq Commission, North Slope Borough, State of Alaska/Department of Fish and Game, Marine Mammal Commission, National Audubon Society, RurAL CAP, Department of State, and consul of the Department of Interior.

For more information, write to Dave Mcgillivary, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

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