U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Headquarters Region 7 Grant for Alaska Polar Bear Co-Management

Purpose:

The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement between the Service and the Commission is to: 1) conserve polar bears in Alaska; 2) encourage co-management of polar bears by involvement of subsistence users through the Commission; 3) provide the Commission with information on polar bear population status and trends for the development of sound management practices integral to fulfilling their mission; and, 4) provide the Service with information for the monitoring of polar bear population status and trends to fulfill its species oversight responsibilities.

The proposed Agreement and specific projects will serve not only to involve subsistence users (through the Commission) in co-management activities for the subsistence use of polar bears, but also to implement Section 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as Amended, authorizing Marine Mammal Cooperative Agreements in Alaska; 16 U.S.C. § 1388. The Service will obtain reports and data pertaining to the implementation of specific projects identified in the Agreement. The Commission will use this information to, in part, meet its mandate in representing and advising subsistence polar bear hunters.

Objectives:

The objective of this Agreement is to ensure joint participation and direct involvement in accomplishing each project and its associated goals. The projects’ goals are: 1) to maintain the organizational structure of the Alaska Nanuuq Commission; 2) to support the implementation of the U.S.-Russian Polar Bear Conservation Agreement through continued involvement in working group meetings; 3) to participate in and assist with planning future meeting agendas and action items of the Joint Commission; and 4) to conduct village visits to determine specific needs related to development of human-polar bear conflict avoidance plans to minimize lethal take of polar bears that come into Alaskan villages.

Background:

In 1972, the Marine Mammal Protection Act was passed by Congress, and provided an exemption which allows taking of any marine mammal by Alaska Natives, provided such taking is (1) for subsistence purposes; (2) for the purpose of creating and selling authentic Native articles of handicraft and clothing; and (3) not accomplished in a wasteful manner. The Commission was established in 1994 to represent the interests of subsistence users and polar bear hunters when working with the government on the conservation of polar bears in Alaska. The Commission is composed of village representatives from 15 villages in Western and Northern Alaska, an Executive Director, and a Chairman.

In April 1994, amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act included Section 119, “Marine Mammal Cooperative Agreements in Alaska” which provide for the Service to enter into cooperative agreements with Alaska Native organizations to conserve marine mammals and to provide co-management of subsistence use by Alaska Natives. Section 119 also authorized the Service to transfer funds to Alaska Native organizations to accomplish these activities.

Reason for Single Source:

(1) Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity. The Alaska Nanuuq Commission (ANC) was formed in 1994 to represent Alaska Native hunters concerning issues related to the conservation and subsistence uses of polar bears. The ANC consists of representatives from 15 villages from northern and western coastal Alaska.

(2) Unique Qualifications – There is no other source; the ANC is the only Alaska-wide Native organization that addresses issues that affect conservation and subsistence use of polar bears. Since this contract is being paid for from funds designated by Section 119 of the MMPA, an Alaska Native Organization must be used.