US Fish and Wildlife Service Grant: Pacific Walrus Co-management for Subsistence Use

PURPOSE:

This cooperative agreement will provide for continued implementation of a long standing co-management relationship between the Service and the Commission for the conservation and co-management of subsistence use of Pacific walrus as authorized under Section 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this Cooperative Agreement between the Service and the Eskimo Walrus Commission is to: 1) conserve Pacific walrus in Alaska: 2) encourage co-management of subsistence uses of Pacific Walrus by the involvement of subsistence users through the Commission; 3) Provide the Commission, with information on walrus population, status, and trends for the development of sound management practices integral to fulfilling their mission of representing the interests of subsistence users and Eskimo walrus hunters; and, 4) provide the Service with information for the monitoring of walrus population, status, and trends to fulfill its species oversight responsibilities. The objectives of this Agreement are to provide support and assistance to continue co-management activities with the Service for the conservation and co -management of subsistence use of Pacific walrus.

BACKGROUND

The Marine Mammal Protection Act 1972, provided for an exemption which allows taking of any marine mammal by Alaska Natives provided such taking is (1) for subsistence purposes; (2) done 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 1978 to represent the interests of subsistence users and Eskimo walrus hunters when working with the government on the conservation of Pacific walrus in Alaska. The Commission is composed of village representatives from 19 villages in Western and Northern Alaska, an Executive Director, an EWC Specialist and a Chairman. The Commission, Service, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game have an existing Memorandum of Agreement dated May 21, 1987, for cooperative management of the Pacific Walrus in Alaska.

In April 1994, amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act included Section 119, “Marine Mammal Cooperative Agreements in Alaska” which provides 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:

Location – The Eskimo Walrus Commission is headquartered in Nome, Alaska which puts them in close proximity to the largest walrus hunting communities in the state. Nome is a hub community, which allows for easy access and reduced cost for travel for EWC personnel, commissioners, and subsistence hunters.

Legislative intent – The language in the legislative history (1997 Congressional Budget Appropriations) clearly indicates Congress’ intent for an ongoing co-management relationship for Pacific walrus to be established with the EWC. This agreement is entered into under the authority of Section 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

Continuation – The activity which this agreement will support is necessary to the continuation of co-management of Pacific walrus which has been ongoing since 1997, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity of the activity.

Technical Expertise – The Eskimo Walrus Commission was formed in 1978 as a consortium of Native hunters. EWC is now a recognized statewide entity working on Pacific walrus co-management issues on behalf of Alaska Natives. Pacific walrus are an essential cultural, natural, and subsistence resource to the Alaskan coastal Yupik and Inupiaq communities. EWC is the only Tribally authorized Alaska Native Organization to represent the Tribal membership in 19 of Alaska’s largest coastal walrus hunting communities (Barrow, Pt Lay, Wainwright, Pt Hope, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Shishmaref, Wales, Little Diomede, Brevig Mission, King Island Community, Nome Eskimo Community, Gambell, Savoonga, Unalakleet, Stebins, Kwigillingok, Mekoryuk, and Togiak). The Federally recognized Tribal Government of each member community appoints a commissioner to represent their community and walrus subsistence hunter’s interests. As authorized under Section 119 of the MMPA, the Service and the EWC have had a signed cooperative agreement since 1997 to allow for conservation and provide for co-management of subsistence use of Pacific Walrus. Section 119 also authorized appropriations to allow for grants to Alaska Native Organizations for, among other purposes—
(1) collecting and analyzing data on marine mammal populations;
(2) monitoring the harvest of marine mammals for subsistence use;
(3) participating in marine mammal research conducted by the Federal Government, States, academic institutions, and private organizations; and
(4) developing marine mammal co-management structures with Federal and State
agencies.
The EWC has ample experience collecting harvest data and traditional ecological knowledge of walrus along both the Bering and Chukchi Sea coasts. The EWC has been a long standing partner in walrus research projects conducted by the Service. The EWC has 31 years of history in building capacity and developing a co-management relationship with the Service. The EWC is the only Tribally authorized Alaska Native organization with the expertise to meet the legislative intent of Section 119 of the MMPA.