Report of the Third Meeting of the U.S. - Russia Polar Bear Commission

July 27-29, 2011Moscow, Russian Federation

Chaired by Amirkhan Amirkhanov

Wednesday, July 27. 201 I

iCommissioner Amirkhanov opened the meeting with welcoming statements to the PolarBear Commi ssion and noted the importance of the Commission for comprehensive polarbear conservation, in particular in the framework of the 1973 Agreement on theConservation of Polar Bears.

Commissioner Haskett recognized the progress made by the Commission inimplementation of the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Agreement for the Conservation of polarBears in the Alaska-Chukotka Population and noted that there are challenges ahead .

Commissioner Kavry emphasized the need for polar bear conservation and subsistence useby the native peop le of Alaska and Chukotka.

Commissioner Charles Brower (alternate for Charles Johnson) expressed concern for long­term polar bear conservation for present and future generations. He emphasized thecooperation between the Alaska Nanuuq Commission and the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService.

The meeting agenda was adopted with minor changes to the time and speakers ofpresentations.

Agenda Item : Discussion ofGoals and Expected Results of the Meeting

The Commiss ioners agreed that the main goals of the meeting are to make progress towardsmanaging the Agreement, discuss multi-year quota systems, and to agree upon a j ointoutreach strategy.

Agenda Item: Report from Scientific Working Group

The co-chairs of the Scientific Working Group presented a summary of the discuss ions thattook place at the second meeting of the Scientific Working Group that took place on July26, 2011 in Moscow. Discussions included presentations of Ll.S. and Russian polar bearresearch, monitoring reports, presentation of the involvement of native people in researchand traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).

The Scientific Working Group submitted the Executive Summary of its meeting (Annex I)containing recommendations for consideration by the Commission regarding mult i-year

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quota systems, development of a joint research plan, TEK studies, changes to thecomposition of the SWG, analysis of anthropogenic impact.

Agenda Item: Reports 011 Research Programs, federal-led

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the institutes of the Russian Federation presentedongoing research program s on polar bears in the shared Alaska-Chu kotka population.The goal of the U.S. Research program in the American part of the Chukchi Sea in 2008­2011 is to fill-in information gaps on: human-caused mortality, population trends, nutritionand foraging ecology, movement and distribution, and population boundaries and habitatuse. The program is designed to maximize scientific information while minimizing stressto polar bears. Preliminary analyses suggest a healthy and strong population capable ofreproducing. Results will be published in 2012-201 3 in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

The goal of the Research program on polar bear in the Russian Arctic implemented byInstitute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academ y of Sciences since 2010 is toperform research on: temporal and spatial distribution, annual and seasonal movement,identification of natural and anthropogenic factors that affect survival and reproduction, aswell as development of practical recommendations. Understanding sea ice movement isone of priority tasks . The program is aiming at investigation of all polar bear populations,it began implementation in 20 I0 with research in FranzJosef Land; the next population tobe studied will be the Alaska-Chukotka population.

Wrangel lsland State Nature Reserve presented information on polar bear research in 2005­2010 at the island territory on local populations' monitorin g in fall time and investigationsof polar bear population and behavior ecology in the area ofWrangellsland.

The Chukotka Branch ofTINRO Centre presented information on coastal monitoring ofpolar bears in the Chukchi Sea in 20 IO.

Agenda Item: Reports 011 Research Programs, native-led

The Alaska Nanuuq Commi ssion, Union of Marine Mammal Hunters, and Association ofTraditional Hunters of Chukotka presented recent research projects focused on TEK ofpolar bears in native villages in Alaska and Chukotka.

The Alaska Nanuuq Commission recently performed anthropogenic research on the TEK inseveral village s regarding polar bear denning, behavior, and seasonal movements.Responses were consistent to a TEK study performed 15 years earlier. Villages showeddifferences in their perceptions and understanding of polar bears. The report will becompleted by September 20 I I.

In 2010 the Association of Marine Mamm al Hunters held six workshops in coastal villagesand gathered survey information on the cultural importance of polar bears for native people.

The research goal ofV. Etylin was to identify the relationship between polar bears andnative people in Chukotka via questionn aires. Prelimin ary data provides information on the

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ranges of desired hunting quotas, frequency of polar bear encounters, position on threatexistence to polar bears, perception of polar bears as a threat to human life, and motivationfor hunting polar bears.

Agel/do item: Discussion on Increased Use ofTraditional Knowledge

The Commission discussed the use of TEK as an important information source on polarbears. Presentations of data from the native people of Chukotka and from the ChukotkaBranch ofTINRO Centre focused on existing traditional rules of polar bear harvest innative villages and the changes in the relationship between native people in Chukotka topolar bears over recent decades .

Agel/do item: Assigning Tasks to the Scientific Working Group:

The Scientific Working Group proposed that the Commission approve expansion of theScientific Working Group to include 7 members and I co-chair for each country in order tofully represent the traditional knowledge of native people from Alaska and Chukotka. Forthis purpose 2 members are to be added in the US section and 1 member- to the Russiansection . The U.S. proposed new members from the North Slope Borough of Alaska to theScientific Working Group. Russia nominated Yuri Tototto from the Union of MarineMammals Hunters as a new member of the Scientific Working Group. The Commissionapproved the new structure of the Scientific Working Group and its new membership.Commissioner Haskett announced that Terry DeBruyn will perform functions of theScientific Working Group co-chair from the U.S. side .

The Scientific Working Group proposed that the Commission direct the development of adraft joint U.S.-Russia research plan with a conceptual foundation on high priority researchneeds to be completed by November II, 20 II. It is intended for the joint research plan tobe dynamic. Proposals for the research plan will be submitted to the co-chairs of theScientific Working Group who will distribute it for consideration. The Commissionapproved the development of a joint research plan.

The Commission discussed development of harvest monitoring plans. CommissionerAmirkhanov suggested that the U.S. and Russia should use the same monitoringmethodologies. Discussions included mention of a workshop hosted in Alaska that willdemonstrate how monitoring is performed. WWF was identified as a potential collaboratorin harvest monitoring. Scientific Working Group co-chair Schliebe presented U.S.monitoring plans that have been developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and theAlaska Nanuuq Commission; he would like to see a companion Russian document.Commissioner Amirkhanov agreed that Russia should develop a similar document with thegoal of obtaining objective data. The U.S. supports jointly holding a workshop in Chukotkatimed to support the implementation of a harvest management plan.

Thursday. Julv 28. 2011

Agel/do Item: Harvest Management Plans

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Terry DeBruyn presented a draft management plan for the Alaska-Chukotka polar bearpopulation, deve loped collaboratively by the Alaska Nanuuq Commiss ion and U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service.

Yuri Tototto presented information on an agreement signed between the Union of MarineMammal Hunters and the Department of Agricultural Policy and Nature Use ofChukotkaAutonomous Region on cooperation in conservation and traditional use of the polar bearpopulation .

Sergei Kavry gave a presentation on efforts to date to involve the native people of ,Chukotka in the management of the Alaska-Chukotka polar bear population. These J ffortshave produced the following results: the native people of Chukotka have been informedabout the work of the Commission and now take part in conservation and managementactivities as well as preparation of normative documents; traditional knowledge has beencollected, and the native people have been brought into various projects. Mutualunderstand ing and support have been achieved between the native inhabitants and Regionaland Federal structures, and on an international level as well.

The question of introducin g multi-year polar bear harvest quotas was discussed. Opinionswere expressed on the need for scientists to explain to the native people the basis for settingan annual quota of 58 bears, on the necessity of careful preparation of all aspects ofintroducin g a quota during the planning stages, and about the best approach to acceptanceof a mult i-year quota by the native people. It was noted that at present the range ofquestions associated with management of the polar bear population has been worked out toa further degree by the Alaska Nanuuq Commission.

The co-chairs of the Scient ific Working Group presented the official recommendations ofthe group regarding introduction of a multi-year quota, saying, "The Scientific WorkingGroup has determined that a multi-year quota system gives a number of advantages inresolving questions of pertaining to the conservation and management of the polar bearpopulation by the native peoples of Alaska and Chukotka. To achieve these advantages aneffective harvest management plan is essential, which would include monitoring ofharvested bears as well as a supplemental program of scientific studies and also researchusing trad itional ecological knowledge to assess sustainable harvest limits. The ScientificWorking Group recommends that the Comm ission support the development of a multi-yearquota system which would include the following features

• Adherence to harvest limits, as specified by the U.S.-Russia Commission, over amult i-year period;

• Potential use of harvest debits or credits, based on the actual harvest relative to theharvest limits specified by the Commission;

• Use of a multiyear period of a specific duration that is practical and reasonablebased on the life history of polar bears and interannual variability of subsistence

harvest levels (e.g., five years), without the carry-over of harvest credits from onemultiyear period to the next;

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• Establishment of upper limits on the number of total polar bears and female polarbears that can be taken in a single year (values to be evaluated)."

The Commission approved the recommendation of the Scientific Working Group that amulti-year quota system be introduced for an initial period of five years, consistent with theterms 0 f the Agreement.

Agenda Item: Harvest Reporting

The U.S. side presented information about changes in harvest levels of polar bears in.thezo" Century and their relationship to milestones of ecological legislation . In particular,levels of take dropped significantly following the adoption in 1972 of the Marine MammalProtection Act. The average annual take of polar bears in the period 2000-201I was 36animals. In 20 lO in Alaska 12 bears were taken, including 7 males, 3 females and 2 ofundetermined sex.

Agenda Item: Problems oftile population 's conservation under tile conditions ofchanging climate

The U.S. side presented the results of studies of changes in sea ice distribution during thesummer in the I980s and 2000s. The basic conclusion was that the icc cover is shrinkingmore rapidly than predicted . The following trends were noted: the presence of a significantwinter ice cover, though shrinking, in the Bering Sea; earlier and more intensive ice melt;later ice formation /freezing in the fall.

The American side also presented the results of research on various polar bear popu lationsin the U.S. portion of the Arctic Basin, for which correlations were studied between thetime of ice breakup and physical condition of the bears.

Stanislav Belikov noted that many scientists in Russia have advanced alternative theorieson the cyclicity of changes in climate, according to which the current warming will end in2020 and be succeeded by a cooling cycle.

Geoffrey Haskett pointed out that under any scenario the basic function of the Commissionis to determine sustainable harvest levels taking environmental conditions intoconsideration. Amirkhan Amirkhanov added that we must proceed on the assumption ofecologica l threat in order to be prepared for an unfavorable scenario .

Agenda Item: Problems ofthe population's conservation under the conditions ofcurrentand perspective anthropogenic factors

The Russian side gave a presentation about existing and potential anthropogenic factorswhich have a negative impact on polar bears in Russia. Those factors include black marketdemand for polar bears, increase in marine shipping traffic, and development of mineralresources on the continental shelf. Measures for conservation of polar bears wereproposed.

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Friday. July 29. 2011

The Commission opened the final day of the meeting by recogniz ing and adopting theExecut ive Summary of the 2nd Meeting of the Scient ific Working Group and itsrecomm endations therein.

Agenda Item: Participation ofIndigenous People ofChukotka ill Conservation andManagement ofthe Polar Bear Population

The Chukotka Department of Wildlife Conservation and Use descr ibed the activities andproposals by the native people of Chukotka regarding polar bears. A set of measures onpolar bear conservat ion has been drafted by the Chukotka Department of WildlifeConserva tion and Use and will be endorsed in August 20 I I ifthere are no other proposals.The Chukotka Departm ent of Wildlife Conservation and Use remains interested in placinga staff member in each Chukotka village.

The Commission discussed the relationship between Russian federal and Chukotka regionalauthorities as they pertain to the implementation of the Agreement and how theCommi ssion can playa positive role in coordin ating this relationship and the participationof native People ofChukotka in conservation and management of the Alaska-ChukotkaPolar Bear Population.

Agenda Item: Joint Outreach Strategy

The U.S. Fish and Wildli fe Service presented the current process in Alaska forcommunication and outreach of the activities under the Agreement. Information is currentlyprovided to public stakeholders via the Internet, fact sheets, and newsletters. In conjunctionwith the Alaska Nanuuq Commi ssion, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service visits nativeAlaskan villages to provide information on the Agreement.

Comm issioner Amirkhanov expressed the view that, when making public statements onbehalf of the Commission or the Scientific Working Group, colleagues must be inagreement.

A proposal was introduced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a futureprocess for public outreach on Commission activities through ajoint outreach strategy.Specificall y, the proposal included establishment of a working group that would developjoint press releases, a website, and written material for public distributi on. The workinggroup would be comprised of two members from the U.S. and two members from Russia.Outreach information would be approved by the members of the working group and by theCommiss ion. The Commission adopted the concept ofa joint outreach strategy. Each'country will identify points of contact for the joint outreach strategy . As a starting point,existing U.S. Fish and Wildli fe Service publications, modified as appropriate, andComm ission documents will be posted on the website of the Government ofChukotkaRegion.

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As main point s of contact regarding the Commission, the u.s. identified Rosa Meehan andRussia ident ified Natalia Vavilova. As main points of contact regard ing the ScientificWorking Group, the U.S. identified Terry DeBruyn and Russia identified Stan islavBelikov. As main points of contact regardin g harvest , the U.S. identified Eric Regehr andRussia ident ified Igor Mihkno.

The Commissioners summarized discussions and closed the meeting. The next Comm issionmeeting will include discussion of the seasonal aspect of annual take limits .

The 4th meeting of the Commission wi ll take place in June 2012, in Anchorage, Alaska,U.S.

A list of participants is in Annex 2.

Amirkhan Amirkhanov

Commi ssion member of theRussian Federation

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Charles Brower