Among the information provided at the workshop was a 

 description of a Canadian program to reduce bear-human conflicts 

 and manage bear problems. The program was developed in 1981 by 

 the Northwest Territories Wildlife Service, in cooperation with 

 industry and other Canadian Government agencies. It includes 

 research on methods to reduce polar bear problems and implemen- 

 tation of appropriate and proven detection and deterrent methods, 

 along with proper education of people living and working in bear 

 habitat. Participants in the Workshop agreed that the Canadian 

 program could serve as a useful model for addressing polar bear 

 issues in Alaska. 



The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska waters in March 1989 

 preempted efforts to complete and follow up on the results of the 

 polar bear workshop in 1989. It is anticipated that the workshop 

 report will be completed early in 1990. 



Pacific Walrus 



Pacific walrus occur primarily in the Bering and Chukchi 

 Seas between the United States and the Soviet Union. Aerial 

 surveys of walrus have been conducted since the 1960s, and 

 cooperative U.S.-U.S.S.R. surveys of walruses have been conducted 

 every five years since 1975. The most recent survey conducted in 

 1985 indicates a population size of about 232,500 animals. This 

 is lower than the 1980 survey estimate of 246,000, which is 

 similar to levels that some biologists believe existed prior to 

 exploitation by Europeans, but is substantially above estimates 

 from the 1960s of less than 100,000 animals. Walruses have 

 traditionally been an important subsistence resource for Native 

 peoples in both Alaska and the Soviet Union. 



As noted elsewhere in this Report, several efforts were 

 initiated or continued in 1989 to improve the effectiveness of 

 walrus research and management: the State of Alaska and the 

 National Marine Fisheries Service have closed certain waters 

 around the Walrus Islands and Cape Pierce for purposes of 

 yellowfin sole trawling to prevent disturbance of walrus haul- 

 out areas (see Chapter VII) ; the Fish and Wildlife Service is 

 taking steps to prepare a conservation plan for walrus (see 

 above) ; and the Commission is providing support to help convene 

 an international workshop on population ecology and management of 

 walruses in March 1990 (see Chapter X) . 



Federal Marking and Tagging Regulations 



In 1981, the Marine Mammal Protection Act was amended to 

 provide the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service authority to promulgate regulations requiring 

 the marking, tagging, and reporting of marine mammals taken by 



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