Summary

Description

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a walrus harvest, health and welfare study in 5 northern Bering Sea coastal villages during the Spring of 1981. Goals of the study were to determine the level of harvest, age structure of harvested animals, body condition of harvested animals and levels of contaminants occurring in various body organs and tissues. Walrus harvest levels for the Nome area and King Island were determined to be 449489 and 264269 respectively. Thirtytwo tooth samples were acquired and await analysis. Blubber and skin measurements were obtained for 11 animals. No contaminant samples were acquired. Secondary observations on weather conditions, chronology of harvest and socioculturaleconomic were noted. Intangible benefits derived from the study included a closer rapport with the resource users, greater information exchange and understanding of the Services marine mammal goals and objectives, and greater understanding of the relationship of walrus to the subsistence, cultural and economic base.