Collaborating to co-manage polar bears in Alaska

In the US, the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 recognizes the importance of including Alaska Natives in the management of the species with whom they live. MICHAEL MILLER focuses on how the act allows Alaska Natives and their communities to weigh in on decisions—and continue their traditional harvesting.

The effective management of marine mammals in Alaska has long required the US Fish and Wildlife Service to collaborate with Alaska Native organizations. When the two work together, Alaska wildlife can benefit from their blended knowledge.

In fact, the need to work together is built into law. Given the importance of marine mammals to the health and well-being of Alaska Natives—who rely on them for both cultural reasons and food security—the Marine Mammal Protection Act allows for the continued use of marine mammals by Native Peoples, protecting a way of life. For example, section 101 provides for traditional harvesting through an exemption so that Alaska Natives can rely on marine mammals for food and handicraft purposes.

But the act goes even further in section 119 to allow for co-management of the subsistence harvest of marine mammals between federal species managers and Alaska Native organizations (ANOs) like the Alaska Nannut Co-Management Council (ANCC). (The word “nannut” means polar bears in the Iñupiaq, Yu’pik and Yupik languages.)

A bridge to the community

ANCC is a conduit for federal managers who need to interact with the people who are most affected by its management and policy decisions. The council was created by representatives of the communities that live within range of polar bears. Its purpose is to provide a framework for these communities’ involvement in the management and policy decisions that affect their lives and their relationships with polar bears. The council has a governance board with representation from 15 Arctic communities as well as advisory members from regional entities to provide a wide spectrum of expertise on issues related to polar bear management.

Its board and advisors work from a traditional understanding that both they and polar bears are essential parts of an ecosystem. Proper conservation considers issues related to harvesting, safety, community viability and the need to protect a cultural identity and way of life.

As an organization that serves hunters and handicrafters, ANCC provides both historic and present-day observations of polar bears, their habitat and the rapidly changing climate conditions in which they live, along with the behavioural changes exhibited by the bears as they adapt to a shifting climate. Having a strong structure to collect this information enables the council to inform federal agencies and support the better management of polar bears. Although the US Fish and Wildlife Service is the agency for polar bears in Alaska, its “western” managers often lack the traditional (and real-time) knowledge needed to properly address concerns of management and policy.

Many ANOs are engaged in marine mammal co-management activities that affect a variety of species and regions, all with variable degrees of capacity. Many are closely watching the continued development of ANCC, knowing its success can inform other efforts to strengthen Alaska Native management of the harvest and conservation of marine mammals in Alaska, such as polar bears.

Shaping perspectives

Outside of Alaska Native communities, most people’s perceptions of polar bears are shaped by photos. Images of extreme survival conditions—and characterizations of the bears as apex predators, climate change victims, playful charismatic survivors and more—speak to the world’s fascination with them. But proper management of the bears requires a broader lens. Groups like ANCC work to influence perceptions of polar bears and other marine mammals from an ecosystem viewpoint—a perspective that can only be arrived at after living for countless generations as part of the bears’ ecosystem.

While a strong Alaska Native organization is essential for the proper management of polar bears (and all marine mammals in Alaska), so are strong working relationships. At the time of writing, marine mammal ANOs have generally positive working relationships with federal partner agencies, although all are facing chronic funding shortages. For optimal results, these organizations need proper funding to build capacity and retain staff as well as to fill partnership roles.

This positive working relationship didn’t develop overnight. It took leadership and commitment from both the council and the service to stay “at the table” to break through barriers arising from misunderstandings.

– Michael Miller, tribal member and chairman of the Indigenous Peoples Council for Marine Mammals

Equally important is a commitment from the agencies and ANOs to continue to work together respectfully, making the most of each other’s strengths and expertise to inform management actions. It is essential that we continue to sit at the same table and find ways to work through differences. Support from other groups, including state government, industry or non-governmental organizations, can also be helpful, with one important caveat: the support must be for the views of the communities most affected, and should not impose an outside lens on what a community should do or look like.

ANCC has made tremendous progress through hard work and a strong partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. But this positive working relationship didn’t develop overnight. It took leadership and commitment from both the council and the service to stay “at the table” to break through barriers arising from misunderstandings.

Much has been achieved, but much more needs to be done. Hopefully, our strong working relationship will continue—with appropriate funding—so we can fully achieve the goals set out in the Marine Mammal Protection Act.