Posted on 01 April 2007

After six years of negotiations, in December 2006 the US Congress passed the implementing legislation needed for a US-Russia agreement on the conservation and usage of the Chukotka-Alaska polar bear subpopulation.

This agreement may al low limited hunting of polar bears, but WWF believes that serious monitoring should take place prior to any hunting.

Viktor Nikiforov, WWF-Russia’s regional programmes director, said: “For the first time since 1956, when hunting for polar bears was strictly prohibited in Russian territory, limited hunting for polar bears may be allowed.

“At present the Chukotka-Alaska sub-population of polar bears is in a tough situation because of global warming. It is necessary to organise intense monitoring of the sub-population before starting to hunt for polar bears.”

After ratification of the agreement, a committee on polar bear conservation will be organised. Two commissioners from each party, Russia and the US, will be the representatives of indigenous people and governments.

Russia will be represented by the Ministry of Nature Resources of the Russian Federation, and the US will be represented by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

At the first meeting, the commissioners should develop a list of recommendations, including key issues devoted to conservation and usage of the polar bear sub population, hunting limits, and the period of any hunting season.

Viktor Nikiforov, Regional Programmes Director WWF-Russia vnikiforov@wwf.ru