1. Arctic Imperative Summit
SAVOONGA
Science and TEK
Arctic Imperative Summit
RESOURCES
- George Noongwook –

2. Beaufort Sea
Chukchi Sea
ALASKA
RUSSIA
Savoonga
Bering Sea
Girdwood

3. EXTREMES Longest lived mammal (~ 150 yr)
Late age at sexual maturity (~20 yr)
Low body temperature (~92 F)
Longest baleen (~16 ft)
Thickest blubber (35”)
Best tasting

4. Spring time
= heavy ice
= active whaling
= ice extent

5. Fall time
= active whaling
= ice extent

6. Traditional Knowledge of the Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) around Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska
Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission / Native Village of Savoonga
Private Consultant – Eagle River
North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management - Barrow, AK

7. TEK bowhead whale surveys indicated:
2 migratory routes recognized
Changes in abundance and distribution
Timing / direction of migrations
Identified migratory “staging area”
Identified several local feeding area
Increasing numbers of “ingutuks” or sub-adults

8. Migrations
Staging Area

9. Mechanism Connecting Change to Impact
Ecological Change
Impact/ Response
Mediator
e.g. politics, regulation, inertia
e.g. economic/social system, personal choice, culture
e.g. climate

10. Angyaq
The Native people of Savoonga forever rely on marine mammals for food and domestic needs. We will continue this tradition.

11. Hauling up a whale

12. Subsistence camp

13. Savoonga: 2005-2006 Percent total subsistence harvest

14. Savoonga: 2005-2006 # days per week, subsistence food use

15. Satellite-tagged bowhead locations and MODIS sea ice images
March 2009

16. The Tribe has regulated the taking of marine mammals in a respectful & non-wasteful manner (Consistent with MMPA, Constitution, and By-laws of the Native Village of Savoonga 1934)

17. Survival depends upon community cooperation and sharing the marine mammal harvest

18. All of our harvests!

19. CONCERNS/THREATS Environmental Loss of marine mammal habitat
Less availability of marine subsistence resources
Subsistence resources less accessible – less predictable
Longer travel in open seas – increase cost / increase risk
Health of marine resources
Disease
Changing ecosystem: “new” animals / competition
Environmental concerns due to warming climate: not particularly that there are less animals…just less access/opportunity for harvest. Less predictable timing, more open water travel, more gas to burn (and more expensive gas!) increasing the costs – and risks – to families. Health of the animals – new diseases brought in with animals traveling more, also new animals (sea lions, new fishes, etc) that will compete with existing system. Also, predation by killer whales (and sharks) may occur more often in the now longer open water period.

20. CONCERNS/THREATS Industrial Oil spills Ship strikes
Acoustic disturbance / deflection
Entanglement / marine trash
Hazards to maritime subsistence activities

21. OPPORTUNITY Environmental Fall whaling (1990) Whale harvest
Julian date

22. OPPORTUNITY Industrial Direct communication with transiting vessels
Training / education
Mitigation measures
Monitoring / other science opportunities
Local employment
Involvement in policy-making
Tribal government representation

23. Acknowledgements Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, Captains / Crews
Barrow Whaling Captains Association
Savoonga Whaling Captains Association
North Slope Borough, Wildlife Department
Mayor’s Office, North Slope Borough
University of Washington
Colorado State University
NOAA / National Marine Fisheries Service
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game
Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks – Marine Advisory Program
Texas A&M University
BP and Conoco-Phillips

24. Igamsiqanaghalek!