Expansion of the Umky Patrol in the Barents Sea
The Neneths branch of RAIPON
Neneths directorate of regional PA's
Marine Mammal Council
All Russian Institute of Nature Protection
The Russian sector of the arctic is the largest in the world and extends from the Barents Sea on the west to the Chukchi Sea on the East. At least one third of the world polar bear population inhabits the Russian Arctic. According to the best expert opinion, this equates to about 7-8 thousand bears. Approximately 3,000 polar bears living in the Barents Sea are under the jurisdiction of Norway and Russia. The population of the Chukchi Sea is shared by Russia and the USA. The Karskaya and Laptevskaya populations are under Russian jurisdiction only. Within Russia the species is listed in the Red Data Book and any hunt of polar bears has been prohibited since 1956. However, every year 150-200 polar bears are hunted illegally in Russia.
Hence it is necessary to organize real protection and monitoring of polar bears throughout the Russian Arctic using the positive experience of the “Polar Bear Patrol” work in Chukotka and Yakutia. This proposal would fund new patrol efforts on the Taimyr, Nentskiy autonomous okrug, and settlements on Novaya Zemlya archipelago. To obtain effective monitoring of polar bear in the territory of Nenetsky Autonomous okrug it is necessary to create a special unit of the “Polar Bear Patrol” in Amderma village (Barents Sea polar bear population) and second on Vaigach Island (Kara Sea polar bear population). According to our information, 5-10 polar bears are illegally hunted in these areas annually. In June 2007, under WWF support the government of Nenetsky okrug created a new regional nature reserve in Vaigach Island. This reserve, in combination with active Polar Bear Patrols will help eliminate illegal harvest in this region.
Project aims and objectives
- Poaching prevention
- Coastal monitoring of polar bears
- Support to the new protected area
- Environmental education
- Prevention of conflicts between people and polar bears
