Ensure that harvest of polar bear subpopulations is managed in a biologically sustainable manner in accordance with sound conservation practices

Objective Leads

Caroline Ladanowski (Environment and Climate Change Canada, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Dave Gustine (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Actions associated with Objective 4 in the 2020-2023 Implementation Plan

(see top-left sidebar for further information on the actions)

EH – A4: Submit a description of the harvest regime for each subpopulation.

EH – A6: Develop methods to collate available data from harvested bears and how to analyze that data.

Implementation approach

The suggested workplan for the upcoming CAP Implementation Plan is to:

• HM-A4: Submit a description of the harvest regime for each subpopulation.
• HM-A6: Develop methods to collate available data from harvested bears and how to analyze that data.
• Postpone “HM-A5: Compile an evaluation of Biologically Sustainable Harvest for each Polar Bear subpopulation, considering the influence of climate change” to beyond 2025, as it relies on HM-A4 and may require new analyses that take climate change into consideration.
  
  

Polar Bear threats linked to the Objective and how the Objective’s Actions will address them: 

• Human caused mortality.
• This objective is to ensure that harvest of polar bear subpopulations is managed in a biologically sustainable manner to ensure polar bear conservation and the opportunity for harvest of polar bears for future generations of Indigenous peoples living within the range of polar bears. Achievement of this objective will require the continued long-term, sustainable management of harvest by Arctic Indigenous peoples and domestic management agencies.
  
  

Levels of the Threats: 

Human caused mortality is considered a low/medium threat

Expected impact/ outcome of the Objective-4 workplan: 

An understanding of harvest regime for polar bear subpopulations will provide a framework to ensure that harvest is carried out in a biologically sustainable manner, and in accordance with sound conservation practices. A harvest managed sustainably will contribute directly to the vision of the CAP (to secure the long-term persistence of polar bears in the wild that represents the genetic, behavioral, life-history, and ecological diversity of the species).

How the progress toward Objective-4 will be evaluated

HM-A1, HM-A2, and HM-A3 provided the foundation for actions HM-A4 and HM-A6. Progress towards Objective 4 will be evaluated based on the comprehensive understanding of sustainable harvest systems contributing to the successful long-term persistence of polar bears in the wild.

Objective Performance Metrics

• The Range States will determine the proportion of subpopulations where harvest levels are biologically sustainable through the completion of actions HM-A4 and HM-A6. HM-A4 will provide a framework to evaluate sustainable harvest across the subpopulation. The completion of action HM-A5 is contingent on HM-A4, which is proposed to be completed in the action cycle ending in 2025.
• With HM-A4 the Range states will have a description of the harvest management regime for each subpopulation. This information can be used to determine the proportion of subpopulations where a demonstrated harvest management regime exists.
• With HM-A6 the Range states will have an understanding of how harvested bears can inform subpopulation status and provide recommendations for harvest data collection.
  

Liaison with other CAP-Objectives

TBD

Liaison with external bodies

(i.e. organizations, communities, stakeholders, expert groups, etc.)

TBD

Expected dissemination of Deliverables and Outcome to stakeholders 

(public, policy makers, legislators etc.)

Outcome reports to be published on the PBRS website.

Potential Challenges and how they will be addressed (mitigation actions) ^[1]

1. HM-A4: Action HM-4 will be time consuming, sensitive, and will require close collaboration between Range states as well as domestic consultation between experts with quantitative skills and local management authorities.

2.  HM-A6: Action HM-A6 is complex with varying management across Range States and domestically across jurisdictions (in Canada specifically). This action will require extensive consideration of the purpose/focus by an Operating Team prior to beginning drafting recommendations.
   
   

^[1] The level of challenge is estimated by multiplying the level of likelihood (scale 1-5) by the negative impact it may have (scale 1-5). Minor: 1-10, Moderate: 11-15; Severe: 16-25.