The Subsistence Harvest of Ice Seals in Alaska— a Compilation of Existing Information, 1960–2017 Approved by ISC on May 31, 2019 A Report of the Ice Seal Committee Use of harvest data: Due to high variability in seal harvest numbers (among years, within communities, among communities, and within regions), harvest data presented here should not be extrapolated to other communities or regions at this time. For example, during the six-year span of 2012-2017, only 3 of the 64 (4%) coastal communities that harvest ice seals have been surveyed in two consecutive years or more. In addition, hunter concerns regarding the misuse of harvest data make extrapolation of harvest numbers inappropriate at this time. We are working toward a better understanding of harvest variability and community needs by conducting more and consecutive surveys with the goal of being able to report a statewide ice seal harvest in the future. Until then, please contact the Ice Seal Committee for guidance prior to using these harvest data. Citation: Ice Seal Committee. 2019. The subsistence harvest of ice seals in Alaska – a compilation of existing information, 1960-2017. http://www.north-slope.org/departments/wildlife- management/co-management-organizations/ice-seal-committee. Pages 1-86. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4 BACKGROUND.......................................................................................................................... 4 URGENCY OF COLLECTING HARVEST INFORMATION ................................................................. 5 CONCERNS OF SUBSISTENCE USERS .......................................................................................... 5 USE OF HARVEST DATA ............................................................................................................ 5 Methods....................................................................................................................................... 6 HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ............................................................................................................... 6 BOUNTY RECORDS ................................................................................................................... 7 RATINGS .................................................................................................................................. 7 Results ......................................................................................................................................... 7 TAKE BY REGION ...................................................................................................................... 7 NORTH SLOPE .......................................................................................................................... 9 Kaktovik ............................................................................................................................ 10 Nuiqsut .............................................................................................................................. 12 Utqiaġvik (Barrow) ........................................................................................................... 13 Atqasuk ............................................................................................................................. 14 Wainwright ....................................................................................................................... 15 Point Lay ........................................................................................................................... 16 Point Hope ........................................................................................................................ 17 NORTHWEST ARCTIC ............................................................................................................. 19 Kivalina ............................................................................................................................. 20 Noatak ............................................................................................................................... 22 Kotzebue ........................................................................................................................... 23 Buckland ........................................................................................................................... 25 Deering .............................................................................................................................. 26 Candle ............................................................................................................................... 27 Shishmaref ........................................................................................................................ 29 Little Diomede .................................................................................................................. 31 Wales ................................................................................................................................. 32 Brevig Mission .................................................................................................................. 33 Teller ................................................................................................................................. 35 Nome ................................................................................................................................. 36 White Mountain ................................................................................................................ 37 Golovin ............................................................................................................................. 38 Elim ................................................................................................................................... 39 Koyuk ................................................................................................................................ 40 Shaktoolik ......................................................................................................................... 41 Unalakleet ......................................................................................................................... 42 Saint Michael .................................................................................................................... 43 Stebbins ............................................................................................................................. 44 Gambell ............................................................................................................................. 45 Savoonga ........................................................................................................................... 47 King Island ........................................................................................................................ 48 Northeast Cape .................................................................................................................. 48 Solomon ............................................................................................................................ 48 2 YUKON-KUSKOKWIM DELTA ................................................................................................. 49 Kotlik ................................................................................................................................ 50 Kwiguk (Emmonak) .......................................................................................................... 51 Alakanuk ........................................................................................................................... 52 Scammon Bay ................................................................................................................... 53 Hooper Bay ....................................................................................................................... 54 Chevak .............................................................................................................................. 56 Tununak ............................................................................................................................ 57 Mekoryuk .......................................................................................................................... 58 Tuntutuliak ........................................................................................................................ 59 Eek .................................................................................................................................... 60 Quinhagak ......................................................................................................................... 61 Mountain Village .............................................................................................................. 63 Toksook Bay ..................................................................................................................... 63 Nightmute ......................................................................................................................... 63 Chefornak .......................................................................................................................... 64 Kipnuk ..............................................................................................................................