In late autumn, walruses typically migrate to their wintering grounds, and during this migration, they become especially vulnerable and in need of protection.
The Pacific walrus, along with the gray whale, forms the basis of the traditional diet of the indigenous peoples of Chukotka and contributes to the preservation of traditional culture in Chukotka.
Scientists from the Department of Scientific Research of Bioresources of Inland Waters and Waters Adjacent to the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug at the Pacific Branch of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) continue long-term monitoring of Pacific walrus rookeries in the seas surrounding the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug to study the current population status and distribution of the pinnipeds.
The general warming of the Arctic observed in recent years and the resulting reduction in sea ice cover in the Arctic Basin could lead to a new phase of decline in the Pacific walrus population. Therefore, to preserve these animals and their rookeries, continued research is necessary, as well as the development of scientifically sound regulations for the protection and harvesting of marine mammals that would regulate human behavior and economic activity in the areas of Pacific walrus rookeries.
VNIRO Press Service