Commission meeting in Alaska makes recommendations for hunting polar bears in Russia
By APFriday, June 11, 2010
Panel in Alaska supports Russia polar bear hunting
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A joint commission meeting in Alaska recommended lifting the ban on harvesting polar bears for traditional and cultural purposes in Russia.
The U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission met this week in Anchorage to determine the potential for a planned harvest by Native peoples in Alaska and Chukotka in Russia who subsist on the bears.
The harvest would be limited to up to 58 polar bears a year, with no more than 19 females.
The move would end a 50-year ban on the Russian side. It is expected to improve monitoring and decrease poaching in that country.
In Alaska, a team will develop a plan that will be presented at the next meeting of the commission in June 2011.
Alaska Natives harvested an average of 38 polar bears a year from 2004 to 2008.
