BILATERAL / RUSSIA
First Update; pages 914-915
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Done at Nome 9 September 1994
Primary source citation: Copy of text provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Interior
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PROTOCOL U.S./RUSSIA TECHNICAL CONSULTATION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF POLAR BEARS OF THE CHUKCHI/BERING SEA REGION
Representatives from Russia and the United States (attendance list attached) met in Nome, Alaska on September 6-9, 1994, for the expressed purposes of advancing technical discussion on the joint conservation of the shared population of polar bears occupying the Chukchi, Bering and portions of the Eastern Siberian Seas. The following summarizes the highlights of these talks and establishes a direction for future efforts.
The following are major points of agreement of the Parties:
The 1973 International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears shall serve as the basic framework for our joint conservation agreements.
The Parties agree that in order to accomplish the objectives of a conservation doctrine, that both a Government to Government Agreement in conjunction with a Native to Native agreement will be developed. Further the Parties resolve to facilitate Alaska Native to Chukotka Native communication in preparation of a Native to Native Agreement.
The Parties recognize that sound biological information, including scientific data and traditional ecological knowledge, will be fundamental to the agreement. Therefore, the Parties agree to continue and to expand cooperative research programs to enhance our knowledge of polar bears.
Principles of sustained yield will be institutionalized in the agreement and serve as the basis for future harvest guidelines and allocation.
Subsistence use of polar bears including the making and selling of articles of handicraft and clothing is a recognized legitimate use.
Both Parties shall strive to minimize commercial exploitation of polar bears harvested for subsistence purposes.
Habitat protection and conservation shall be a cornerstone to a future agreement.
Both Parties recognize the need to make their best efforts to curb illegal take or trade of polar bears or their products within their respective jurisdictions.
Monitoring and verification programs shall be an integral component of a future agreement. All efforts shall be made to secure funding in support of the preparation and implementation of monitoring programs.
Both Parties resolve to seek appropriate authorizations to begin formal negotiation of this agreement as soon as possible.
Therefore, the Parties resolve to exchange documents to further the mutually agreed principles of conservation listed above.
The Parties further resolve to conduct consecutive meetings of Government to Government and Native to Native Parties to further advance the agreements and that these meetings shall be conducted not later than 1 year from the date of signing of this meeting summary.
The Parties also discussed the matter of conservation and management of the shared population of Pacific walrus, and signed a separate Protocol of Intentions which is appended to this Protocol.
Signed on September 9, 1994, In Nome (Alaska, U.S.A.) in duplicate in the English and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.
[Signature] David B. Allen Acting Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service United States of America
[Signature] Grigoriy Kovalev Deputy Chief Main Dept of Biological Resources Russian Federation