TO-M07AC13300 

Technical Summary: MMS Publication 2010-035 

ACCESS NUMBER: TO-M07AC13300 

STUDY TITLE: Satellite Tracking of Pacific Walruses: The Planning Phase 

REPORT TITLE: Satellite Tracking of Pacific Walruses: The Planning Phase 

CONTRACT NUMBER: 0102CA85294, TASK ORDER (TO): M07AC13300 

SPONSORING OCS REGION: Alaska 

APPLICABLE PLANNING AREA: Chukchi 

FISCAL YEARS OF PROJECT FUNDING: 2007–2009 

COMPLETION DATE OF REPORT: September 2009 

COST by fiscal year; FY 2007: $4,846; FY 2008: $4,846; FY 2009: $0 

CUMMULATIVE PROJECT COST: $9,691 

PROJECT MANAGER: Lori Quakenbush 

AFFILIATION: School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences 

ADDRESS: University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220 

PRINIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Lori Quakenbush 

KEY WORDS: Satellite telemetry, Pacific walrus, Chukchi Sea, project planning 

BACKGROUND: Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) are an important subsistence and 

cultural resource for coastal people of western Alaska and they are an important component of 

the Bering and Chukchi seas ecosystems. Walruses winter together in the Bering Sea, however 

subadults and females with dependent young summer in the Chukchi Sea while many adult 

males remain in the Bering Sea. The rapid retreat of sea ice in recent years is changing walrus 

summer habitat and may be changing their summer distribution and haulout behavior, requiring 

that walruses haul out on land instead of ice. Oil and gas activity has recently increased in the 

Chukchi Sea and may compound the impact to walruses elevating the importance of 

understanding walrus movements, feeding behavior, and habitat requirements necessary for the 

conservation and management of the species. Satellite transmitters placed on walruses near the 

communities of Little Diomede, Wales, Nome, Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, and Barrow in 

spring would provide information on migration route, speed of travel, feeding areas and haulout 

behavior. Working cooperatively with the Eskimo Walrus Commission and walrus hunters from 

these communities, we designed a study to deploy satellite transmitters and conduct counts and 

observations on haulouts that are encountered near villages in spring and fall. These data will 

provide information that will help answer important questions about walrus movements, feeding 

and haulout behavior, and will help identify important habitats. The study is designed to involve 

walrus hunters and other local people without interfering with subsistence walrus hunting 

activities. 

OBJECTIVES: Work with the Eskimo Walrus Commission and walrus hunters to develop a 

walrus satellite tagging study plan that would investigate movements, feeding areas, haulout and 

other behavior in the Chukchi Sea. Once a plan is developed seek funding for implementation. 

DESCRIPTION: The PI worked with the Eskimo Walrus Commission to develop a study plan to 

deploy satellite transmitters on walruses from villages along the Chukchi Sea coast and to make 

observations of walrus groups hauled out on land. Research activities will be conducted without 

interference with subsistence hunting. 

SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS: Walrus hunters are interested in studies regarding walrus 

movements, health, and behavior related to diminishing sea ice and want to be involved in those 

studies. 

STUDY RESULTS: A study plan was developed with the Eskimo Walrus Commission to deploy 

satellite transmitters on walruses of different age and sex classes to describe patterns of spring, 

summer, and fall movements in the Chukchi Sea including movements to feeding areas, haulout 
TO-M07AC13300 

locations, and interactions with oil industry activities. In addition to tagging, counts and 

behavioral observations will be conducted on terrestrial haulouts, and traditional knowledge 

regarding walrus movements, feeding areas, behavior and use of terrestrial haulouts will be 

collected and incorporated into the study results. 

STUDY PRODUCT(S): The resulting study plan was incorporated into a proposal in order to 

acquire funding from MMS to conduct the satellite telemetry study. Other study products included 

quarterly and annual reports to CMI and MMS during 2007–2009. The final report was completed 

in September 2009: Quakenbush, L. 2009. Satellite Tracking of Pacific Walruses: The Planning 

Phase. OCS Study MMS 2010-035. We provided oral presentations at annual CMI meetings and 

EWC meetings. In 2008, a presentation was made at the MMS, ITM (Quakenbush, L. 2008. A 

cooperative approach to walrus research—hunters and scientists working together. Minerals 

Management Service, Information Transfer Meeting 28–30 October, Anchorage, AK).