Marine Mammals Program Overviews
Arctic Program

The Arctic Marine Mammal Program strives to increase our understanding of the biology, movements, and habitat use of marine mammals living in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas, especially those linked to Alaska Native subsistence uses, and the ecosystems of which they are an integral part. Studies include diet, habitat use, movements, basic population dynamics, body condition, health (e.g., contaminants, disease, and parasites); and harvest monitoring of ice seals (i.e., bearded, ringed, spotted, and ribbon seals); movements, habitat use and traditional knowledge of bowhead whales; movements, habitat use, and health assessment of beluga whales; village–based satellite tagging of walruses; and a new electronic ear tag for polar bears. Information from such studies is also needed to understand affects from anthropogenic activities such as oil and gas development, mining, and fisheries.