Meeting of the Scientific Committee Working Group on Walruses
The Scientific Committee Working Group on Walruses will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, 23-26 November 2009 to discuss a number of issues as detailed below. There will also be invited experts from outside NAMMCO countries. The Terms of Reference for the Working Group include:
- A full assessment of North Water, West Greenland-Eastern Baffin Island and East Greenland.
- To provide an updated assessment of walrus, to include stock delineation, abundance, harvest, stock status and priorities for research.
- To provide advice on the effects of human disturbance, including fishing and shipping activities, in particular scallop fishing, on the distribution, behaviour and conservation status of walrus in West Greenland.
- To provide a formal assessment of the Davis Strait stock as soon as finalization of the catch series is complete and the results from the planned 2007 survey are available.
- To provide estimates of sustainable yields of the North Water and West Greenland stocks of walrus.
