Knowing how many belugas are harvested is important for management and documenting subsistence need. Beluga harvests are sustainable for the Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, Eastern Bering Sea and Bristol Bay stocks. There are currently no abundance estimates for the belugas in Kotzebue Sound and it is unknown which stock Kuskokwim belugas belong to. Better struck and lost information is needed for all areas.
How Does ABWC Collect Harvest Data?
- ABWC Delegates
- Hunter Questionnaires
- Harvest Studies
- Assistance from ADF&G and BBNA and NSB-DWM
Which Communities Harvest from Each Stock?
- Beaufort Sea Stock: 6 communities (Barrow, Diomede, Kaktovik, Kivalina, Nuiqsut, Point Hope)
- Eastern Chukchi Sea Stock: 2 communities (Barrow?, Wainwright, Point Lay)
- Kotzebue Sound Stock: 5 communities (Buckland, Deering, Kivalina, Kotzebue, Noatak)
- Eastern Bering Sea Stock: 23 communities – Norton Sound (Brevig Mission, Elim, Golovin, Koyuk, Nome/Council, Saint Michael, Shaktoolik, Stebbins, Unalakleet, White Mountain); Yukon (Alakanuk, Chevak, Emmonak, Hooper Bay, Kotlik, Marshall, Mountain Village, Nunam Iqua, Pilot Station, Pitka’s Point, Russian Mission, Saint Mary’s, Scammon Bay)
- Kuskokwim: (Platinum, Toksook Bay, Qainhagak)
- Bristol Bay Stock: 9 communities (Aleknagek, Clark’s Point, Dillingham, Egegik, Igiugig, Iliamna, Levelock, Manokotak, Naknek)
Average Annual Harvest (2020-2024)
Harvests that are less than about 2.5% of the population size are considered to be sustainable.
| Stock | Pop size | # Landed/Yr | % of Pop |
| Beaufort Sea | 46,315 | 46 | 0.10%* |
| E. Chukchi Sea | 13,305 | 39 | 0.29% |
| Kotzebue Sound | ? | 17 | ? |
| E. Bering Sea | 13,313 | 211 | 1.59% |
| Kuskokwim | ? | 18 | |
| Bristol Bay | 1,669 | 16 | 0.97% |
| * Does not include Canadian harvest | |||