Fur Seal Management

Protecting a species at the heart of our island

St. Paul Island is home to the largest northern fur seal breeding colony in the world. For generations, the Unangan people of St. Paul have lived alongside these animals, and their health is closely tied to the wellbeing of our community and the Bering Sea ecosystem.

Since 2019, the Ecosystem Conservation Office has led a community-based monitoring program that combines traditional knowledge with scientific survey methods. Tribal staff and volunteers conduct seasonal pup counts, document entanglements in marine debris, and record rookery conditions.

Findings are shared with federal and research partners to inform management decisions, and with our community through annual reports and public meetings.

Project Goals

• Produce reliable annual population estimates for rookeries on St. Paul Island
• Reduce entanglement by removing marine debris from haul-out areas
• Train local youth and residents in wildlife survey methods
• Integrate Unangan traditional knowledge into co-management decisions