Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
The USGS Alaska Science Center is funding research with a partner to estimate polar bear populations and assess harvest risks in the Beaufort Sea using integrated models and Indigenous Knowledge.
Funder: Geological Survey
Due Dates: May 20, 2026: Full application submission deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $180,000 total for a two-year project; one award expected
Summary: Supports research to estimate polar bear abundance and assess harvest risk in the Southern and Northern Beaufort Sea using integrated population models and Indigenous Knowledge.
Key Information: Only current Pacific Northwest CESU partners are eligible.
Description
This opportunity from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Alaska Science Center seeks a partner from the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) to conduct research estimating the abundance of polar bears in the Southern and Northern Beaufort Sea subpopulations. The project also includes a harvest risk assessment for the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation, which has experienced population declines and faces threats from anthropogenic activities. The research will apply an integrated population model (IPM) that incorporates both western science and Indigenous Knowledge, using over 20 years of available polar bear population data. The findings will inform sustainable management and co-management of polar bear harvests.
