There is some question as to the laws regarding use of tusks for making arts and crafts.  The law states that each tusk must have a harvest tag attached at all times.  During a meeting with officials at Fish and Wildlife in Anchorage, Alaska on March 9, 2010, we were informed that policy guidelines are being developed to assist the arts and crafts community in complying with the law.  If a tusk purchased from us or others is going to be cut into multiple pieces for use in making earrings, pendants, knife handles, carvings, etc., the new owner of the tusk should contact National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) Fisheries to obtain additional harvest tags before cutting the tusk (If you want the tusk cut after purchasing we do this for you).  These tags can then be assigned to each article being made.  Technically, the law states that the tag must be attached to the tusk at all times.  For jewelry, knife handles, cut pieces, and carvings, our understanding is that as long as the owner can produce the tag for the article promptly, this will suffice as proof of a product made from a legally acquired tusk.  In other words, you can wear a pair of narwhal earrings to dinner, but had better be able to prove that they were made from legally acquired material if ask by an officer from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) Fisheries & Department of Fish and Wildlife .  Always keep the harvest tag.

Please note that all narwhal products leaving the State Of Alaska must have marine mammal transportation permits--this is true for jewelry, carvings, knife handles, cut pieces, etc., as well as for full tusks (We provide the marine mammal transportation permits when you purchase a tusk from us) .  All products being shipped out of The United States must have a CITES permit--regardless of how much or how little you paid for the item.

Once the tusk is exported outside of the United States we are not aware of any requirement that the tag must remain attached to the tusk. We do advise that you keep the tag for your files.

We recommend that customers maintain adequate paperwork (copies of tags, pictures of tusks, etc.) to prove where pieces came from and went.

Please note that we accept all responsibility for the accuracy of this section and we learn more as a service to both our customers and to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. If you are wondering about the Narwhal Ivory laws in your Country, State or Region just contact us for more information.