It serves as a haulout site for Pacific walrus.
It is part of the Bering Sea unit of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and is protected as part of the Bering Sea Wilderness.
The Imperial Russian Hydrographic Department Chart 1427 called it "Ostrov Sindsha" probably for Lt. Sind, its alleged discoverer, in 1764.
Commodore Joseph Billings of the Imperial Russian Navy and Lt. Gavril Sarychev anchored between this island and St. Matthew on July 14, 1791 (O.S.).
This article about a location in the Bethel Census Area, Alaska is a stub.