[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 69 (Monday, April 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8540]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: April 11, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 216
[I.D. 031494B]
Regulations Governing the Taking and Importing of Marine Mammals,
Harbor Seal
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct status review; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: NMFS is initiating a status review of both subspecies of the
harbor seal found in Alaska, Phoca vitulina richardsi and P. v.
stejnegeri, to determine if any population stock of this species should
be designated as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA). The status review will result in a population stock assessment
for this species in the State of Alaska.
DATES: Comments must be received by June 10, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Dr. William W. Fox, Jr.,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, F/PR, NMFS, 1335 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Shaw, Protected Resources
Management Division, Alaska Region, NMFS (907) 586-7235 or Michael
Payne, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 713-2322.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Aerial surveys were conducted during 1991-1993 to obtain minimum
population estimates of harbor seals on haulout sites located
throughout coastal Alaska during their autumn molt period (August/
September). During 1991, Bristol Bay, Prince William Sound, and the
Copper River Delta were surveyed (Loughlin, 1992). During 1992, the
south side of the Alaska Peninsula from Unimak Pass to Prince William
Sound, and the entire Kodiak Archipelago including Chirikof Island and
the Semidi Islands, were surveyed (Loughlin, 1993). During 1993, the
survey included southeast Alaska. The results of these surveys, when
compared to counts and surveys conducted previously (Pitcher and
Calkins, 1979; Pitcher, 1989; 1990), indicate a statistically
significant decline in the number of harbor seals in the central and
western Gulf of Alaska, including Prince William Sound.
Counts on Tugidak Island, once a major haulout and breeding site,
and other areas of the Kodiak Archipelago, declined by 90 percent
between the late-1970s and 1992 (Loughlin, 1993). Surveys conducted at
selected trend sites in Prince William Sound also indicate a 60 percent
decline between 1984 and 1992 (Frost and Lowry, 1993).
The counts from the eastern Bering Sea have resulted in less clear
trends than those in the Gulf of Alaska, although the data still
indicate that a decline has occurred. A series of counts conducted in
Bristol Bay fluctuated from 1966 to 1976, but have since declined by 50
percent between 1976 and 1991. However, the number of seals counted in
1991 were slightly greater than those from 1966 (Loughlin, 1992).
Counts at Nanvak Bay, in northern Bristol Bay, declined by 90 percent
from 1975 to 1991 (Loughlin, 1992).
The preliminary results from the 1993 NMFS survey in southeastern
Alaska, when compared to earlier data collected from Glacier Bay
(Matthews, 1992; Streveler, 1979; Calambokidis et al., 1987), Sitka and
Ketchikan (Calkins and Pitcher, 1984; Pitcher, 1989), indicate a stable
population.
During 1994, NMFS plans to conduct aerial surveys throughout the
Aleutian Islands. A comprehensive population assessment has never been
completed in this region of Alaska.
Biological Information Solicited
Section 115 of the MMPA specifies the procedure to be followed when
the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) designates a species or
population stock as depleted. Such a determination shall be made solely
on the basis of the best scientific information available and shall
only occur after a call to assist the Secretary in obtaining that
information. If the Secretary determines, after consultation with the
Marine Mammal Commission, that a species or population stock is below
its optimum sustainable population, then it shall be designated as
depleted by issuance of a rule after notice and opportunity for public
comment.
At this time, NMFS is initiating a status review of the harbor seal
in Alaska to determine whether designation of the species or any
population stock, as depleted under the MMPA is warranted. To ensure
that the review is comprehensive, NMFS is requesting interested parties
(including individuals associated with the State of Alaska, regional
management authorities, Alaskan Native organizations, resource user
interests, and public interest groups with expertise in the biology,
ecology or population dynamics of harbor seals) to submit comments
concerning the status of the harbor seal in Alaska, including any
distinct population stock or segment of the species. It is requested
that data, information, and comments be accompanied by: (1) Supporting
documentation, such as maps, bibliographic reference, or reprints of
pertinent publications and (2) the person's name, address, and any
association, institution, or business that the person represents.
The status review will describe, to the greatest extent possible,
for each identifiable population stock of harbor seal in Alaska, the
geographic range, a minimum population estimate, the trend in
abundance, net productivity rate, an estimate of anthropogenic
mortality and a description of any commercial fishery that interacts
with each stock, and specify whether the population stock is at, above,
or below, the maximum net productivity level.
References
A list of references is available upon request (see ADDRESSES).
Dated: April 1, 1994.
Herbert W. Kaufman,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources.
[FR Doc. 94-8540 Filed 4-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
