[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