[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 112 (Monday, June 12, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38010-38011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12388]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 216

[RTID 0648-XC749]


Draft Conservation Plan for the Eastern Pacific Stock of Northern 
Fur Seal (Laaqudan)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announces the 
availability for public comment the draft Conservation Plan for the 
Eastern Pacific Stock of Northern Fur Seal (Laaqudan) (Conservation 
Plan). The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires the Secretary 
of Commerce to develop a northern fur seal conservation plan for the 
purpose of conserving and restoring the species or stock to its optimum 
sustainable population. Accordingly, NMFS published its first 
conservation plan for the Pribilof Islands population in 1993 and a 
revised version in 2007. This current revision is required to include 
the latest research and management changes for the Eastern Pacific 
stock of northern fur seals (formerly the Pribilof Islands population).

DATES: Comments and information must be received by August 11, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2023-0024, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2023-0024 in the Search box. 
Click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and 
enter or attach your comments.
     Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any 
other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment 
period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part 
of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address), confidential business information, 
or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender 
will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter 
``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
    Electronic copies of the draft Conservation Plan for the Eastern 
Pacific Stock of Northern Fur Seal (Laaqudan) are available at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0024, can be sent via email, 
or the NMFS Alaska Region website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/northern-fur-seal#conservation-management.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Williams, NMFS Alaska Region, 
907-271-5117, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Eastern Pacific (formerly Pribilof) stock of northern fur seals 
was listed as depleted under the MMPA on June 17, 1988, because the 
population had declined by over 50 percent from the highest population 
levels estimated in the 1940s and early 1950s (53 FR 17888, May 18, 
1988). NMFS developed a Conservation Plan to conserve and restore the 
stock to its optimum sustainable population (OSP), which is defined as 
a population size within a range of population sizes from the largest 
supportable within the ecosystem (i.e., carrying capacity) to a level 
that results in maximum net productivity (50 CFR 216.3). The first 
Conservation Plan was published in 1993 and a revised version was 
published in 2007.
    Overall, the stock has continued to decline at about 2 percent per 
year since the depleted listing, and differences exist in trends in 
abundance and ecology among St. Paul, St. George, and Bogoslof islands 
and rookery complexes. Preliminary estimates of age class survival 
rates since 2010 are similar for both St. Paul and St. George islands; 
however, since trends in abundance are significantly different (i.e., 
declining on St. Paul and increasing on St. George) our assumptions 
regarding site fidelity, emigration, and detection are biased and we 
are investigating corrections.
    Mapping fur seal use of Bering Sea marine foraging areas, 
characterizing diving, and estimating diet are new additions to the 
draft Conservation Plan. Improved estimates of fur seal consumption of 
commercially important prey like pollock, age-specific growth, and 
bioenergetics have increased the accuracy of ecosystem models to 
characterize fur seal and prey population dynamics. These new model 
results have the opportunity to advance ecosystem-based fisheries 
management to include fur seals where appropriate. Based on these 
recent model results, it is estimated that the northern fur seal 
population is one of the top four natural predators of pollock biomass, 
and consumes both 0-2 year old and 3+ year old pollock. The extent of 
competition with the pollock fisheries is uncertain due to the spatial 
segregation of foraging fur seals among the islands, rookery complexes, 
and in-season changes in the distribution of various segments of the 
commercial pollock fleet.
    Another notable revision to this draft Conservation Plan is the 
reflection of recent subsistence use regulation changes and the 
evolution of tribal co-management relationships. The Conservation Plan 
revision includes valuable input and contributions from the Aleut 
Community of St. Paul Island and the Traditional Council of St.

[[Page 38011]]

George Island, and recognizes Unangan contributions to management and 
research. As fur seal subsistence use is paramount to the cultural 
identity of Pribilovians, NMFS used Unangam tunuu (i.e., Aleut 
language) words where appropriate.
    The primary goal of the draft Conservation Plan is to facilitate 
recovery of the Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals to OSP and 
work towards re-designation as a non-depleted stock. Four objectives 
are proposed to achieve this goal: (1) Identify and reduce human caused 
mortality of the Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals, (2) 
Assess and avoid or mitigate adverse effects of human related 
activities on or near the Pribilof Islands and other habitat essential 
to the survival and recovery of the Eastern Pacific stock of northern 
fur seals, (3) Continue and, as necessary, expand research and 
management programs to monitor trends and detect natural or human-
related causes of change in the northern fur seal stock and habitats 
essential to its survival and recovery, and (4) Coordinate and assess 
the implementation of the Conservation Plan. The revised Conservation 
Plan includes updated knowledge of threats, possible causes of decline, 
critical information gaps, conservation actions and initiatives 
completed, and research and management actions intended to promote 
conservation and recovery of the population. The shared resources and 
cooperative involvement of Federal, state, and tribal governments, 
Alaska Natives and Alaska Native Organizations, industry, academia, 
non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders will be required 
throughout the recovery period. NMFS is seeking public comment on the 
draft Conservation Plan, as well as available information on northern 
fur seal ecology and behavior, threats, gaps in information, and 
potential research and management actions to promote conservation and 
recovery.

    Dated: June 5, 2023.
Catherine G. Marzin,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-12388 Filed 6-9-23; 8:45 am]
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