Proposed Rule2023-12388
Draft Conservation Plan for the Eastern Pacific Stock of Northern Fur Seal (Laaqudan)
Primary source
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Published
June 12, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
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).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 112 (Monday, June 12, 2023)</title>
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[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 [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> 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.
<bullet> 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
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0024">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/NOAA-NMFS-2023-0024</a>, can be sent via email,
or the NMFS Alaska Region website: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/northern-fur-seal#conservation-management">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/northern-fur-seal#conservation-management</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Williams, NMFS Alaska Region,
907-271-5117, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b1dcd8d2d9d0d4dd9fc6d8ddddd8d0dcc2f1dfded0d09fd6dec7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="96fbfff5fef7f3fab8e1fffafafff7fbe5d6f8f9f7f7b8f1f9e0">[email protected]</span></a>.
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]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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