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File Number: 23896

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- Project Information

File Number: 23896
Application Status: Submitted
Project Title: Co-Management of Marine Mammals on the Pribilof Islands Alaska by the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Tribal Government Ecosystem Conservation Office
Project Status: Renewal
Previous Federal or State Permit/Authorization: 19436-02
Permit/Authorization Requested:
  • MMPA/ESA Research/Enhancement permit
Where will activities occur? US Locations including offshore waters
Research Timeframe: Start: 10/01/2021    End: 09/30/2026
Sampling Season/Project Duration: 
Research activities on northern fur seals occurs year-round but are concentrated from April through December. Activities are conducted daily at some locations during the fur seal breeding season and less frequently at other times of year. Fur seal habitat use studies are conducted twice per week from April to June, daily for 10 days in mid-July, and once per week from October through April. Monitoring Steller sea lion presence and brand re-sights are conducted on average once per week throughout the year. Aerial surveys of fur seals, sea lions, and harbor seals are conducted throughout the year as feasible. Sampling of dead animals (subsistence hunted/harvested and stranded) occurs throughout the year. Timing and frequency of specific activities are listed under each project description and are based on timing of historical sample collections and on northern fur seal, Steller sea lion, and harbor seal behaviors. Projects are initiations or continuations of long-term monitoring studies.
Abstract: 
The purpose of this research is to fulfill our co-management agreement with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for the management of northern fur seals (NFS; Callorhinus ursinus), Steller sea lions (SSL; Eumetopias jubatus) and harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) on St. Paul Island, Alaska. Up to 36,001 NFS may be taken annually, including up to 600 by capture and handle, 400 by import/export/receive samples, 35,000 by incidental disturbance, and 1 by unintentional mortality. SSL disturbance is estimated to be 2,331 annually for the proposed projects, including 100 by import/export/receive samples and 1 by unintentional mortality. Harbor seal disturbance is estimated to be up to 610 annually, including 50 by import/export/receive samples. Unlimited numbers of samples may be salvaged from stranded unidentified cetaceans and other pinnipeds (up to 10 each), received, and/or exported for analysis. Captures of NFS for the purpose of disentanglement are currently covered under our Marine Mammal Stranding Agreement with NMFS, but not incidental and non-target animals, which are included here. Non-target animals include NFS, SSL or harbor seals that are not the focus of the research. All activities are organized into 5 projects: 1. Marine Mammal Population Monitoring/Assessment; 2. NFS Disturbance using VHF; 3. NFS Habitat Use Studies; 4. Biosample/ Salvage Program; and 5. NFS Disentanglement. Take activities involve ground survey, aerial survey, observation, photograph/video, and capture/handling. Procedures to be performed on handled animals include mark (flipper tag), measure (standard morphometrics), restrain (board, hand), and weigh. Requested duration of this permit is 5 years from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2026. The proposed activities are a continuation of Permit 19436-02, which covered September 14, 2016 to September 30, 2021.

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- Location/Take Information

Note: only currently authorized takes are displayed. A letter in the Version column indicates that the take line has been modified.
Location

Research Area: Pacific Ocean   State/Territory: AK 
Waterbody Name: Bering Sea   Location Description: All projects will occur on the Pribilof Islands of St. Paul and St. George, Bering Sea, Alaska.
Take Information
Line Species Listing Unit
or Stock		 Production
or Origin		 Life
Stage		 Sex Expected
Take		 Indirect
Mortality		 Takes
Per Animal		 Take Action Observe/
Collect Method		 Procedure Run Transport
Record		 Begin Date End Date Details Status
1 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild pup Male and Female 100 1 Harass Survey, aerial Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Photograph/Video; Remote vehicle,aerial (VTOL) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 1. Disturbance during, and incidental to, UAS surveys for marine mammal population monitoring/assessment. Active
2 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 5000 1 Harass Survey, aerial Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Photograph/Video; Remote vehicle,aerial (VTOL) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 1. Disturbance during, and incidental to, UAS surveys for marine mammal population monitoring/assessment. Active
3 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild pup Male and Female 100 1 Harass Survey, aerial Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Photograph/Video; Remote vehicle,aerial (VTOL) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 1. Disturbance during UAS surveys for marine debris removal activities. Active
4 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 1000 1 Harass Survey, aerial Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Photograph/Video; Remote vehicle,aerial (VTOL) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 1. Disturbance during UAS surveys for marine debris removal activities. Active
5 Sea lion, Steller West of 144° Long (Western US) (NMFS Endangered) Wild pup Male and Female 100 1 Harass Survey, aerial Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Photograph/Video; Remote vehicle,aerial (fixed wing) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 1. Disturbance during, and incidental to, UAS surveys for marine mammal population monitoring/assessment. Active
6 Sea lion, Steller West of 144° Long (Western US) (NMFS Endangered) Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 1000 1 Harass Survey, aerial Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Photograph/Video; Remote vehicle,aerial (VTOL) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 1. Disturbance during, and incidental to, UAS surveys for marine mammal population monitoring/assessment. Active
7 Seal, harbor Bering Sea Stock Wild pup Male and Female 80 1 Harass Survey, aerial Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Photograph/Video; Remote vehicle,aerial (VTOL) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 1. Disturbance during, and incidental to, UAS surveys for marine mammal population monitoring/assessment. Active
8 Seal, harbor Bering Sea Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 200 1 Harass Survey, aerial Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Photograph/Video; Remote vehicle,aerial (VTOL) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 1. Disturbance during, and incidental to, UAS surveys for marine mammal population monitoring/assessment. Active
9 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Female 100 1 Capture/Handle/Release Other Mark,flipper tag; Restrain,board; Weigh N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 2. Female non-pups captured for investigating disturbance using VHF; Other method=capture by hoop net or noose; flipper tags one occasion only. Active
10 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild pup Male and Female 200 1 Harass Other Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 2. Disturbance incidental to female non-pup captures for investigating disturbance using VHF. Active
11 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 2100 1 Harass Other Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 2. Disturbance incidental to female non-pup captures for investigating disturbance using VHF. Active
12 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild pup Male and Female 200 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 2. Disturbance during monthly data downloads and VHF station maintenance. Active
13 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 2000 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 2. Disturbance during monthly data downloads and VHF station maintenance. Active
14 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild pup Male and Female 300 1 Harass Survey, ground Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Observation,mark resight; Photograph/Video N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 2. Disturbance during, and incidental to tag resighting of fur seals. Active
15 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 3000 1 Harass Survey, ground Count/survey; Incidental harassment; Observation,mark resight; Photograph/Video N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 2. Disturbance during, and incidental to tag resighting of fur seals. Active
16 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild pup Male and Female 2000 1 Harass Survey, ground Count/survey; Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 3. Disturbance during, and incidental to, fur seal habitat use studies. Active
17 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 4000 1 Harass Survey, ground Count/survey; Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 3. Disturbance during, and incidental to, fur seal habitat use studies. Active
18 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild All Male and Female 400 9999 Import/export/receive only Survey, ground Import/export/receive,parts; Measure (standard morphometrics); Salvage (carcass,tissue,parts) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Salvage/export/receive biosamples (hard & soft parts) from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded (beach cast) animals. Active
19 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild pup Male and Female 2000 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Disturbance during, and incidental to, salvage of biosamples from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded animals. Active
20 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 6000 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Disturbance during, and incidental to, salvage of biosamples from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded animals. Active
21 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild pup Male and Female 400 1 Capture/Handle/Release Other Restrain,hand; Restrain,net; Weigh N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Non-harvested pups handled to determine sex and weight; Other method=capture by group "round-up" technique used to capture seals for subsistence; capture by hoop net or noose. Active
22 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 100 1 Capture/Handle/Release Other Restrain,hand; Restrain,net; Weigh N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Projects 4-5. Non-pups handled to record tag number and weight; Other method=capture by group "round-up" technique used to capture seals for subsistence and disentanglement activities; capture by hoop net or noose. Active
23 Sea lion, Steller West of 144° Long (Western US) (NMFS Endangered) Wild All Male and Female 100 9999 Import/export/receive only Survey, ground Import/export/receive,parts; Measure (standard morphometrics); Salvage (carcass,tissue,parts) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Salvage/export/receive biosamples (hard & soft parts) from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded (beach cast) animals. Active
24 Sea lion, Steller West of 144° Long (Western US) (NMFS Endangered) Wild pup Male and Female 50 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Disturbance during, and incidental to, salvage of biosamples from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded animals. Active
25 Sea lion, Steller West of 144° Long (Western US) (NMFS Endangered) Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 1000 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Disturbance during, and incidental to, salvage of biosamples from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded animals. Active
26 Seal, harbor Bering Sea Stock Wild All Male and Female 50 9999 Import/export/receive only Survey, ground Import/export/receive,parts; Measure (standard morphometrics); Salvage (carcass,tissue,parts) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Salvage/export/receive biosamples (hard & soft parts) from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded (beach cast) animals. Active
27 Seal, harbor Bering Sea Stock Wild pup Male and Female 80 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Disturbance during, and incidental to, salvage of biosamples from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded animals. Active
28 Seal, harbor Bering Sea Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 200 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Disturbance during, and incidental to, salvage of biosamples from subsistence hunted/harvested & dead stranded animals. Active
29 Cetacean, unidentified NA Wild Unknown Male and Female 10 9999 Import/export/receive only Survey, ground Import/export/receive,parts; Salvage (carcass,tissue,parts) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Salvage/export/receive biosamples (hard & soft parts) from dead stranded (beach cast) animals. Active
30 Pinniped, unidentified NA Wild Unknown Male and Female 10 9999 Import/export/receive only Survey, ground Import/export/receive,parts; Salvage (carcass,tissue,parts) N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 4. Salvage/export/receive biosamples (hard & soft parts) from dead stranded (beach cast) animals. Active
31 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild Non-Pup Male and Female 2000 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 5. Disturbance incidental to observational entanglement surveys. Active
32 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild All Male 5000 1 Harass Survey, ground Other N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 5. Intentional harrassment caused by group "round-up" technique used to capture/disentangle more than 1 seal in same group; Other=the round-up technique. Active
33 Sea lion, Steller West of 144° Long (Western US) (NMFS Endangered) Wild All Male and Female 80 1 Harass Survey, ground Incidental harassment N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Project 5. Disturbance incidental to disentanglement activities using the round-up technique. Active
34 Seal, Northern fur Eastern Pacific Stock Wild All Male and Female 1 1 Unintentional mortality Other Import/export/receive,parts; Salvage (carcass,tissue,parts); Unintentional mortality N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Projects 1-5. Unintentional mortality during capture/disentanglement of northern fur seals or harrassment; necropsy. Euthanasia if warranted. Active
35 Sea lion, Steller West of 144° Long (Western US) (NMFS Endangered) Wild All Male and Female 1 1 Unintentional mortality Other Import/export/receive,parts; Salvage (carcass,tissue,parts); Unintentional mortality N/A N/A 10/01/2021 09/30/2026 Projects 1-5. Unintentional mortality during harassment; necropsy. Euthanasia if warranted. Active

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