Harvest Report

OMB Control No. 0648-0699
Expiration Date: xx/xx/xxxx

Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) northern fur seal subsistence harvest reporting on the Pribilof Islands

NMFS collects information collection for the annual subsistence harvest of sub-adult male male northern fur seals by Alaska Natives (Aleuts) in the communities of St. Paul and St. George, Alaska (Pribilof Islands) under 50 CFR 216 subpart F. In addition, NMFS is amending 50 CFR 216 subpart F to create a second fur seal subsistence harvest season for St. George Island. All harvests during the second harvest season will be monitored by NMFS, and will be jointly reported with the Aleut Community of St. George Island, Traditional Council.

The sub-adult male harvests on St. Paul and St. George have been monitored and reported by both their respective tribal governments and in some cases additionally by NMFS or their representative. The sub-adult male northern fur seal harvest reports may assume any format, but must contain the following information.

• Name of report preparer and their organization,

• Dates, locations, and numbers of seals harvested and their sex, and

• The extent of utilization of fur seals taken

The sub-adult male harvest reports from the tribal governments of St. Paul and St. George have included the following information in recent years:

1. number, sex, and dates of fur seals harvested,

2. methods of gathering and herding of fur seals during the harvesting period,

3. environmental conditions,

4. cases of death due to hyperthermia,

5. occurrence of adult male and females fur seals harvested,

6. occurrence of flipper-tagged fur seals,

7. number of fur seals entangled in marine debris and the number of seals disentangled,

8. health status of fur seals and oil contamination of pelts,

9. incidence of by-products and waste during the harvest process,

10. research conducted, scientific research permit number authorizing research, and

11. visitors requesting to view the harvest.

The greater level of information provided by the tribal government harvest reports has provided additional benefit to NMFS in making determinations under 20 CFR 216 subpart F as well as understanding the effects of climate variability on the community’s ability to meet their subsistence needs.

Each island may submit their annual sub-adult male harvest report as an attachment to an email:

Michael Williams, Michael.Williams@noaa.gov

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other suggestions for reducing this burden to Michael Williams (Michael.Williams@noaa.gov)

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subjected to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.