DOCSLIB.ORG

Modern Status of Sea Otter Population on the Commander Islands

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Modern status of Sea otter population on the Commander Islands Alexander Burdin, Kamchatka branch of Pacific Institute of Geography, RAS, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, ASLC, Sergey Zagrebelny, Commander preserve Commander Population declines Islands (population growing) Background Only 200 nm strait between Commander Island and western Aleutian islands. Dramatic decline of sea otter populations (up to 90% and more reduction), and some other marine mammal species (harbor seal, SSL) across the Aleutian Archipelago and Alaska Peninsula during past several decades. Increasing (13%/year) sea otter population on the Commander Islands. Research Objectives Commander-Aleutian islands c comparisonsomparisons ¾ to better understand ultimate reasons for the decline ¾ to characterize physiology, behavior, and demography of sea otter population near K. ¾ to expand studies of sea otter-kelp forest interactions 2004-2005 winter field work Sea otter mortality, disease, physical conditions monitoring: Carcasses collection / capture : Age/sex composition Necropsy: disease, causes of death, virology, female reproductive tracts, parasites, stomach contents Biosampling 2006 summer work on the Bering Island Totally 33 sea otters were caught using nets and release. 2006 summer work on the Bering Island 27 sea otters (22 females and 5 males) were instrumented with TDR and radio tag Ongoing investigation and future research Goal 1. Ecosystem research: long-term changes in near shore communities under sea otter predation. availability and abundance of sea otter food recourses. analysis of TDR’s data. direct observation on feeding sea otters. scat analysis. Retrospective analysis of sea otter feeding habits on the Commanders. Ongoing investigation and future research Goal II. Monitoring of sea otter population: annual survey (skiff and shore based). tracking of radio tagged sea otters (movement and observation on focal feeding animals). mortality (sex/age composition. cause of mortality, disease monitoring). birthrate and survival of young sea otters. Sea Otter Body Condition Comparison 35 30 25 20 Weight (kg) 15 Aleutian females, 2004 10 Commander Isl. females, 2006 Aleutian females, 1960s Aleutian females, 1993 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 Age Results of sea otter survey on the Commander Islands in 2005 and 2007 2005 2007 Total number Total number (with pups) PuPupsps (with pups) Pups Bering 3948 783 4218 996 Medny 2502 665 2813 779 Total on the Commanders 6450 1448 7031 1775 Sea otter numbers on the Commander Islands. Bering (1) and Medny (2) Islands 1 2 Sea ottermortalityand birthrate(%%)ontheBeringIsland % 10 15 20 25 30 0 5 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1980- 2005 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 mortality birthrate Dynamics of sea otter population on the Commander Isla 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 (Bering and Medny) in 1985-2007 2000 1000 0 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 n 1995 1996 yea 1997 r 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 300 400 500 600 700 800 100 200 0 0 6/15/056/15/05 253253 6161 6/17/05 Daily seaotterdynamicsontheNWcape (BeringIsl.)insummer2005. 6/17/05 313313 Daily seaotterdynamicsontheNWcape (BeringIsl.)insummer2005. 487487 6/19/056/19/05 379379 484484 6/21/056/21/05 393393 420420 6/23/056/23/05 169169 353353 6/25/056/25/05 218218 497497 6/29/056/29/05 433433 543543 301301 7/1/057/1/05 430430 7/4/057/4/05 441441 400400 255 date 255 date 7/6/057/6/05 551551 7/8/057/8/05 663663 698698 7/11/057/11/05 579579 452452 7/14/057/14/05 244244 517517 7/16/057/16/05 430430 334334 7/18/057/18/05 232232 326326 7/20/057/20/05 594594 22 7/25/057/25/05 174174 404404 7/27/057/27/05 200200 219219 7/30/057/30/05 189189 7474 8/1/058/1/05 423423 Some factors effecting to the sea otter population status on the Commanders vs. Aleutian. Commanders Aleutian Human activity Low Low Over/Underestimation of sea otter population Negative Negative abundance in previous years? High survival and birthrate in the past years? Positive Negative Low mortality rate? Positive Negative Immigration? ?? Negative Killer whales pressure as a predator? Negative Positive Hypotheses “Availability, not selectivity” All observed transient killer whale attacks happened in specific place and for specific prey. “Shield” Northern fur seal – is the most common prey of killer whales on the Commander Islands (>200,000 ). All recorded KW attacks on the Commander Islands happened close to the northern fur seal rookeries and almost all attacks were on Northern Fur Seals. Approximate northern boarder of cookie- cutter shark distribution Commander Islands Aleutian Islands Conclusion The data we have presented shows that the population dynamics of the sea otter populations is different even in the nearby area (Aleutians/Commander Islands). 2007 Complete Sea otter survey on the Commander Islands showed that the sea otter population was over 7,000 animals. Conclusion We consider northern fur seal to be the most important prey for transient killer whale predation near the Commander Islands, and other areas where this species is present, protecting other marine mammals species from killer whale predation. In areas where fur seals are not abundant or absent, mammal eating Killer whales can be a significant factor of marine mammal declines. Thank you! Photo by R. Davis.
Recommended publications
  • Resource Utilization in Atka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

    Resource Utilization in Atka, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

    RESOURCEUTILIZATION IN ATKA, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, ALASKA Douglas W. Veltre, Ph.D. and Mary J. Veltre, B.A. Technical Paper Number 88 Prepared for State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence Contract 83-0496 December 1983 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To the people of Atka, who have shared so much with us over the years, go our sincere thanks for making this report possible. A number of individuals gave generously of their time and knowledge, and the Atx^am Corporation and the Atka Village Council, who assisted us in many ways, deserve particular appreciation. Mr. Moses Dirks, an Aleut language specialist from Atka, kindly helped us with Atkan Aleut terminology and place names, and these contributions are noted throughout this report. Finally, thanks go to Dr. Linda Ellanna, Deputy Director of the Division of Subsistence, for her support for this project, and to her and other individuals who offered valuable comments on an earlier draft of this report. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . e . a . ii Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION . e . 1 Purpose ........................ Research objectives .................. Research methods Discussion of rese~r~h*m~t~odoio~y .................... Organization of the report .............. 2 THE NATURAL SETTING . 10 Introduction ........... 10 Location, geog;aih;,' &d*&oio&’ ........... 10 Climate ........................ 16 Flora ......................... 22 Terrestrial fauna ................... 22 Marine fauna ..................... 23 Birds ......................... 31 Conclusions ...................... 32 3 LITERATURE REVIEW AND HISTORY OF RESEARCH ON ATKA . e . 37 Introduction ..................... 37 Netsvetov .............. ......... 37 Jochelson and HrdliEka ................ 38 Bank ....................... 39 Bergslind . 40 Veltre and'Vll;r;! .................................... 41 Taniisif. ....................... 41 Bilingual materials .................. 41 Conclusions ...................... 42 iii 4 OVERVIEW OF ALEUT RESOURCE UTILIZATION . 43 Introduction ............
  • Grischenko Annals 1

    Grischenko Annals 1

    Paper in: Patrick N. Wyse Jackson & Mary E. Spencer Jones (eds) (2002) Annals of Bryozoology: aspects of the history of research on bryozoans. International Bryozoology Association, Dublin, pp. viii+381. BRYOZOAN STUDIES IN THE BERING SEA 97 History of investigations and current state of knowledge of bryozoan species diversity in the Bering Sea Andrei V. Grischenko Systematics and Evolution, Division of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060–0810, Japan 1. Introduction 2. Investigations of the American bryozoological school 3. Investigations of the Russian bryozoological school 4. Current knowledge on the bryozoans of the Bering Sea 4.1. Total diversity 4.2 Regional diversity 5. Discussion 6. Acknowledgements 1. Introduction The Bryozoa are one of the most abundant and widely distributed groups of macrobenthos in the Bering Sea. Although investigations of the phylum have taken place over a century, knowledge of species diversity in this sea is still very incomplete. The coastal waters of the Bering Sea belong territorially to Russia and the United States of America and, accordingly, study of the bryofauna has been achieved generally by the efforts of the Russian and American bryozoological schools. For a number of reasons, their investigations were conducted independently and, because the investigators identified specimens collected within their “national” sea areas, species occurring in the eastern and southeastern shelves of the sea were generally studied by American scientists and those in western coastal waters by Russians. Therefore the history of bryozoan investigations of the Bering Sea is most usefully presented according to the two lines of research. 2. Investigations of the American bryozoological school The first reliable data about bryozoans in the Bering Sea were connected with biological investigations of the Alaskan shelf and reported by Alice Robertson.1 She recorded three species – Membranipora membranacea (L.), Bugula purpurotincta (later changed to B.
  • A Preliminary Baseline Study of Subsistence Resource Utilization in the Pribilof Islands

    A Preliminary Baseline Study of Subsistence Resource Utilization in the Pribilof Islands

    A PRELIMINARY BASELINE STUDY OF SUBSISTENCE RESOURCE UTILIZATION IN THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS Douglas W. Veltre Ph.D Mary J. Veltre, B.A. Technical Paper Number 57 Prepared for Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence Contract 81-119 October 15, 1981 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . The authors would like to thank those numerous mem- bers of St. George and St. Paul who gave generously of their time and knowledge to help with this project. The Tanaq Corporation of St. George and the Tanadgusix Corporation of St. Paul, as well as the village councils of both communities, also deserve thanks for their cooperation. In addition, per- sonnel of the National Marine Fisheries Service in the Pribi- lofs provided insight into the fur seal operations. Finally, Linda Ellanna and Alice Stickney of the Department of Fish and Game gave valuable assistance and guidance, especially through their participation in field research. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . ii Chapter I INTRODUCTION . 1 Purpose . 1 Research objectives . : . 4 Research methods . 6 Discussion of research methodology . 8 Organization of the report . 11 II BACKGROUND ON ALEUT SUBSISTENCE . 13 Introduction . 13 Precontact subsistence patterns . 15 The early postcontact period . 22 Conclusions . 23 III HISTORICAL BACXGROUND . 27 Introduction . 27 Russian period . 27 American period ........... 35 History of Pribilof Island settlements ... 37 St. George community profile ........ 39 St. Paul community profile ......... 45 Conclusions ......... ; ........ 48 IV THE NATURAL SETTING .............. 50 Introduction ................ 50 Location, geography, and geology ...... 50 Climate ................... 55 Fauna and flora ............... 61 Aleutian-Pribilof Islands comparison .... 72 V SUBSISTENCE RESOURCES AND UTILIZATION IN THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS ............ 74 Introduction ................ 74 Inventory of subsistence resources .
  • Adak Army Base and Adak Naval Operating Base and Or Common Adak Naval Station (Naval Air Station Adak) 2

    Adak Army Base and Adak Naval Operating Base and Or Common Adak Naval Station (Naval Air Station Adak) 2

    N?S Ferm 10-900 OMB Mo. 1024-0018 (342) NHL - WWM, PACIFIC Eip. 10-31-84 Uncled States Department off the Interior National Park Service For NPS UM only National Register off Historic Places received Inventory Nomination Form date entered See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries complete applicable sections ' _______ 1. Name__________________ historic Adak Army Base and Adak Naval Operating Base and or common Adak Naval Station (Naval Air Station Adak) 2. Location street & number not (or publication city, town vicinity of state Alaska code 02 county Aleutian Islands code 010 3. Classification Category Ownership Status Present Use __ district X public __ occupied __ agriculture __ museum building(s) private __ unoccupied commercial park structure both work in progress educational private residence X site Public Acquisition Accessible entertainment religious object in process X yes: restricted government __ scientific being considered .. yes: unrestricted industrial transportation __ no ,_X military __ other: 4. Owner off Property name United States Navy street & number Adak Naval Station, U.S. Department of the Navy city, town FPO Seattle vicinity of state Washington 98791 5. Location off Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. United States Navy street & number Adak Naval Station. U.S. Department of the Navy city, town FPO Seattle state Washington 98791 6. Representation in Existing Surveys y title None has this property been determined eligible? yes J^L no date federal _ _ state __ county local depository for survey records city, town state 7. Description Condition Check one Check one __ excellent __ deteriorated __ unaltered _K original site __ good X_ ruins _X altered __ moved date _.__._.
  • Aleuts: an Outline of the Ethnic History

    Aleuts: an Outline of the Ethnic History

    i Aleuts: An Outline of the Ethnic History Roza G. Lyapunova Translated by Richard L. Bland ii As the nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has re- sponsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural and cultural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Shared Beringian Heritage Program at the National Park Service is an international program that rec- ognizes and celebrates the natural resources and cultural heritage shared by the United States and Russia on both sides of the Bering Strait. The program seeks local, national, and international participation in the preservation and understanding of natural resources and protected lands and works to sustain and protect the cultural traditions and subsistence lifestyle of the Native peoples of the Beringia region. Aleuts: An Outline of the Ethnic History Author: Roza G. Lyapunova English translation by Richard L. Bland 2017 ISBN-13: 978-0-9965837-1-8 This book’s publication and translations were funded by the National Park Service, Shared Beringian Heritage Program. The book is provided without charge by the National Park Service. To order additional copies, please contact the Shared Beringian Heritage Program ([email protected]). National Park Service Shared Beringian Heritage Program © The Russian text of Aleuts: An Outline of the Ethnic History by Roza G. Lyapunova (Leningrad: Izdatel’stvo “Nauka” leningradskoe otdelenie, 1987), was translated into English by Richard L.
  • Spanning the Bering Strait

    Spanning the Bering Strait

    National Park service shared beringian heritage Program U.s. Department of the interior Spanning the Bering Strait 20 years of collaborative research s U b s i s t e N c e h UN t e r i N c h UK o t K a , r U s s i a i N t r o DU c t i o N cean Arctic O N O R T H E L A Chu a e S T kchi Se n R A LASKA a SIBERIA er U C h v u B R i k R S otk S a e i a P v I A en r e m in i n USA r y s M l u l g o a a S K S ew la c ard Peninsu r k t e e r Riv n a n z uko i i Y e t R i v e r ering Sea la B u s n i CANADA n e P la u a ns k ni t Pe a ka N h las c A lf of Alaska m u a G K W E 0 250 500 Pacific Ocean miles S USA The Shared Beringian Heritage Program has been fortunate enough to have had a sustained source of funds to support 3 community based projects and research since its creation in 1991. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev expanded their cooperation in the field of environmental protection and the study of global change to create the Shared Beringian Heritage Program.
  • Aleutian Islands

    Aleutian Islands

    Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery. 2018, 2(1): 109-114 © 2018 GCdataPR DOI:10.3974/geodp.2018.01.18 Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository www.geodoi.ac.cn Global Change Data Encyclopedia Aleutian Islands Liu, C.1* Yang, A. Q.2 Hu, W. Y.1 Liu, R. G.1 Shi, R. X.1 1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; 2. Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Beijing100101，China Keywords: Aleutian Islands; Fox Islands; Four Mountains Islands; Andreanof Islands; Rat Islands; Near Islands; Kommandor Islands; Unimak Island; USA; Russia; data encyclopedia The Aleutian Islands extends latitude from 51°12′35″N to 55°22′14″N and longitude about 32 degrees from 165°45′10″E to 162°21′10″W, it is a chain volcanic islands belonging to both the United States and Russia[1–3] (Figure 1, 2). The islands are formed in the northern part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. They form part of the Aleutian Arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean, extending about 1,900 km westward from the Alaska Peninsula to- ward the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, Figure 1 Dataset of Aleutian Islands in .kmz format and mark a dividing line between the Ber- ing Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The islands comprise 6 groups of islands (east to west): the Fox Islands[4–5], islands of Four Mountains[6–7], Andreanof Islands[8–9], Rat Islands[10–11], Near Is- lands[12–13] and Kommandor Islands[14–15].
  • Terrestrial Mollusks of Attu, Aleutian Islands, Alaska BARRY ROTH’ and DAVID R

    Terrestrial Mollusks of Attu, Aleutian Islands, Alaska BARRY ROTH’ and DAVID R

    ARCTK: VOL. 34, NO. 1 (MARCH 1981), P. 43-47 Terrestrial Mollusks of Attu, Aleutian Islands, Alaska BARRY ROTH’ and DAVID R. LINDBERG’ ABSTRACT. Seven species of land mollusk (2 slugs, 5 snails) were collected on Attu in July 1979. Three are circumboreal species, two are amphi-arctic (Palearctic and Nearctic but not circumboreal), and two are Nearctic. Barring chance survival of mollusks in local refugia, the fauna was assembled overwater since deglaciation, perhaps within the last 10 OOO years. Mollusk faunas from Kamchatka to southeastern Alaska all have a Holarctic component. A Palearctic component present on Kamchatka and the Commander Islands is absent from the Aleutians, which have a Nearctic component that diminishes westward. This pattern is similar to that of other soil-dwelling invertebrate groups. RESUM& Sept espbces de mollusques terrestres (2 limaces et 5 escargots) furent prklevkes sur I’ile d’Attu en juillet 1979. Trois sont des espbces circomborkales, deux amphi-arctiques (Palkarctiques et Nkarctiques mais non circomborkales), et deux Nkarctiques. Si I’on excepte la survivance de mollusques due auhasard dans des refuges locaux, cette faune s’est retrouvke de part et d’autre des eauxdepuis la dkglaciation, peut-&re depuis les derniers 10 OOO ans. Les faunes de mollusques de la pkninsule de Kamchatkajusqu’au sud-est de 1’Alaska on toutes une composante Holarctique. Une composante Palkarctique prksente sur leKamchatka et les iles Commandeur ne se retrouve pas aux Alkoutiennes, oil la composante Nkarctique diminue vers I’ouest. Ce patron est similaire il celui de d’autres groupes d’invertkbrks terrestres . Traduit par Jean-Guy Brossard, Laboratoire d’ArchCologie de I’Universitk du Qukbec il Montrkal.
  • Powerpoint: Furbearer Regulations

    Powerpoint: Furbearer Regulations

    2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Furbearer Trapping & Hunting Regulations Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission June 9, 2016 Derek Broman 1 ODFW Carnivore-Furbearer Coordinator Presentation Overview License and Pelt Price Trends Species and Season Information Regulation Proposals • Sale of Unprotected Mammal Pelts • ODOT Crossing Structures 2 K.Kohl Furtaker License Sales Trends 1980-2015 6,000 Furtakers Furbearer Hunters 5,000 4,000 3,000 # Licenses 2,000 1,000 0 Year 3 New Furtaker License Trends 1996-2015 3,000 Returning Furtakers New Furtakers 2,500 2,000 1,500 # Licenses 1,000 500 0 Year 4 Furtaker Reporting Trend 2004-2014 100 Furtaker Furbearer Hunter 80 60 40 % Reporting % 20 0 Year 5 Average Pelt Prices 2014-2015 & 2015-2016 ─ Beaver ($14 $11) ─ Bobcat ($195 $211) ─ Coyote ($48 $25) AFWA 2015 Report ─ Marten ($28 $20) Average Trapping Expenses ─ Mink ($11 $6) US $1,694 ─ Muskrat ($5 $2) Oregon $1,761 ─ River Otter ($66 $60) ─ Raccoon ($6 $4) Based on Average Harvest ─ Gray Fox ($18 $11) and Prices for All Species: Western Oregon Furtaker: $1,564 ─ Red Fox ($26 $19) Eastern Oregon Furtaker: $2,006 Prices obtained from the Oregon 6 Territorial Council on Furs Species and Seasons 77 D. Budeau Season Recommendations Unprotected Mammals Open Entire Year for: Badger, Coyote, Nutria, Opossum, Porcupine, Skunks, Weasels Included in Harvest Report Protected Mammals No Open Season for: Fisher, Ringtail Cat, Wolverine, Kit Fox, Sea Otter 8 K.Kohl Furbearer Harvest Season Recommendations • No Changes Proposed to Season Dates for Trapping and Hunting Furbearers ─ Beaver Nov. 15 – Mar. 15 ─ Bobcat Dec.
  • Geology of Little Sitkin Island, Alaska

    Geology of Little Sitkin Island, Alaska

    Geology of Little Sitkin Island By G. L. SNYDER INVESTIGATIONS OF ALASKAN VOLCANOES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1028-H Prepared in cooperation with the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1959 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FRED A. SEATON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director The U. S. Geological Survey Library has cataloged this publication as follows : Snyder, George Leonard, 1927- Geology of Little Sitkin Island, Alaska. Washington, U. S. Govt. Print. Off., 1958. - vi, 169-210 p. illus., 2 maps (1 fold. col. in pocket) tables. 24 cm. (U. S. Geological Survey. Bulletin 1028-H. Investigations of Alas- kan volcanoes) Prepared in cooperation with the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. "References cited" : p. 206-207. 1. Rocks, Igneous. 2. Petrology Aleutian Islands. 3. Little Sitkin Island. I. Title. (Series: U. S. Geological Survey. Bulletin 1028-H. Series: U. S. Geological Survey. Investigations of Alaskau volcanoes) 557.98 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C. PKEFACE In October 1945 the War Department (now Department of the Army) requested the Geological Survey to undertake a program of volcano investigations in the Aleutian Islands-Alaska Peninsula area. The field studies were made during the years 1946-1954. The results of the first year's field, laboratory, and library work were hastily assembled as two administrative reports, and most of these data have been revised for publication in Geological Survey Bulletin 1028. Part of the early work was published in 1950 in Bulletin 974-B, Volcanic activity in the Aleutian arc, and in 1951 in Bulletin 989-A, Geology of Buldir Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, both by Robert R.
  • Marine Mammal Protection Act Complaint

    Marine Mammal Protection Act Complaint

    1 Miyoko Sakashita (Cal. Bar # 239639) CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 2 1212 Broadway, Suite 800 Oakland, CA 94612 3 Tel: (510) 844-7108 Fax: (510) 844-7150 4 Email: [email protected] 5 Lalli Venkatakrishnan (Cal. Bar # 323747) 6 CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 1212 Broadway, Suite 800 7 Oakland, CA 94612 Phone: (510) 676-0348 8 Fax: (510) 844-7150 Email: [email protected] 9 10 Attorneys for Plaintiffs 11 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 12 13 CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, Civ. No. 14 a non-profit organization, and TURTLE ISLAND RESTORATION NETWORK, a COMPLAINT 15 non-profit organization; (Marine Mammal Protection Act, 16 Plaintiffs, 16 U.S.C. § 1361 et seq) 17 v. 18 SCOTT DE LA VEGA1 Acting Secretary, 19 United States Department of Interior; UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE 20 SERVICE; 21 Defendants. 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(d), David Bernhardt’s successor is automatically substituted as a party when Mr. Bernhardt ceases to hold office as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior, and any misnomer not affecting the parties’ substantial rights must be disregarded. 1 INTRODUCTION 2 1. This is an action challenging the failure of Defendants Scott de la Vega, Acting 3 Secretary of the Interior, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (collectively “the 4 Service”) to comply with their non-discretionary obligations under the Marine Mammal 5 Protection Act (“MMPA”). 16 U.S.C. § 1361, et seq. Specifically, the Service has failed to issue 6 updated stock assessment reports for marine mammals under its jurisdiction—sea otters, polar 7 bears, walruses, and manatees—within the timeframes mandated by the statute.
  • Ecoregion-Based Conservation in the Bering Sea

    Ecoregion-Based Conservation in the Bering Sea

    Ecoregion-Based Conservation in the Bering Sea Identifying Important Areas for Biodiversity Conservation Contents Page# PART ONE: INTRODUCTION 3 1.2 Why conduct…. 3 1.3 Description… 4 1.4 Biolog Signif… 4 1.5 Changes…. 4 1.6 Conservation opps.. 5 PART TWO: WORKSHOP REPORT 8 2.1 Methodology: Assessing Biodiversity 8 2.2 Experts Workshop 10 2.3 Selecting Conservation Priorities:The Approach 10 Subregions: Bering Strait Bering Sea Shelf Kamchatka Shelf and Coast Aleutian Islands Aleutian Basin Taxa Birds Mammals Fish Invertebrates 2.4 Threat Assessment Summary 13 2.5 Additional Issues of Concern 16 PART THREE: BEYOND MAPS, TOWARD CONSERVATION 19 3.1 Lessons from Girdwood Workshop 19 3.2 Next Steps 21 Edited by: David Banks, Margaret 3.3 The Nature Conservancy and the Bering Sea 22 Williams John Pearce, Alan Springer, 3.4 WWF and the Bering Sea 22 Randy Hagenstein, and David Olson APPENDIX A: MAPS 2-9 A1 Publication design by Eric Cline 2 Subregions of the Bering Sea A2 3 Priority Bird Areas A3 Maps and GIS Data by: Emma BIRD TABLE A4 Underwood, Jennifer D’Amico, 4 Priority Mammal Areas A5 Carrie Wolfe, and Julie Maier MAMMAL TABLE A6 5 Priority Fish Areas A7 A collaborative effort by the FISH TABLE A8 World Wildlife Fund, 6 Priority Invertebrate Areas A9 The Nature Conservancy of Alaska, INVERT TABLE A10 and Participants in the 7 Overlapping Priority Areas for all Taxa A11 Girdwood Bering Sea Experts 8 Priority Areas for Bering Sea Biodiversity A12 Workshop March 20-23, 1999 9 Existing Protected Areas of the Bering Sea A13 Cover photo of walruses by Kevin APPENDIX B: PRIORITY AREA DESCRIPTIONS B1 Schafer, provided courtesy of the photographer APPENDIX C: LITERATURE CITED IN APP.