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The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea Lions by Alaska Natives in 2004

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The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea Lions by Alaska Natives in 2004 The Subsistence Harvest of Harbor Seals and Sea Lions by Alaska Natives in 2004 Technical Paper No. 303 Robert J. Wolfe1 James A. Fall2 Ronald T. Stanek3 Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence Data Analysis David Koster, Bridget Easley, Bertha Angnaboogruk, Allison Kionka, Nicole Cummings Southeast Region Research Michael F. Turek, Matthew A. Kookesh, Mathew Brock Southcentral Region Research Brian Davis, Lisa Hutchinson- Scarbrough, Liz Williams Southwest Region Research Molly B. Chythlook, Eunice Dyasuk, Theodore M. Krieg Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission Executive Director and Principal Investigator Monica Riedel Project Coordinator Joni Bryant Aleut Marine Mammal Commission Executive Director Peggy Osterback 1 Primary Author. Robert J. Wolfe and Associates for the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission. 2 Principal Investigator. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence. 3 Project Coordinator. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Subsistence. Final Report for Year Twelve The Subsistence Harvest of Sea Lions and Harbor Seals by Alaska Natives, Harvest Assessment Program, 2004 (Award Number NA17FX2835) Prepared for the National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska Department of Fish and Game Division of Subsistence Juneau, Alaska November 2005 The Alaska Department of Fish and Game operates all of its public programs and activities free from discrimination on the basis of sex, color, race, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, or disability. For information on alternative formats available for this and other department publications, please contact the department ADA Coordinator at (voice) 907-465-4120, (TDD) 1-800-478-3548 or (fax) 907-586-6595. Any person who believes she or he has been discriminated against should write to: Alaska Department of Fish and Game PO Box 25526 Juneau, AK 99802-5526 or O.E.O. U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20240 ABSTRACT This report describes the subsistence takes of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) by Alaska Natives in 2004, including quantity, seasons, geographic distribution, and age and sex of the harvest. Information is summarized at the state, region, and community levels and is compared with annual takes since 1992. The research was conducted by the Division of Subsistence, Alaska Department of Fish and Game in cooperation with the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission and the Aleut Marine Mammal Commission, under contract with the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Information derives from systematic interviews with hunters and users of marine mammals in 1,209 households in 62 coastal communities within the geographic ranges of the two species. Local researchers conducted most of the household interviews as part of regional research networks. The project received generous support from leaders of a number of Native governments and associations. During 2004, the estimated subsistence take of harbor seals by Alaska Natives was 1,822 seals, with a 95 percent confidence range of between 1,420 to 2,469 seals. Of the take, 14.0 percent (256 seals) were struck and lost and 86.0 percent (1,566 seals) were harvested. The 2004 take of harbor seals came from the following stocks: Southeast Alaska stock (845 seals), Gulf of Alaska stock (858 seals), and Bering Sea stock (119 seals). Harbor seals were taken in 51 of 62 surveyed communities. Hunters reported taking males over females by about 2.4 to 1 and adults (79.7 percent) over juveniles (17.9 percent) or pups (2.3 percent). The 2004 take of harbor seals (1,822 seals) was the lowest recorded since 1992 – 2,854 (1992), 2,736 (1993), 2,621 (1994), 2,742 (1995), 2,741 (1996), 2,546 (1997), 2,597 (1998), 2,224 (2000), 2,031 (2001), 1,834 (2002), and 2,030 (2003). Reasons for declining harbor seal harvests are uncertain, but declining harvests are associated with fewer seal hunters statewide, particularly in the Southeast Region. During 2004, the estimated subsistence take of sea lions by Alaska Natives was 216 sea lions, with a 95 percent confidence range of between 147 to 335 sea lions. Of the take, 28.4 percent (61.4 sea lions) were struck and lost and 71.6 percent (154.4 sea lions) were harvested. Sea lions were taken in 21 of 62 surveyed communities. Hunters reported taking males over females by about 1.8 to 1 and adults (57.7 percent) over juveniles (42.3 percent) and pups (none reported harvested). Sea lion takes sharply declined from 1992 to 1995 with takes leveling off between 1996 to 2003 – 549 (1992), 487 (1993), 416 (1994), 339 (1995), 186 (1996), 164 (1997), 178 (1998), 171 (2000), 198 (2001), 185 (2002), and 212 (2003). Declines in sea lion takes are associated with fewer hunters hunting sea lions, which is probably linked to local sea lion scarcities. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project would not have been possible without tremendous local support in every community where we conducted the survey. We wish to thank each tribal council, city council, and all of the regional Native organizations that facilitated our work. Heartfelt thanks are owed to the many elders and local marine mammal experts who allowed us to interview them at length about their lifelong use and observations of sea lions and harbor seals. In addition, we are deeply indebted to the many hundreds of hunters who volunteered to report their subsistence harvests to our staff and to locally-hired research assistants. The thirty-eight local researchers who conducted household interviews deserve to be recognized individually for their high level of interest and work. We look forward to working with many again in the near future as the project moves into its thirteenth year: Michael Eluska, Akhiok Marlene Aga, Larsen Bay Antone Shelikoff, Akutan Rhonda Nick, Manokotak Nina Tinker, Aleknagik and Dillingham Nick Tanape Sr., Nanwalek Harriet Silva, Angoon Andrew R. Lestinkof Jr., Nikolski Pete Kompkoff Jr., Chenega Bay Matilda Christiansen, Old Harbor Amy Skonberg, Chignik Bay Victoria Cornwell, Ouzinkie Laura Stepanoff, Chignik Lagoon Andy Shangin, Perryville Nailene Lind, Chignik Lake Byron Lyons, Petersburg Frederick Hamilton, Craig Jerry Robart, Port Graham Virgie Alto, Egegik Candace Nelson, Port Lions Diane Stickler, Haines Greta Kosbruk, Port Heiden and Harlena Warford, Hoonah Pilot Point Henry Smith, Kake Lila Sanders, Sand Point Alicia Reft, Karluk Min Bartels, Sitka Nyna Fleury, Ketchikan and Saxman Peggy Totemoff, Tatitlek Lef Kenezuroff, King Cove Elizabeth Myas, Togiak and Twin Hills Mary Brown, King Salmon, Naknek and Anfesia Tutiakoff, Unalaska South Naknek Patrick Olson, Valdez James Rowan, Klawock Sandra Churchill, Wrangell Larry Amox, Jr. Kodiak City Raymond Sensmeier, Yakutat ii TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION ......................................................................................................PAGINATION INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 1 METHODOLOGY............................................................................................................. 6 THE SUBSISTENCE TAKE OF HARBOR SEALS IN 2004........................................... 15 Estimated Size of the Harbor Seal Take, 2004............................................................ 15 Geographic Distribution of Harbor Seal Takes.............................................................. 20 Seasonal Distribution of Harbor Seal Takes ................................................................ 21 Age and Sex Composition of Harbor Seal Harvests .................................................... 21 Hunter Assessments of Harbor Seal Population Trends............................................... 26 THE SUBSISTENCE TAKE OF SEA LIONS IN 2004.................................................... 29 Estimated Size of the Sea Lion Take, 2004................................................................. 29 Geographic Distribution of Sea Lion Takes.................................................................. 29 Seasonal Distribution of Sea Lion Takes ...................................................................... 31 Age and Sex Composition of Sea Lion Harvests .......................................................... 31 Hunter Assessments of Sea Lion Population Trends.................................................... 37 HUNTING PARTICIPATION AND EFFORT ................................................................... 41 DISCUSSION.................................................................................................................. 55 Harbor Seal Subsistence Trends, 1992 - 2004............................................................ 55 Sea Lion Subsistence Trends, 1992 - 2004................................................................. 70 REFERENCES................................................................................................................ 89 APPENDICES Appendix A. Survey Instrument...........................................................................A-1 - A-4 Appendix B. Subsistence Takes of Harbor Seal and Sea Lion by Region.................................................................................B-1 - B-18 Appendix C. Subsistence Takes of Harbor Seal and Sea Lion by Community....................................................................... C-1 - C-118 iii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES TABLE OR FIGURE......................................................................................PAGINATION
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