Administration of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 Annual Report January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999 and January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000 Administration of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 Annual Report January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999 and January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division Washington, D.C. 20240 i ii Table of Contents List of Acronyms .................................................iv Introduction................................................... 1 Authority..................................................... 1 Species List................................................... 1 Summary of the Program for 1999 and 2000............................... 2 Appropriations................................................ 2 Marine Mammal Protection Act Expenditures........................... 2 Endangered Species Act Expenditures................................ 2 Outer Continental Shelf Operations and Environmental Studies............. 3 Research and Development........................................ 4 Enforcement.................................................. 18 Permits and Registrations........................................ 21 Permit Activities in 1999......................................... 21 Scientific Research Permits...................................... 21 Public Display Permits.......................................... 21 Enhancement Permits.......................................... 22 Registered Agent/Tannery Permits................................. 22 Polar Bear Import Trophy Permits................................. 22 Permit Activities in 2000......................................... 22 Scientific Research Permits...................................... 22 Public Display Permits. ........................................ 23 Registered Agent/Tannery Permits................................. 23 Polar Bear Import Trophy Permits................................. 23 International Activities.......................................... 24 U.S.-Russia Environmental Agreement: Marine Mammal Project............ 24 Status Reports for 1999 and 2000.................................... 26 Stock Assessments.............................................. 26 Pacific Walrus................................................. 26 Northern Sea Otter............................................. 29 Polar Bear.................................................... 30 Incidental, Small Take During Oil and Gas Operations..................... 33 Marking, Tagging, and Reporting Program............................ 34 Sea Otter-Southern............................................. 42 Sea Otter-Northern (Washington State Population)....................... 45 West Indian Manatee............................................ 46 Hawaiian Monk Seal and Other Marine Mammal Activitieson Pacific Islands..... 51 iii List of Acronyms 1973 Agreement - 1973 International FFWCC - Florida Fish and Wildlife NWHC - National Wildlife Health Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Conservation Commission Center Bears FLIR - forward-looking infrared NWR - National Wildlife Refuge ABSC - Alaska Biological Science Center, imagery USGS PBR - potential biological removal FMP - Florida Marine Patrol Act - Marine Mammal Protection Act of PCB - polychlorinated biphenyls 1972 FMRI - Florida Marine Research Institute PIT - passive integrated transponder ADFG - Alaska Department of Fish and Game FY - Fiscal Year(s) ppm - parts per million ANC - Alaska Nanuuq Commission GDNR - Georgia Department of PRDNR - Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources Natural Resources ASOC - Alaska Sea Otter Commission GIS - Geographic Information System PTT - platform transmitter terminals BBNA - Briston Bay Native Association HCH - hexachlorocyclohexane QA/QC - quality assurance/quality BPXA - BP Exploration (Alaska), Inc. control IGC - Inuvialuit Game Council CDFG - California Department of Fish SAR - stock assessment report and Game IPCoMM - Indigenous Peoples Council on Marine Mammals Service - United States Fish and CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Wildlife Service K - carrying capacity CITES - Convention on International SFWMD - South Florida Water Trade in Endangered Species of Wild LOA - Letter of Authorization Management District Fauna and Flora MIPS - Manatee Individual SNI - San Nicolas Island Corps - United States Army Corps of Photoidentification System Engineers TASSC - The Alaska Sea Otter and MMC - Marine Mammal Commission Steller Sea Lion Commission CSC - California Science Center MML - Mote Marine Laboratory TDRs - time-depth recorders Department - Department of the Interior mtDNA - mitochondrial TTINWR - Ten Thousand Islands DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid Deoxyribonucleic acid National Wildlife Refuge ESA - Endangered Species Act of 1973, MTRP - Marking, Tagging, and Report- UHF - ultra-high frequency as amended ing Program UMMH - Chukotka Union of Marine EVOS - Exxon Valdez Oil Spill NAVSTA ROOS RDS - United States Mammal Hunters Naval Station, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto EWC - Eskimo Walrus Commission Rico USCG - United States Coast Guard FCSC - Florida Caribbean Science NMFS - National Marine Fisheries USGS/BRD - United States Geological Center, USGS Service Survey, Biological Resources Discipline FDEP - Florida Department of NMML - National Marine Mammal VHF - very-high frequency Environmental Protection Laboratory WERC - Western Ecological Research FDNR - Florida Department of Natural NSB - North Slope Borough Center, USGS Resources NVPP - Nearshore Vertebrate Predator WHMP - Walrus Harvest Monitoring Project Project iv Introduction AUTHORITY The Service administers requests for Presently, the USGS/BRD has been The passage of the Marine Mammal waiving the moratorium and for the charged with that responsibility; the Protection Act of 1972, hereafter transfer of management authority to Service closely coordinates with the referred to as the Act or MMPA, gave States, issues permits, enforces USGS/BRD on marine mammal the Department of the Interior provisions of the Act, and publishes rules research needs. (Department) responsibility for and regulations to manage marine manatees, polar bears, walruses, sea and mammals. The Service also During the two-year period of time marine otters, and dugong. Within the cooperates with the States, and covered by this report, there were no Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife participates in international activities significant changes to the listed status Service (Service) is the primary agency and agreements. In addition, the Service of any of the species of marine mammals responsible for managing these marine lists and delists species as endangered or whose management is the Service’s mammals and for enforcing the threatened and undertakes other responsibility. moratorium on taking and importing Endangered Species Act (ESA) related marine mammals and marine mammal responsibilities and maintains a close parts. During 1999 and 2000, the working relationship with the Marine Biological Resources Discipline Mammal Commission (MMC) and (formerly the Biological Resources its Committee of Scientific Advisors. Division) of the U.S. Geological Survey Prior to Fiscal Year 1994, the Service (USGS/BRD) was responsible for conducted the marine mammal research conducting marine mammal research. program. SPECIES LIST Species List and Status of Marine Mammals Under Service Jurisdiction Under the Act and the ESA Species Marine Mammal Endangered Common Name Scientific Name Protection Act Species Act Polar bear Ursus maritimus Yes No Sea otter-Alaska Enhydra lutris kenyoni Yes No Sea otter-southern Enhydra lutris nereis Yes Threatened Marine otter Lutra felina Yes Endangered Walrus Odobenus rosmarus Yes No Dugong Dugong dugon Yes Endangered* West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus Yes Endangered Amazonian manatee Trichechus inunguis Yes Endangered West African manatee Trichechus senegalensis Yes Threatened * The dugong is listed as endangered throughout its entire historic range except when it occurs in the United States. 1 Summary of the Program for 1999 and 2000 Appropriations The Act’s funding authorization for the Department occurs in Section 116(b). Authorized Expended Projected Spending occurs on a Fiscal Year (FY) basis. Calendar years 1999 and 2000 Fiscal Year 1999 $10,296 $3,633 -- covered by this report overlap FYs Fiscal Year 2000 $10,296 4,701 -- 1999, 2000, and 2001. Funds (in $000) authorized for these years, as well as Fiscal Year 2000 $10,296 -- $5,000 funds spent in FY 1999 and FY 2000, and projected to be spent in FY 2001, are presented. Actual Actual Actual Marine Mammal Protection Act Expenditures FY 99 FY 00 FY 01 USGS/BRD Research and Development Alaska sea otter $ 325 $ 742 $ 749 Polar bear 335 414 533 Pacific walrus 50 80 250 Misc. marine mammals (including polar bear, walrus, and sea otter) 100 112 120 Total USGS/BRD Research and Development $ 810 $1, 348 $1, 652 Management Permit activities $ 195 $ 200 $ 205 Law enforcement activities 620 800 790 Other management activities 2, 008 2, 353 2, 353 Total Management $2, 823 $3, 353 $3, 348 MMPA Grand Total $3, 633 $4, 701 $5, 000 Endangered Species Act Expenditures Section 6 (Grants-to-States) California - sea otter $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 Florida - manatee 0 0 0 Georgia - manatee 26 26 26 Total Section 6 $ 26 $ 26 $ 26 Section 15 (USGS/BRD Research and Development) Endangered/threatened otters $ 233 $ 290 $ 691 Manatee 456 533 347 Total USGS/BRD Research and Development $ 810