Changes are needed to the areas where commercial fishermen may fish for groundfish off Alaska's Aleutian Islands to further promote the recovery of the western population of Steller sea lions, and to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
Current management and practices in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska are threatening North Pacific humpback and sperm whales and the western Aleutian Island sub-population of Steller sea lions.
Fishers harvest more than 4 billion pounds of fish from the area each year.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits the "taking" of marine mammals. The maximum fine for violating the MMPA is $20,000 and one year in jail. "Taking" as defined under the MMPA as "harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect." Depleting the food supply by overfishing clearly falls under "harrassment".
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Jim Balsiger, Regional AdministratorAlaska Region
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230
National Marine Fisheries Service
Attn: Ellen Sebastian
P.O. Box 21668
Juneau, AK 99802
sent by fax to: (907) 586%u20137557
e-mailed to: fmpbiop@noaa.gov
Juneau Federal Building:
709 West 9th Street
Room 420A
Juneau, AK
Changes are needed to the areas where commercial fishermen may fish for groundfish off Alaska's Aleutian Islands to further promote the recovery of the western population of Steller sea lions, and to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.
Current management and practices in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska are threatening North Pacific humpback and sperm whales and the western Aleutian Island sub-population of Steller sea lions.
Fishers harvest more than 4 billion pounds of fish from the area each year.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits the "taking" of marine mammals. The maximum fine for violating the MMPA is $20,000 and one year in jail. "Taking" as defined under the MMPA as "harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect." Depleting the food supply by overfishing clearly falls under "harrassment".
