NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
May 17, 1999
Carol Tocco, Public Affairs NMFS
(907) 586-7032
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE AND ALASKA NATIVE HARBOR SEAL COMMISSION WILL CO-MANAGE ALASKA HARBOR SEAL POPULATION
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service and the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission have agreed to share management of harbor seals in Alaska through an accord that ensures the seal populations are conserved and subsistence harvest needs are met. The co-management agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall in Yakutat, Alaska, during the Commission's spring meeting on April 29.
Each year the agency and commission will produce an action plan for the conservation of Alaska harbor seal populations and the co-management of subsistence uses of harbor seals in Alaska. Agreement goals are to promote the sustained health of harbor seals in order to protect the culture and way of life of Alaska Natives who rely on harvests for subsistence uses; to promote scientific research and collection of data, that includes the traditional knowledge of Alaska Natives; to identify and resolve any management conflicts that may arise associated with Alaska harbor seals; and to provide information to subsistence hunters and the public on the management and conservation of harbor seals in the state.
"This is the result of 18 months of hard work by both groups," said Ron Berg, Deputy Regional Administrator for NMFS. "The agreement provides a strong partnership for managing harbor seals that builds on both the agency's scientific expertise and the traditional and local knowledge of Alaska Natives. The partnership promotes the sustained health of harbor seals as well as native culture and tradition to continue."
"This co-management agreement clearly demonstrates that we can understand each other and that we can live in harmony," said Harold Martin, Chair of the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission. "We look forward to implementing this new partnership."
The agreement is the first to be signed between the National Marine Fisheries Service and Alaska Natives since the 1994 amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which provided the authority for NMFS to enter into cooperative agreements with Alaska Native organizations to conserve marine mammals and provide co-management of subsistence use by Alaska Natives.
Tribes situated within the geographic range of the harbor seal formed the ANHSC in May of 1995, for the purpose of addressing the decline in the Gulf of Alaska harbor seal population. The Native community felt that it was necessary to have a formal body to represent their interests and felt that is was essential to implement co-management with the federal fisheries agency.
Following the signing ceremony, the Native Community of Yakutat hosted a potlatch featuring the St. Elias Dancers and food prepared by the Alaska Native Sisterhood. Some of the delicacies included herring roe from Sitka, roasted seal meat, seal oil, king salmon, moose meat, local berries, salmon berry cheesecake, fresh tanner crab, smoked salmon caviar, and many other side dishes.
The ANHSC represents 20 tribal governments within the state. The Commission started with representatives from six Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Regions and grew to include individual tribal governments within those regions. Membership is still growing, as more tribes become aware of the commission and its programs.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is an agency of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NMFS conducts scientific research and service in support of protected species and fisheries management, enforcement, and habitat conservation programs.
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Editor's Note: Photo available (in electronic format) of the signing officials and participants in the ceremony. Send an e-mail request to carol.tocco@noaa.gov.