area, and along the Bering Sea coast of the Alaska peninsula. 

 Comparison of data from these surveys and surveys done in the 

 1960s and 1970s indicate that harbor seal numbers have declined 

 and may be continuing to decline in several areas. Follow-up 

 surveys of selected index areas should be conducted at regular 

 intervals to determine whether the population continues to 

 decline, stabilizes, or begins to increase. The National 

 Marine Fisheries Service was unable to provide funding to 

 continue trend surveys in 1987-1988 and the Commission provided 

 funds to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to help defray 

 the survey costs. 



Review of Final Draft Report on the Sea Otter in Alaska 



(K. W. Pitcher, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Anchorage, 



Alaska; L.M. Rotterman, and D.B. Siniff, Ph.D., University of 



Minnesota) 



As noted in Chapter IV, the Commission initiated efforts 

 in 1984 to develop species reports, with research and management 

 recommendations, for sea otters and nine other species of 

 marine mammals commonly found in Alaska coastal waters. 

 Reviewers' comments on the draft sea otter report reflected 

 substantially differing views on priority research and manage- 

 ment issues. The Commission therefore organized and held a 

 meeting of the ad hoc sea otter working group on 24-25 Septem- 

 ber 1987 to better identify and resolve the differing views. 

 Following the meeting, another draft was prepared, circulated, 

 and approved after further revision. As noted in Chapter IV, 

 the species reports are expected to be published early in 

 1988 and to provide the bases for developing agreed research 

 and management programs for these ten species. 



Review of Alaska Species Accounts with Research and Management 



Recommendations 



(J.W. Lentfer, Juneau, Alaska) 



As described in the Commission's 1985 and 1986 Annual 

 Reports and in Chapter IV of this Report, the Commission organ- 

 ized and provided funding for groups of experts to prepare 

 reports describing the research and management programs neces- 

 sary to protect and conserve ten species of marine mammals 

 that commonly occur in Alaska coastal waters. The contractor 

 coordinated and participated in working group activities under 

 contract with the Commission from 1984 to 1986. In 1987, the 

 contractor reviewed and edited the working group reports and 

 compiled a single document suitable for publication. As noted 

 in the preceding project description, the report is expected 

 to be published early in 1988. 



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