MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION — Annual Report for 1991 



Table 4. Subsistence Harvest Levels for North Pacific Fur Seals in the Pribilof Islands, 

 1985 - 1991' 



Data provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service. 



In 1990, 1,241 fur seals were taken in the subsis- 

 tence harvest (1,077 on St. Paul Island and 164 on St. 

 George Island), a decrease from the 1989 total take 

 of 1,521 seals. On 1 May 1991, the National Marine 

 Fisheries Service published in the Federal Register 

 estimates of 1991 subsistence needs of the Pribilof 

 Islands Native population. In deriving its estimates, 

 the Service took into account the following facts: 

 (1) the number of seals taken on St. Paul Island in 

 1990 was the lowest in five years; (2) since 1989, 

 unemployment levels on St. Paul Island have risen 

 from 20-30 percent to 60-80 percent; and (3) the 

 Aleut population has remained relatively stable. Also, 

 according to the Service, pup production estimates 

 indicate that the St. Paul Island fiir seal population is 

 stable or possibly increasing. 



Based on this information, and using a statistical 

 analysis of previous harvest levels, the Service pro- 

 posed that the 1991 harvest level for St. Paul Island 

 be set at 1,314 seals. The Service noted that, if this 

 number were reached before 8 August 1991, the Aleut 

 community could request additional seals if needed for 

 subsistence, but that no more than 246 additional seals 

 would be authorized to be taken on St. Paul Island. 

 The Service also noted that economic conditions on 

 St. George Island were similar to those on St. Paul 

 Island, but added that the fur seal population there 

 was declining. The Service stated, however, that, 

 since only sub-adult males were taken in the subsis- 

 tence harvest, the harvest was likely not contributing 

 significantly to the decline. Based upon these factors 

 and on past subsistence harvest levels, the Service set 

 the estimated 1991 harvest level for St. George Island 

 at 135, with a possible supplemental authorization of 

 no more than 37 additional animals. 



After receiving public comments on its proposed 

 harvest levels, the Service decided to abandon the use 

 of purely statistical analysis to set harvest levels and 

 to take into account factors in addition to past harvest 

 levels. Final harvest levels for 1991 were published 

 on 1 August 1991. Subsistence needs on St. Paul 

 Island were expected to range from 1,145 to 1,800 

 seals and, on St. George Island, from 181 to 500. 



On 27 July 1991, Aleut sealers on both St. Paul 

 Island and St. George Island reached the lower ends 

 of their respective subsistence need estimates. As 

 required by regulations, the harvests were temporarily 

 stopped to allow the Service to determine whether 

 subsistence needs had been met and, if not, how many 

 more seals would be required. On 29 July, Natives 

 on St. Paul Island and St. George Island each formally 

 requested that the subsistence harvest be allowed to 

 resume. Based upon the information submitted by the 

 Pribilovians and the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 observers, including the harvest data, the Director of 

 the Service authorized the harvest of an additional 500 

 seals on St. Paul Island and an additional 100 on St. 

 George Island on 31 July. 



On that day, the Humane Society of the United 

 States filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the 

 District of Columbia against the Secretary of Com- 

 merce, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and the 

 Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service 

 seeking a temporary restraining order to suspend 

 further harvesting of North Pacific fur seals on both 

 St. Paul and St. George Islands. In Humane Society 

 of the United States v. Mosbacher, the Humane 

 Society alleged that (1) the Service's authorization of 

 a continuation of the Alaska Native subsistence 



34 



