Appendix A — Commission Recommendations 
29 September 
5 October 
8 October 
15 October 
16 October 
20 October 
harbor seal numbers; concurring with Service plans to contract for the development of a harbor seal 
conservation plan; and requesting that the Service inform the Commission as to the status of this plan. 
Commerce, commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on the need for actions to restore 
Steller sea lion populations; and requesting information o. the status of (1) the adoption and implemen- 
tation of the Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan; (2) the designation of critical habitat; and (3) the status 
of the Steller Sea Lion Recovery Team. 
Interior, commenting to the Minerals Management Service on a call for information for Lease Sale 
#158 in the Gulf of Alaska-Yakutat Bay area; forwarding Commission papers on monitoring marine 
mammal populations and habitat and available data on harbor seals in Alaska; noting that, of the 17 
species of marine mammals known to occur in the Gulf of Alaska and surrounding areas, the species 
of greatest concern are the gray whale, the harbor seal, the humpback whale, the killer whale, the 
North Pacific fur seal, the right whale, the sea otter, and the Steller sea lion; and recommending, 
among other things, that the Service contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, the National 
Marine Fisheries Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service to (1) obtain the best available information 
on marine mammal habitat and habitat components that might be affected by oil and gas exploration 
and development in the proposed lease sale area; (2) obtain the best available information on types, 
distribution, and abundance of prey species utilized by marine mammals in the proposed lease sale 
area; (3) determine additional research or monitoring programs required to assess and detect effects of 
development on the various populations; and (4) identify measures that could be taken either to avoid 
or to mitigate possible adverse effects of the proposed action on marine mammals. 
Commerce, commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on the Steller Sea Lion Recovery 
Plan, the Harbor Seal Recovery Plan, and the North Pacific Fur Seal Conservation Plan; forwarding a 
letter from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to Recovery Team members; expressing support 
for the adoption of the Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan by the end of October 1992; and requesting 
clarification of the status of the Harbor Seal Recovery Plan. 
Commerce, commenting to the National Marine Fisheries Service on its proposed rule to allow the 
taking of ringed seals incidental to oil and gas exploratory activities in the Beaufort Sea; reiterating 
previous recommendations that the Service consult with the Minerals Management Service, the Fish 
and Wildlife Service, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and relevant industry and Native 
groups to arrange cooperative funding to monitor the status of ringed seals in Alaskan waters; and 
further recommending that the Service (1) assess the ability of the program to accurately estimate the 
number of ringed seals affected by the proposed activity and the nature and significance of any effects; 
and (2) identify and take into account activities that may affect ringed seals and their habitat in 
offshore areas. 
Interior, commenting to the Fish and Wildlife Service on the need to update the Florida Manatee 
Recovery Plan; forwarding a discussion draft and step-down outline of research and management tasks 
for an updated plan; and recommending that the Service (1) consider the outline as a basis for revision 
of the Recovery Plan; (2) circulate the outline for review by the Florida Manatee Recovery Team; and 
(3) include revision of the Recovery Plan as an agenda item at the next Recovery Team meeting. 
State of Florida, commenting to the Department of Natural Resources on proposed manatee protection 
tules for Duval County; supporting their adoption with the understanding that more extensive 
protective measures will be proposed in the near future as part of the County Manatee Protection Plan; 
and recommending that the rules be strengthened with regard to the lower St. Johns River by (1) 
expanding a slow speed zone near the city of Jacksonville; (2) establishing a year-round 25 mph speed 
limit in certain channels exempted from slow speed restrictions; and (3) either limiting access or 
requiring idle speed in areas immediately around artificial warm water refuges used by manatees. 
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