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draw public attention to the serious decline of the species, 

 hopefully generating voluntary harvest restrictions that could 

 avoid depletion altogether. Under the approach we are considering, 

 the establishment of prescribed regulations that would be made 

 after public notice and a formal hearing on the record. This 

 proactive approach would ensure that marine mammals continue to 

 provide subsistence benefits to future generations of Alaskan 

 Natives without imposing unnecessary restrictions on these 

 benefits. 



The proposed benchmark of a population size ten percent above the 

 depletion level would serve only as a mechanism to trigger the 

 formal rulemaking process for promulgating regulations. If the 

 depletion level were reached, no take, other than Native 

 subsistence take, would be authorized and Native subsistence take 

 would be subject to restrictions imposed by the Secretary's 

 regulations. These regulations would be reviewed and revised, as 

 necessary, no less than every six years. 



We are also considering proposing amendments to relax restrictions 

 on exchanges of personal items between Alaska Natives and 

 indigenous peoples of other circumpolar nations where marine 

 mammals occur, and allowing Alaska Natives to bring personal items 

 back into the United States when returning from foreign travel. 



Alaska Natives engage in cultural and other exchanges with other 



