NOAA Fisheries News Releases
NEWS RELEASE
July 19, 2006
Sheela McLean
(907) 586-7032
NOAA Fisheries Extending Comment Period on Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan
NOAA Fisheries Service will take comments through September 1, 2006 on the draft revised Steller Sea Lion Recovery Plan, the agency announced today.
"This is a comprehensive document describing actions necessary to recover the endangered Steller sea lion. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council requested more time for scientists on their Science and Statistical Committee to review the plan" said Doug Mecum, Acting Administrator for NOAA Fisheries in Alaska. "Given the importance of this document and the complexity of the recovery actions, we agreed to the extension. The more thoughtful comments we receive on our draft plan and more public participation the better."
The plan highlights three actions that are especially important to the recovery program: (1) maintain current fishery conservation measures (or their equivalent protection); (2) design and implement an adaptive management program to evaluate fishery conservation measures; and (3) continue population monitoring and research on the key threats potentially impeding sea lion recovery.
The draft plan was formed by a 17-member team representing fishery and marine mammal scientists, the fishing industry, Alaska natives, and environmental organizations, and was also reviewed by five independent scientists and managers.
The Draft Recovery Plan, required by the Endangered Species Act, contains:
- a comprehensive review of Steller sea lion status and ecology,
- a review of previous Steller sea lion conservation actions,
- a threats assessment,
- biological and threats criteria for downlisting and delisting,
- actions necessary for the recovery of the species (78 discrete actions for the western population), and
- estimates of time and cost to implement the recovery actions
The Notice of Availability published in the Federal Register is available at www.fakr.noaa.gov.
Send comments to Kaja Brix, Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, Alaska Region, NOAA Fisheries Service, Attn: Ellen Walsh. Comments may be submitted by:
(1) E-mail: SSLRP@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line the following document identifier: Sea Lion Recovery Plan. E-mail comments, with or without attachments, are limited to 5 megabytes;
(2) Mail: P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802;
(3) Hand delivery to the Federal Building : 709 W. 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska; or
(4) Fax: (907) 586-7012.
Interested persons may obtain the plan for review from the above address or on-line from the NMFS Alaska Region website: www.fakr.noaa.gov
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service) is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement, and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat. To learn more about NOAA Fisheries Service in Alaska, please visit our websites at www.fakr.noaa.gov or at www.afsc.noaa.gov