Modification to Subsistence Use Regulations for the Eastern Pacific Stock of Northern Fur Seals on St. Paul Island

Correction

Correction to the final rule published on October 2, 2019, that revised the subsistence use regulations for the Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus). Also approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and associated with the regulations revised in the final rule. The final rule incorrectly stated that the collection-of-information requirements subject to the PRA had been approved by the OMB at the time the final rule was published. On January 7, 2020, OMB approved the collection-of-information requirements subject to the PRA.

Background

NOAA Fisheries modified the subsistence use regulations for the Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) in response to a petition from the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Tribal Government (ACSPI). The petition requested simplifying the regulations and authorizing Pribilovians who reside on St. Paul Island, Alaska, to kill up to 2,000 male fur seals less than seven years old (defined as juvenile males), including young of the year (also called pups), for subsistence uses each year. The final rule authorizes up to 20 mortalities of female fur seals per year (and any female mortality will be included in the 2,000 fur seals authorized for subsistence use per year). The rule allows the taking of fur seals on St. Paul Island over two subsistence use seasons annually. The first season is from January 1 through May 31 using firearms to hunt, and the second season is from June 23 through December 31 without using firearms. In addition, the rule authorizes Pribilovians who reside on St. George Island, Alaska, to kill up to 500 male fur seals during harvests for subsistence use each year. This includes authorization of up to three female mortalities each year (and any female mortality will be included in the 500 fur seals authorized for subsistence use per year). Finally, the rule streamlines and simplifies the regulations by eliminating several duplicative and unnecessary regulations governing Pribilovians on St. Paul and St. George Islands.