Rule to Eliminate the Extension of and Change the Start Date of the Subsistence Harvest of Northern Fur Seals

This rule eliminates the option, currently available in the Fur Seal Act regulations, for the Secretary to extend the subsistence harvest of fur seals on the Pribilof Islands beyond August 8 each year. The option is being eliminated to provide protection for female fur seals, which begin arriving on the beaches of the Pribilof Islands after the first week in August. This rule also changes the earliest possible start date of the subsistence harvest from June 30 to June 23. This change is made at the request of the Pribilof Aleuts to provide an additional week of potential harvesting in the face of the removal of the extension option.