Background and History
(Source: NOAA Fisheries)
1972
- Stocks of Steller sea lions estimated at 115,000 animals.
Late 1970's
- Stocks of Steller sea lions estimated at 109,000 animals.
1988
- Under the MMPA, NOAA Fisheries lists Steller sea lions as depleted - indicators show stocks 50% below historic size. Provisions of the MMPA required conservation plan. Stocks of Steller sea lions estimated at 68,000 animals - below the optimum sustainable population level under the MMPA.
1989
- Environmental organizations petition NMFS for an emergency rule listing all Steller sea lion populations in Alaska as endangered.
1990
- NMFS publishes an emergency rule listing Steller sea lions as a threatened (not endangered) species under provisions of the ESA.
- Western Population estimated at 28,000 animals.
- MMPA banned the shooting of Steller sea lions and reduced incidental catch\kills of Steller sea lions in the fisheries.
- In April, NOAA Fisheries Issues emergency rule establishing 3nm no transit zones around Steller sea lion rookeries.
- NOAA Fisheries initiates a ESA Section 7 Consultation but find no jeopardy or adverse modification.
1991
- Final rule in place establishing 3nm no transit area developed around Steller sea lions rookeries to reduce disturbances.
- Pollock roe stripping banned.
1992
- Steller sea lion rookeries closed to trawling for prey species. Most are closed at a 10nm radius; some rookeries are closed to trawling to 20nm in the “A Season.”
- Donut Hole closed by international convention to trawling due to depleted pollock stocks.
1993
- Steller sea lion Critical Habitat defined as 20nm from 39 rookeries and 83 haulouts. Includes 3 foraging areas: Seguam Pass, Bogoslof, and Shelikof.
1995
- BiOp concluding that BSAI and GOA fisheries were “not likely to jeopardize the continued existence” of Steller sea lions.
1996
- NOAA Fisheries observes that Steller sea lion population declined by 80% from 1970's. The Bering Sea Ecosystem Report recommends that to reverse declines, NOAA Fisheries should distribute fishing effort in time and place. BiOp (1998) establishes that No Prey Species Trawl areas spatially distribute fishing effort.
1997
- Steller sea lion populations west of 144 west listed as endangered.
1998
- Atka Mackerel and Pollock BiOp #1 issued. In it, the pollock fisheries “jeopardize” the recovery of Steller sea lions. Atka Mackerel did not as there were Aleutian Islands Critical Habitat harvest limits in place for 1999.
- Groundfish Fishery BiOp #2 issued. Criticized for not being comprehensive.
- NPFMC issued ban on directed fishing for forage fish, as they are important to marine mammals, birds, and other fish.
1999
- An emergency rule issued under the auspices of the BiOp #1, BiOp #2, and the AFA: Closed directed fishing for Pollock in the Aleutian Islands Subarea and created the CHCVOA (Critical Habitat Catcher Vessel Operational Area) in the BS and initiated additional 10nm and 20nm closure areas to Pollock Trawling around additional rookeries and haulouts for spatial dispersion of fisheries.
- Atka mackerel harvest limits against TAC's created for inside of Steller Sea Lion Critical Habitat in the Aleutian Islands.
- Directed fishery for pollock in Aleutian Islands subarea suspended.
- Groundfish Fishery BiOp #2 Criticized for not being comprehensive.
- NOAA Fisheries “recall’s” BiOp #2 for review.
2000
- Additional pollock restrictions areas via Revised Final RPA's.
2000 August
- Judge Zilly issues Trawl injunction for Steller sea lion critical habitat. “The court concludes the fisheries' potential negative effects have been proven with reasonable scientific certainty.”
2000 November 30
- BiOp #3 Comprehensive Biological Opinion, Incidental Take Statement and Reasonable and Prudent Alternative issued with 13 Open and Closed areas.
- Trawl Injunction lifted by Judge Zilly.
2000 December
- NPFMC finds BiOp#3 “Scientifically deficient.”
- NPFMC Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives Committee commenced to create Steller Sea Lion RPA's.
- Senator Steven attaches Steller Sea Lion research funds to omnibus bill.
2001 January
- NMFS Issue Emergency Rule for January through June based on No Trawl Areas, Pollock RFRPA, and other harvest limit Critical Habitat Areas.
2001 June
- BiOp#3 Closed and Restricted Areas in effect.
2001 July
- Emergency rule based on the findings of the NPFMC SSL Reasonable and Prudent Alternative Committee issued.
2002
- Final rule based on the finding of the SSL Reasonable and Prudent Alternative Committee issued.
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