Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Quotas, 5612 [05-2001]

Download as PDF 5612 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 22 / Thursday, February 3, 2005 / Notices The modifications and related documents are available for review upon written request or by appointment in the following office(s): Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone (301) 713–2289, fax (301) 427–2521; and, Northeast Region, NMFS, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930–2298, phone (978) 281–9328, fax (978) 281–9394. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUMMARY: NMFS announces the aboriginal subsistence whaling quota for bowhead whales, and other limitations deriving from regulations adopted at the 2002 Special Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). For 2005, the quota is 75 bowhead whales struck. This quota and other limitations will govern the harvest of bowhead whales by members of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC). ADDRESSES: Jennifer Jefferies (301)713–2289. The requested modifications have been granted under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the provisions of § 222.306 of the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened fish and wildlife (50 CFR parts 222–226). The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is authorized to sample for and collect 300 shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) annually in the Hudson River. The objectives of the study are to collect data on current distribution, abundance, length structure and movements of shortnose sturgeon in this river system. This modification will extend the permit through October 31, 2006. Dr. Kynard is authorized to sample for and collect 300 shortnose sturgeon in the Connecticut River. The objectives of the study are to collect data on current distribution, abundance, length structure and movements of shortnose sturgeon in this river system. This modification will extend the permit through June 1, 2006. Issuance of these modifications, as required by the ESA was based on a finding that such permits: (1) Were applied for in good faith; (2) will not operate to the disadvantage of the endangered species which is the subject of these permits; and (3) are consistent with the purposes and policies set forth in section 2 of the ESA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: January 22, 2005. Stephen L. Leathery, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 05–2002 Filed 2–2–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S VerDate jul<14>2003 19:18 Feb 02, 2005 Jkt 205001 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket No. 050114009–5009–01; I.D. 011105B] Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Quotas National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Effective February 3, 2005. Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri McCarty, (301) 713–2322. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aboriginal subsistence whaling in the United States is governed by the Whaling Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 916 et seq.). Regulations that implement the Act, found at 50 CFR 230.6, require the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to publish, at least annually, aboriginal subsistence whaling quotas and any other limitations on aboriginal subsistence whaling deriving from regulations of the IWC. At the 2002 Special Meeting of the IWC, the Commission set quotas for aboriginal subsistence use of bowhead whales from the Bering-ChukchiBeaufort Seas stock. The bowhead quota was based on a joint request by the United States and the Russian Federation, accompanied by documentation concerning the needs of two Native groups: Alaska Eskimos and Chukotka Natives in the Russian Far East. This action by the IWC thus authorized aboriginal subsistence whaling by the AEWC for bowhead whales. This aboriginal subsistence harvest is conducted in accordance with a cooperative agreement between NOAA and the AEWC. The IWC set a 5-year block quota of 280 bowhead whales landed. For each DATES: ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of the years 2003 through 2007, the number of bowhead whales struck may not exceed 67, except that any unused portion of a strike quota from any year, including 15 unused strikes from the 1998 through 2002 quota, may be carried forward. No more than 15 strikes may be added to the strike quota for any one year. At the end of the 2004 harvest, there were 15 unused strikes available for carry-forward, so the combined strike quota for 2005 is 82 (67 + 15). This arrangement ensures that the total quota of bowhead whales landed and struck in 2005 will not exceed the quotas set by the IWC. Under an arrangement between the United States and the Russian Federation, the Russian natives may use no more than seven strikes, and the Alaska Eskimos may use no more than 75 strikes. NOAA is assigning 75 strikes to the Alaska Eskimos. The AEWC will allocate these strikes among the 10 villages whose cultural and subsistence needs have been documented in past requests for bowhead quotas from the IWC, and will ensure that its hunters use no more than 75 strikes. Other Limitations The IWC regulations, as well as the NOAA rule at 50 CFR 230.4(c), forbid the taking of calves or any whale accompanied by a calf. NOAA rules (at 50 CFR 230.4) contain a number of other prohibitions relating to aboriginal subsistence whaling, some of which are summarized here. Only licensed whaling captains or crew under the control of those captains may engage in whaling. They must follow the provisions of the relevant cooperative agreement between NOAA and a Native American whaling organization. The aboriginal hunters must have adequate crew, supplies, and equipment. They may not receive money for participating in the hunt. No person may sell or offer for sale whale products from whales taken in the hunt, except for authentic articles of Native handicrafts. Captains may not continue to whale after the relevant quota is taken, after the season has been closed, or if their licenses have been suspended. They may not engage in whaling in a wasteful manner. Dated: January 27, 2005. Rebecca Lent, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 05–2001 Filed 2–2–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S E:\FR\FM\03FEN1.SGM 03FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 22 (Thursday, February 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 5612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2001]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 050114009-5009-01; I.D. 011105B]


Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Quotas

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the aboriginal subsistence whaling quota for 
bowhead whales, and other limitations deriving from regulations adopted 
at the 2002 Special Meeting of the International Whaling Commission 
(IWC). For 2005, the quota is 75 bowhead whales struck. This quota and 
other limitations will govern the harvest of bowhead whales by members 
of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC).

DATES: Effective February 3, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri McCarty, (301) 713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aboriginal subsistence whaling in the United 
States is governed by the Whaling Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 916 et 
seq.). Regulations that implement the Act, found at 50 CFR 230.6, 
require the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to publish, at least 
annually, aboriginal subsistence whaling quotas and any other 
limitations on aboriginal subsistence whaling deriving from regulations 
of the IWC.
    At the 2002 Special Meeting of the IWC, the Commission set quotas 
for aboriginal subsistence use of bowhead whales from the Bering-
Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock. The bowhead quota was based on a joint 
request by the United States and the Russian Federation, accompanied by 
documentation concerning the needs of two Native groups: Alaska Eskimos 
and Chukotka Natives in the Russian Far East.
    This action by the IWC thus authorized aboriginal subsistence 
whaling by the AEWC for bowhead whales. This aboriginal subsistence 
harvest is conducted in accordance with a cooperative agreement between 
NOAA and the AEWC.
    The IWC set a 5-year block quota of 280 bowhead whales landed. For 
each of the years 2003 through 2007, the number of bowhead whales 
struck may not exceed 67, except that any unused portion of a strike 
quota from any year, including 15 unused strikes from the 1998 through 
2002 quota, may be carried forward. No more than 15 strikes may be 
added to the strike quota for any one year. At the end of the 2004 
harvest, there were 15 unused strikes available for carry-forward, so 
the combined strike quota for 2005 is 82 (67 + 15).
    This arrangement ensures that the total quota of bowhead whales 
landed and struck in 2005 will not exceed the quotas set by the IWC. 
Under an arrangement between the United States and the Russian 
Federation, the Russian natives may use no more than seven strikes, and 
the Alaska Eskimos may use no more than 75 strikes.
    NOAA is assigning 75 strikes to the Alaska Eskimos. The AEWC will 
allocate these strikes among the 10 villages whose cultural and 
subsistence needs have been documented in past requests for bowhead 
quotas from the IWC, and will ensure that its hunters use no more than 
75 strikes.

Other Limitations

    The IWC regulations, as well as the NOAA rule at 50 CFR 230.4(c), 
forbid the taking of calves or any whale accompanied by a calf.
    NOAA rules (at 50 CFR 230.4) contain a number of other prohibitions 
relating to aboriginal subsistence whaling, some of which are 
summarized here. Only licensed whaling captains or crew under the 
control of those captains may engage in whaling. They must follow the 
provisions of the relevant cooperative agreement between NOAA and a 
Native American whaling organization. The aboriginal hunters must have 
adequate crew, supplies, and equipment. They may not receive money for 
participating in the hunt. No person may sell or offer for sale whale 
products from whales taken in the hunt, except for authentic articles 
of Native handicrafts. Captains may not continue to whale after the 
relevant quota is taken, after the season has been closed, or if their 
licenses have been suspended. They may not engage in whaling in a 
wasteful manner.

    Dated: January 27, 2005.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 05-2001 Filed 2-2-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S

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