Purpose of the Action. In order for a harvest to occur prior to October 2000, NMFS and an ANO must enter into an co-management agreement under section 119 of the MMPA. The purpose of this action is to enter into a co-management agreement to authorize the taking of one whale in 2000 for traditional and cultural subsistence purposes. Issues associated with this action include the impact of the level of harvest and its effects on the recovery of this stock, the impacts of not authorizing this harvest on Native culture, and how Native subsistence harvest may be managed in the future. CIMMC is an organization comprised of Native Alaskans residing in the CI region who share an interest in local marine mammals. CIMMC includes Cook Inlet treaty tribes, Native hunters, and concerned Alaskan Natives. CIMMC was established to protect cultural traditions and promote conservation, management, and utilization of Cook Inlet marine mammals by Alaskan Natives. The primary reason supporting this action is the need to recognize the importance of the CI beluga whale to Native culture and nutrition, and to provide for the continued opportunity to harvest these whales within the recovery phase. The subsistence harvest and use of the beluga whale is a component of Alaskan Native culture. The importance of the harvest transcends the nutritional or economic value of the whale and provides identity to the cultures which now harvest the whales. Native hunters have stated their willingness to reduce harvest levels during the recovery period, but also express their belief that the skills, knowledge, and traditions associated with the subsistence hunting of these whales cannot be passed on to younger generations unless some level of harvest continues.
Purpose of the Action. The purpose of this action is to enter into a co-management agreement to authorize the taking of up to two CI beluga whales in 2002 by Alaska Natives for traditional and cultural subsistence purposes. This action is based on an analyses of effects in a draft EIS on the long-term management and recovery of CI beluga whales. This modeling analyses indicated that the taking of up to two whales would not result in a delay of recovery of beluga whales in Cook Inlet greater than 10 percent of that which would occur without a subsistence harvest. NMFS has found this level of effect negligible on the recovery of the beluga whale population, and this level of take also provides for the continuation of the subsistence harvest in Cook Inlet for Native cultural and traditional purposes. Therefore, NMFS has selected this alternative as the preferred alternative for this action. Issues associated with this action include the impact of the level of harvest and its effects on the recovery of this stock, the impacts of not authorizing this harvest on Native culture, and how Native subsistence harvest may be managed in the future. CIMMC is an organization comprised of Alaska Natives residing in the CI region who share an interest in local marine mammals. CIMMC includes CI tribes, Native hunters, and concerned Alaska Natives. CIMMC was established to protect cultural traditions and promote conservation, management, and utilization of CI marine mammals by Alaska Natives. The primary factor supporting this action is the need to recognize the importance of the CI beluga whale to Native culture and nutrition, and to provide for the continued opportunity to harvest these whales within the recovery phase. The subsistence harvest and use of the beluga whale is a component of Alaska Native culture. The importance of the harvest transcends the nutritional or economic value of the whale and provides identity to the cultures which now harvest the whales. Native hunters have stated their willingness to reduce harvest levels during the recovery period, but also express their belief that the skills, knowledge, and traditions associated with the subsistence hunting of these whales cannot be passed on to younger generations unless some level of harvest continues.
Purpose of the Action. The purpose of this action is to enter into a co-management agreement to authorize the taking of one whale in 2001 for traditional and cultural subsistence purposes. Issues associated with this action include the impact of the level of harvest and its effects on the recovery of this stock, the impacts of not authorizing this harvest on Native culture, and how Native subsistence harvest may be managed in the future. CIMMC is an organization comprised of Alaska Natives residing in the CI region who share an interest in local marine mammals. CIMMC includes CI tribes, Native hunters, and concerned Alaska Natives. CIMMC was established to protect cultural traditions and promote conservation, management, and utilization of CI marine mammals by Alaska Natives. The primary factor supporting this action is the need to recognize the importance of the CI beluga whale to Native culture and nutrition, and to provide for the continued opportunity to harvest these whales within the recovery phase. The subsistence harvest and use of the beluga whale is a component of Alaska Native culture. The importance of the harvest transcends the nutritional or economic value of the whale and provides identity to the cultures which now harvest the whales. Native hunters have stated their willingness to reduce harvest levels during the recovery period, but also express their belief that the skills, knowledge, and traditions associated with the subsistence hunting of these whales cannot be passed on to younger generations unless some level of harvest continues.
