USFWS
Marine Mammals Management
Alaska Region

 

Sea Otter

Cooperative Agreements with Alaska Native Organizations

When the Marine Mammal Protection Act was amended in 1994, Section 119 of the Act was created to allow the federal government to enter into cooperative agreements with Alaska Native organizations to conserve marine mammals and provide co-management of subsisteSmall boat survey training at Port Heiden. Verena Gill/USFWS.nce use by Alaska Natives. These agreements may include grants to Alaska Native organizations to:

  • collect and analyze data on marine mammal populations;
  • monitor the harvest of marine mammals for subsistence use;
  • participate in marine mammal research conducted by the Federal Government, States, academic institutions, and private organizations; and
  • develop marine mammal co-management structures with Federal and State agencies.

  • Marine Mammals Management administers such agreements with The Alaska Sea Otter and Steller Sea Lion Commission. Projects have included boat-based trend surveys of sea otter populations, gathering traditional knowledge about sea otters in coastal Alaska villages, and developing regional and local sea otter management plans. These projects involve local Alaska Natives who subsistence hunt and use sea otters to participate in conserving sea otter populations for future generations.

    Learn more about cooperative agreement under Section 119 of the Marine Mammal Act.

Last updated: September 10, 2008