NMFS/Alaska Region/Protected Resources

• Main Authors: Mr. Mike Williams, Terry R. Spraker
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Alaska; Northern fur seal
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.363.4140; http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seals/fur/hor/2007.pdf

The 2007 northern fur seal harvest was similar to last year. I was on St. Paul Island from 11 July through 11 August 2007. The harvest started on 21 July and ended on 8 August. Three harvests were conducted. A total of 269 seals (396 in 2006 and 479 in 2005) including 266 subadult males and three females were taken this year. The three females were all taken from Gorbatch on 8 August. Seals did not die from hyperthermia this season. All of the harvests started late again this year, approximately between 1:00PM to 2:00PM in the warmest times of the day. Animals were gathered, handled and killed in a humane fashion at all three harvests. The reasons that only 3 harvests were done were multiple. Many of the sealers are also fisherman and were fishing during good weather. Also it seemed like the seal orders were down this year. I was told there was not much work on the island this year, but it was still difficult for Mr. Robert Melovidov to round up a crew. Wastage was not observed this summer. Pelts were not found this season that had been contaminated with oil from beaches. In 1994:23 seals, in 1995:3 seals, in 1996:4 seals, and in 1997:1 seal were found with oil contamination. From 1998 to 2007 pelts of seals were not found with oil contamination. Thank you for allowing me to be the humane observer this season.