Stop Overfishing in Alaska-Endangered Species Threatened

  • by: Animal Advocates
  • recipient: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service

Changes are needed to the areas where commercial fishermen may fish for groundfish off Alaska's Aleutian Islands to further promote the recovery of the western population of Steller sea lions, and to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.


Current management and practices in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska are threatening North Pacific humpback and sperm whales and the western Aleutian Island sub-population of Steller sea lions.


Fishers harvest more than 4 billion pounds of fish from the area each year.


The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits the "taking" of marine mammals. The maximum fine for violating the MMPA is $20,000 and one year in jail. "Taking" as defined under the MMPA as "harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect." Depleting the food supply by overfishing clearly falls under "harrassment".


National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Jim Balsiger, Regional AdministratorAlaska Region
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230


National Marine Fisheries Service

Attn: Ellen Sebastian

P.O. Box 21668

Juneau, AK 99802

sent by fax to: (907) 586%u20137557

e-mailed to: fmpbiop@noaa.gov 


Juneau Federal Building:

709 West 9th Street

Room 420A

Juneau, AK

Changes are needed to the areas where commercial fishermen may fish for groundfish off Alaska's Aleutian Islands to further promote the recovery of the western population of Steller sea lions, and to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

Current management and practices in the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska are threatening North Pacific humpback and sperm whales and the western Aleutian Island sub-population of Steller sea lions.



Fishers harvest more than 4 billion pounds of fish from the area each year.



The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits the "taking" of marine mammals. The maximum fine for violating the MMPA is $20,000 and one year in jail. "Taking" as defined under the MMPA as "harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, kill or collect." Depleting the food supply by overfishing clearly falls under "harrassment".

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