Charismatic Megafauna

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Charismatic Megafauna

• Whales, dolphins, seals, sea otters, sea lions,
  sea elephants, manatees, etc.
• Their relationship to food web fisheries
• Marine mammal protection act (MMPA)

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Baleen vs. Toothed Whales
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Common Dolphins
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Humpback Whale
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Blue Whales
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Gray Whale
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Sea Lions
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Orca
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Sea Elephant
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Sea Otter
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Sea Otter
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Marine Mammal Protection Act

• Enacted in 1972
• Protect manage marine mammals their products
• Replenish depleted species or population stocks
• Limits harassment

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MMPA Jurisdictions

• DOC/NMFS gt pinnipeds (other than walruses) and
  cetaceans
• DOI gt walruses, sea otters, polar bears,
  manatees and dugongs
• NMFS also responsible for monitoring populations

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Monitoring of Stocks
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Role of Climate Changes
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Depleted Stocks Under MMPA

• Northern Fur Seals
• Depletion caused by sealing (stopped in 1894)
• Breed _at_ 4 sites in Pacific (incl. San Miguel
  Island)

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Role of Climate Changes
The 97/98 ENSO led to a 80 pup mortality on San
Miguel
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MMPA Harassment

• Level A - potential to injure a marine mammal or
  stock
• Level B - potential to disturb a marine mammal or
  stock by causing disruption or behavioral
  patterns, including, but not limited to,
  migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding,
  or sheltering.

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NOAA Seal Watching Guidelines

• Observe animals from a safe distance of at least
  50 yards
• Limit viewing time to 30 minutes or less
• Avoid making loud noises or abrupt movements
• Keep pets on a leash

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Industrial Guidelines
Geophysical Surveys Whale
Watching
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MMPA Fisheries

• Sea lion harbor seal populations along the
  Pacific coast are now huge
• Concern about loss of fishery incomes due to MMPA
  protected organisms
• Obviously hard to quantify
• But smoking gun was found

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MMPA Fisheries

• Reenactment of MMPA in 1994 allows States to
  lethally take pinnipeds under certain conditions
• Requires NMFS to investigate role of certain
  pinnipeds on the recovery of salmonids on Pacific
  Coast

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Summary

• Whales, dolphins, seals, sea otters, sea lions,
  sea elephants, manatees, etc.
• Their relationship to food web fisheries
• Marine mammal protection act (MMPA)