Currently, the harvesting regulations, rifle safety (first offering of two sessions), and proper skinning and hide care portions of the project have been recorded to video. Dean Cramer reviewed the harvest regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act with the trainees. In December of 2006, Linn Shipley with the state’s hunter safety program taught a basic rifle safety class. In January 2007, Boyd Dedrickson educated trainees on the proper way to skin a sea otter and discussed the various uses of different parts of the sea otter.The Sitka Tribal Tannery Manager also demonstrated the proper way to care for and store a sea otter hide once it has been harvested. All sessions have been recorded and photographed. SMMC has contracted with filmmaker Ellen Frankestein to edit and create the final video. The video is scheduled to be completed by June 2007. Please contact the Sitka Marine Mammal Commission for more information. The Alaska Sea Otter and Steller Sea Lion Commission Preserving the balance for Alaska Native peoples and marine mammals March 2007 TASSC Project Highlights: Small Boat Survey Workshop TASSC News TASSC Honors its Commissioners At TASSC’s Annual Meeting on February 8, 2007, TASSC honored six Commissioners who previously served on TASSC’s board. A Recognition Ceremony was held for Joseph Clark (1996-2005), Dolly Garza (1993-2005), Claude Kuzakin (1991-2005), Melvin Smith (1994-2002), Patrick Marrs (1998-2004), and John Lind (2005-06). Each Commissioner present was give a plaque from TASSC in appreciation of their dedicated service with heart and soul to the Commission. TASSC was equally honored to have the daughter of Joseph Clark present, Sharon Clark, who accepted his plaque on his behalf. Staff Update Dan Martinez, Research Analyst for TASSC since 2002 has most recently resigned. “As I will always carry this job with me, I wish TASSC the best, and I hope that I have the opportunity to work with you all again,” Dan said. TASSC would like to thank Dan for all of his hard work during his time with TASSC. Lianna Jack will be overseeing the projects that Dan coordinated. Lianna can be reached at 800.474.4362 or [email protected]. 2008 Calendar If you would like to be a sponsor of the 2008 TASSC Calendar, please contact TASSC Staff. We are also looking for Alaska Native artwork (photographs, illustrations, etc.) to showcase in the 2008 Calendar. If you would like to submit an artwork to be featured in the next Calendar, please contact us. All images used will be properly credited. We look forward to your submissions! Sea Otter Hunting Training Video: Sitka Marine Mammal Commission Progressing With Video The second Sea Otter Small Boat Survey (SBS) Workshop was held in Anchorage, Alaska, on February 6th and 7th 2007.The Workshop gathered SBS operators and surveyors from across the state, tribal members, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) staff, and TASSC Commissioners and staff. Funded through an agreement with the USFWS through Section 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the SBS gives tribes the opportunity to survey their sea otter subsistence resources. The data collected is useful to a tribe’s sea otter resource management plan, potential harvest ordinances and to determine trends in their waters. TASSC’s SBS program began in 1998. The two day event showcased SBS survey history and data, variation and adaptations, challenges, and data use and objectives for each tribe conducting SBS in their regions. Tribes currently conducting sea otter SBS and present at the workshop were the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska, NativeVillage of Chignik Lagoon, Native Village of Ouzinkie, Native Village of Port Graham and Nanwalek, Seldovia Village Tribe,Yakutat Tlingit Tribe, Craig Community Association, and Hydaburg Cooperative Association. The Native Village of Eyak also implements SBS but was unable to attend the workshop. Each SBS operator/observer talked about what they experience during their surveys. They discussed in great detail the geographical features of the areas they survey. The difficulties that some operators encounter during their surveys was also discussed. The workshop concluded with a discussion on research permitting, community priorities, and planning on the frequency of future surveys. TASSC would like to thank all those who participated and made the workshop a great success. The Sitka Marine Mammal Commission (SMMC) has partnered with TASSC and the USFWS to initiate a youth sea otter hunter training program and corresponding training video. The video has been broken down into seven parts; (1) harvesting regulations, (2) rifle safety, (3) boating safety, (4) proper skinning and hide care, (5) marine science, (6) the harvest, and (7) full utilization.Tribal youth have volunteered to fill the position of trainees for a training video and will be mentored by the members of the SMMC. Proper skinning and hide care training. Photo courtesy of SMMC. Upcoming Events Margaret and Sharon Clark Margaret and Dolly Garza Margaret and Patrick Marrs Margaret and Melvin Smith SBSWorkshop participants Southwest Alaska Sea Otter Recovery Team Meeting April 10-11, 2007 Anchorage Alaska Native Diet Workshop: Assessing Benefits & Risks of Diet in Rural Alaska April 10-12, 2007 Anchorage Contact Sue Unger ([email protected]) with the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Assocation to register Kodiak Whale Fest April 14-22, 2007 Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival May 3-6, 2007 Cordova Awakening Bear Festival May 5-6, 2007 Kodiak Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival May 10-13, 2007 Homer