Points of concern in Sea Duck conservation

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BIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS
  1. The Biology of sea ducks is different than dabblers. Sea duck have low annual production or recruitment rates to breeding age, variable annual rates of non breeding by adults, and deferred sexual maturity. Population stability of Sea ducks is dependent on high adult survival and a few successful years of production
  2. Population thresholds of sea ducks are very sensitive to oil or chemical contamination, arctic ice events, late spring, disease, and harsh environmental conditions causing unexpected mass mortality.
  3. The highly variable and extremely dynamic and unpredictable northern marine ecosystem favors a life history strategy of minimized annual investment in reproduction and extended longevity.
  4. Each cumulative stress factor precipitating the decline of Sea ducks needs to methodically be weeded out one by one to minimize and subdue effects in the complexity of the Pacific Flyway.
  5. These birds are sustained and supported by the same food chains as fish, and marine mammals. It would be beneficial for the Joint Boards to look at these complexities.
  6. The North Pacific Regime shift or the Pacific Decadal Oscillation appears to be affecting the entire food chain.
      a. Declined Crab and shrimp stocks
      b. Declines in whales, sea lions, seals,
      c. Seal blubber is thinner and renders darker.
  7. We have neither the time, energy, or money to acquire specific data needed to determine threshold points.
  8. Declining trends must ignite the Precautionary Principal to minimize additive mortality. We have control over bag and season limits
  9. In Europe sea ducks are considered seabirds so they receive protection and resources afforded to seabirds.
  10. sea ducks in America are the stepchild who have fallen through the cracks of protection or funding initiatives.
  11. The present declining species of primary concern such as oldsquaw and harlequin must not overshadow management precaution of other susceptible species such as scoter, goldeneye, King and Common Eider which can easily slip over the sustainability threshold.

 

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Alaska Wild Animal Recovery Effort
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