Points of concern in Sea Duck conservation

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1. The management for sustainability of the unique tribe of Mergini is based on empirical considerations of population status and harvest using r-strategists such as mallards as a model.
2. Management and recovery plans for seaducks of K-selected strategy are frequently extrapolated from species with r-selected strategy.
3. Overexploitation of sea ducks may occur using present compensatory mortality models instead of realizing unique life stage history strategies for each species.
4. Seaduck unique life history promotes a lower threshold mortality rate. Sustainable harvest rates for seaducks are much lower than for other waterfowl.
   Declines indicate that this lower threshold point is being reached so Mergini species have less capacity to compensate for any additional form of mortality such as hunting.
   Relatively small increments in overall adult mortality, due to additive effects of hunting, may not be sustainable by some species.
   We do not have a comprehensive theory of exploitation based on ecological principles as a basis for sea duck management disciplines.
5. It is scientifically rash to continue a liberal bag limit in light of the reported declines. The threshold point has been exceeded so mortality is additive. Excessive winter harvest measures could be impairing sustainability.
6. Adult female sea ducks the critical segments of sea duck populations are left out of the management equation.
7. When the general bag limit is reduced it is shown that hunters resort to higher limits of sea ducks to fill their bag. On the East coast up to 80% of their possession were sea ducks.
8. Over exploitation of sea ducks on their wintering grounds may occur using present compensatory mortality models of species with distinctly different life stage histories
9. Overexploitation of the unique Mergini tribe may occur using present dabbler duck compensatory mortality models instead of developing life stage history strategy for each species or at least differentiating tribes.
10. Increases in sport harvest of seaducks has been noted. Increases in subsistence harvest of seaducks has been noted.
11. An increase in trophy hunting for sea ducks was reported at Kodiak.
12. A dramatic shift in harvest from dabbling ducks to sea ducks has occurred on the Atlantic Coast due to dabbler harvest restrictions. The sea duck component of the sport harvest has reached 80% in some recent years.
13. As certain seaduck species have been restricted the remaining species take on the additional pressure, which presents a domino effect from one species to the next.
14. The Seaducks must be managed as a complete tribe, not piece meal as is presently condoned.