[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 50, Volume 7]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 50CFR223.202]

[Page 144-175]
 
                    TITLE 50--WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES
 
  CHAPTER II--NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND 
           ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 223_THREATENED MARINE AND ANADROMOUS SPECIES--Table of Contents
 
 Subpart B_Restrictions Applicable to Threatened Marine and Anadromous 
                                 Species
 
Sec. 223.202  Steller sea lion.

    (a) General prohibitions. The prohibitions of section 9 of the Act 
(16 U.S.C. 1538) and the following regulatory provisions shall apply to 
the eastern population of Steller sea lions:
    (1) No discharge of firearms. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of 
this section, no person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States 
may discharge a firearm at or within 100 yards (91.4 meters) of a 
Steller sea lion. A firearm is any weapon, such as a pistol or rifle, 
capable of firing a missile using an explosive charge as a propellant.
    (2) No approach in buffer areas. Except as provided in paragraph (b) 
of this section:

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    (i) No owner or operator of a vessel may allow the vessel to 
approach within 3 nautical miles (5.5 kilometers) of a Steller sea lion 
rookery site listed in paragraph (a)(3) of this section;
    (ii) No person may approach on land not privately owned within one-
half statutory miles (0.8 kilometers) or within sight of a Steller sea 
lion rookery site listed in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, whichever 
is greater, except on Marmot Island; and
    (iii) No person may approach on land not privately owned within one 
and one-half statutory miles (2.4 kilometers) or within sight of the 
eastern shore of Marmot Island, including the Steller sea lion rookery 
site listed in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, whichever is greater.
    (3) Listed sea lion rookery sites. Listed Steller sea lion rookery 
sites consist of the rookeries in the Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of 
Alaska listed in Table 1.

                      Table 1 to Sec. 223.202--Listed Steller Sea Lion Rookery Sites \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            From                    To
              Island              ---------------------------------------------- NOAA chart         Notes
                                      Lat.        Long.       Lat.      Long.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Outer I.......................  59[deg]20.  150[deg]23  59[deg]21  150[deg]2      16681   S quadrant.
                                    5 N         .0 W        .0 N       4.5 W
2. Sugarloaf I...................  58[deg]53.  152[deg]02  .........  .........      16580   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .0 W
3. Marmot I......................  58[deg]14.  151[deg]47  58[deg]10  151[deg]5      16580   SE quadrant.
                                    5 N         .5 W        .0 N       1.0 W
4. Chirikof I....................  55[deg]46.  155[deg]39  55[deg]46  155[deg]4      16580   S quadrant.
                                    5 N         .5 W        .5 N       3.0 W
5. Chowiet I.....................  56[deg]00.  156[deg]41  56[deg]00  156[deg]4      16013   S quadrant.
                                    5 N         .5 W        .5 N       2.0 W
6. Atkins I......................  55[deg]03.  159[deg]18  .........  .........      16540   Whole island.
                                    5 N         .5 W
7. Chernabura I..................  54[deg]47.  159[deg]31  54[deg]45  159[deg]3      16540   SE corner.
                                    5 N         .0 W        .5 N       3.5 W
8. Pinnacle Rock.................  54[deg]46.  161[deg]46  .........  .........      16540   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .0 W
9. Clubbing Rks (N)..............  54[deg]43.  162[deg]26  .........  .........      16540   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .5 W
Clubbing Rks (S).................  54[deg]42.  162[deg]26  .........  .........      16540   Whole Island.
                                    0 N         .5 W
10. Sea Lion Rks.................  55[deg]28.  163[deg]12  .........  .........      16520   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .0 W
11. Ugamak I.....................  54[deg]14.  164[deg]48  54[deg]13  164[deg]4      16520   E end of island.
                                    0 N         .0 W        .0 N       8.0 W
12. Akun I.......................  54[deg]18.  165[deg]32  54[deg]18  165[deg]3      16547   Billings Head
                                    0 N         .5 W        .0 N       1.5 W                  Bight.
13. Akutan I.....................  54[deg]03.  166[deg]00  54[deg]05  166[deg]0      16520   SW corner, Cape
                                    5 N         .0 W        .5 N       5.0 W                  Morgan.
14. Bogoslof I...................  53[deg]56.  168[deg]02  .........  .........      16500   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .0 W
15. Ogchul I.....................  53[deg]00.  168[deg]24  .........  .........      16500   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .0 W
16. Adugak I.....................  52[deg]55.  169[deg]10  .........  .........      16500   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .5 W
17. Yunaska I....................  52[deg]42.  170[deg]38  52[deg]41  170[deg]3      16500   NE end.
                                    0 N         .5 W        .0 N       4.5 W
18. Seguam I.....................  52[deg]21.  172[deg]35  52[deg]21  172[deg]3      16480   N coast,
                                    0 N         .0 W        .0 N       3.0 W                  Saddleridge Pt.
19. Agligadak I..................  52[deg]06.  172[deg]54  .........  .........      16480   Whole island.
                                    5 N         .0 W
20. Kasatochi I..................  52[deg]10.  175[deg]31  52[deg]10  175[deg]2      16480   N half of island.
                                    0 N         .5 W        .5 N       9.0 W
21. Adak I.......................  51[deg]36.  176[deg]59  51[deg]38  176[deg]5      16460   SW Point, Lake
                                    5 N         .0 W        .0 N       9.5 W                  Point.
22. Gramp rock...................  51[deg]29.  178[deg]20  .........  .........      16460   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .5 W
23. Tag I........................  51[deg]33.  178[deg]34  .........  .........      16460   Whole island.
                                    5 N         .5 W
24. Ulak I.......................  51[deg]20.  178[deg]57  51[deg]18  178[deg]5      16460   SE corner, Hasgox
                                    0 N         .0 W        .5 N       9.5 W                  Pt.
25. Semisopochnoi................  51[deg]58.  179[deg]45  51[deg]57  179[deg]4      16440   E quadrant, Pochnoi
                                    5 N         .5 E        .0 N       6.0 E                  Pt.
Semisopochnoi....................  52[deg]01.  179[deg]37  52[deg]01  179[deg]3      16440   N quadrant, Petrel
                                    5 N         .5 E        .5 N       9.0 E                  Pt.
26. Amchitka I...................  51[deg]22.  179[deg]28  51[deg]21  179[deg]2      16440   East Cape.
                                    5 N         .0 E        .5 N       5.0 E
27. Amchitka I...................  51[deg]32.  178[deg]49  .........  .........      16440   Column Rocks.
                                    5 N         .5 E
28. Ayugadak Pt..................  51[deg]45.  178[deg]24  .........  .........      16440   SE coast of Rat
                                    5 N         .5 E                                          Island.
29. Kiska I......................  51[deg]57.  177[deg]21  51[deg]56  177[deg]2      16440   W central, Lief
                                    5 N         .0 E        .5 N       0.0 E                  Cove.
30. Kiska I......................  51[deg]52.  177[deg]13  51[deg]53  177[deg]1      16440   Cape St. Stephen.
                                    5 N         .0 E        .5 N       2.0 E
31. Walrus I.....................  57[deg]11.  169[deg]56  .........  .........      16380   Whole island.
                                    0 N         .0 W
32. Buldir I.....................  52[deg]20.  175[deg]57  52[deg]23  175[deg]5      16420   Se point to NW
                                    5 N         .0 E        .5 N       1.0 E                  point.
33. Agattu I.....................  52[deg]24.  173[deg]21  .........  .........      16420   Gillion Point.
                                    0 N         .5 E
34. Agattu I.....................  52[deg]23.  173[deg]43  52[deg]22  173[deg]4      16420   Cape Sabak.
                                    5 N         .5 E        .0 N       1.0 E
35. Attu I.......................  52[deg]54.  172[deg]28  52[deg]57  172[deg]3      16681   S Quadrant.
                                    5 N         .5 E        .5 N       1.5 E
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Each site extends in a clockwise direction from the first set of geographic coordinates along the shoreline
  at mean lower low water to the second set of coordinates; or, if only one set of geographic coordinates is
  listed, the site extends around the entire shoreline of the island at mean lower low water.


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    (4) Commercial Fishing Operations. The incidental mortality and 
serious injury of endangered and threatened Steller sea lions in 
commercial fisheries can be authorized in compliance with sections 
101(a)(5) and 118 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
    (b) Exceptions--(1) Permits. The Assistant Administrator may issue 
permits authorizing activities that would otherwise be prohibited under 
paragraph (a) of this section in accordance with and subject to the 
provisions of part 222, subpart C--General Permit Procedures.

[[Page 175]]

    (2) Official activities. The taking of Steller sea lions must be 
reported within 30 days to the Regional Administrator, Alaska Region. 
Paragraph (a) of this section does not prohibit or restrict a Federal, 
state or local government official, or his or her designee, who is 
acting in the course of official duties from:
    (i) Taking a Steller sea lion in a humane manner, if the taking is 
for the protection or welfare of the animal, the protection of the 
public health and welfare, or the nonlethal removal of nuisance animals; 
or
    (ii) Entering the buffer areas to perform activities that are 
necessary for national defense, or the performance of other legitimate 
governmental activities.
    (3) Subsistence takings by Alaska natives. Paragraph (a) of this 
section does not apply to the taking of Steller sea lions for 
subsistence purposes under section 10(e) of the Act.
    (4) Emergency situations. Paragraph (a)(2) of this section does not 
apply to an emergency situation in which compliance with that provision 
presents a threat to the health, safety, or life of a person or presents 
a significant threat to the vessel or property.
    (5) Exemptions. Paragraph (a)(2) of this section does not apply to 
any activity authorized by a prior written exemption from the Director, 
Alaska Region, National Marine Fisheries Service. Concurrently with the 
issuance of any exemption, the Assistant Administrator will publish 
notice of the exemption in the Federal Register. An exemption may be 
granted only if the activity will not have a significant adverse affect 
on Steller sea lions, the activity has been conducted historically or 
traditionally in the buffer zones, and there is no readily available and 
acceptable alternative to or site for the activity.
    (6) Navigational transit. Paragraph (a)(2) of this section does not 
prohibit a vessel in transit from passing through a strait, narrows, or 
passageway listed in this paragraph if the vessel proceeds in continuous 
transit and maintains a minimum of 1 nautical mile from the rookery 
site. The listing of a strait, narrows, or passageway does not indicate 
that the area is safe for navigation. The listed straits, narrows, or 
passageways include the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Rookery                     Straits, narrows, or pass
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akutan Island..........................  Akutan Pass between Cape Morgan
                                          and Unalga Island.
Clubbing Rocks.........................  Between Clubbing Rocks and
                                          Cherni Island.
Outer Island...........................  Wildcat Pass between Rabbit and
                                          Ragged Islands.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Penalties. (1) Any person who violates this section or the Act 
is subject to the penalties specified in section 11 of the Act, and any 
other penalties provided by law.
    (2) Any vessel used in violation of this section or the Endangered 
Species Act is subject to forfeiture under section 11(e)(4)(B) of the 
Act.

[55 FR 49210, Nov. 26, 1990, as amended at 56 FR 42542, Aug. 28, 1991; 
56 FR 58184, Nov. 18, 1991; 58 FR 16371, Mar. 26, 1993; 58 FR 53139, 
53141, Oct. 14, 1993; 58 FR 58594, Nov. 2, 1993; 62 FR 24355, May 5, 
1997. Redesignated and amended at 64 FR 14068-14069, Mar. 23, 1999]