Representing 11 federally recognized tribes, the aleut marine mammal commission will use this award to promote CO-management priorities as established by the section 119 agreement

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $137,639 to the Aleut Marine Mammal Commission under the Marine Mammal Data Program (CFDA 11.439) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The Aleut Marine Mammal Commission, representing 11 federally recognized tribes in Alaska, will deliver products and services designed to advance co-management priorities for subsistence marine mammal species, specifically Steller sea lions and harbor seals, in the Aleutian region. Key deliverables include the development and regional implementation of a data collection application to streamline harvest monitoring efforts by subsistence harvesters, scientific research and data collection activities to support marine mammal population health assessment, and the integration of indigenous knowledge into conservation management practices.

A significant component of the award supports workforce development and cultural preservation through formal training events for Alaska Native youth designed to transmit traditional subsistence harvesting practices and cultural knowledge to the next generation. The award also funds a comprehensive outreach and education component that will enhance scientific understanding of marine mammal populations while supporting the sustainability of traditional practices that have sustained Alaskan Native communities. These coordinated activities will collectively improve the efficacy of marine mammal co-management in Alaska waters by combining scientific rigor with indigenous expertise and community engagement.

Broadly, activities will strengthen the sustained health of subsistence species (steller sea lion and harbor seal), promote scientific research and collection of data, and incorporate indigenous knowledge, all of which will improve the CO-management of marine mammals in alaska. There is a significant outreach and education component of the award, as formal cultural training events will be held to instruct native alaska youth how to practice the traditions that have supported their livelihoods for thousands of years in the harsh conditions that defi NE the island chain they call home. For subsistence harvesters, the award will also promote the regional use of a new APP that will help streamline data collection efforts. Data will increase the efficacy of marine mammal CO-management.