US Fish and Wildlife Service Grant for Commander Islands Sea Otter Surveys

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This grant by the US Fish and Wildlife Service supports monitoring and study of northern sea otters in the Commander Islands, Russia. The aim is to confirm population status and study factors affecting abundance. Surveys will be conducted at sea and on beaches to monitor changes and gather critical data for sea otter management and recovery. The agreement focuses on conducting a comprehensive sea otter survey in 2012 or 2013, with the objective of recording sea otter groups, their composition, and distribution. The grant is awarded to Far East Whale Research due to their expertise and history of conducting consistent surveys in the region.

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Opportunity ID: 179613

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General Information

Document Type::	Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number::	F12AS00251
Funding Opportunity Title::	Commander Islands Sea Otter Surveys
Opportunity Category::	Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation::
Funding Instrument Type::
Category of Funding Activity::	Environment
Category Explanation::
Expected Number of Awards::	1
Assistance Listings Number(s)::	15.608 — Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement::	No
Version::	Synopsis 1
Posted Date::	Jun 25, 2012
Last Updated Date::
Original Closing Date for Applications::	Jul 10, 2012
Current Closing Date for Applications::	Jul 10, 2012
Archive Date::	Aug 10, 2012
Estimated Total Program Funding::	$ 14,000
Award Ceiling::	$14,000
Award Floor::	$1

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants::	Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Additional Information on Eligibility::

Additional Information

Agency Name::	Fish and Wildlife Service
Description::	The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Headquarters Region 7 intends to award a single source Cooperative Agreement as authorized by 505 DM 2.14.B to Far East Whale Research. This notice is not a request for proposals and the Government does not intend to accept proposals. Award will be made 15 days after this notice. PURPOSE: This agreement will support the continued monitoring, management, and study of factors affecting the abundance of northern sea otters in the Commander Islands, Russia. The trend of this population has been stable in the past, but data from 2009 indicate that a substantial decline in numbers may have taken place. This study is needed to confirm population status. At sea surveys of sea otters will monitor changes in distribution and relative abundance over time and space. Beach surveys for sea otter carcasses will monitor annual changes in the sex and age structure of the part of the population that does not survive. This information is critical for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as it will increase our understanding of sea otter population dynamics in the Bering Sea, where the SW stock of the northern sea otter on the US side is listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. This agreement will support studies to aid the US Fish and Wildlife Service in sea otter management and recovery. OBJECTIVES: In 2012 or 2013, we are planning to conduct a complete sea otter survey on the Commander Islands, both Bering and Medniy islands, depending on weather and availability of funding. One year of surveys will be completed. Surveys will be conducted by skiff with the support of a larger vessel, especially around Medniy Island. Weather in this area can be extreme, with very high waves and strong currents making surveying difficult and dangerous. For each survey track, the locations of all sea otter groups in the water or hauled out on land will be recorded and georeferenced using GIS applications. Additionally, the number of sea otters in each group, sex and age composition of each group, distance from the shore line, and water depth in each location will be recorded. To obtain comparable data and ensure consistency among years, sea otter distribution will also be recorded using the same system of sectors that was developed about 30 years ago, so that changes in distribution and relative abundance can be tracked over time and space. Sea otter carcasses will be collected by searching along the high tide line on beaches on Bering Island. Carcasses will be enumerated, and location will be georeferenced. When possible, carcasses will be evaluated for sex and age. This part of the project monitors annual changes in the sex and age structure of the part of the population that does not survive. Monitoring these parameters relative to population size will provide information on mortality rates for adults and pups and may provide information on cause of death. Samples will also be collected from carcasses for an on going collaborative genetics study of sea otter stock structure, and other biological samples will be collected as feasible. REASON FOR SINGLE SOURCE: 1. Continuation, The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the primary responsibility for managing sea otter populations, and has conducted research on sea otters for many years. Since the late 1970s, sea otter surveys have been conducted regularly in the Commander Islands using consistent methods. Data from the Commander Islands comprise the longest and most complete time series of sea otter population estimates in the entirety of the sea otters range. This study is particularly important because this sea otter population has been stable. The survey conducted in 2009, however, showed a reduction in sea otter numbers to about 15 percent of earlier estimates. The reason for this decline in numbers is unclear. This Russian population borders the declining population along the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula, which is listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. On going studies on both populations will help determine the cause of the decline on the US side. A group of Russian biologists, including Alexander Burdin, Far East Whale Research, has conducted Commander Island studies for many years, which is critical for maintaining consistent methods for comparability. To obtain comparable data and ensure consistency among years, sea otter distribution will also be recorded using the same system of sectors that was developed about 30 years ago, so that changes in distribution and relative abundance can be tracked over time and space. 2. Unique Qualifications, Additionally, Far East Whale Research has the unique capacity, understanding of previous survey techniques, access to a support vessel on Bering Island, knowledge and experience boating in this area, good working relationships with Commander Islands Nature Reserve staff, to effectively work in this isolated and remote location. This experienced team will be able to accomplish the sea otter surveys while keeping safety concerns to a minimum. USFWS and USGS have supported these surveys and other sea otter work in the Commander Islands in the past. To our knowledge, no other sea otter specialists are prepared to do these surveys.
Link to Additional Information::
Grantor Contact Information::	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

Version History

Version	Modification Description	Updated Date
Synopsis 1

Package Status

Below are CLOSED Opportunity Package(s) no longer available for this Funding Opportunity:

Package No: 1

Assistance Listings:	15.608
Competition ID:
Competition Title:
Opportunity Package ID:	PKG00129111
Opening Date:	Jun 25, 2012
Closing Date:	Jul 10, 2012
Agency Contact Information::	Suzann G. Speckman
Who Can Apply::	Organization Applicants
mendatory_forms	Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) [V2.0] Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) [V1.0] Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B) [V1.1] Project Narrative Attachment Form [V1.1]
optional_forms

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Packages

Assistance Listings	Competition ID	Competition Title	Opportunity Package ID	Opening Date	Closing Date	Actions	Who Can Apply:
15.608			PKG00129111	Jun 25, 2012	Jul 10, 2012	View	Suzann G. Speckman	Organization Applicants

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