Fur Seal Act of 1966

The Fur Seal Act of 1966 is a Resource Law enacted originally on November 2nd, 1966 and then amended twice–first on October 14th, 1983, and then on November 23, 1988.

"This 1966 statute prohibited, except under specified conditions, the taking, including transportation, importing or possession, of fur seals and sea otters. Exceptions are authorized for Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos who dwell on the coasts of the North Pacific Ocean, who are permitted to take fur seals and dispose of their skins. The statute also authorized the Secretary of Interior to conduct scientific research on the fur seal resources of the North Pacific Ocean."(Fish and Wildlife Service)

Title II of the statute allows the Secretary of the Interior to keep the Pribilof Islands as a space for managing, preserving, and protecting the Fur Seal, and allows the Secretary to continue funding to the Islands for supplies and technology. It also allowed the Government to sell any Sea Otter skins that were seized or forfeited and give the proceeds to the research center.

Title IV established a fund for the Pribilof Islands.

The Amendments of 1983 are what allowed for the continued use of Fur Seals for subsistence by the Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos, and for the Islands to continue the rookeries, or breeding zones, for the Seals.

The 1988 Amendments were solely for funding purposes.

The Large Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus ursinus) was hunted nearly to extinction in the 19th century for their lovely fur. They are found in cold Northern waters, though they have a smaller relative called the Southern Fur Seal which is found in South America, South Africa, and Australia.

Though there was a protection law implemented in 1911, National Geographic says that  "many fur seal populations have not rebounded from extensive hunting, and now face additional threats from climate change and overfishing, which can limit their prey." (National Geographic)


Sources:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/fur-seal/
http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/FURSEAL.HTML
Images from Ville Miettinen from Helsinkin, Finland on Flickr