Makah Tribe Wants to Hunt Gray Whales: Permit Pending?
Published Date: 3/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The Makah Tribe has asked for a special permit to hunt Eastern North Pacific gray whales for their traditional ceremonies and food. This affects the tribe and the whales, with public comments open until May 5, 2025. No money changes are mentioned, but the decision will respect cultural practices while protecting whale populations.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Makah Tribe seeks permit to hunt gray whales
The Makah Indian Tribe has applied for a permit to conduct a ceremonial and subsistence hunt of eastern North Pacific (ENP) gray whales. The requested permit would last 28 months from July 1, 2025 through October 31, 2027, with hunting and training proposed between July 1 and October 31 in 2025 and 2027.
Requested quotas for approaches, strikes, and landings
For each of the two proposed hunting years (2025 and 2027), the Tribe requests up to 142 ENP gray whales to be approached, up to 12 to be subjected to unsuccessful strike attempts or training harpoon throws, up to 2 to be struck, and up to 1 to be landed. All activities are proposed to occur in the Tribe's usual and accustomed fishing grounds west of the Bonilla-Tatoosh Line.
Proposal to use both traditional and modern methods
The application proposes using traditional methods like a wooden canoe and harpoon alongside modern methods including motorized vessels and rifles. The Tribe says this mix is intended to preserve cultural methods while maximizing safety, efficiency, and humaneness.
Public comment and hearing deadlines
NMFS is accepting written comments on the permit application through May 5, 2025. Requests for a public hearing must be received by April 18, 2025.
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