Import of Polar Bear Trophies From Canada: Change in the Finding for the M'Clintock Channel Population and Revision of Regulations in 50 CFR 18.30

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, are amending our regulations, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), on the import of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) taken by U.S. hunters in sport hunts from M'Clintock Channel, Nunavut Territory, Canada. We have reviewed new information submitted by the Department of Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service) which indicates that this population is severely depleted and current harvest quotas are unsustainable. We find that the M'Clintock Channel population no longer meets the import requirements of the MMPA and are amending our regulations to reflect that bears sport hunted in this population after the 1999/2000 Canadian hunting season will no longer be eligible for import under the 1997 finding which approved this population for multiple harvest seasons. Due to the dramatic change in population status, we are using this emergency interim rule to make the changes to our regulations effective immediately. In addition, we are updating our regulations to reflect the new territory of Nunavut and to notify the public on the lifting by Canada of the harvest moratorium in the Viscount Melville Sound polar bear population. We invite your comments on this interim rule.