A. Status of the Spectacled Eider - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

I. INTRODUCTION
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, calls for preparation of recovery plans for
listed species that are likely to benefit from the effort, and authorizes the Secretary of the
Interior to appoint recovery teams to prepare them. A recovery plan must establish recovery
goals and objectives, describe site-specific management actions recommended to achieve those
goals, and estimate the time and cost required for recovery. A recovery plan does not commit
resources, but instead presents a comprehensive framework and list of tasks that are thought to
be necessary to achieve recovery. This plan has been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), but may not reflect the views of other parties involved in recovery.
The Spectacled Eider Recovery Team currently consists of 7 members with a variety of
expertise in Spectacled Eider (Somazeriafischeri) biology, conservation biology, population
biology, marine ecology, Native Alaskan culture, and wildlife management. In addition to the
core Recovery Team members, 4 consultants were appointed to assist the Team. The
consultants brought to the Recovery Team expertise in Spectacled Eider field research,
Alaska’s habitats and natural history, and extensive practical knowledge of Alaska field
research techniques. The Recovery Team and its consultants met 8 times from May 1993 to
December 1995, to develop recovery strategies and recommendations. During the
development of the Recovery Plan, the Team solicited input from others with experience in
Alaska waterfowl biology and management, and subsistence harvest practices and
management.
The Recovery Plan is comprised of four major sections:
(1) Introduction: this section acquaints the reader with the Spectacled Eider, its status, and the
threats it faces. It also serves as a review of the biological literature for the species.
(2) Recovery: this section describes recovery objectives, criteria for delisting or for changing
the status of Spectacled Eiders between threatened and endangered, the recovery strategy and
its underlying principles, and actions or tasks needed to achieve recovery. These recovery
tasks are presented in a narrative outline, organized by major topics, and laid out in an
abbreviated, step-down outline for quick reference.
(3) Implementation Schedule: this section presents the recovery tasks from the narrative
outline in table format, assigns responsibilities for task funding and or implementation, and
estimates the cost of the recovery program.
(4) Appendices: Appendix I presents a Population Viability Assessment for the Spectacled
Eider; Appendix II describes how the Recovery Team selected quantitative criteria for
reclassifying Spectacled Eiders; Appendix III discusses Spectacled Eider demography and
presents a demographic population model; Appendix IV outlines recommended protection
measures for Spectacled Eiders; and Appendix V contains responses to reviewer comments.
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