The Makah Tribe of Washington is getting closer to being allowed to hunt gray whales again.
The tribe has a legal right to hunt whales based on an 1855 treaty and last legally hunted a whale for ceremonial purposes in 1999.
Under a proposal that NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region announced Thursday, the tribe could hunt and land up to two gray whales on average per year over a 10-year period for ceremonial and subsistence purposes.
NOAA Fisheries says an administrative law judge must first conduct a hearing to review the proposal and make a recommendation to NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver. Oliver will then make a decision on whether the tribe will be allowed to conduct a hunt.
So far, it’s only a proposal, but it does move the tribe closer to its goal.
Anyone who is interested may request to participate in the August 12 hearing.
If the tribe gets authorization to hunt gray whales, it would then need to apply for a permit, which would be subject to public notice and comment.