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earlier, in response to widespread seal slaughter and to protect its financial interests, the United States had leased the rights to fur seal harvesting on the islands to the Alaska Commercial Company and declared the open waters of the eastern Bering Sea off-limits to sealers from any nation.

But rather than protecting the seals, these actions led to offshore, open water sealing by other nations, decimating the herd. This slaughter and mismanagement of the fur seal harvest spurred Elliott to work vigorously on behalf of fur seal conservation. His tireless efforts led to the North Pacific Fur Seal Treaty of 1911, the first international treaty for wildlife conservation and a forerunner of the law that gave NOAA stewardship of marine mammals–the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972

http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/events/fursealtreaty/welcome.html

12.14pm, 17.10.12. 

Article 1: Scope

1. This Convention applies to the seas south of 60deg. South Latitude, in respect of which the Contracting Parties affirm the provisions of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty.
2. This Convention may be applicable to any or all of the following species:
   • Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina,
   • Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx,
   • Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli,
   • Crabeater seal Lobodon carcinophagus,
   • Ross seal Ommatophoca rossi,
   • Southern fur seals Arctocephalus sp.
3. The Annex to this Convention forms and integral part thereof.

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Article 2: Implementation

1. 1. The Contracting Parties agree that the species of seals enumerated in Article 1 shall not be killed or captured within the Convention area by their nationals or vessels under their respective flags except in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
2. 2. Each Contracting Party shall adopt for its nationals and for vessels under its flag such laws, regulations and other measures, including a permit system as appropriate, as may be necessary to implement this Convention

http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_antarctica/geopolitical/treaty/update_1972.php

SCAR is invited to report on methods of sealing and to make recommendations with a view to ensuring that the killing or capturingof seals is quick, painless and efficient. Contracting Parties, as appropriate, shall adopt rules for their nationals and vessels under their respective flags engaged in the killing and capturing of seals,giving due consideration to the views of SCAR

to report on the basis of the statistical, biological and other evidence available when the harvest of any species of seal in the Convention area is having a significantly harmful effect on the total stocks of such species or on the 

ecological system in any particular locality