List of Fisheries for 2018
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 5349-5372
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2018-02442
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 229
Docket No. 170303230-8047-02
RIN 0648-BG72
List of Fisheries for 2018
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2018, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The LOF for 2018 reflects new information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. NMFS must classify each commercial fishery on the LOF into one of three categories under the MMPA based upon the level of mortality and serious injury of marine mammals that occurs incidental to each fishery. The classification of a fishery on the LOF determines whether participants in that fishery are subject to certain provisions of the MMPA, such as registration, observer coverage, and take reduction plan (TRP) requirements.
DATES: The applicability date of this final rule is March 9, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristy Long, Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8402; Allison Rosner, Greater Atlantic Region, 978-
281-9328; Jessica Powell, Southeast Region, 727-824-5312; Dan Lawson, West Coast Region, 562-980-3209; Suzie Teerlink, Alaska Region, 907-
586-7240; Kevin Brindock, Pacific Islands Region, 808-725-5146. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the hearing impaired may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-
8339 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
What is the List of Fisheries?
Section 118 of the MMPA requires NMFS to place all U.S. commercial fisheries into one of three categories based on the level of incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals occurring in each fishery (16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(1)). The classification of a fishery on the LOF determines whether participants in that fishery may be required to comply with certain provisions of the MMPA, such as registration, observer coverage, and take reduction plan requirements. NMFS must reexamine the LOF annually, considering new information in the Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs) and other relevant sources, and publish in the Federal Register any necessary changes to the LOF after notice and opportunity for public comment (16 U.S.C. 1387 (c)(1)(C)).
How does NMFS determine in which category a fishery is placed?
The definitions for the fishery classification criteria can be found in the implementing regulations for section 118 of the MMPA (50 CFR 229.2). The criteria are also summarized here.
Fishery Classification Criteria
The fishery classification criteria consist of a two-tiered, stock-
specific approach that first addresses the total impact of all fisheries on each marine mammal stock and then addresses the impact of individual fisheries on each stock. This approach is based on consideration of the rate, in numbers of animals per year, of incidental mortalities and serious injuries of marine mammals due to commercial fishing operations relative to the potential biological removal (PBR) level for each marine mammal stock. The MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1362 (20)) defines the PBR level as the maximum number of animals, not including natural mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal stock while allowing that stock to reach or maintain its optimum sustainable population (OSP). This definition can also be found in the implementing regulations for section 118 of the MMPA (50 CFR 229.2).
Tier 1: Tier 1 considers the cumulative fishery mortality and serious injury for a particular stock. If the total annual mortality and serious injury of a marine mammal stock, across all fisheries, is less than or equal to 10 percent of the PBR level of the stock, all fisheries interacting with the stock will be placed in Category III (unless those fisheries interact with other stock(s) for which total annual mortality and serious injury is greater than 10 percent of PBR). Otherwise, these fisheries are subject to the next tier (Tier 2) of analysis to determine their classification.
Tier 2: Tier 2 considers fishery-specific mortality and serious injury for a particular stock.
Category I: Annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in a given fishery is greater than or equal to 50 percent of the PBR level (i.e., frequent incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals).
Category II: Annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in a given fishery is greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent of the PBR level (i.e., occasional incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals).
Category III: Annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in a given fishery is less than or equal to 1 percent of the PBR level (i.e., a remote likelihood of or no known incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals).
Additional details regarding how the categories were determined are provided in the preamble to the final rule implementing section 118 of the MMPA (60 FR 45086; August 30, 1995).
Because fisheries are classified on a per-stock basis, a fishery may qualify as one category for one marine mammal stock and another category for a different marine mammal stock. A fishery is typically classified on the LOF at its highest level of classification (e.g., a fishery qualifying for Category III for one marine mammal stock and for Category II for another marine mammal stock will be listed under Category II). Stocks driving a fishery's classification are denoted with a superscript ``1'' in Tables 1 and 2.
Other Criteria That May Be Considered
The tier analysis requires a minimum amount of data, and NMFS does not have sufficient data to perform a tier analysis on certain fisheries. Therefore, NMFS has classified certain fisheries by analogy to other Category I or II fisheries that use similar fishing techniques or gear that are known to cause mortality or serious injury of marine mammals, or according to factors discussed in the final LOF for 1996 (60 FR 67063; December 28, 1995) and listed in the regulatory definition of a Category II fishery: In the absence of reliable information indicating the frequency of incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals by a commercial fishery, NMFS will determine whether the incidental mortality or serious injury is ``frequent,'' ``occasional,'' or ``remote'' by evaluating other factors
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such as fishing techniques, gear used, methods used to deter marine mammals, target species, seasons and areas fished, qualitative data from logbooks or fishermen reports, stranding data, and the species and distribution of marine mammals in the area, or at the discretion of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (50 CFR 229.2).
Further, eligible commercial fisheries not specifically identified on the LOF are deemed to be Category II fisheries until the next LOF is published (50 CFR 229.2).
How does NMFS determine which species or stocks are included as incidentally killed or injured in a fishery?
The LOF includes a list of marine mammal species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in each commercial fishery. The list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured includes ``serious'' and ``non-serious'' documented injuries as described later in the List of Species and/or Stocks Incidentally Killed or Injured in the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean sections. To determine which species or stocks are included as incidentally killed or injured in a fishery, NMFS annually reviews the information presented in the current SARs and injury determination reports. The SARs are based upon the best available scientific information and provide the most current and inclusive information on each stock's PBR level and level of interaction with commercial fishing operations. The best available scientific information used in the SARs reviewed for the 2018 LOF generally summarizes data from 2010-2014. NMFS also reviews other sources of new information, including injury determination reports, bycatch estimation reports, observer data, logbook data, stranding data, disentanglement network data, fishermen self-reports (i.e., MMPA mortality/injury reports), and anecdotal reports from that time period. In some cases, more recent information may be available and used in the LOF, but in an effort to be consistent with the most recent SARs and across the LOF, NMFS typically restricts the analysis to data within the five-year time period summarized in the current SAR.
For fisheries with observer coverage, species or stocks are generally removed from the list of marine mammal species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured if no interactions are documented in the five-year timeframe summarized in that year's LOF. For fisheries with no observer coverage and for observed fisheries with evidence indicating that undocumented interactions may be occurring (e.g., fishery has low observer coverage and stranding network data include evidence of fisheries interactions that cannot be attributed to a specific fishery) species and stocks may be retained for longer than five years. For these fisheries, NMFS will review the other sources of information listed above and use its discretion to decide when it is appropriate to remove a species or stock.
Where does NMFS obtain information on the level of observer coverage in a fishery on the LOF?
The best available information on the level of observer coverage and the spatial and temporal distribution of observed marine mammal interactions is presented in the SARs. Data obtained from the observer program and observer coverage levels are important tools in estimating the level of marine mammal mortality and serious injury in commercial fishing operations. Starting with the 2005 SARs, each Pacific and Alaska SAR includes an appendix with detailed descriptions of each Category I and II fishery on the LOF, including the observer coverage in those fisheries. For Atlantic fisheries, this information can be found in the LOF Fishery Fact Sheets. The SARs generally do not provide detailed information on observer coverage in Category III fisheries because, under the MMPA, Category III fisheries are generally not required to accommodate observers aboard vessels due to the remote likelihood of mortality and serious injury of marine mammals. Fishery information presented in the SARs' appendices and other resources referenced during the tier analysis may include: Level of observer coverage; target species; levels of fishing effort; spatial and temporal distribution of fishing effort; characteristics of fishing gear and operations; management and regulations; and interactions with marine mammals. Copies of the SARs are available on the NMFS Office of Protected Resources website at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. Information on observer coverage levels in Category I, II, and III fisheries can be found in the fishery fact sheets on the NMFS Office of Protected Resources' website: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/fisheries/lof.html. Additional information on observer programs in commercial fisheries can be found on the NMFS National Observer Program's website: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/observer-home/.
How do I find out if a specific fishery is in Category I, II, or III?
The LOF includes three tables that list all U.S. commercial fisheries by Category. Table 1 lists all of the commercial fisheries in the Pacific Ocean (including Alaska); Table 2 lists all of the commercial fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean; and Table 3 lists all U.S.-authorized commercial fisheries on the high seas. A fourth table, Table 4, lists all commercial fisheries managed under applicable TRPs or take reduction teams (TRTs).
Are high seas fisheries included on the LOF?
Beginning with the 2009 LOF, NMFS includes high seas fisheries in Table 3 of the LOF, along with the number of valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Act (HSFCA) permits in each fishery. As of 2004, NMFS issues HSFCA permits only for high seas fisheries analyzed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The authorized high seas fisheries are broad in scope and encompass multiple specific fisheries identified by gear type. For the purposes of the LOF, the high seas fisheries are subdivided based on gear type (e.g., trawl, longline, purse seine, gillnet, troll, etc.) to provide more detail on composition of effort within these fisheries. Many fisheries operate in both U.S. waters and on the high seas, creating some overlap between the fisheries listed in Tables 1 and 2 and those in Table 3. In these cases, the high seas component of the fishery is not considered a separate fishery, but an extension of a fishery operating within U.S. waters (listed in Table 1 or 2). NMFS designates those fisheries in Tables 1, 2, and 3 by a ``*'' after the fishery's name. The number of HSFCA permits listed in Table 3 for the high seas components of these fisheries operating in U.S. waters does not necessarily represent additional effort that is not accounted for in Tables 1 and 2. Many vessels/participants holding HSFCA permits also fish within U.S. waters and are included in the number of vessels and participants operating within those fisheries in Tables 1 and 2.
HSFCA permits are valid for five years, during which time Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) can change. Therefore, some vessels/
participants may possess valid HSFCA permits without the ability to fish under the permit because it was issued for a gear type that is no longer authorized under the most current FMP. For this reason, the number of HSFCA permits
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displayed in Table 3 is likely higher than the actual U.S. fishing effort on the high seas. For more information on how NMFS classifies high seas fisheries on the LOF, see the preamble text in the final 2009 LOF (73 FR 73032; December 1, 2008). Additional information about HSFCA permits can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/permits/highseas.html.
Where can I find specific information on fisheries listed on the LOF?
Starting with the 2010 LOF, NMFS developed summary documents, or fishery fact sheets, for each Category I and II fishery on the LOF. These fishery fact sheets provide the full history of each Category I and II fishery, including: When the fishery was added to the LOF; the basis for the fishery's initial classification; classification changes to the fishery; changes to the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the fishery; fishery gear and methods used; observer coverage levels; fishery management and regulation; and applicable TRPs or TRTs, if any. These fishery fact sheets are updated after each final LOF and can be found under ``How Do I Find Out if a Specific Fishery is in Category I, II, or III?'' on the NMFS Office of Protected Resources' website: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/fisheries/lof.html, linked to the ``List of Fisheries by Year'' table. NMFS is developing similar fishery fact sheets for each Category III fishery on the LOF. However, due to the large number of Category III fisheries on the LOF and the lack of accessible and detailed information on many of these fisheries, the development of these fishery fact sheets is taking significant time to complete. NMFS began posting Category III fishery fact sheets online with the LOF for 2016.
Am I required to register under the MMPA?
Owners of vessels or gear engaging in a Category I or II fishery are required under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(2)), as described in 50 CFR 229.4, to register with NMFS and obtain a marine mammal authorization to lawfully take non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations. Owners of vessels or gear engaged in a Category III fishery are not required to register with NMFS or obtain a marine mammal authorization.
How do I register and receive my Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) authorization certificate?
NMFS has integrated the MMPA registration process, implemented through the Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP), with existing state and Federal fishery license, registration, or permit systems for Category I and II fisheries on the LOF. Participants in these fisheries are automatically registered under the MMAP and are not required to submit registration or renewal materials.
In the Pacific Islands, West Coast, and Alaska regions, NMFS will issue vessel or gear owners an authorization certificate via U.S. mail or with their state or Federal license or permit at the time of issuance or renewal.
In the West Coast Region, authorization certificates may be obtained from the website http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/protected_species/marine_mammals/fisheries_interactions.html.
In the Alaska Region, authorization certificates may be obtained by visiting the Alaska Regional Office website https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/pr/mmapregistration.
In the Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS will issue vessel or gear owners an authorization certificate via U.S. mail automatically at the beginning of each calendar year. Certificates may also be obtained by visiting the Greater Atlantic Regional Office website http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/mmap/.
In the Southeast Region, NMFS will issue vessel or gear owners an authorization certificate via U.S. mail automatically at the beginning of each calendar year. Vessel or gear owners can receive additional authorization certificates by contacting the Southeast Regional Office at 727-209-5952 or by visiting the Southeast Regional Office website http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/marine_mammal_authorization_program/ and following the instructions for printing the certificate.
The authorization certificate, or a copy, must be on board the vessel while it is operating in a Category I or II fishery, or for non-
vessel fisheries, in the possession of the person in charge of the fishing operation (50 CFR 229.4(e)). Although efforts are made to limit the issuance of authorization certificates to only those vessel or gear owners that participate in Category I or II fisheries, not all state and Federal license or permit systems distinguish between fisheries as classified by the LOF. Therefore, some vessel or gear owners in Category III fisheries may receive authorization certificates even though they are not required for Category III fisheries.
Individuals fishing in Category I and II fisheries for which no state or Federal license or permit is required must register with NMFS by contacting their appropriate Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
How do I renew my registration under the MMAP?
In Alaska regional and Greater Atlantic regional fisheries, registrations of vessel or gear owners are automatically renewed and participants should receive an authorization certificate by January 1 of each new year. Certificates can also be obtained from the region's website. In Pacific Islands regional fisheries, vessel or gear owners receive an authorization certificate by January 1 for state fisheries and with their permit renewal for Federal fisheries. In West Coast regional fisheries, vessel or gear owners receive authorization either with each renewed state fishing license in Washington and Oregon, with their permit renewal for Federal fisheries (the timing of which varies based on target species), or via U.S. mail. Vessel or gear owners who participate in fisheries in these regions and have not received authorization certificates by January 1 or with renewed fishing licenses must contact the appropriate NMFS Regional Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). In Southeast regional fisheries, vessel or gear owners' registrations are automatically renewed and participants will receive an authorization certificate via U.S. mail automatically at the beginning of each calendar year. Additional authorization certificates are available for printing on the Southeast Regional Office website http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/marine_mammal_authorization_program/.
Am I required to submit reports when I kill or injure a marine mammal during the course of commercial fishing operations?
In accordance with the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1387(e)) and 50 CFR 229.6, any vessel owner or operator, or gear owner or operator (in the case of non-vessel fisheries), participating in a fishery listed on the LOF must report to NMFS all incidental mortalities and injuries of marine mammals that occur during commercial fishing operations, regardless of the category in which the fishery is placed (I, II, or III) within 48 hours of the end of the fishing trip or,
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in the case of non-vessel fisheries, fishing activity. ``Injury'' is defined in 50 CFR 229.2 as a wound or other physical harm. In addition, any animal that ingests fishing gear or any animal that is released with fishing gear entangling, trailing, or perforating any part of the body is considered injured, regardless of the presence of any wound or other evidence of injury, and must be reported.
Mortality/injury reporting forms and instructions for submitting forms to NMFS can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/mmap/#form or by contacting the appropriate regional office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Forms may be submitted via any of the following means: (1) Online using the electronic form; (2) emailed as an attachment to email protected; (3) faxed to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources at 301-713-0376; or (4) mailed to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources (mailing address is provided on the postage-paid form that can be printed from the web address listed above). Reporting requirements and procedures can be found in 50 CFR 229.6.
Am I required to take an observer aboard my vessel?
Individuals participating in a Category I or II fishery are required to accommodate an observer aboard their vessel(s) upon request from NMFS. MMPA section 118 states that the Secretary is not required to place an observer on a vessel if the facilities for quartering an observer or performing observer functions are so inadequate or unsafe that the health or safety of the observer or the safe operation of the vessel would be jeopardized; thereby authorizing the exemption of vessels too small to safely accommodate an observer from this requirement. However, U.S. Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, or Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline vessels operating in special areas designated by the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan implementing regulations (50 CFR 229.36(d)) will not be exempted from observer requirements, regardless of their size. Observer requirements can be found in 50 CFR 229.7.
Am I required to comply with any marine mammal TRP regulations?
Table 4 provides a list of fisheries affected by TRPs and TRTs. TRP regulations can be found at 50 CFR 229.30 through 229.37. A description of each TRT and copies of each TRP can be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/trt/teams.html. It is the responsibility of fishery participants to comply with applicable take reduction regulations.
Where can I find more information about the LOF and the MMAP?
Information regarding the LOF and the MMAP, including: Registration procedures and forms; current and past LOFs; descriptions of each Category I and II fishery and some Category III fisheries; observer requirements; and marine mammal mortality/injury reporting forms and submittal procedures; may be obtained at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/fisheries/lof.html, or from any NMFS Regional Office at the addresses listed below:
NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298, Attn: Allison Rosner;
NMFS, Southeast Region, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, Attn: Jessica Powell;
NMFS, West Coast Region, Long Beach Office, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213, Attn: Dan Lawson;
NMFS, Alaska Region, Protected Resources, P.O. Box 22668, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Suzie Teerlink; or
NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, Protected Resources Division, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818, Attn: Kevin Brindock.
Sources of Information Reviewed for the 2018 LOF
NMFS reviewed the marine mammal incidental mortality and serious injury information presented in the SARs for all fisheries to determine whether changes in fishery classification are warranted. The SARs are based on the best scientific information available at the time of preparation, including the level of mortality and serious injury of marine mammals that occurs incidental to commercial fishery operations and the PBR levels of marine mammal stocks. The information contained in the SARs is reviewed by regional Scientific Review Groups (SRGs) representing Alaska, the Pacific (including Hawaii), and the U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean. The SRGs were created by the MMPA to review the science that informs the SARs, and to advise NMFS on marine mammal population status, trends, and stock structure, uncertainties in the science, research needs, and other issues.
NMFS also reviewed other sources of new information, including marine mammal stranding data, observer program data, fishermen self-
reports, reports to the SRGs, conference papers, FMPs, and ESA documents.
The LOF for 2018 was based on, among other things, stranding data; fishermen self-reports; and SARs, primarily the 2016 SARs, which are based on data from 2010-2014. The SARs referenced in this LOF include: 2014 (80 FR 50599; August 20, 2015), 2015 (81 FR 38676; June 14, 2016), 2016 (82 FR 29039; June 27, 2017). The SARs are available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/.
Comments and Responses
NMFS received letters containing comments on the proposed LOF for 2018 (82 FR 47424; October 12, 2017) from the Marine Mammal Commission (Commission); five non-governmental organizations (Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), Hawaii Longline Association (HLA), Southeast Alaska Fishermen's Alliance (SEAFA), Southeast Alaska Sperm Whale Avoidance Project (SEASWAP), and Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN); and two individuals. Responses to substantive comments are below; comments on actions not related to the LOF are not included.
Comments on Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
Comment 1: The Commission believes that NMFS' approach to classifying the Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline (GOA SLL) fishery based on the statutory definitions of fishery categories in the MMPA, in the absence of an estimate of PBR, is appropriate. Further, the Commission states that NMFS has the discretion to classify a fishery as Category I in the absence of the data necessary to calculate mortality and serious injury (M/SI) as a fraction of PBR. The Commission notes that while the current M/SI is almost certainly greater than 10 percent of PBR, exactly where M/SI as a percentage of PBR falls relative to the Category I and II thresholds depends on what proportion of the stock's U.S. range was surveyed, and other factors not taken into account in NMFS' analysis. The Commission recommends that the GOA SLL fishery should be classified as at least a Category II fishery. However, two other commenters, SEASWAP and SEAFA, oppose the proposed change to reclassify the GOA SLL from a Category III to a Category II fishery based on interactions with sperms whales. These commenters disagree that these temporary sperm whale entanglements resulted in serious injuries and assert that prorating these serious injuries to mortalities is not appropriate (see
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comments 3, 4, and 5 below). They urge NMFS to retain the existing Category III ranking for the fishery.
Response: NMFS agrees with the Commission and has reclassified the fishery as Category II. Given our analysis of the estimated mean annual M/SI attributed to the GOA SLL fishery, and our best available information regarding the North Pacific sperm whale stock, the AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish pot fishery will be classified as Category II in the 2018 LOF; NMFS will continue to consider all available data in its future classifications of this fishery.
Comment 2: The Commission recommends that NMFS give high priority to: (1) Surveying enough of the range of sperm whales to provide a reliable estimate of PBR for the portion of the stock that occupies the EEZ in Alaska, (2) increasing observer coverage in the GOA SLL fishery (currently 14-19 percent), and (3) developing a take reduction plan for the North Pacific stock of sperm whales. The Commission comments that these actions will enable NMFS to more definitively classify the GOA SLL fishery and to mitigate the bycatch problem.
Response: NMFS agrees with the Commission on the need for reliable estimates of abundance and PBR for the North Pacific sperm whale stock; however, the funding necessary for surveying sperm whales in the Gulf of Alaska is currently unavailable. Next, observer coverage is determined through the Annual Deployment Plan (ADP) process, which provides a statistically-based sampling approach for the random deployment of human observers onto longline vessels operating in the Gulf of Alaska. The ADP is part of a larger annual process where NMFS consults with the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and its Scientific and Statistical Committee on to determine the amount of coverage for an upcoming year. This method is described in the 2018 ADP (available at https://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Publications/ProcRpt/PR2017-07.pdf). Regarding take reduction plans, NMFS' available resources for Take Reduction Teams (TRTs) are fully utilized at this time. When NMFS lacks sufficient funding to convene a TRT for all stocks that interact with Category I and II fisheries, NMFS gives highest priority for developing and implementing new take reduction plans to species and stocks whose level of incidental mortality and serious injury exceeds PBR, that have a small population size, and that are declining most rapidly, pursuant to MMPA section 118(f)(3).
Comment 3: SEASWAP and SEAFA assert that NMFS' assignment of the significant injury and 75 percent mortality rate to temporary sperm whale entanglements is unsubstantiated and inconsistent with the determination criteria used for other cetacean species, such as beluga and humpback whales. SEASWAP and SEAFA request that NMFS lower the pro-
rated mortality rate for sperm whales.
Response: NMFS implemented a policy for distinguishing serious from non-serious injury of marine mammals to increase transparency and consistency nationwide in assessing and quantifying serious injuries of marine mammals in 2012 (NMFS 2012). This policy serves as the basis for evaluating injury reports of marine mammals. The policy involves applying guidelines to determine whether an injury should be considered serious and describes a variety of injuries specific to large cetaceans, small cetaceans, and pinnipeds. The policy and guidelines cover most types of injury and were developed to fit data rich as well as data poor injury events.
Criteria for evaluating large whale injuries include three types of entanglements. Two of these types are ``constricting wrap,'' a serious injury (SI), and ``loose wrap, bridled or draped gear,'' a non-serious injury (NSI). If documentation of a confirmed entanglement is inadequate to assign an entanglement to either of these types a third category is used, ``evidence of entanglement.'' Events falling in this category are prorated. To prorate, the number of events assigned to this category within the assessment period is multiplied by 0.75. This value was calculated based on 114 documented entanglement events with known outcomes that occurred between 2004 and 2008, of which 85 (75 percent) resulted in the whales' deteriorating health or death. Although more severe or prolonged entanglements may be more likely to be reported, the 0.75 prorating reflects the probability that some confirmed entanglement reports lacking detail will be of minor events.
SEASWAP and SEAFA are correct that using a prorate value of 0.75 for sperm whale entanglements reflects assumptions about the fate of the entangled animals. We would welcome data analyses or other information from SEASWAP on sperm whale interactions with longline fisheries that would help inform future injury determinations. The 0.75 value is based on the best available information.
The other injury determinations referenced by SEASWAP are also consistent with NMFS' policy and guidelines for distinguishing serious from non-serious injury. The vessel strike that left a piece of whale skin on a vessel's hull was categorized as a ``superficial laceration'' and a vessel strike under ``vessel any size less than 10 knots,'' both of which are considered non-serious injuries. Injuries to small cetaceans, such as beluga whales, are assigned to a category from a list specific to small cetaceans. The beluga entangled in gillnet that was later freed from gear was assigned to the ``anchored, immobilized, entangled, or entrapped before being freed without gear attached'' category. This category does not have a defined injury value, and instead requires a case-specific assessment. NMFS evaluated the record of the injury and considered it a non-serious injury because the animal was able to surface while entangled and was confirmed to be free of gear when released.
Comment 4: SEASWAP and SEAFA disagree with the conclusion in the March 2016 NOAA report (NOAA-TM-AFSC-315) that the temporary sperm whale entanglements reported during 2010-2014 resulted in 6.25 dead sperm whales. They further assert that of the five cases described by observers, not one included a documented case of the whales remaining entangled or having visible injury from the entanglement, yet ``serious injury'' was assigned in four cases (Haul numbers 225, 7, 82, and 116). SEASWAP and SEAFA urge NOAA to reassign these ``significant injury'' designations to ``non-serious injury.''
Response: When we review entanglement records, we pay close attention to the observer's recorded description of events. When an observer codes an interaction as ``entangled in gear (not trailing gear),'' we still assess whether gear could have remained on the animal post hoc. Fishery observers are not trained to assess the severity of marine mammal injuries, and we do not use their assessment of injury severity. This explains the differences SEASWAP noted between the observer's assessment on the marine mammal interaction form and the final injury determinations as reported in ``Human-Caused Injury and Mortality of NMFS-managed Alaska Marine Mammal Stocks, 2010-2014'' (Helker et al., 2016).
In response to SEASWAP's and SEAFA's comments, we will reevaluate these entanglements and injury determinations; if we determine any changes to the injury determinations due to these entanglements are necessary, they will be reviewed consistent with NMFS policy and reported in the 2018 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports and Human-
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caused Serious Injury and Mortality Report.
Comment 5: SEASWAP and SEAFA disagree with NMFS' extrapolation of the observed temporary entanglements to the sperm whale/GOA SLL fishery interactions, including the pro-rating to the unobserved fleet, and assert that NMFS is oversimplifying sperm whale behavior near fishing boats. SEAFA argues that because some sperm whales have been documented as serial longline depredators, the actual M/SI is likely less than NMFS' estimate and it is inappropriate to extrapolate across the fleet. SEAFA comments that NMFS does not provide enough information to verify if the extrapolated data is reasonable and how these data were handled prior to and following the restructuring of the observer program to correct for bias in observer coverage.
Response: Extrapolating bycatch events that are observed in fisheries with partial observer coverage, such as components of the GOA SLL fishery, is standard practice. Bycatch extrapolation relies on the observed bycatch in a sampled portion of a fishery to estimate the bycatch across that entire fishery. Depredation by sperm whales is a common occurrence in this fishery, and an entanglement preceded by depredation is treated no differently than other bycatch events since it reflects one of the risks posed to marine mammals by the fishery.
The methodology for estimating bycatch is explained in NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-260 (Breiwick 2013) and has not changed appreciably since that time. Specifically, the serious injuries are extrapolated only within a stratum defined by the NMFS statistical area, three categories of vessel size (>125, between 60 and 125, =14 in mesh) fishery from Category I to Category II based on the most recent estimates of marine mammal M/SI in this fishery.
Comment 12: TIRN and CBD comment that more than a year has passed since the listing of the Central America humpback whale distinct population segment (DPS), and reported entanglements are at record highs in the area off California that is the near-exclusive feeding grounds for this DPS. They assert that NMFS should consider the Central American humpback whale DPS as a relevant stock in its determinations for the 2018 List of Fisheries.
Response: For the 2018 LOF, NMFS relied upon information on the current status of humpback whale stocks on the U.S. west coast as described in the most recent SAR available (Carretta et al., 2017a). The most recent SAR available does not contain an MMPA stock delineation for humpback whales that corresponds with the recent ESA-
listing decision that established several DPSs of humpback whales that may be present in U.S. west coast waters. While NMFS may consider updates to humpback whale stock delineations under the MMPA in light of the recent ESA-listing decision, we will continue to rely upon the most current SAR for the status of humpback whale stocks on the U.S. west coast relative to human-caused M/SI and the classification of fisheries under the MMPA LOF. Currently, there is no Central America DPS stock of marine mammals delineated under the MMPA. NMFS is currently evaluating the humpback whale stock structure under the MMPA with respect to the ESA listing.
Comment 13: CBD and TIRN urge NMFS to designate the CA Dungeness crab pot fishery as a Category I fishery because it frequently entangles, seriously injures, and kills imperiled humpback whales. CBD and TIRN state that the PBR calculation for the international stock of Central America humpbacks results in an estimated PBR of 0.8 humpback whales per year, and the best estimate of minimum average annual M/SI is 1.35 whales per year, well above the PBR estimate. They further maintain that the average numbers of annual M/SI is an underestimate as it is based on reported entanglements, and does not account for many entanglements that go unobserved, and does not include the 2016 entanglement of 19 humpback whales in the CA Dungeness crab pot fishery. CBD and TIRN suggest that according to the historical rate of serious injury determinations, 84 percent of these entanglements, or 16 whales, resulted in a serious injury or mortality and this is well above the PBR estimate. CBD and TIRN assert that the available information clearly demonstrates that NMFS should reclassify the fishery as Category I.
Response: The most recent SAR for humpback whales on the U.S. west coast does not establish or provide a PBR for the Central America DPS of humpback whales because it is not a delineated MMPA stock, as explained in Comment 12 above. Until such time that the SAR reports a PBR for an MMPA stock delineation of humpback whales that may more closely reflect the Central America DPS as suggested by the commenter, calculation of hypothetical PBRs by any other sources are considered premature. NMFS will continue to rely upon the most recent SAR for the calculation of PBR for humpback whale stocks on the U.S. west coast for classifying fisheries under the LOF. In addition, commenters reference data sources from 2016 that have not yet been reviewed for M/SI in the SARs; NMFS will use those data for classifying fisheries once they have been incorporated into the SARs.
Comment 14: CBD and TIRN state that preliminary evidence shows that the CA Dungeness crab pot fishery, and not the Oregon or Washington Dungeness crab pot fishery, primarily impacts the Central America humpback whale DPS. They recommend that without additional information, all interactions of the CA Dungeness crab pot fishery should be assigned to the Central America DPS.
Response: As described in Comment 12 above, the most current SAR does not delineate a Central America DPS of humpback whales as a stock under the MMPA. Until such time that the humpback whale stock structure under the MMPA with respect to the ESA listing has been completed, assignment of M/SI to humpback stocks in the SAR and under the LOF will continue to reflect the current MMPA stock delineations.
Comment 15: CBD and TIRN recommend that NMFS add blue whales, ENP, Offshore killer whales, and the western North Pacific gray whale to the list of species incidentally killed or injured in the CA Dungeness crab pot fisheries.
Response: Entanglement data from the U.S. west coast that has been reviewed for M/SI include recent data through 2015 (Carretta et al., 2017b). We note that through 2015, no blue whale injuries have been documented in the CA Dungeness crab pot fishery. Information on entanglements reported in 2016 and 2017 referenced by commenters will be used to inform the list of marine mammal stocks incidentally killed or injured in any U.S. west coast fisheries once it has been incorporated into the SARs, at which time NMFS will use those data for the LOF.
We thank the commenter for pointing out that we omitted the identity of the killer whale stock associated with a dead killer whale reported to NMFS in 2015 that was entangled with CA Dungeness crab gear. NMFS is currently reviewing the available information regarding the identification of the stock of killer whales to which this individual belongs. Once this information has been evaluated and reported in a future SAR, NMFS will add the appropriate stock of killer whales to the list of marine mammal stocks incidentally killed or injured by the CA Dungeness crab fishery in the LOF. As stated previously, entanglement information from 2016 has not yet been evaluated for M/SI and will not be used to inform the list of marine mammal stocks incidentally killed or injured in any U.S. west coast fisheries at this time.
NMFS acknowledges that the most recent SAR suggests that because some Western North Pacific gray whales occur in U.S. waters, there is a possibility these whales could be killed or injured by ship strikes or entangled in fishing gear within U.S. waters. However, while
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it may be possible that at least one or more Western North Pacific gray whales have been among the many gray whales reported entangled on the U.S. west coast historically, NMFS recognizes that relatively few of those instances are known to have involved gear from the CA Dungeness crab fishery. We also acknowledge that many other U.S. commercial fisheries on the U.S. west coast have been identified as associated with entanglements of gray whales historically, and it is likely other U.S. commercial, tribal, and foreign fisheries from countries surrounding gray whale migration routes that have not been identified have also been involved. In the absence of more specific information from any particular entanglement of gray whales that involved CA Dungeness crab gear to suggest those entanglements involved a Western North Pacific gray whale, NMFS does not have sufficient data to conclude that Western North Pacific gray whales have been entangled in CA Dungeness crab gear versus other fisheries throughout the range of gray whales; thus, we will not include Western North Pacific gray whales on the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in the CA Dungeness crab fishery at this time. Based on the relative population sizes of the Western North Pacific and Eastern North Pacific stocks of gray whales, and what is known about migrations of the Western North Pacific stock to the eastern North Pacific (Moore and Weller 2013), NMFS has concluded the likelihood that any of the particular gray whales that are known to have interacted with CA Dungeness crab fishery were Western North Pacific stock gray whales is extremely low. NMFS strives to collect photographic or genetic data from entangled gray whales that may allow for stock and will continue to develop and promote this aspect as a key data need surrounding all gray whale strandings and entanglements.
Comment 16: TIRN and CBD oppose NMFS' proposal to lower the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery classification from Category I to Category II. They note that NMFS' decreased annual take estimate of sperm whales may not adequately reflect the mortality or serious injury that the fishery causes for sperm whales. In addition, TIRN/CBD comment that the MMPA Section 101(a)(5)(E) authorization to take humpback and sperm whales by this fishery has expired, and a reclassification of the fishery to Category II prior to the completion of the rulemaking process for a new authorization is premature. Based on the uncertainty stemming from low observer coverage and the past observation of sperm whale M/SI, and the pending MMPA authorization rule-making, TIRN/CBD urge NMFS to maintain the CA thresher shark/
swordfish drift gillnet fishery's classification as Category I.
Response: The reclassification of this fishery from Category I to Category II is based upon published scientific information that includes estimates of bycatch and subsequent M/SI in this fishery that are considered robust given annual variance in observer coverage rates. These estimates are based on methodologies that represent an improved approach to estimate relatively rare bycatch events over time compared to methods referenced in previous SARs and classifications under the LOF. NMFS has determined these estimates are appropriate to inform the LOF classification of the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 in mesh) fishery as Category II. Further, classifications made under the LOF are based on the best available science and are not dependent or related to the current status of other regulatory processes including the issuance of authorizations under section 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA.
Comment 17: TIRN and CBD support NMFS' proposal to add the CA/OR/WA stock of Dall's porpoise to the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I California thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 in mesh) fishery based on a 2014 observed entanglement.
Response: NMFS agrees and has added the CA/OR/WA stock of Dall's porpoise to the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 in mesh) fishery.
Comment 18: TIRN and CBD recommend, based on interactions between 2010 through 2016, that NMFS add Guadalupe fur seals to the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the California drift gillnet fishery, and the gillnet fisheries that operate from Tillamook County, OR, to Jefferson County, WA, such as the WA Willapa Bay drift gillnet, WA/OR lower Columbia River drift gillnet, and the WA Grays Harbor salmon drift gillnet fishery.
Response: NMFS has reviewed the available information on Guadalupe fur seal interactions and M/SI associated with gillnet entanglements from 2010-2014. Based on information that is available (Carretta et al., 2017a and Carretta et al., 2017b), we are not able to determine the fishery origin of Guadalupe fur seal strandings that have been associated with gillnet entanglements. Guadalupe fur seals have a wide range that brings them into potential contact with numerous gillnet fisheries that include U.S. commercial fisheries as well as tribal and foreign fisheries from neighboring countries. While we continually aim to improve our ability to evaluate incoming information and identify the origins of fishing gear present on all stranded marine mammals, we will not attribute any Guadalupe fur seal M/SI to any U.S. gillnet fisheries or list Guadalupe fur seals as a marine mammal stock that is killed or injured by any U.S. gillnet fisheries at this time absent more specific information regarding the origins of gillnet interactions.
Comment 19: TIRN and CBD recommend NMFS add Guadalupe fur seals to the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Hawaii deep-set and Hawaii shallow-set longline fisheries based on 2015 and 2016 reported interactions.
Response: The recently observed Guadalupe fur seal interaction from 2015 has not yet been included in a SAR, an injury determination has not been finalized for this interaction, and the interaction has not yet been evaluated as part of the tier analysis for these fisheries. This species will be included in a future LOF, as appropriate.
Comment 20: HLA opposes including the Hawaii stock of Kogia species (Hawaii) on the list of species injured or killed in the Hawaii-based deep-set longline fishery. HLA requests that NMFS remove Kogia species from the list of stocks that are interacting with the deep-set longline fishery, because the most recent SAR (2013) for Hawaii pygmy whales and dwarf sperm whales identifies no observed interactions between either of these stocks and this fishery. However, two other commenters, TIRN and CBD, support NMFS' proposal to add the Hawaii stock of Kogia spp. to the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I HI deep-set longline fishery based upon the serious injury of a pygmy or dwarf sperm whale in 2014 in this fishery.
Response: Although the 2013 SAR does not include observed interactions with Hawaii pygmy whales and dwarf sperm whales, a Kogia spp. interaction was observed in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery on February 25, 2014, resulting in a serious injury (Carretta et al., 2017b). This injury determination has been finalized, and the interaction is included in the draft 2017 SAR (82 FR 60181; December 19, 2017).
Comment 21: The HLA restates a previous comment that the Hawaii-
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based deep-set longline fishery does not interact with the MHI insular or Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) stocks of false killer whales. HLA notes that (a) the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan closed the deep-set longline fishery for almost the entire range of the MHI insular and NWHI stocks, (b) since this change was made in 2013 there have been no interactions between the fishery and an animal from either stock, and (c) there has never been a deep-set longline fishery interaction in the very small area of the stocks' respective ranges that are not closed to longline fishing. HLA requests that NMFS remove these two stocks from the list of marine mammals that interact with the deep-set longline fishery, as the best available information demonstrates the fishery is not interacting with either of these stocks.
Response: This comment has been addressed previously (see 78 FR 53336, August 29, 2013, comment 11; 79 FR 14418, March 14, 2014, comment 4; 79 FR 77919, December 29, 2014, comment 2; and 81 FR 20550, April 8, 2016, comment 5). NMFS determines which species or stocks are included as incidentally killed or injured in a fishery by annually reviewing the information presented in the current SARs, among other relevant sources. The SARs are based on the best available scientific information and provide information on each stock, including range, abundance, PBR, and level of interaction with commercial fishing operations. Determinations in the LOF are based on the information reported in the SARs.
The 2018 LOF is based on the 2016 SARs, which report fishery interactions from 2010-2014; this is the best scientific and commercial information available for the time period examined. As reported in the 2016 SAR, 12 false killer whales were taken within the Hawaiian EEZ between 2010 and 2014, ten of those occurred within the range of the pelagic stock, and two occurred within an overlap zone that included the range of more than one false killer whale stock. Applying the proration methods described in detail in the 2016 SAR for takes in overlap zones, NMFS estimates a five-year average mortality and serious injury level of 0.1 MHI insular and 0.4 NWHI false killer whales per year incidental to the Hawaii-based deep-set longline fishery from 2010-2014 (Carretta et al., 2017a). NMFS is retaining the stocks on the list of marine mammal stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery.
Comment 22: HLA opposes including the pygmy killer whale (Hawaii stock) on the list of species injured or killed in the Hawaii-based deep-set fishery. HLA requests that NMFS remove the pygmy killer whale from the list of stocks that are interacting with the deep-set fishery, because the most recent SAR (2013) identifies no observed interactions between the stock and the deep-set longline fishery.
Response: The 2013 SAR reports marine mammal interactions with the deep-set fishery that occurred between 2007 and 2011. Although the 2013 SAR does not include any observed interactions with pygmy killer whales, an interaction was observed between a pygmy killer whale and the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery on January 5, 2013, resulting in a serious injury (Carretta et al., 2017b). This injury determination has been finalized, and the interaction is included in the draft 2017 SAR (82 FR 60181; December 19, 2017).
Comment 23: TIRN and CBD support NMFS' proposal to add the Central North Pacific stock of humpback whale to the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I Hawaii deep-set longline fishery based upon the serious injury of a humpback in 2014 in this fishery.
Response: NMFS agrees and has added the Central North Pacific stock of humpback whale to the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery.
Comment 24: TIRN and CBD recommend that the California/Oregon/
Washington (CA/OR/WA) humpback whale stock be added to the list of species or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I Hawaii deep-set longline fishery based upon known M/SI to the Central North Pacific humpback stock from interaction with this fishery in 2014. In addition, they comment that NMFS is currently considering an exempted fishing permit to allow the use of both deep-set and shallow-
set longline gear within the West Coast EEZ, which would provide this fishery greater access to this stock and further increase the pressure on the stock.
Response: The LOF relies on information reported in the SARs to add/remove species/stocks that are killed or injured in a particular fishery. The 2016 SAR reports a humpback whale from the Central North Pacific stock was seriously injured in 2014 in the Category I Hawaii deep-set longline fishery; consequently, this stock is included in the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in this fishery. The SAR does not list any mortalities or injuries of the CA/OR/WA humpback whale stock in the Hawaii deep-set fishery in 2014; consequently, this stock is not included in the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I Hawaii deep-set longline fishery.
Comment 25: TIRN and CBD request that the CA/OR/WA humpback whale stock be added to the list of stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery. They assert that the fishery's potential for interactions with this stock is justified by the inclusion of the Central North Pacific humpback whale stock in the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured. In addition, TIRN/CBD comment that NMFS currently is considering an exempted fishing permit to allow the use of both deep-set and shallow-
set longline gear within the West Coast EEZ, which would provide this fishery greater access to this stock and further increase the pressure on the stock.
Response: NMFS uses the criteria described in the preamble to classify fisheries and list species or stocks that may be incidentally killed or injured by those fisheries. Under these criteria, NMFS lists species or stocks as incidentally killed or injured based on documented mortalities or injuries using the best scientific information available (i.e., SARs). Because there are no documented mortalities or injuries of CA/OR/WA humpbacks, NMFS is not including this stock as incidentally killed or injured by the Category I Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery. Should NMFS approve an exempted fishing permit for the deep-
set and shallow-set longline fishery operating within the U.S. West Coast EEZ, NMFS will continue to use all relevant information to inform future LOFs.
Comment 26: HLA contends that the best available science does not support a determination that the Hawaii-based shallow-set longline fishery has ``occasional'' interactions with the pelagic false killer whale stock and should therefore be listed as Category III. They note that the 2016 SAR attributes a 0.3 M/SI rate to the shallow-set fishery for the Pelagic FKW Stock in the U.S. EEZ, which amounts to 1.07 percent of the Pelagic FKW Stock's PBR level. However, the 0.3 M/SI rate derives entirely from an interaction that occurred in 2012 for which NMFS was unable to make an injury determination (i.e. ``cannot be determined'' or ``CBD'' determination). Further, the ``CBD'' interaction was prorated as 0.3 M/SI because, in the previous five years, there had been three EEZ interactions between the shallow-set fishery and the Pelagic FKW Stock, only one of which (in 2009) was ``serious'' (a one-third
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M/SI rate). HLA notes that if the 2012 ``CBD'' interaction is prorated based upon the five-year lookback period used in the 2016 SAR (2010-14) (the best available data), then it would be 0.0 because there were only two other interactions in 2010-14, both of which were determined to be non-serious. HLA argues that the Category II status of the shallow-set fishery hinges on a single interaction in 2012 for which no injury determination was made and that NMFS prorated based upon data that is no longer relevant or accurate. For these reasons, HLA recommends the shallow-set fishery be listed as Category III, as the fishery is more accurately described as having a ``remote likelihood'' of interaction with the stock.
Response: NMFS uses the classification criteria described in the preamble to classify fisheries as Category I, Category II, or Category III. A fishery is classified under Category II if the annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in a given fishery is greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent of the stock's PBR level. Additional details regarding categorization of fisheries is provided in the preamble to the final rule implementing section 118 of the MMPA (60 FR 45086; August 30, 1995). The false killer whale interaction in 2012 that resulted in a ``CBD'' determination was prorated following the methods described in the 2016 SAR (Carretta et al., 2017a), which prorates serious versus non-serious injuries using the historic rate of serious injury while accounting for changes in gear following implementation of the False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan in 2013. This proration resulted in a 0.3 M/SI for the Pelagic FKW stock as reported in the 2016 SAR, which is 1.07 percent of PBR and within the range of 1-50 percent of PBR, requiring NMFS to classify the fishery as a Category II fishery consistent with section 118 of the MMPA.
Comment 27: HLA opposes including the rough-toothed dolphin (Hawaii stock) on the list of species injured or killed in the Hawaii-based shallow-set fishery. HLA requests that NMFS remove the rough-toothed dolphin from the list of stocks that are interacting with the shallow-
set fishery, because the most recent SAR (2013) identifies no observed interactions between the stock and the shallow-set longline fishery.
Response: The 2013 SAR reports marine mammal interactions with the shallow-set fishery that occurred between 2007 and 2011. Although the 2013 SAR does not include observed interactions with rough-toothed dolphins, an interaction was observed between a rough-toothed dolphin and the Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery on April 24, 2013, resulting in a mortality (Carretta et al., 2017b). This interaction has been finalized and is included in the draft 2017 SAR (82 FR 60181, December 19, 2017).
Comment 28: HLA restates a previous comment that the LOF should distinguish between high seas stocks and U.S. EEZ stocks when listing stocks with which fisheries interact, and requests that NMFS revise the LOF to attribute species interactions in transboundary fisheries to only those geographic regions where interactions are actually observed. HLA recommends that if NMFS does not revise the LOF, then they should include a footnote in the LOF to clarify, for certain stocks and fisheries, that interactions have only been observed on the high seas or in the U.S. EEZ, as appropriate. HLA notes that NMFS readily separates transboundary stocks into high seas and U.S. EEZ components for reporting purposes in its SARs and for the purpose of comparing M/
SI rates to PBR levels (a trigger for the take reduction planning process), and asserts that the LOF should make similar distinctions when reporting the stocks with which fisheries interact.
Response: This comment has been addressed previously (see 79 FR 14418, March 14, 2014, comment 7; 79 FR 77919, December 29, 2014, comment 5; and 81 FR 20550, April 8, 2016, comment 8). As described in the preamble, NMFS has included high seas fisheries in Table 3 of the LOF since 2009. Several fisheries operate in both U.S. waters and on the high seas, creating some overlap between the fisheries listed in Tables 1 and 2 and those in Table 3. In these cases, the high seas component of the fishery is not considered a separate fishery but an extension of a fishery operating within U.S. waters. For these fisheries, the lists of species or stocks injured or killed in Table 3 are identical to their Tables 1 or 2 counterparts, except for those species or stocks with distributions known to occur on only one side of the EEZ boundary. Because the fisheries and the marine mammal lists are the same, takes of these animals are not being attributed to one geographic area or the other, even when that information may be available. This parallel list structure is explained in the footnotes for each table. We are not including additional footnotes to individual stocks and fisheries to indicate whether interactions have only been observed on the high seas or in the U.S. EEZ, but that information may be available in previous LOFs when species and stocks are added or deleted.
Summary of Changes From the Proposed Rule
NMFS renames the newly classified fisheries, ``AK BSAI groundfish troll'' and the ``AK Gulf of Alaska groundfish troll,'' as listed in the proposed LOF for 2018, to ``AK BSAI groundfish hand troll and dinglebar troll'' and ``AK Gulf of Alaska groundfish hand troll and dinglebar troll,'' respectively. This change is the result of public comment on the proposed rule and maintains consistency with the State of Alaska fishery permits.
NMFS corrects the estimated number of vessels/persons for the AK Southeast shrimp pot fishery (Table 1) from 210, as listed in the proposed LOF for 2018, to 99 in the final LOF based on a reanalysis of permit data.
NMFS corrects the estimated number of vessels/persons for the Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic tuna, shark, swordfish hook-and-line/
harpoon in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean (Table 2) from 3,084, as listed in the proposed LOF for 2018, to 2,846 in the final LOF based on a review of permit data. Permits for this fishery are based on target species rather than gear type, so these numbers indicate the total number of fishers that have the potential to use the specified gear type.
Summary of Changes to the LOF for 2018
The following summarizes changes to the LOF for 2018, including the classification of fisheries, fisheries listed, the estimated number of vessels/persons in a particular fishery, and the species and/or stocks that are incidentally killed or injured in a particular fishery. NMFS re-classifies two fisheries in the LOF for 2018. Additionally, NMFS adds two fisheries to the LOF and removes 12 fisheries from the LOF. NMFS makes changes to the estimated number of vessels/persons and list of species and/or stocks killed or injured in certain fisheries. The classifications and definitions of U.S. commercial fisheries for 2018 are identical to those provided in the LOF for 2017 with the changes discussed below. State and regional abbreviations used in the following paragraphs include: AK (Alaska), BSAI (Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands), CA (California), DE (Delaware), FL (Florida), GOA (Gulf of Alaska), GMX (Gulf of Mexico), HI (Hawaii), MA (Massachusetts), ME (Maine), NC (North Carolina), NY (New York), OR (Oregon), RI (Rhode Island), SC (South Carolina), VA (Virginia), WA (Washington), and WNA (Western North Atlantic).
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Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
Classification of Fisheries
NMFS reclassifies the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 inch (in) mesh) fishery from Category I to Category II.
NMFS reclassifies the Category III AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline fishery to Category II based on M/SI of North Pacific sperm whales.
Addition of Fisheries
NMFS adds the AK BSAI halibut longline fishery as a Category III fishery.
NMFS adds the AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish pot fishery as a Category III fishery.
Removal of Fisheries
NMFS removes the following Category III fisheries from the LOF:
AK miscellaneous finfish set gillnet fishery
AK miscellaneous finfish beach seine fishery
AK miscellaneous finfish purse seine fishery
AK octopus/squid purse seine fishery
AK BSAI rockfish longline fishery
AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish longline fishery
AK halibut longline/set line (state and Federal waters)
AK miscellaneous finfish otter/beam trawl fishery
AK statewide miscellaneous finfish pot fishery
AK snail pot fishery
AK octopus/squid handline fishery
AK abalone fishery
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarification
NMFS clarifies that the Category II AK BSAI rockfish trawl fishery includes sablefish as a target species.
NMFS adds a superscript ``1'' to the CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whale to indicate it is driving the Category II classification of the CA spiny lobster fishery.
NMFS renames the Category III AK salmon purse seine (excluding salmon purse seine fisheries listed elsewhere) fishery to AK salmon purse seine (Prince William Sound, Chignik, Alaska Peninsula) fishery.
NMFS clarifies that the Category III AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish trawl fishery includes sablefish as a target species.
NMFS renames the Category III AK food/bait herring trawl fishery to AK Kodiak food/bait herring otter trawl fishery.
NMFS renames the Category III AK shrimp otter trawl and beam trawl (statewide and Cook Inlet) fishery to AK shrimp otter trawl and beam trawl fishery.
NMFS renames the Category III AK State-managed waters of Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay, Prince William Sound, Southeast AK groundfish trawl fishery to AK State-managed waters of Prince William Sound groundfish trawl fishery.
NMFS combines the Category III AK Aleutian Islands sablefish pot fishery in the LOF with the Category III AK Bering Sea sablefish pot fishery for consistency with other regional designations in the LOF. The combined fishery is named the AK BSAI sablefish pot fishery.
NMFS separates the Category III AK miscellaneous finfish handline/
hand troll and mechanical jig fishery into several fisheries by gear and geography for improved fishery categorization of potential impacts to marine mammals. The new Category III fishery names are: (1) AK BSAI groundfish jig, (2) AK BSAI groundfish hand troll and dinglebar troll, (3) AK Gulf of Alaska groundfish jig, (4) AK Gulf of Alaska groundfish hand troll and dinglebar troll.
NMFS renames the Category III AK North Pacific halibut handline/
hand troll and mechanical jig fishery to AK halibut jig fishery for clarity and consistency.
NMFS renames the Category III AK urchin and other fish/shellfish fishery to AK miscellaneous invertebrates hand pick fishery for clarity and consistency.
NMFS makes an administrative change to the Category III Alaska scallop dredge fishery to be renamed AK scallop dredge for consistency.
Number of Vessels/Persons
NMFS updates the estimated number of vessels/persons in the Pacific Ocean (Table 1) as follows:
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Number of vessels/ Number of vessels/
Category Fishery persons (2017 LOF) persons (2018 LOF)
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I.................................... HI deep-set longline............. 139 143
II................................... HI shallow-set longline.......... 20 22
II................................... American Samoa longline.......... 20 18
III.................................. AK Gulf of Alaska crab pot....... 381 271
III.................................. AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod pot 128 116
III.................................. AK Southeast Alaska crab pot..... 41 375
III.................................. AK Southeast Alaska shrimp pot... 269 99
III.................................. AK shrimp pot, except Southeast.. 236 141
III.................................. AK octopus/squid pot............. 26 15
III.................................. AK herring spawn on kelp......... 339 266
III.................................. AK miscellaneous invertebrates 398 214
handpick.
III.................................. American Samoa bottomfish 24 17
handline.
III.................................. AK commercial passenger fishing 2,702 1,006
vessel.
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List of Species and/or Stocks Incidentally Killed or Injured in the Pacific Ocean
NMFS adds the Central North Pacific stock of humpback whale to the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I Hawaii deep-set longline fishery.
NMFS adds the Hawaii stock of Kogia spp. (Pygmy or dwarf sperm whale) to the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I Hawaii deep-set longline fishery.
NMFS adds the CA/OR/WA stock of Dall's porpoise to the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 in mesh) fishery.
Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
Number of Vessels/Persons
NMFS updates the estimated number of vessels/persons in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean (Table 2) as follows:
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Number of vessels/ Number of vessels/
Category Fishery persons (2017 LOF) persons (2018 LOF)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I.................................... Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf 420 280
of Mexico large pelagics
longline.
II................................... Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark 30 23
gillnet.
III.................................. Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic 428 2,846
tuna, shark, swordfish hook-and-
line/harpoon.
III.................................. Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf =14 in mesh) *. California sea
lion, U.S., Dall's
porpoise, CA/OR/WA,
Humpback whale, CA/
OR/WA, Long-beaked
common dolphin, CA,
Minke whale, CA/OR/
WA, Northern
elephant seal, CA
breeding, Northern
right-whale
dolphin, CA/OR/WA,
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, CA/OR/WA,
Risso's dolphin, CA/
OR/WA, Short-beaked
common dolphin, CA/
OR/WA, Short-finned
pilot whale, CA/OR/
WA, Sperm Whale, CA/
OR/WA.\1\
CA halibut/white seabass 50................. California sea lion,
and other species set U.S., Harbor seal,
gillnet (>3.5 in mesh). CA, Humpback whale,
CA/OR/WA \1\, Long-
beaked common
dolphin, CA,
Northern elephant
seal, CA breeding,
Sea otter, CA,
Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA.
CA yellowtail, barracuda, 30................. California sea lion,
and white seabass drift U.S., Long-beaked
gillnet (mesh size >=3.5 common dolphin, CA,
in and 1................. None documented.
rearing pen.
CA white seabass 13................. California sea lion,
enhancement net pens. U.S.
HI offshore pen culture.. 2.................. None documented.
WA salmon net pens....... 14................. California sea lion,
U.S., Harbor seal,
WA inland waters.
WA/OR shellfish 23................. None documented.
aquaculture.
TROLL FISHERIES:
WA/OR/CA albacore surface 705................ None documented.
hook and line/troll.
CA halibut hook and line/ unknown............ None documented.
handline.
CA white seabass hook and unknown............ None documented.
line/handline.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian unknown............ None documented.
Islands groundfish hand
troll and dinglebar
troll.
AK Gulf of Alaska unknown............ None documented.
groundfish hand troll
and dinglebar troll.
AK salmon troll.......... 1,908.............. Steller sea lion,
Eastern U.S.,
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
American Samoa tuna troll 13................. None documented.
CA/OR/WA salmon troll.... 4,300.............. None documented.
HI troll................. 2,117.............. Pantropical spotted
dolphin, HI.
HI rod and reel.......... 322................ None documented.
Commonwealth of the 40................. None documented.
Northern Mariana Islands
tuna troll.
Guam tuna troll.......... 432................ None documented.
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian 4.................. Killer whale, AK
Islands Greenland turbot resident.
longline.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian 22................. None documented.
Islands sablefish
longline.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian 127................ None documented.
Islands halibut longline.
AK Gulf of Alaska halibut 855................ None documented.
longline.
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific 92................. Steller sea lion,
cod longline. Western U.S.
AK octopus/squid longline 3.................. None documented.
AK state-managed waters 464................ None documented.
longline/setline
(including sablefish,
rockfish, lingcod, and
miscellaneous finfish).
WA/OR/CA groundfish, 367................ Bottlenose dolphin,
bottomfish longline/set CA/OR/WA offshore.
line.
WA/OR Pacific halibut 350................ None documented.
longline.
CA pelagic longline...... 1.................. None documented in
the most recent
five years of data.
HI kaka line............. 15................. None documented.
HI vertical line......... 3.................. None documented.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian 13................. Ribbon seal, AK,
Islands Atka mackerel Steller sea lion,
trawl. Western U.S.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian 72................. Ringed seal, AK,
Islands Pacific cod Steller sea lion,
trawl. Western U.S.
AK Gulf of Alaska 36................. Northern elephant
flatfish trawl. seal, North
Pacific.
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific 55................. Steller sea lion,
cod trawl. Western U.S.
AK Gulf of Alaska pollock 67................. Dall's porpoise, AK,
trawl. Fin whale,
Northeast Pacific,
Northern elephant
seal, North
Pacific, Steller
sea lion, Western
U.S.
AK Gulf of Alaska 43................. None documented.
rockfish trawl.
AK Kodiak food/bait 4.................. None documented.
herring otter trawl.
AK shrimp otter trawl and 38................. None documented.
beam trawl.
AK state-managed waters 2.................. None documented.
of Prince William Sound
groundfish trawl.
CA halibut bottom trawl.. 47................. California sea lion,
U.S., Harbor
porpoise, unknown,
Harbor seal,
unknown, Northern
elephant seal, CA
breeding, Steller
sea lion, unknown.
CA sea cucumber trawl.... 16................. None documented.
WA/OR/CA shrimp trawl.... 300................ None documented.
WA/OR/CA groundfish trawl 160-180............ California sea lion,
U.S., Dall's
porpoise, CA/OR/WA,
Harbor seal, OR/WA
coast, Northern fur
seal, Eastern
Pacific, Pacific
white-sided
dolphin, CA/OR/WA,
Steller sea lion,
Eastern U.S.
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP
FISHERIES:
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian 6.................. None documented.
Islands sablefish pot.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian 59................. None documented.
Islands Pacific cod pot.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian 540................ Gray whale, Eastern
Islands crab pot. North Pacific.
AK Gulf of Alaska crab 271................ None documented.
pot.
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific 116................ Harbor seal, GOA.
cod pot.
AK Gulf of Alaska 248................ None documented.
sablefish pot.
Page 5365
AK Southeast Alaska crab 375................ Humpback whale,
pot. Central North
Pacific (Southeast
AK).
AK Southeast Alaska 99................. Humpback whale,
shrimp pot. Central North
Pacific (Southeast
AK).
AK shrimp pot, except 141................ None documented.
Southeast.
AK octopus/squid pot..... 15................. None documented.
CA/OR coonstripe shrimp 36................. Gray whale, Eastern
pot. North Pacific,
Harbor seal, CA.
CA rock crab pot......... 124................ Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific,
Harbor seal, CA.
WA/OR/CA hagfish pot..... 54................. None documented.
WA/OR shrimp pot/trap.... 254................ None documented.
WA Puget Sound Dungeness 249................ None documented.
crab pot/trap.
HI crab trap............. 5.................. Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific.
HI fish trap............. 9.................. None documented.
HI lobster trap.......... 300............... None documented.
HI aku boat, pole, and 7,000 (1,006 AK).. Killer whale,
passenger fishing vessel. unknown, Steller
sea lion, Eastern
U.S., Steller sea
lion, Western U.S.
LIVE FINFISH/SHELLFISH
FISHERIES:
CA nearshore finfish live 93................. None documented.
trap/hook-and-line.
HI aquarium collecting... 90................. None documented.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 1: AI--Aleutian Islands;
AK--Alaska; BS--Bering Sea; CA--California; ENP--Eastern North
Pacific; GOA--Gulf of Alaska; HI--Hawaii; MHI--Main Hawaiian Islands;
OR--Oregon; WA--Washington.
\1\ Fishery classified based on mortalities and serious injuries of this
stock, which are greater than or equal to 50 percent (Category I) or
greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent (Category II) of the
stock's PBR.
\2\ Fishery classified by analogy.
* Fishery has an associated high seas component listed in Table 3.
Page 5366
caret The list of marine mammal species and/or stocks killed or
injured in this fishery is identical to the list of species and/or
stocks killed or injured in high seas component of the fishery, minus
species and/or stocks that have geographic ranges exclusively on the
high seas. The species and/or stocks are found, and the fishery
remains the same, on both sides of the EEZ boundary. Therefore, the
EEZ components of these fisheries pose the same risk to marine mammals
as the components operating on the high seas.
Table 2--List of Fisheries--Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean,
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine mammal
Estimated number of species and/or
Fishery description vessels/ persons stocks incidentally
killed or injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
Mid-Atlantic gillnet..... 3,950.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern Migratory
coastal \1\,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Southern Migratory
coastal \1\,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern NC
estuarine system
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
NC estuarine system
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, WNA
offshore, Common
dolphin, WNA, Gray
seal, WNA, Harbor
porpoise, GME/BF,
Harbor seal, WNA,
Harp seal, WNA,
Humpback whale,
Gulf of Maine,
Minke whale,
Canadian east
coast.
Northeast sink gillnet... 4,332.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore,
Common dolphin,
WNA, Fin whale,
WNA, Gray seal,
WNA, Harbor
porpoise, GME/BF
\1\, Harbor seal,
WNA, Harp seal,
WNA, Hooded seal,
WNA, Humpback
whale, Gulf of
Maine, Long-finned
pilot whale, WNA,
Minke whale,
Canadian east
coast, North
Atlantic right
whale, WNA, Risso's
dolphin, WNA, White-
sided dolphin, WNA.
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic 10,163............. Humpback whale, Gulf
American lobster trap/ of Maine, Minke
pot. whale, Canadian
east coast, North
Atlantic right
whale, WNA \1\.
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
Atlantic Ocean, 280................ Atlantic spotted
Caribbean, Gulf of dolphin, Northern
Mexico large pelagics GMX, Bottlenose
longline *. dolphin, Northern
GMX oceanic,
Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore,
Common dolphin,
WNA, Cuvier's
beaked whale, WNA,
False killer whale,
WNA, Harbor
porpoise, GME, BF,
Kogia spp. (Pygmy
or dwarf sperm
whale), WNA, Long-
finned pilot whale,
WNA \1\, Mesoplodon
beaked whale, WNA,
Minke whale,
Canadian East
coast, Pantropical
spotted dolphin,
Northern GMX, Pygmy
sperm whale, GMX,
Risso's dolphin,
Northern GMX,
Risso's dolphin,
WNA, Rough-toothed
dolphin, Northern
GMX, Short-finned
pilot whale,
Northern GMX, Short-
finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY II
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
Chesapeake Bay inshore 248................ Bottlenose dolphin,
gillnet \2\. unknown (Northern
migratory coastal
or Southern
migratory coastal).
Gulf of Mexico gillnet 248................ Bottlenose dolphin,
\2\. GMX bay, sound, and
estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Western
GMX coastal.
NC inshore gillnet....... 2,850.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern NC
estuarine system
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
NC estuarine system
\1\.
Northeast anchored float 852................ Harbor seal, WNA,
gillnet \2\. Humpback whale,
Gulf of Maine,
White-sided
dolphin, WNA.
Northeast drift gillnet 1,036.............. None documented.
\2\.
Southeast Atlantic 273................ Bottlenose dolphin,
gillnet \2\. Central FL coastal,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern FL
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, SC/GA
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
migratory coastal.
Southeastern U.S. 23................. Bottlenose dolphin,
Atlantic shark gillnet. unknown (Central
FL, Northern FL, SC/
GA coastal, or
Southern migratory
coastal), North
Atlantic right
whale, WNA.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
Mid-Atlantic mid-water 382................ Gray seal, WNA,
trawl (including pair Harbor seal, WNA.
trawl).
Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl 785................ Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore,
Common dolphin, WNA
\1\, Gray seal,
WNA, Harbor seal,
WNA, Risso's
dolphin, WNA \1\,
White-sided
dolphin, WNA.
Northeast mid-water trawl 1,087.............. Common dolphin, WNA,
(including pair trawl). Gray seal, WNA,
Harbor seal, WNA,
Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA \1\,
Minke whale,
Canadian East
Coast.
Page 5367
Northeast bottom trawl... 2,238.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore,
Common dolphin,
WNA, Gray seal,
WNA, Harbor
porpoise, GME/BF,
Harbor seal, WNA,
Harp seal, WNA,
Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA, Risso's
dolphin, WNA, White-
sided dolphin, WNA
\1\.
Southeastern U.S. 4,950.............. Atlantic spotted
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico dolphin, GMX
shrimp trawl. continental and
oceanic, Bottlenose
dolphin, Charleston
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX coastal
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, GMX bay,
sound, estuarine
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, GMX
continental shelf,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, SC/GA
coastal \1\,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Southern migratory
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Western
GMX coastal\1\,
West Indian
manatee, Florida.
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:
Southeastern U.S. 1,384.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico Biscayne Bay
stone crab trap/pot \2\. estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Central FL coastal,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, FL Bay,
Bottlenose dolphin,
GMX bay, sound,
estuarine (FL west
coast portion),
Bottlenose dolphin,
Indian River Lagoon
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Jacksonville
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
coastal.
Atlantic mixed species 3,436.............. Fin whale, WNA,
trap/pot \2\. Humpback whale,
Gulf of Maine.
Atlantic blue crab trap/ 7,714.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
pot. Central FL coastal,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Central GA
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Charleston
estuarine system
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, Indian
River Lagoon
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Jacksonville
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern FL coastal
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, Northern
GA/Southern SC
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern Migratory
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Northern
NC estuarine system
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, Northern
SC estuarine
system, Bottlenose
dolphin, SC/GA
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
GA estuarine
system, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
Migratory coastal,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Southern NC
estuarine system,
West Indian
manatee, FL.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
Gulf of Mexico menhaden 40-42.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
purse seine. GMX bay, sound,
estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Mississippi Sound,
Lake Borgne, Bay
Boudreau,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
coastal \1\,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Western GMX coastal
\1\.
Mid-Atlantic menhaden 19................. Bottlenose dolphin,
purse seine \2\. Northern Migratory
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
Migratory coastal.
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:
Mid-Atlantic haul/beach 359................ Bottlenose dolphin,
seine. Northern Migratory
coastal \1\,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern NC
estuarine system
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
Migratory coastal
\1\.
NC long haul seine....... 30................. Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern NC
estuarine system
\1\, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
NC estuarine
system.
STOP NET FISHERIES:
NC roe mullet stop net... 1.................. Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern NC
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
unknown (Southern
migratory coastal
or Southern NC
estuarine system).
POUND NET FISHERIES:
VA pound net............. 26................. Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern migratory
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Northern
NC estuarine
system, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
Migratory coastal
\1\.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY III
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
Caribbean gillnet........ >991............... None documented in
the most recent
five years of data.
DE River inshore gillnet. unknown............ None documented in
the most recent
five years of data.
Long Island Sound inshore unknown............ None documented in
gillnet. the most recent
five years of data.
RI, southern MA (to unknown............ None documented in
Monomoy Island), and NY the most recent
Bight (Raritan and Lower five years of data.
NY Bays) inshore gillnet.
Southeast Atlantic unknown............ Bottlenose dolphin,
inshore gillnet. Northern SC
estuarine system.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
Atlantic shellfish bottom >58................ None documented.
trawl.
Page 5368
Gulf of Mexico butterfish 2.................. Bottlenose dolphin,
trawl. Northern GMX
oceanic, Bottlenose
dolphin, Northern
GMX continental
shelf.
Gulf of Mexico mixed 20................. None documented.
species trawl.
GA cannonball jellyfish 1.................. Bottlenose dolphin,
trawl. SC/GA coastal.
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES:
Finfish aquaculture...... 48................. Harbor seal, WNA.
Shellfish aquaculture.... unknown............ None documented.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
Gulf of Maine Atlantic >7................. Harbor seal, WNA,
herring purse seine. Gray seal, WNA.
Gulf of Maine menhaden >2................. None documented.
purse seine.
FL West Coast sardine 10................. Bottlenose dolphin,
purse seine. Eastern GMX
coastal.
U.S. Atlantic tuna purse 5.................. Long-finned pilot
seine *. whale, WNA, Short-
finned pilot whale,
WNA.
LONGLINE/HOOK-AND-LINE
FISHERIES:
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic >1,207............. None documented.
bottom longline/hook-and-
line.
Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid- 2,846.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
Atlantic tuna, shark, WNA offshore,
swordfish hook-and-line/ Humpback whale,
harpoon.. Gulf of Maine.
Southeastern U.S. >5,000............. Bottlenose dolphin,
Atlantic, Gulf of GMX continental
Mexico, and Caribbean shelf.
snapper-grouper and
other reef fish bottom
longline/hook-and-line.
Southeastern U.S. 39................. Bottlenose dolphin,
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico Eastern GMX
shark bottom longline/ coastal, Bottlenose
hook-and-line. dolphin, Northern
GMX continental
shelf.
Southeastern U.S. 680................ None documented.
Atlantic, Gulf of
Mexico, and Caribbean
pelagic hook-and-line/
harpoon.
U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of unknown............ None documented.
Mexico trotline.
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:
Caribbean mixed species >501............... None documented.
trap/pot.
Caribbean spiny lobster >197............... None documented.
trap/pot.
FL spiny lobster trap/pot 1,268.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
Biscayne Bay
estuarine
Bottlenose dolphin,
Central FL coastal,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, FL Bay
estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
FL Keys.
Gulf of Mexico blue crab 4,113.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
trap/pot. Barataria Bay,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, GMX bay,
sound, estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Mississippi Sound,
Lake Borgne, Bay
Boudreau,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Western
GMX coastal, West
Indian manatee, FL.
Gulf of Mexico mixed unknown............ None documented.
species trap/pot.
Southeastern U.S. 10................. None documented.
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico
golden crab trap/pot.
U.S. Mid-Atlantic eel unknown............ None documented.
trap/pot.
STOP SEINE/WEIR/POUND NET/
FLOATING TRAP/FYKE NET
FISHERIES:
Gulf of Maine herring and >1................. Harbor porpoise, GME/
Atlantic mackerel stop BF, Harbor seal,
seine/weir. WNA, Minke whale,
Canadian east
coast, Atlantic
white-sided
dolphin, WNA.
U.S. Mid-Atlantic crab 2,600.............. None documented.
stop seine/weir.
U.S. Mid-Atlantic mixed unknown............ Bottlenose dolphin,
species stop seine/weir/ Northern NC
pound net (except the NC estuarine system.
roe mullet stop net).
RI floating trap......... 9.................. None documented.
Northeast and Mid- unknown............ None documented.
Atlantic fyke net.
DREDGE FISHERIES:
Gulf of Maine sea urchin unknown............ None documented.
dredge.
Gulf of Maine mussel unknown............ None documented.
dredge.
Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid- >403............... None documented.
Atlantic sea scallop
dredge.
Mid-Atlantic blue crab unknown............ None documented.
dredge.
Mid-Atlantic soft-shell unknown............ None documented.
clam dredge.
Mid-Atlantic whelk dredge unknown............ None documented.
U.S. Mid-Atlantic/Gulf of 7,000.............. None documented.
Mexico oyster dredge.
New England and Mid- unknown............ None documented.
Atlantic offshore surf
clam/quahog dredge.
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:
Caribbean haul/beach 15................. None documented in
seine. the most recent
five years of data.
Gulf of Mexico haul/beach unknown............ None documented.
seine.
Southeastern U.S. 25................. None documented.
Atlantic haul/beach
seine.
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL
COLLECTION FISHERIES:
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 20,000............. None documented.
Mexico, Caribbean
shellfish dive, hand/
mechanical collection.
Gulf of Maine urchin unknown............ None documented.
dive, hand/mechanical
collection.
Page 5369
Gulf of Mexico, Southeast unknown............ None documented.
Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic,
and Caribbean cast net.
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING
VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT)
FISHERIES:
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 4,000.............. Bottlenose dolphin,
Mexico, Caribbean Barataria Bay
commercial passenger estuarine system,
fishing vessel. Bottlenose dolphin,
Biscayne Bay
estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Central FL coastal,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Choctawhatchee Bay,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, FL Bay,
Bottlenose dolphin,
GMX bay, sound,
estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Indian River Lagoon
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Jacksonville
estuarine system,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Mississippi Sound,
Lake Borgne, Bay
Boudreau,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern FL
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Northern
GA/Southern SC
estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Northern
migratory coastal,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern NC
estuarine,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Southern migratory
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Southern
NC estuarine
system, Bottlenose
dolphin, SC/GA
coastal, Bottlenose
dolphin, Western
GMX coastal, Short-
finned pilot whale,
WNA.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 2: DE--Delaware; FL--
Florida; GA--Georgia; GME/BF--Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy; GMX--Gulf of
Mexico; MA--Massachusetts; NC--North Carolina; NY--New York; RI--Rhode
Island; SC--South Carolina; VA--Virginia; WNA--Western North Atlantic.
\1\ Fishery classified based on mortalities and serious injuries of this
stock, which are greater than or equal to 50 percent (Category I) or
greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent (Category II) of the
stock's PBR.
\2\ Fishery classified by analogy.
* Fishery has an associated high seas component listed in Table 3.
Table 3--List of Fisheries--Commercial Fisheries on the High Seas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine mammal species
Number of and/or stocks
Fishery description HSFCA permits incidentally killed or
injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
Atlantic Highly Migratory 79 Atlantic spotted
Species *. dolphin, WNA,
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX oceanic,
Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore, Common
dolphin, WNA, Cuvier's
beaked whale, WNA,
False killer whale,
WNA, Killer whale, GMX
oceanic, Kogia spp.
whale (Pygmy or dwarf
sperm whale), WNA,
Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA, Mesoplodon
beaked whale, WNA,
Minke whale, Canadian
East coast,
Pantropical spotted
dolphin, WNA, Risso's
dolphin, GMX, Risso's
dolphin, WNA, Short-
finned pilot whale,
WNA.
Western Pacific Pelagic (HI 143 Bottlenose dolphin, HI
Deep-set component) * Pelagic, False killer
caret. whale, HI Pelagic,
Humpback whale,
Central North Pacific,
Kogia spp. (Pygmy or
dwarf sperm whale),
HI, Pygmy killer
whale, HI, Risso's
dolphin, HI, Short-
finned pilot whale,
HI, Sperm whale, HI,
Striped dolphin, HI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY II
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DRIFT GILLNET FISHERIES:
Pacific Highly Migratory 4 Long-beaked common
Species * caret. dolphin, CA, Humpback
whale, CA/OR/WA,
Northern right-whale
dolphin, CA/OR/WA,
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, CA/OR/WA,
Risso's dolphin, CA/OR/
WA, Short-beaked
common dolphin, CA/OR/
WA.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
Atlantic Highly Migratory 2 No information.
Species * *.
CCAMLR..................... 0 Antarctic fur seal.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
South Pacific Tuna 35 No information.
Fisheries.
Western Pacific Pelagic.... 1 No information.
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
CCAMLR..................... 0 None documented.
Page 5370
South Pacific Albacore 9 No information.
Troll.
South Pacific Tuna 4 No information.
Fisheries * *.
Western Pacific Pelagic (HI 22 Blainville's beaked
Shallow-set component) * whale, HI, Bottlenose
caret. dolphin, HI Pelagic,
False killer whale, HI
Pelagic, Humpback
whale, Central North
Pacific, Northern
elephant seal, CA
breeding, Risso's
dolphin, HI, Rough-
toothed dolphin, HI,
Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA,
Short-finned pilot
whale, HI, Striped
dolphin, HI.
HANDLINE/POLE AND LINE
FISHERIES:
Atlantic Highly Migratory 2 No information.
Species.
Pacific Highly Migratory 42 No information.
Species.
South Pacific Albacore 11 No information.
Troll.
Western Pacific Pelagic.... 5 No information.
TROLL FISHERIES:
Atlantic Highly Migratory 1 No information.
Species.
South Pacific Albacore 22 No information.
Troll.
South Pacific Tuna 4 No information.
Fisheries * *.
Western Pacific Pelagic.... 6 No information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY III
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
Northwest Atlantic Bottom 1 None documented.
Longline.
Pacific Highly Migratory 105 None documented in the
Species. most recent 5 years of
data.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
Pacific Highly Migratory 7 None documented.
Species * caret.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
Northwest Atlantic......... 2 None documented.
TROLL FISHERIES:
Pacific Highly Migratory 149 None documented.
Species *.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Terms, Abbreviations, and Symbols Used in Table 3: CA-
California; GMX-Gulf of Mexico; HI-Hawaii; OR-Oregon; WA-Washington;
WNA-Western North Atlantic.
* Fishery is an extension/component of an existing fishery operating
within U.S. waters listed in Table 1 or 2. The number of permits
listed in Table 3 represents only the number of permits for the high
seas component of the fishery.
* * These gear types are not authorized under the Pacific HMS FMP
(2004), the Atlantic HMS FMP (2006), or without a South Pacific Tuna
Treaty license (in the case of the South Pacific Tuna fisheries).
Because HSFCA permits are valid for five years, permits obtained in
past years exist in the HSFCA permit database for gear types that are
now unauthorized. Therefore, while HSFCA permits exist for these gear
types, it does not represent effort. In order to land fish species,
fishers must be using an authorized gear type. Once these permits for
unauthorized gear types expire, the permit-holder will be required to
obtain a permit for an authorized gear type.
caret The list of marine mammal species and/or stocks killed or
injured in this fishery is identical to the list of marine mammal
species and/or stocks killed or injured in U.S. waters component of
the fishery, minus species and/or stocks that have geographic ranges
exclusively in coastal waters, because the marine mammal species and/
or stocks are also found on the high seas and the fishery remains the
same on both sides of the EEZ boundary. Therefore, the high seas
components of these fisheries pose the same risk to marine mammals as
the components of these fisheries operating in U.S. waters.
Table 4--Fisheries Affected by Take Reduction Teams and Plans
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take reduction plans Affected fisheries
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Category I:
Plan (ALWTRP)--50 CFR 229.32. Mid-Atlantic gillnet, Northeast/
Mid-Atlantic American lobster
trap/pot, Northeast sink
gillnet.
Category II:
Atlantic blue crab trap/pot,
Atlantic mixed species trap/
pot, Northeast anchored float
gillnet, Northeast drift
gillnet, Southeast Atlantic
gillnet, Southeastern U.S.
Atlantic shark gillnet *,
Southeastern, U.S. Atlantic,
Gulf of Mexico stone crab trap/
pot. caret
Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan Category I:
(BDTRP)--50 CFR 229.35. Mid-Atlantic gillnet.
Category II:
Atlantic blue crab trap/pot,
Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet
fishery, Mid-Atlantic haul/
beach seine, Mid-Atlantic
menhaden purse seine, NC
inshore gillnet, NC long haul
seine, NC roe mullet stop net,
Southeast Atlantic gillnet,
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic
shark gillnet, Southeastern
U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico
shrimp trawl caret,
Southeastern, U.S. Atlantic,
Gulf of Mexico stone crab trap/
pot caret, VA pound net.
False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan Category I:
(FKWTRP)--50 CFR 229.37. HI deep-set longline.
Category II:
HI shallow-set longline.
Page 5371
Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan Category I:
(HPTRP)--50 CFR 229.33 (New England) Mid-Atlantic gillnet, Northeast
and 229.34 (Mid-Atlantic). sink gillnet.
Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan Category I:
(PLTRP)--50 CFR 229.36. Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf
of Mexico large pelagics
longline.
Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Category I:
Reduction Plan (POCTRP)--50 CFR 229.31. CA thresher shark/swordfish
drift gillnet (>=14 in mesh).
Atlantic Trawl Gear Take Reduction Team Category II:
(ATGTRT). Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl, Mid-
Atlantic mid-water trawl
(including pair trawl),
Northeast bottom trawl,
Northeast mid-water trawl
(including pair trawl).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Only applicable to the portion of the fishery operating in U.S.
waters; caretOnly applicable to the portion of the fishery operating
in the Atlantic Ocean.
Classification
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA) at the proposed rule stage that this rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. No comments were received on that certification, and no new information has been discovered to change that conclusion. Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, and none has been prepared.
This rule contains collection-of-information (COI) requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The COI for the registration of individuals under the MMPA has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control number 0648-0293 (0.15 hours per report for new registrants). The requirement for reporting marine mammal mortalities or injuries has been approved by OMB under OMB control number 0648-0292 (0.15 hours per report). These estimates include the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the COI. Send comments regarding these reporting burden estimates or any other aspect of the COI, including suggestions for reducing burden, to NMFS and OMB (see ADDRESSES and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a COI, subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that COI displays a currently valid OMB control number.
This rule has been determined to be not significant for the purposes of Executive Orders 12866 and 13563.
This rule is not expected to be an E.O. 13771 regulatory action because this rule is not significant under E.O. 12866.
In accordance with the Companion Manual for NAO 216-6A, NMFS determined that publishing this LOF qualifies to be categorically excluded from further NEPA review. Issuance of this final rule is consistent with categories of activities identified in Categorical Exclusion G7 of the Companion Manual, and we have not identified any extraordinary circumstances listed in Chapter 4 of the Companion Manual for NAO 216-6A that would preclude application of this categorical exclusion. If NMFS takes a management action, for example, through the development of a TRP, NMFS would first prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA), as required under NEPA, specific to that action.
This rule would not affect species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA or their associated critical habitat. The impacts of numerous fisheries have been analyzed in various biological opinions, and this rule will not affect the conclusions of those opinions. The classification of fisheries on the LOF is not considered to be a management action that would adversely affect threatened or endangered species. If NMFS takes a management action, for example, through the development of a TRP, NMFS would consult under ESA section 7 on that action.
This rule would have no adverse impacts on marine mammals and may have a positive impact on marine mammals by improving knowledge of marine mammals and the fisheries interacting with marine mammals through information collected from observer programs, stranding and sighting data, or take reduction teams.
This rule would not affect the land or water uses or natural resources of the coastal zone, as specified under section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act.
References
Allen, B.M. and R.P. Angliss, editors. 2016. Alaska Marine Mammal Stock Assessments, 2015. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-323. 309 p.
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Carretta, J.V., E. Oleson, D.W. Weller, A.R. Lang, K.A. Forney, J. Baker, M.M. Muto, B. Hanson, A.J. Orr, H. Huber, M.S. Lowry, J. Barlow, J.E. Moore, D. Lynch, L. Carswell, and R.L. Brownell Jr. 2015. U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessments: 2014. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-549. 414 p.
Carretta, J.V., K.A. Forney, E. Oleson, D.W. Weller, A.R. Lang, J. Baker, M.M. Muto, B. Hanson, A.J. Orr, H. Huber, M.S. Lowry, J. Barlow, J.E. Moore, D. Lynch, L. Carswell, and R.L. Brownell Jr. 2017a. U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessments: 2016. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-577. 414 p.
Carretta, J.V., J.E. Moore, and K.A. Forney. 2017. Regression tree and ratio estimates of marine mammal, sea turtle, and seabird bycatch in the California drift gillnet fishery: 1990-2015. NOAA Technical Memorandum, NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-568. 83 p. doi:10.7289/V5/
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Muto, M.M, V.T. Helker, R.P. Angliss, B.A. Allen, P.L. Boveng, J.M. Breiwick, M.F. Cameron, P.J. Clapham, S.P. Dahle, M.E. Dahlheim, B.S. Fadely, M.C. Ferguson, L.W. Fritz, R.C. Hobbs, Y.V. Ivashchenko, A.S. Kennedy, J.M. London, S.A. Mizroch, R.R. Ream, E.L. Richmond, K.E.W. Shelden, R.G. Towell, P.R. Wade, J.M. Waite, and A.N. Zerbini. 2017. Alaska Marine Mammal Stock Assessments, 2016. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-AFSC-355. 367 p.
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Rone, B. K., A. N. Zerbini, A.B. Douglas, D.W. Weller, and P.J. Clapham. 2016. Abundance and distribution of cetaceans in the Gulf of Alaska. Marine Biology 164:23.
Waring, G.T., E. Josephson, K. Maze-Foley, and P.E. Rosel, editors. 2016. U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stocks Assessments, 2015. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-NE-238. 512 p.
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC). 2015a. Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries. 396 p.
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC). 2015b. Annual Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation Report: Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the American Samoa Archipelago. 202 p.
Dated: February 2, 2018.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service.
FR Doc. 2018-02442 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
