[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 162 (Tuesday, August 22, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48802-48823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7071]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 229
[Docket No. 060330090-6212-02, I.D. 021506B]
RIN 0648-AU19
List of Fisheries for 2006
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is publishing its
final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2006, as required by the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The final LOF for 2006 reflects new
information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine
mammals. NMFS must categorize each commercial fishery on the LOF into
one of three categories under the MMPA based upon the level of serious
injury and mortality of marine mammals that occurs incidental to each
fishery. The categorization of a fishery in 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
requirements.
DATES: This final rule is effective September 21, 2006.
The California sardine purse seine fishery, the Chesapeake Bay
inshore gillnet fishery, and the Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine
fishery are considered to be Category II fisheries on September 21,
2006, and are required to comply with all requirements of Category II
fisheries (i.e., complying with applicable registration requirements,
complying with applicable take reduction plan requirements, and
carrying observers, if requested) on that date.
ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a listing of all Regional
offices.
For collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act, please contact the Office of Management and Budget,
Attn: David Rostker, fax: 202-395-7285 or [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Andersen, Office of Protected
Resources, 301-713-2322; David Gouveia, Northeast Region, 978-281-9328;
Vicki Cornish, Southeast Region, 727-824-5312; Christina Fahy,
Southwest Region, 562-980-4023; Brent Norberg, Northwest Region, 206-
526-6733; Bridget Mansfield, Alaska Region, 907-586-7642; Lisa Van
Atta, Pacific Islands Region, 808-973-2937. 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:
Availability of Published Materials
Information regarding the LOF and the Marine Mammal Authorization
Program, including registration procedures and forms, current and past
LOFs, observer requirements, and marine mammal injury/mortality
reporting forms and submittal procedures, may be obtained at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/mmap, or from any NMFS Regional
Office at the addresses listed below.
NMFS, Northeast Region, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298, Attn: Marcia Hobbs;
NMFS, Southeast Region, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL
33701, Attn: Teletha Mincey;
NMFS, Southwest Region, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach,
CA 90802-4213, Attn: Lyle Enriquez;
[[Page 48803]]
NMFS, Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115,
Attn: Permits Office;
NMFS, Alaska Region, Protected Resources, P.O. Box 22668, 709 West
9th Street, Juneau, AK 99802; or
NMFS, Pacific Islands Region, Protected Resources, 1601 Kapiolani
Boulevard, Suite 1100, Honolulu, HI, 96814-4700.
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
serious injury and mortality of marine mammals occurring in each
fishery (16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(1)). The categorization of a fishery in 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 Stock
Assessment Reports 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. This definition can also be found in the
implementing regulations for section 118 of the MMPA (50 CFR 229.2).
Tier 1: 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 would be placed in Category III (unless those fisheries
interact with other stock(s) in 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, 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.
Tier 2, 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.
Tier 2, 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.
While Tier 1 considers the cumulative fishery mortality and serious
injury for a particular stock, Tier 2 considers fishery-specific
mortality and serious injury for a particular stock. 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).
Since fisheries are categorized 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
categorized 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).
Other Criteria That May Be Considered
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 serious
injury or mortality qualifies for Category II by evaluating other
factors such as fishing techniques, gear used, methods used to deter
marine mammals, target species, seasons and areas fished, qualitative
data from logbooks or fisher 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).
How Do I Find Out if a Specific Fishery is in Category I, II, or III?
This final rule includes two tables that list all U.S. commercial
fisheries by LOF Category. Table 1 lists all of the fisheries in the
Pacific Ocean (including Alaska). Table 2 lists all of the fisheries in
the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean.
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 from NMFS in order to lawfully incidentally take a marine
mammal in a commercial fishery. 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?
Vessel or gear owners must register with the Marine Mammal
Authorization Program (MMAP) by contacting the relevant NMFS Regional
Office (see ADDRESSES) unless they participate in a fishery that has an
integrated registration program (described below). Upon receipt of a
completed registration, NMFS will issue vessel or gear owners an
authorization 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)).
What is the Process for Registering in an Integrated Fishery?
For some fisheries, NMFS has integrated the MMPA registration
process with existing state and Federal fishery license, registration,
or permit systems. Participants in these fisheries are automatically
registered under the MMPA and are not required to submit registration
or renewal materials or pay the $25 registration fee. The following
section indicates which fisheries are integrated fisheries and has a
summary of the integration process for each Region. Vessel or gear
owners who operate in an integrated fishery and have not received an
authorization certificate by January 1 of each new year must contact
their NMFS Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). 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 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
[[Page 48804]]
fishing in Category I and II fisheries for which no state or Federal
permit is required must register with NMFS by contacting their
appropriate Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
Which Fisheries Have Integrated Registration Programs?
The following fisheries have integrated registration programs under
the MMPA:
1. All Alaska Category II fisheries;
2. All Washington and Oregon Category II fisheries;
3. Northeast Regional fisheries for which a state or Federal permit
is required;
4. All Southeast Regional fisheries for which a Federal permit is
required, as well as fisheries permitted by the states of North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Texas; and
5. The Hawaii Swordfish, Tuna, Billfish, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo,Oceanic
Sharks Longline/Set line Fishery.
How Do I Renew My Registration Under the MMPA?
Vessel or gear owners that participate in fisheries that have
integrated registration programs (described above) are automatically
renewed and should receive an authorization certificate by January 1 of
each new year. Vessel or gear owners who participate in an integrated
fishery and have not received authorization certificates by January 1
must contact the appropriate NMFS Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
Vessel or gear owners that participate in fisheries that do not have
integrated registration programs and that have previously registered in
a Category I or II fishery will received a renewal packet from the
appropriate NMFS Regional Office at least 30 days prior to January 1 of
each new year. It is the responsibility of the vessel or gear owner in
these fisheries to complete their renewal form and return it to the
appropriate NMFS Regional Office at least 30 days in advance of
fishing. Individuals who have not received a renewal packet by January
1 or are registering for the first time must request a registration
form from the appropriate Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
Am I Required to Submit Reports When I Injure or Kill 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 Category I, II, or III
fishery must report to NMFS all incidental injuries and mortalities of
marine mammals that occur during commercial fishing operations.
``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. Injury/
mortality report forms and instructions for submitting forms to NMFS
can be downloaded from: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/interactions/mmap_reporting_form.pdf. Reporting requirements and procedures can be
found in 50 CFR 229.6.
Am I Required to Take an Observer Aboard My Vessel?
Fishers participating in a Category I or II fishery are required to
accommodate an observer aboard vessel(s) upon request. Observer
requirements can be found in 50 CFR 229.7.
Am I Required to Comply With Any Take Reduction Plan Regulations?
Fishers participating in a Category I or II fishery are required to
comply with any applicable take reduction plans. Take reduction plan
requirements can be found at 50 CFR 229.30-34.
Sources of Information Reviewed for the Proposed 2006 LOF
NMFS reviewed the marine mammal incidental serious injury and
mortality information presented in the Stock Assessment Reports (SARs)
for all observed fisheries to determine whether changes in fishery
classification were warranted. NMFS' SARs are based on the best
scientific information available at the time of preparation, including
the level of serious injury and mortality of marine mammals that occurs
incidental to commercial fisheries 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 population status and trends,
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, fisher self-
reports, and other information that may not be included in the SARs.
The LOF for 2006 was based, among other things, on information
provided in the final SARs for 1996 (63 FR 60, January 2, 1998), the
final SARs for 2001 (67 FR 10671, March 8, 2002), the final SARs for
2002 (68 FR 17920, April 14, 2003), the final SARs for 2003 (69 FR
54262, September 8, 2004), the final SARs for 2004 (70 FR 35397, June
20, 2005), and the final SARs for 2005 (71 FR 26340, May 4, 2006). All
SARs are available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/.
Comments and Responses
NMFS received 5 comment letters on the proposed 2006 LOF (71 FR
20941, April 24, 2006) from environmental, commercial fishing, and
Federal and state interests. Comments on issues outside the scope of
the LOF are noted, but are not responded to in this final rule.
General Comments
Comment 1: One commenter commended NMFS on the addition of detailed
descriptions of the basis of classification decisions for each fishery
on the 2006 LOF.
Response: In this final rule, NMFS provides additional information
on the basis for classification of each fishery as Category I or II.
The 2006 LOF identifies which stock(s) is responsible for a fishery's
Category I classification, and indicates whether a fishery is
classified as Category II based on serious injury or mortality of a
marine mammal stock(s) or classified by analogy with another fishery
(based on the definition of a ``Category II fishery'' in 50 CFR 229.2).
Comment 2: One commenter stated that in cases where the
distribution of a marine mammal species overlaps with fisheries using
gear types known to interact with that species, the fishery should be
categorized with the presumption that a likelihood of interactions
exists. Also, the commenter stated it is inappropriate to assume that
interactions do not occur based only on fisher self-reporting.
Response: NMFS considers many factors in classifying fisheries, as
directed by the implementing regulations for section 118 of the MMPA
(50 CFR 229.2). In the absence of reliable information indicating the
frequency of mortality and serious injury of marine mammals by a
commercial fishery, the Assistant Administrator determines whether the
incidental serious injury or mortality is ``occasional'' by evaluating
other factors such as fishing techniques, gear used, methods used to
deter marine mammals, target species, seasons and areas fished,
qualitative data from logbooks or fisher
[[Page 48805]]
reports, stranding data, and the species and distribution of marine
mammals in the area, or at the discretion of the Assistant
Administrator (50 CFR 229.2).
Comment 3: One commenter stated that a species should not be
deleted from the list of species incidentally killed or injured for a
particular fishery based on a lack of evidence of interactions within
the last 5 years, as the risk of interactions continues to exist.
Response: The LOF is intended to inform the public of the current
status of commercial fisheries with respect to marine mammal serious
injuries and mortalities. It was never intended that the LOF serve as a
comprehensive document detailing the history of a fishery in terms of
marine mammal interactions. NMFS recognizes that fisheries change over
time and species/stocks should not remain on the list of species/stocks
killed/injured in a certain fishery if there are no longer data to
support inclusion. If observer information for interactions over the
past 5 years is insufficient, NMFS uses the best available information
(including stranding reports and fisher self-reports) to determine when
to delete species/stocks from the list of species or stocks
incidentally killed/injured. Historical information on a fishery's
interactions with a marine mammal stock is presented in the SARs.
Therefore, this information should not be duplicated in the LOF.
Comment 4: One commenter reiterated a previous recommendation on
the 2005 LOF, in which the commenter requested that NMFS describe the
level of observer coverage for each fishery listed on the LOF. The
commenter stated that without this information the reader cannot
discern whether ``no interactions were documented'' means that no
interactions actually occurred or observer coverage was inadequate to
determine interaction levels. Also, such a description would allow
readers to evaluate classifications based on ``analogy''. The comment
used as an example the classification of the CA sardine purse seine
fishery due to its similarity to the CA anchovy, mackerel, tuna purse
seine fishery.
Response: Section 118(c) of the MMPA requires that NMFS include an
explanation of changes to the LOF, the approximate number of vessels or
persons actively involved in a fishery, and the marine mammal stocks
interacting with a fishery in a particular LOF. The best available
information on the level of observer coverage for each fishery and the
spatial and temporal distribution of marine mammal interactions
observed is presented in the SARs. NMFS refers readers to the SARs for
the most current information on the level of observer coverage for each
fishery. Copies of the SARs are available on the NMFS Office of
Protected Resource's Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/.
Additional information on observer coverage in commercial fisheries can
be found on the National Observer Program's Web site: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st4/nop/.
NMFS has not included detailed information on the level, or
percentage, of observer coverage in the LOF because it is generally of
limited use without also including information on the confidence
associated with mortality/serious injury estimates generated from
observer data. Information regarding the Coefficient of Variation (CV)
for stock-specific mortality/serious injury estimates are instead
reported in the SARs.
The example used in the comment is noteworthy because the
``analogy'' upon which classification of the CA sardine purse seine
fishery was based does not require observer data as its basis. This
fishery is similar in many characteristics to other purse seine
fisheries in the general area, and these other fisheries are in
Category II (based upon the best available information from observer
data from 1990-1992). Category II is the default classification for new
fisheries on the LOF when there is little or no information upon which
to base classification; a Category II classification requires
participants to register and carry observers if requested, so that
baseline information regarding incidental mortality and serious injury
levels in the fishery can be determined. Thus, Category II has been
identified as the appropriate classification for those fisheries with
insufficient or unreliable data to support classification.
General information on observer coverage in the LOF could be useful
for the public. For that reason, NMFS will consider adding relevant
information to future LOFs on recently observed fisheries, or fisheries
the agency intends to observe in the near term, in such a way as to
avoid misinterpretation of the information.
Comment 5: One commenter recommended NMFS review all cases where
serious injury or mortality occurred, but where the involved fishery,
the affected stock, or both, was unknown, to determine if potential
misallocation of take could result in misclassification of the relevant
fisheries. If misclassifications are possible, NMFS should develop
alternatives for classifications that ensure the potential risks to
marine mammals are evaluated in a precautionary manner.
Response: If a misclassification were to occur, it is more likely
to err on the conservative side as to minimize potential risks to
marine mammals. For example, evidence of a possible fishery take
through records of stranded animals would alert NMFS to potential
problems with fisheries in the area. NMFS would then evaluate spatial
and temporal cues to discern overlap between stranding reports and
fishing activity, as well as net or gear marks or any other evidence
that might indicate fishery interaction. NMFS would use this
information in determining which fisheries might be involved. Most
often, NMFS has enough indication from fisheries in the area to gauge
potential for certain gear to be a risk to marine mammals, and uses
this information to classify fisheries by analogy to other fisheries
with similar gear in Category II. NMFS may also place observers in
these fisheries to gather data on fisheries for which there is not yet
sufficient information to determine the level of serious injury and
mortality in a given fishery and/or which stocks interact with the
fishery. NMFS continues to collect additional information on marine
mammal stock structure and distribution and potential fishery
interactions, through research on stranded and free-swimming marine
mammals to identify the potential fishery involved and improvements to
observer programs.
Comment 6: One commenter supported observer coverage as the best
way to monitor interactions between fisheries and marine mammals.
Response: NMFS will continue to observe Category I and II fisheries
for monitoring marine mammal interactions. However, NMFS notes that
self-reporting of injuries and mortalities of marine mammals by fishers
is required by the MMPA. For this purpose, NMFS developed the MMAP
Mortality/Injury Report Form, which is available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/interactions/mmap_reporting_form.pdf.
Comment 7: One commenter urged NMFS to prioritize resources for
observer coverage and ensure that resources are allocated to observe
fisheries that have the most interactions with marine mammals and
interactions with the most imperiled species.
Response: As required by section 118(d)(4) of the MMPA, the highest
priority for allocating observers among fisheries would be for those
commercial fisheries that have incidental mortality or serious injury
of marine mammals
[[Page 48806]]
from stocks listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). To the extent practicable, the next highest priority
for allocation would be for those Category I and Category II commercial
fisheries that have incidental mortality and serious injury of marine
mammals from strategic stocks. NMFS also places observers in fisheries
where a take reduction plan (TRP) is in place to monitor incidental
interactions to assess progress toward reducing interactions, to
monitor compliance with the TRP, and to provide information useful to
further reduce serious injury and mortality. NMFS also has observer
coverage in fisheries for other fishery management purposes. In these
cases, the information gathered may also be helpful in determining
mortality and serious injury levels for fisheries that would otherwise
not be a high priority for observer coverage under the MMPA (e.g., the
American Samoa longline fishery).
NMFS will continue to allocate its limited resources for observer
coverage to meet MMPA requirements according to these priorities. NMFS
will also try to make the best use of available resources by using
existing research programs, programs operated by states or other
authorities, or alternative programs where statistically reliable
information can be obtained.
In addition, NMFS has begun work on a National Bycatch Report that
will provide a comprehensive summary of regional and national bycatch
estimates in United States commercial fisheries based on observer data
and fisher reports. The first edition of this report will discuss
impacts and bycatch for fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and sea
birds in a subset of selected U.S. commercial fisheries where data and
estimation procedures are available to support the development of
bycatch estimates. NMFS plans to release the first edition in 2008.
Subsequent editions will expand upon the number of fisheries included.
Comments on Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
Comment 8: The list of marine mammals that interact with fisheries
in Alaska includes threatened and endangered species. One commenter
believes NMFS should convene a Take Reduction Team consisting of the
Alaska Bering Sea/ Aleutian Islands (BSAI) flatfish trawl, BSAI pollock
trawl, BSAI Greenland turbot longline, BSAI Pacific cod longline, and
Bering Sea sablefish pot fishery to examine the impacts of commercial
fisheries on marine mammals, including direct bycatch as well as other
impacts such as those to predator-prey relationships.
Response: Section 118(f) of the MMPA contains provisions for
convening a Take Reduction Team, based on the need for developing and
implementing a Take Reduction Plan (TRP) for individual strategic
marine mammal stocks according to levels of serious injury and
mortality to that stock as a direct result of incidental take. Ideally,
a TRP for each strategic stock that interacts with a Category I or II
fishery would be developed; however, when resources are limited, the
MMPA provides a set of priorities in determining the need for convening
such teams. NMFS resources for developing TRPs are allocated according
to these priorities. The highest priorities specified in the MMPA are
for species or stocks where PBR is exceeded, those with small
population sizes, and those which are declining most rapidly. In the
Alaska Region, there are no Category I fisheries and none of the
strategic stocks that interact with Category II fisheries meet these
highest priorities. Therefore, NMFS does not have plans at this time to
develop a TRP for any marine mammal stocks in Alaska.
Comment 9: One commenter noted that most gillnet fisheries in
Alaska have little or no observer coverage, and reliance on fishers to
report serious injury and mortality in those fisheries is likely to
result in underestimates of serious injury and mortality. Of particular
concern are humpbacks, which are known to occur in areas in which these
fisheries operate. Anecdotal and documented reports of whales being
caught in gillnets occur. Additionally, a humpback entangled in Alaska
fishing gear has been documented in Hawaii. These reports, together
with the gear's risk of incidentally taking marine mammals being
analogous to East coast fisheries, should cause NMFS to elevate
gillnets and purse seine fisheries to higher categories to enable
observer coverage in those fisheries and more properly evaluate their
risk to a variety of cetaceans, including some endangered species.
Response: With the implementation of Section 118 of the 1994
Amendments to the MMPA (60 FR 45086, August 30, 1995), all U.S.
commercial fisheries were evaluated and re-categorized under the
revised two-tier scheme currently used for fishery categorization for
the annual LOF. At that time, very little information was available on
marine mammal-fishery interactions for most of the nearshore fisheries
in Alaska, including gillnet and purse seine fisheries. Reports by
fishermen indicated some level of interaction. However, NMFS considers
this type of information to provide only a minimum estimate of
interactions, and therefore considers it a less reliable indicator of
the level of interaction than observer data. Due to the scarcity of
reliable information, the Alaska set and drift gillnet fisheries were
placed in Category II, based on analogy to gillnets in other regions of
the U.S. known to incidentally entangle marine mammals, particularly
cetaceans. The rationale in placing those fisheries in Category II was
to preserve the ability to place observers in the fisheries to obtain
more reliable estimates of the level of marine mammal serious injury
and mortality, because NMFS may only place observers in Category III
fisheries in voluntary programs or under compelling circumstances.
The NMFS/Alaska Regional Office's Marine Mammal Observer Program
(AMMOP) places observers in each of the Category II nearshore, state-
managed salmon fisheries for two-year periods. Due to limited
resources, only one or two fisheries can be observed at any given time.
Once a fishery is observed, data are analyzed to evaluate the serious
injury and mortality levels and potential risk to marine mammals and
appropriately classify the fishery on the LOF. That fishery will not be
observed again until all the remaining unobserved Category II fisheries
have been observed.
Since 1995, three Category II gillnet fisheries have been observed:
the Cook Inlet set gillnet (1999-2000), Cook Inlet drift gillnet (1999-
2000), and Kodiak set gillnet (2002, 2005) fisheries. Observer data
collected in those fisheries have resulted in the retention of the
Kodiak set gillnet and the Cook Inlet drift gillnet fisheries in
Category II, and the re-categorization of the Cook Inlet set gillnet
fishery to Category III. The Yakutat set gillnet fishery will be
observed in 2007-2008.
The Alaska Regional Office maintains a record of marine mammals,
including humpbacks, reported or observed entangled in fishing gear.
This information is useful in monitoring the level of marine mammal-
fishery interactions, but is not as statistically reliable as observer
data. None of the currently available information indicates that
reclassifying any of the Category II gillnet fisheries to Category I is
warranted. The existing Category II fisheries are already eligible for
observer coverage, and NMFS intends to place observer coverage in those
fisheries as resources become available.
Comment 10: One commenter recommended NMFS undertake a more
complete investigation of interactions with marine mammals in the
Western
[[Page 48807]]
Pacific squid jig fishery and reclassify the fishery if warranted.
Response: There are no documented marine mammal serious injuries or
mortalities incidental to the Western Pacific squid jig fishery, and
the fishery currently has only 6 participants. NMFS will continue to
consider information about this fishery's potential to interact with
marine mammals, as available. Per the MMPA, NMFS will consider
reclassification options for this fishery as future information
warrants. Further justification for this fishery's classification as
Category III is presented in the proposed rule for the 2006 LOF (71 FR
20941, April 24, 2006).
Comment 11: Two commenters supported the addition of the American
Samoa longline fishery. However, both commenters suggested that the
fishery be classified as Category II, instead of Category III, in order
to ensure that sufficient funds and incentives exist to initiate an
observer program to gather information on the level of interactions
with marine mammals.
Response: Although this fishery is classified as Category III, an
observer program for this fishery was initiated in April 2006 under the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. For more
information, see 50 CFR part 665, which requires vessels participating
in this fishery that are greater than 40 ft (12.2 m) in length to carry
observers, if requested by NMFS. These regulations also establish a
limited entry system for pelagic longline vessels fishing in waters of
the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around American Samoa. Observers
have already completed several trips and, to date, there have been no
observed marine mammal serious injuries or mortalities incidental to
this fishery. NMFS anticipates that observer coverage will reach 20
percent of the qualifying vessels (i.e., those greater than 40 ft (12.2
m) in length) by January 2007. NMFS will reevaluate this fishery's
classification as new information, including that gathered by the
observer program, becomes available.
Comment 12: NMFS proposes to add three new Category III aquaculture
fisheries in the Pacific Ocean. Two commenters suggested NMFS monitor
aquaculture fisheries operations to characterize the rate and impact of
interactions with marine mammals. Specifically, one commenter indicated
a need for on-site observers for net pen fisheries due to past
deliberate killings of marine mammals by net pen fishery operators, and
for grow out pens due to the potential entanglement risks to cetaceans.
Response: NMFS plans to further evaluate aquaculture facilities
operating in coastal and offshore areas, especially off California, to
characterize the fisheries, including potential or known interactions
with marine mammals. Based on the characterization of grow out pen
fisheries, grow out pens occurring in deep water may pose a risk to
cetaceans. Possible monitoring approaches for aquaculture fisheries
include volunteer or mandatory reporting requirements by facilities to
NMFS or the relevant state fishery management agency. NMFS will
continue to investigate intentional killings of marine mammals in
commercial fishery operations, as prohibited in implementing
regulations for section 118 of the MMPA (50 CFR 229.3(f)).
Comments on Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
Caribbean
Comment 13: Four commenters supported the proposed reclassification
of the Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet fishery and the Mid-Atlantic
menhaden purse seine fishery.
Response: Reclassification of the Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet
fishery and the Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine fishery from Category
III to Category II is warranted, based on information presented in the
2006 proposed LOF.
Comment 14: One commenter stated that the Atlantic Ocean,
Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline fishery came under
limited access in 1999 and overall effort has diminished since 1996.
The commenter suggested NMFS revise the estimated number of active
participants in the to 94, the number of actively fishing vessels
reported in 2005.
Response: NMFS has updated the number of participants in the
fishery to 94.
Comment 15: One commenter commended NMFS for recognizing
interactions in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico
commercial passenger fishing vessel fishery and recommended NMFS begin
an observer program in this fishing sector, as there are likely
additional species of marine mammals incidentally killed or injured
than those listed in the LOF.
Response: NMFS has initiated an at-sea data collection program
aboard a limited number of commercial passenger fishing vessels as a
pilot program. The results of this program will help NMFS to better
determine the appropriate sampling design and resources required for
increased coverage of this fishery.
Comment 16: One commenter suggested that NMFS subdivide the
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline
fishery into three regional fisheries in the LOF to reflect variations
in geographic region, target species, vessel size, area-specific
regulations, and fishing season. The commenter noted specifically that
the Atlantic portion of the longline fishery should be divided into
northern and southern components with a boundary line at the Florida/
Georgia boundary. This division would be consistent with
classifications of other fisheries in Alaska, the Pacific, and the
Atlantic.
Response: NMFS acknowledges the information provided by the
commenter on potential subdivisions of this fishery and notes that we
addressed similar comments in the final LOF for 1996 (see Comment/
Response 31 in 60 FR 249, December 28, 1995), the final LOF for 1997
(see Comment/Response 37 in 62 FR 33, January 2, 1997), the final LOF
for 1999 (see Comment/Response 18 in 64 FR 9067, February 24, 1999),
the final LOF for 2001 (see Comment/ Response 16 in 66 FR 42784, August
15, 2001), and the final LOF for 2003 (see Comment/Response 29 in 68 FR
41732, July 15, 2003).
NMFS generally characterizes fisheries on the LOF consistent with
the current management structure for the fishery. NMFS will, whenever
possible, define fisheries the way they are defined in Federal,
regional, or state fishery management programs. The pelagic longline
fishery is managed by NMFS as one fishery encompassing all longline
fishing effort targeting highly migratory species that may occur
throughout the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. The
development of management measures to reduce serious injuries and
mortalities of marine mammals in the longline fishery has focused
primarily on those areas where interactions pose particular risk to
marine mammals, without unduly affecting fishery operations in other
areas.
Comment 17: One commenter recommended deleting the Western North
Atlantic (WNA) stock of Atlantic spotted dolphins and the WNA stock of
Pantropical spotted dolphins from the list of stocks that interact with
the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline
fishery. The draft 2005 SARs state no mortalities or serious injuries
have been documented in this fishery, and incidental takes have not
been documented by observers.
Response: The species list for this fishery should include only
those
[[Page 48808]]
species that have been documented as injured or killed in the fishery
for the period 1999-2003. NMFS will review observer data, bycatch
reports, and other relevant data sources for this fishery and propose
any warranted changes to the list of species incidentally injured/
killed in the proposed LOF for 2007.
Comment 18: One commenter stated that NMFS uses speculative data to
assign mortality, and the SARs use an unproven ``pooling'' method based
on data from 1999-2003 to extrapolate estimated annual interactions in
2006 in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics
longline fishery. NMFS further applies a percentage to all extrapolated
estimates based on observer comments, leading to a distortion of
impacts and over-estimates of incidental take based on random and rare
events.
Response: NMFS uses observer data to assign marine mammal mortality
and serious injury to this fishery. The analytical methods used to
extrapolate observed serious injuries and mortalities to annual
estimates of mortality and serious injury are widely accepted and have
been peer reviewed. The 2005 SAR uses 1999-2003 observer data because
it is consistent with the NMFS guidelines for preparing marine mammal
stock assessments. These guidelines are available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/sars/gamms2005.pdf.
Comment 19: One commenter disagreed with NMFS' proposal to remove
the WNA stock of fin whales from the list of species killed/injured in
the Mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery. A lack of documented observations
should not be used to state that interactions do not occur. Also, given
that fin whales occur in the same waters as this fishery and have been
found entangled in gear of unknown origin, the gear could belong to any
fixed-gear fishery.
Response: Observer coverage was placed in this fishery during the
period 1999-2003. To date, NMFS does not have any confirmed, observer
documented interactions between this stock and this fishery. Therefore,
NMFS has removed the WNA stock of fin whales from the list of species
killed/injured in the Mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery.
Comment 20: One commenter supported the reclassification of the
Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine fishery and encouraged NMFS to
implement an observer program for this fishery.
Response: NMFS has reclassified the Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse
seine fishery as a Category II fishery, effective September 21, 2006.
As a Category II fishery, NMFS may place observers in the fishery;
however, initiation of observer coverage is dependent on resources.
Also see response to comment 7.
Comment 21: One commenter recommended NMFS expedite investigations
of Gulf of Mexico bottlenose dolphin stock structure and reevaluate
which fisheries' classifications may be affected by the updated
information.
Response: Bottlenose dolphin stock structure in the Gulf of Mexico
needs to be further defined in order to re-evaluate classification of
the blue crab trap/pot and menhaden purse seine fisheries, as well as
other fisheries that may be interacting with bottlenose dolphins in
this area. NMFS research in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005-2006, as well as
future planned research in this area, will assist in furthering our
understanding of bottlenose dolphin stock structure in the Gulf of
Mexico so as to better evaluate impacts of these and other fisheries.
NMFS will consider these research results in analysis for future LOFs.
Comment 22: One commenter suggested NMFS compare the distribution
of fishing effort in the Southeast Atlantic inshore gillnet fishery
with the distribution of marine mammals (especially bottlenose
dolphins) in the region, and reclassify the fishery as Category II if
overlap occurs to an appreciable degree.
Response: NMFS will continue to monitor fishing effort and evaluate
bottlenose dolphin strandings for evidence of gillnet-related fishery
interactions in and around inshore waters of the Southeast to determine
the need for future reclassification of the fishery.
Comment 23: Three commenters recommended NMFS reclassify gillnet
fisheries operating in the Southeast Atlantic, specifically the
Southeast Atlantic gillnet fishery, as Category I because of their
potential involvement in the January 2006 death of a North Atlantic
right whale calf and to enable NMFS to fully assess their level of
interaction with marine mammals. Response: NMFS determined the January
2006 death of a right whale calf was the result of entanglement and
injury to the whale by gillnet gear in the Southeast U.S. Restricted
Area; however, NMFS has not determined which specific gillnet fishery
was responsible for the interaction. There are two gillnet fisheries
that traditionally operate in this Southeast Atlantic: the Southeast
Atlantic gillnet fishery and the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark
gillnet fishery. Both are currently classified as Category II
fisheries. A fishery classified as Category I is one that is by itself
responsible for the annual removal of 50 percent or more of any stock's
potential biological removal level (50 CFR 229.2). Without definitive
information regarding which fishery was involved, NMFS did not
attribute the death of this right whale calf to either fishery.
Therefore, elevation of the Southeast Atlantic gillnet fisheries to
Category I is not warranted at this time. NMFS continues to classify
these fisheries as a Category II, where they are subject to observer
coverage.
Management measures were implemented following the January 2006
entanglement death of a right whale calf. NMFS issued a temporary rule
effective February 15, 2006, through March 31, 2006 (71 FR 8223,
February 16, 2006), restricting gillnet use in the area as required by
the implementing regulations for the Atlantic Large Whale Take
Reduction Plan (ALWTRP; 50 CFR 229.32(g)(1)). Specifically, the
regulations state that if a serious injury or mortality of a right
whale occurs in the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area during the North
Atlantic right whale calving season (November 15 through March 31) as a
result of an entanglement by gillnet gear, NMFS shall close that area
to gillnet gear for the remainder of the time period (March 31). The
regulations state NMFS shall also close that area to gillnet gear that
same time period in each subsequent year, unless NMFS' Assistant
Administrator revises the restricted period in accordance with 50 CFR
229.32(g)(2) or unless alternate measures are implemented.
Comment 24: Two commenters recommended that NMFS add North Atlantic
right whales to the list of species killed/injured in the Southeast
Atlantic gillnet fishery, as a result of the possibility this fishery
was responsible for the January 2006 death of a right whale calf. In
addition, one commenter recommended that humpback whales be added to
the list of species killed/injured for all fixed gear fisheries in
their range because most gear found on entangled whales cannot be
attributed to a specific fishery.
Response: Right and humpback whales may become entangled in fixed
gears. However, NMFS has not documented any marine mammal mortalities
or serious injuries incidental to any other fixed gears that have not
already been described in this annual LOF. Without reasonable
information regarding which fishery is involved in entanglements of
right and humpback whales, NMFS does not identify all fixed gear
fisheries as being responsible
[[Page 48809]]
for injuries and/or mortalities. However, NMFS will continue to
classify these fisheries as Category II by analogy.
Summary of Changes to the LOF for 2006
The following summarizes changes to the LOF in 2006 in fishery
classification, fisheries listed on the LOF, the number of participants
in a particular fishery, and the species and/or stocks that are
incidentally killed or seriously injured in a particular fishery. The
placement and definition of U.S. commercial fisheries for 2006 are
identical to those provided in the LOF for 2005 with the following
exceptions.
Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
Fishery Classification
The ``AK Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot longline
fishery'' is reclassified from Category II to Category III.
The ``CA sardine purse seine fishery'' is elevated from Category
III to Category II. The proposed 2006 LOF stated that this fishery was
elevated in part by analogy ``to other Category II purse seine
fisheries (e.g., CA anchovy).'' Specifically, the fishery is elevated
in part by analogy with the CA anchovy, mackerel, tuna purse seine
fishery and the CA squid purse seine fishery.
Addition of Fisheries to the LOF
The ``American Samoa longline fishery'' is added to the LOF as a
Category III fishery.
The ``Western Pacific squid jig fishery'' is added to the LOF as a
Category III fishery.
The ``HI Kona crab loop net fishery'' is added to the LOF as a
Category III fishery.
The ``HI offshore pen culture fishery'' is added to the LOF as a
Category III fishery.
The ``CA marine shellfish aquaculture fishery'' is added to the LOF
as a Category III fishery.
The ``CA white seabass enhancement net pen fishery'' is added to
the LOF as a Category III fishery.
Removal of Fisheries from the LOF
The ``HI net unclassified fishery'' is removed from the LOF.
The ``AK miscellaneous finfish pair trawl'' is removed from the
LOF. This was a new fishery in Alaskan waters in 1996 and was
classified as Category II pending additional information on
interactions with marine mammals. It was classified as Category II by
analogy with pair trawl fisheries in the North Atlantic, particularly
the U.S. North Atlantic large pelagics pair trawl fishery, which
demonstrated high levels of mortality and serious injury for some
marine mammal species. NMFS did not propose to remove this fishery in
the proposed LOF for 2006 (71 FR 78, April 24, 2006). NMFS has since
learned that there have been no reported mortalities or serious
injuries of marine mammals in this fishery since its addition to the
LOF. In addition, the fishery is not currently in operation, with the
exception of two currently inactive permits issued by the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game. NMFS will reevaluate the removal of this
fishery if new information on interactions with marine mammals is
presented.
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications
The ``HI tuna fishery'' is renamed the ``HI tuna handline
fishery.''
The ``HI deep sea bottomfish fishery'' is renamed the ``HI Main
Hawaiian Islands and Northwest Hawaiian Islands deep sea bottomfish
fishery.''
The ``HI coral diving fishery'' is renamed the ``HI black coral
diving fishery.''
The ``HI other fishery'' is renamed the ``HI charter vessel
fishery.''
Number of Vessels/Persons
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI gillnet fishery''
is updated to 35.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI opelu/akule net
fishery'' is updated to 12.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI purse seine
fishery'' is updated to 23.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI fish pond
fishery'' is updated to N/A. NMFS is retaining this fishery on the LOF
as there may be participants in the near future.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI throw net, cast
net fishery'' is updated to 14.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI trolling, rod and
reel fishery'' is updated to 1,321.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI lobster trap
fishery'' is updated to 0. Fourteen permits are available if this
fishery reopened.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI aku boat, pole and
line fishery'' is updated to 4.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI inshore handline
fishery'' is updated to 307.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI tuna handline
fishery'' (proposed name change from the ``HI tuna fishery'', see
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications section) is
updated to 298.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI main Hawaiian
Islands and Northwest Hawaiian Islands deep sea bottomfish fishery''
(proposed name change from the ``HI deep sea bottomfish fishery'', see
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications section) is
updated to 387.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI black coral diving
fishery'' (proposed name change from the ``HI coral diving fishery'',
see Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications section)
is updated to 1.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI handpick fishery''
is updated to 37.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI lobster diving
fishery'' is updated to 19.
The estimated number of participants in the ``HI squiding, spear
fishery'' is updated to 91.
The estimated number of participants in the ``AK BSAI Greenland
turbot longline fishery'' is updated to 12.
List of Species That are Incidentally Injured or Killed
California Squid Purse Seine Fishery
Common dolphins, stock unknown, are added to the list of marine
mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed by the CA
squid purse seine fishery.
HI Swordfish, Tuna, Billfish, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and Oceanic Sharks
Longline/Set Line Fishery
The Hawaiian stocks of Blaineville's beaked whales and Pantropical
spotted dolphins are added to the list of marine mammal species and
stocks incidentally injured or killed by the HI swordfish, tuna,
billfish, mahi mahi, wahoo, and oceanic sharks longline/set line
fishery.
HI Inshore Handline Fishery
The Hawaiian stock of bottlenose dolphins is removed from the list
of marine mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed by
the HI inshore handline fishery.
HI Tuna Handline Fishery
The Hawaiian stocks of bottlenose dolphins and rough tooth dolphins
are removed from the list of marine mammal species and stocks
incidentally injured or killed by the Hawaii tuna handline fishery
(proposed name change from ``Hawaii tuna fishery'', see Fishery Name
and Organizational Changes and Clarifications section).
CA/OR Thresher Shark/Swordfish Drift Gillnet Fishery
Corrections are made to errors in the list of marine mammal species
and
[[Page 48810]]
stocks incidentally injured or killed by the CA/OR thresher shark/
swordfish drift gillnet fishery. Specifically, the CA/OR/WA Pacific
coast stock of killer whales is changed to the Eastern North Pacific
offshore stock, and the CA/OR/WA stock of long-beaked common dolphins
is changed to the CA stock. Additionally, the Northern and Southern
species of Pacific white-sided dolphins are combined to reflect how
these species are currently characterized in the SARs.
WA, OR, CA Groundfish Trawl Fishery
Corrections are made to errors in the list of marine mammal species
and stocks injured or killed incidental to the WA, OR, CA groundfish
trawl fishery. Specifically, the Central North Pacific stock of Pacific
white-sided dolphins is changed to the CA/OR/WA stock, and the Western
stock of Steller sea lions is changed to the Eastern stock.
Alaska Fisheries
The 2004 LOF revised the Federally managed fisheries in Alaska into
more discrete fisheries according to area, gear, and target species in
order to more accurately reflect the fisheries as managed under Federal
Fishery Management Plans. At that time, the marine mammal stocks
associated with the newly delineated fisheries in the LOF were not
revised accordingly. The following marine mammal stocks are added to
the list of species and stocks incidently injured or killed in the
following Federal fisheries.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Flatfish Trawl Fishery
The Eastern North Pacific stock of Northern fur seals, the Bering
Sea stocks of harbor porpoise and harbor seals, and the Alaska stocks
of bearded seals, spotted seals, and walruses are added to the list of
marine mammal species and stocks injured or killed incidental to the AK
BSAI flatfish trawl fishery.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pollock Trawl Fishery
The Bering Sea stock of harbor seals and the Alaska stocks of
Dall's porpoise, minke whales, ribbon seals, and spotted seals are
added to the list of marine mammal species and stocks injured or killed
incidental to the AK BSAI pollock trawl fishery.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod Longline Fishery
The Alaska stock of ribbon seals and the Western U.S. stock of
Steller sea lions are added to the list of marine mammal species and
stocks injured or killed incidental to the AK BSAI Pacific cod longline
fishery.
AK Gulf of Alaska Sablefish Longline Fishery
The Eastern U.S. stock of Steller sea lions and the North Pacific
stock of sperm whales are added to the list of marine mammal species
and stocks injured or killed incidental to the AK GOA sablefish
longline fishery.
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific Cod Trawl Fishery
The Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions and the Bering Sea
stock of harbor seals are added to the list of marine mammal species
and stocks injured or killed incidental to the AK BSAI Pacific cod
trawl fishery.
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific Cod Trawl Fishery
The Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions is added to the list of
marine mammal species and stocks injured or killed incidental to the AK
GOA Pacific cod trawl fishery.
AK Gulf of Alaska Pollock Trawl Fishery
The Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions, the Northeast Pacific
stock of fin whales, and the North Pacific stock of Northern elephant
seals are added to the list of marine mammal species and stocks injured
or killed incidental to the AK GOA pollock trawl fishery.
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific Cod Pot Fishery
The GOA stock of harbor seals are added to the list of marine
mammal species and stocks injured or killed incidental to the AK GOA
Pacific cod pot fishery.
AK, WA, OR, CA Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel Fishery
The Eastern and Western U.S. stocks of Steller sea lions and an
unknown stock of killer whales are added to the list of marine mammal
species and stocks injured or killed incidental to the AK, WA, OR, CA
commercial passenger fishing vessel fishery.
AK Southeast Alaska Crab Pot Fishery
The Central North Pacific (Southeast AK) stock of humpback whales
is added to the list of marine mammal species and stocks injured or
killed incidental to the AK Southeast Alaska crab pot fishery.
AK Southeast Alaska Shrimp Pot Fishery
The Central North Pacific (Southeast AK) stock of humpback whales
is added to the list of marine mammal species and stocks injured or
killed incidental to the AK Southeast Alaska shrimp pot fishery.
AK Yakutat Salmon Set Gillnet Fishery
The Central North Pacific (Southeast AK) stock of humpback whales
is added to the list of marine mammal species and stocks injured or
killed incidental to the AK Yakutat salmon set gillnet fishery.
AK Kodiak Salmon Set Gillnet Fishery
The Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions is added to the list of
marine mammal species and stocks injured or killed incidental to the AK
Kodiak salmon set gillnet fishery.
Alaska Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Flatfish Trawl Fishery
The Eastern North Pacific transient stock of killer whales is
removed from the list of marine mammals species and stocks injured or
killed in the Alaska BSAI flatfish trawl fishery.
Alaska Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pollock Trawl Fishery
The Eastern North Pacific resident stock of killer whales is
removed from the list of marine mammals species and stocks incidentally
injured or killed in the Alaska BSAI pollock trawl fishery.
Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
Caribbean
Fishery Classification
The ``Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet fishery'' is elevated from
Category III to Category II.
The ``Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine fishery'' is elevated from
Category III to Category II.
Addition of Fisheries to the LOF
The ``Southeast Atlantic inshore gillnet fishery'' is added to the
LOF as a Category III fishery.
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications
The list of target species associated with the ``Southeast Atlantic
gillnet fishery'' is expanded to include the following target species:
king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, whiting, bluefish, pompano, spot,
croaker, little tunny, bonita, jack crevalle, and cobia. Atlantic
sturgeon are listed as a species of concern under the ESA and are also
managed under a fishery management plan. A moratorium on possession and
harvest of this species currently exists throughout the U.S. East
Coast. Additionally, fishing for shad in ocean waters is prohibited by
Southeast coastal states and is therefore no longer
[[Page 48811]]
included as a target species of the Southeast Atlantic gillnet fishery.
Number of Vessels/Persons
The estimated number of participants in the ``Atlantic Ocean,
Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline fishery'' is updated
to 94.
List of Species That are Incidentally Injured or Killed
Mid-Atlantic Gillnet Fishery
The Western North Atlantic stock of fin whales is removed from the
list of marine mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed
incidental to the Mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery.
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Commercial Passenger Fishing
Vessel Fishery
Several bottlenose dolphin stocks are added to the list of marine
mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed incidental to
the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean commercial passenger
fishing vessel fishery. These bottlenose dolphin stocks include the
Western North Atlantic coastal, Eastern Gulf of Mexico coastal,
Northern Gulf of Mexico coastal, and Western Gulf of Mexico coastal.
Northeast Bottom Trawl Fishery
The Western North Atlantic offshore stock of bottlenose dolphins
and the Western North Atlantic stock of striped dolphins are removed
from the list of marine mammal species and stocks injured or killed
incidental to the Northeast bottom trawl fishery.
List of Fisheries
The following two tables list U.S. commercial fisheries according
to their assigned categories under section 118 of the MMPA. The
estimated number of vessels/participants is expressed in terms of the
number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this
information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or
persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent
information is available on the number of participants in a fishery,
the number from the most recent LOF is used.
The tables also list the marine mammal species and stocks that are
incidentally killed or injured in each fishery based on observer data,
logbook data, stranding reports, and fisher reports. This list includes
all species or stocks known to experience injury or mortality in a
given fishery, but also includes species or stocks for which there are
anecdotal records of interaction. Additionally, species identified by
logbook entries may not be verified. Not all species or stocks
identified are the reason for a fishery's placement in a given
category. NMFS has designated those stocks that are responsible for a
current fishery's classification by a ``\1\.
There are several fisheries classified in Category II that have no
recently documented interactions with marine mammals, or interactions
that did not result in a serious injury or mortality. Justifications
for placement of these fisheries, which are greater than 1 percent of a
stock's PBR level, are by analogy to other gear types that are known to
cause mortality or serious injury of marine mammals, as discussed in
the final LOF for 1996 (60 FR 67063, December 28, 1995), and according
to factors listed in the definition of a ``Category II fishery'' in 50
CFR 229.2. NMFS has designated those fisheries originally listed by
analogy in Tables 1 and 2 by a ``\2\'' after that fishery's name.
Table 1 lists commercial fisheries in the Pacific Ocean (including
Alaska); Table 2 lists commercial fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf
of Mexico, and Caribbean.
Table 1.--List of Fisheries Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
of Marine mammal species and
Fishery Description vessels/ stocks incidentally
persons killed/injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category I
-------------------------------- --------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA angel shark/halibut and 58 California sea lion, U.S.
other species set gillnet (> Harbor seal, CA
3.5 in. mesh) Harbor porpoise, Central
CA\1\
Long-beaked common
dolphin, CA
Northern elephant seal,
CA breeding Sea otter,
CA
Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48812]]
CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish 85 Baird's beaked whale, CA/
drift gillnet ([gteqt] 14 in. OR/WA
mesh) Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/
WA offshore
California sea lion, U.S.
Cuvier's beaked whale, CA/
OR/WA
Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/WA
Fin whale, CA/OR/WA
Gray whale, Eastern North
Pacific
Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA-
Mexico
Killer whale, Eastern
North Pacific offshore
Long-beaked common
dolphin, CA
Mesoplodont beaked whale,
CA/OR/WA
Northern elephant seal,
CA breeding
Northern fur seal, San
Miguel Island
Northern right-whale
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
Pygmy sperm whale, CA/OR/
WA
Risso's dolphin, CA/OR/WA
Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
Short-finned pilot whale,
CA/OR/WA\1\
Sperm whale, CA/OR/WA
Steller sea lion, Eastern
U.S.
Striped dolphin, CA/OR/WA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI swordfish, tuna, billfish, 140 Blainville's beaked
mahi mahi, wahoo, oceanic whale, HI
sharks longline/set line Bottlenose dolphin, HI
False killer whale, HI\1\
Humpback whale, Central
North Pacific
Pantropical spotted
dolphin, HI
Risso's dolphin, HI
Short-finned pilot whale,
HI
Spinner dolphin, HI
Sperm whale, HI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category II
-------------------------------- --------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bristol Bay salmon drift 1,903 Beluga whale, Bristol Bay
gillnet\2\ Gray whale, Eastern North
Pacific
Harbor seal, Bering Sea
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, North Pacific
Spotted seal, AK
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bristol Bay salmon set 1,014 Beluga whale, Bristol Bay
gillnet\2\ Gray whale, Eastern North
Pacific
Harbor seal, Bering Sea
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
Spotted seal, AK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Cook Inlet salmon drift 576 Beluga whale, Cook Inlet
gillnet Dall's porpoise, AK
Harbor porpoise, GOA\1\
Harbor seal, GOA
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Kodiak salmon set gillnet 188 Harbor porpoise, GOA\1\
Harbor seal, GOA
Sea otter, Southwest AK
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Metlakatla/Annette Island 60 None documented
salmon drift gillnet\2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48813]]
AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands 164 Dall's porpoise, AK
salmon drift gillnet\2\ Harbor porpoise, GOA
Harbor seal, GOA
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands 116 Harbor porpoise, Bering
salmon set gillnet\2\ Sea
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Prince William Sound salmon 541 Dall's porpoise, AK
drift gillnet Harbor porpoise, GOA\1\
Harbor seal, GOA
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, North Pacific
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast salmon drift 481 Dall's porpoise, AK
gillnet Harbor porpoise,
Southeast AK
Harbor seal, Southeast AK
Humpback whale, Central
North Pacific\1\
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, North Pacific
Steller sea lion, Eastern
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Yakutat salmon set 170 Gray whale, Eastern North
gillnet\2\ Pacific
Harbor seal, Southeast AK
Humpback whale, Central
North Pacific (Southeast
AK)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA yellowtail, barracuda, white 24 California sea lion, U.S.
seabass, and tuna drift Long-beaked common
gillnet fishery (mesh size > dolphin, CA
3.5 inches and < 14 inches)\2\ Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Puget Sound Region salmon 210 Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/WA
drift gillnet (includes all Harbor porpoise, inland
inland waters south of US- WA\1\
Canada border and eastward of Harbor seal, WA inland
the Bonilla-Tatoosh line-
Treaty Indian fishing is
excluded)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast salmon purse seine 416 Humpback whale, Central
North Pacific\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA anchovy, mackerel, tuna 110 Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/
purse seine WA offshore1
California sea lion, U.S.
Harbor seal, CA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA sardine purse seine\2\ 110 California sea lion, U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA squid purse seine 65 Common dolphin, unknown
Short-finned pilot whale,
CA/OR/WA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 26 Bearded seal, AK
flatfish trawl Harbor porpoise, Bering
Sea
Harbor seal, Bering Sea
Killer whale, AK
resident\1\
Northern fur seal,
Eastern North Pacific
Spotted seal, AK
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.\1\
Walrus, AK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 120 Dall's porpoise, AK
pollock trawl Harbor seal, AK
Humpback whale, Central
North Pacific\1\
Humpback whale, Western
North Pacific\1\
Killer whale, Eastern
North Pacific, GOA,
Aleutian Islands, and
Bering Sea transient\1\
Minke whale, AK
Ribbon seal, AK
Spotted seal, AK
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48814]]
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 114 Killer whale, AK
Pacific cod longline resident\1\
Killer whale, Eastern
North Pacific, GOA,
Aleutian Islands, and
Bering Sea transient\1\
Ribbon seal, AK
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA pelagic longline\2\ 6 California sea lion, U.S.
Risso's dolphin, CA/OR/WA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR swordfish floating 0 None documented
longline\2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR blue shark floating 1 None documented
longline\2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP ............ .........................
FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea sablefish pot 6 Humpback whale, Central
North Pacific\1\
Humpback whale, Western
North Pacific\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category III
-------------------------------- --------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Cook Inlet salmon set 745 Beluga whale, Cook Inlet
gillnet Dall's porpoise, AK
Harbor porpoise, GOA
Harbor seal, GOA
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Kuskokwim, Yukon, Norton 1,922 Harbor porpoise, Bering
Sound, Kotzebue salmon gillnet Sea
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish set 3 Steller sea lion, Western
gillnet U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Prince William Sound salmon 30 Harbor seal, GOA
set gillnet Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK roe herring and food/bait 2,034 None documented
herring gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA set and drift gillnet 341 None documented
fisheries that use a stretched
mesh size of 3.5 in or less
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hawaii gillnet 35 Bottlenose dolphin, HI
Spinner dolphin, HI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Grays Harbor salmon drift 24 Harbor seal, OR/WA coast
gillnet (excluding treaty
Tribal fishing)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR herring, smelt, shad, 913 None documented
sturgeon, bottom fish, mullet,
perch, rockfish gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR lower Columbia River 110 California sea lion,
(includes tributaries) drift U.S.Harbor seal, OR/WA
gillnet coast
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Willapa Bay drift gillnet 82 Harbor seal, OR/WA coast
Northern elephant seal,
CA breeding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE, BEACH SEINE, ROUND ............
HAUL AND THROW NET FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Metlakatla salmon purse 10 None documented
seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish beach 1 None documented
seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish purse 3 None documented
seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid purse seine 2 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK roe herring and food/bait 8 None documented
herring beach seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48815]]
AK roe herring and food/bait 624 None documented
herring purse seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK salmon beach seine 34 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK salmon purse seine (except 953 Harbor seal, GOA
Southeast Alaska, which is in
Category II)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA herring purse seine 100 California sea lion, U.S.
Harbor seal, CA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI Kona crab loop net 42 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI opelu/akule net 12 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI purse seine 23 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI throw net, cast net 14 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA (all species) beach seine or 235 None documented
drag seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR herring, smelt, squid 130 None documented
purse seine or lampara
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA salmon purse seine 440 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA salmon reef net 53 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIP NET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA squid dip net 115 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR smelt, herring dip net 119 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA marine shellfish aquaculture unknown None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA salmon enhancement rearing >1 None documented
pen
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA white seabass enhancement 13 California sea lion, U.S.
net pens
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI offshore pen culture 2 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR salmon ranch 1 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR salmon net pens 14 California sea lion, U.S.
Harbor seal, WA inland
waters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TROLL FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK North Pacific halibut, AK 1,530 (330 None documented
bottom fish, WA, OR, CA AK)
albacore, groundfish, bottom
fish, CA halibut non-salmonid
troll fisheries
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK salmon troll 2,335 Steller sea lion, Eastern
U.S. Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa tuna troll < 50 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA/OR/WA salmon troll 4,300 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commonwealth of the Northern 50 None documented
Mariana Islands tuna troll
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guam tuna troll 50 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI trolling, rod and reel 1,321 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 12 Killer whale, AK resident
Greenland turbot longline Killer whale, Eastern
North Pacific, GOA,
Aleutian Islands, and
Bering Sea transient
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48816]]
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 17 None documented
rockfish longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 63 None documented
sablefish longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska halibut 1,302 None documented
longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod 440 None documented
longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish 421 None documented
longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish 412 Sperm whale, North
longline Pacific
Steller sea lion, Eastern
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK halibut longline/set line 3,079 Steller sea lion, Western
(State and Federal waters) U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid longline 7 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK state-managed waters 731 None documented
groundfish longline/setline
(including sablefish,
rockfish, and miscellaneous
finfish)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa longline 138 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR, CA groundfish, 367 None documented
bottomfish longline/set line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR North Pacific halibut 350 None documented
longline/set line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 8 Steller sea lion, Western
Atka mackerel trawl U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 87 Harbor seal, Bering Sea
Pacific cod trawl Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 9 None documented
rockfish trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska flatfish 52 None documented
trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod 101 Steller sea lion, Western
trawl U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska pollock trawl 83 Fin whale, Northeast
Pacific
Northern elephant seal,
North Pacific
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish 45 None documented
trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK food/bait herring trawl 3 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish otter 6 None documented
or beam trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK shrimp otter trawl and beam 58 None documented
trawl (statewide and Cook
Inlet)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK state-managed waters of Cook 2 None documented
Inlet, Kachemak Bay, Prince
William Sound, Southeast AK
groundfish trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR, CA groundfish trawl 585 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR, CA shrimp trawl 300 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP ............ .........................
FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Aleutian Islands sablefish 8 None documented
pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 76 None documented
Pacific cod pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands 329 None documented
crab pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48817]]
AK Gulf of Alaska crab pot unknown None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod 154 Harbor seal, GOA
pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast Alaska crab pot unknown Humpback whale, Central
North Pacific (Southeast
AK)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast Alaska shrimp pot unknown Humpback whale, Central
North Pacific (Southeast
AK)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid pot 72 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK snail pot 2 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA lobster, prawn, shrimp, rock 608 Sea otter, CA
crab, fish pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR, CA hagfish pot or trap 25 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR, CA crab pot 1,478 Gray whale, Eastern North
Pacific
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR, CA sablefish pot 176 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, OR shrimp pot/trap 254 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI crab trap 22 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI fish trap 19 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI lobster trap 0 Hawaiian monk seal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI shrimp trap 5 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HANDLINE AND JIG FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish 100 None documented
handline and mechanical jig
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK North Pacific halibut 93 None documented
handline and mechanical jig
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid handline 2 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa bottomfish <50 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commonwealth of the Northern <50 None documented
Mariana Islands bottomfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guam bottomfish <50 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI aku boat, pole and line 4 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI Main Hawaiian Islands, 387 Hawaiian monk seal
Northwest Hawaiian Islands
deep sea bottomfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI inshore handline 307 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI tuna handline 298 Hawaiian monk seal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA groundfish, bottomfish jig 679 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Pacific squid jig 6 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARPOON FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA swordfish harpoon 30 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POUND NET/WEIR FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK herring spawn on kelp pound 452 None documented
net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast herring roe/food/ 3 None documented
bait pound net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA herring brush weir 1 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAIT PENS: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48818]]
WA/OR/CA bait pens 13 California sea lion, U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREDGE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastwide scallop dredge 108 (12 AK) None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL ............ .........................
COLLECTION FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK abalone 1 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK clam 156 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA herring spawn on kelp 4 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK dungeness crab 3 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK herring spawn on kelp 363 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK urchin and other fish/ 471 None documented
shellfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA abalone 111 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA sea urchin 583 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI black coral diving 1 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI fish pond N/A None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI handpick 37 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI lobster diving 19 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI squiding, spear 91 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA, CA kelp 4 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR sea urchin, other clam, 637 None documented
octopus, oyster, sea cucumber,
scallop, ghost shrimp hand,
dive, or mechanical collection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA shellfish aquaculture 684 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING ............ .........................
VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT)
FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK, WA, OR, CA commercial >7,000 Killer whale, stock
passenger fishing vessel (1,107 AK) unknown
Steller sea lion, Eastern
U.S.
Steller sea lion, Western
U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI charter vessel 114 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIVE FINFISH/SHELLFISH ............ .........................
FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA finfish and shellfish live 93 None documented
trap/hook-and-line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 1: AK - Alaska; CA -
California; GOA - Gulf of Alaska; HI - Hawaii; OR - Oregon; WA -
Washington; \1\ - Fishery classified based on serious injuries and
mortalities of this stock are greater than 1 percent, but less than 50
percent of the stock's PBR; \2\ - Fishery classified by analogy.
Table 2--List of Fisheries Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean,
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
of Marine mammal species and
Fishery Description vessels/ stocks incidentally
persons killed/injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category I
-------------------------------- --------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48819]]
Mid-Atlantic gillnet >655 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal\1\
Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
offshore\1\
Common dolphin, WNA
Gray seal, WNA
Harbor porpoise, GME/
BF\1\
Harbor seal, WNA
Harp seal, WNA
Humpback whale, Gulf of
Maine\1\
Long-finned pilot whale,
WNA
Minke whale, Canadian
east coast\1\
Short-finned pilot whale,
WNA
White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast sink gillnet 341 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
offshore
Common dolphin, WNA
Fin whale, WNA
Gray seal, WNA
Harbor porpoise, GME/
BF\1\
Harbor seal, WNA
Harp sea\l\, WNA
Hooded seal, WNA
Humpback whale, WNA\1\
Minke whale, Canadian
east coast\1\
North Atlantic right
whale, WNA\1\
Risso's dolphin, WNA
White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf 94 Atlantic spotted dolphin,
of Mexico large pelagics Northern GMX
longline Atlantic spotted dolphin,
WNA
Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
outer continental shelf
Bottlenose dolphin, GMX,
continental shelf edge
and slope
Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
offshore
Common dolphin, WNA
Cuvier's beaked whale,
WNA
Long-finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\
Mesoplodon beaked whale,
WNA
Pantropical spotted
dolphin, Northern GMX
Pantropical spotted
dolphin, WNA
Pygmy sperm whale, WNA\1\
Risso's dolphin, Northern
GMX
Risso's dolphin, WNA
Short-finned pilot whale,
Northern GMX
Short-finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAP/POT FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American 13,000 Fin whale, WNA
lobster trap/pot Harbor seal, WNA
Humpback whale, WNA\1\
Minke whale, Canadian
east coast\1\
North Atlantic right
whale, WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl 620 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
(including pair trawl) offshore
Common dolphin, WNA\1\
Long-finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\
Risso's dolphin, WNA
Short-finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\
White-sided dolphin,
WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Category II
-------------------------------- --------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chesapeake Bay inshore 45 None documented
gillnet\2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48820]]
Gulf of Mexico gillnet\2\ 724 Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
bay, sound, and
estuarine
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Western GMX coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Carolina inshore gillnet 94 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast anchored float 133 Harbor seal, WNA
gillnet\2\ Humpback whale, WNA
White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast drift gillnet2 unknown None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeast Atlantic gillnet\2\ 779 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic 6 Atlantic spotted dolphin,
shark gillnet WNA
Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal\1\
North Atlantic right
whale, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl >1,000 Common dolphin, WNA\1\
Long-finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\
Short-finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast mid-water trawl 17 Harbor seal, WNA
(including pair trawl) Long-finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\
Short-finned pilot whale,
WNA\1\
White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast bottom trawl 1,052 Common dolphin, WNA
Harbor porpoise, GME/BF
Harp seal, WNA\1\
Long-finned pilot whale,
WNA
Short-finned pilot whale,
WNA
White-sided dolphin,
WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAP/POT FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic blue crab trap/pot >16,000 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal\1\
West Indian manatee,
FL\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic mixed species trap/ unknown Fin whale, WNA
pot\2\ Humpback whale, Gulf of
Maine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse 50 Bottlenose dolphin,
seine Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
bay, sound, estuarine
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX coastal\1\
Bottlenose dolphin,
Western GMX coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse 22 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
seine\2\ coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine 25 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal\1\
Harbor porpoise, GME/BF
------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Carolina long haul seine 33 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP NET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Carolina roe mullet stop 13 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
net coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POUND NET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virginia pound net 187 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48821]]
Category III
-------------------------------- ------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean gillnet >991 Dwarf sperm whale, WNA
West Indian manatee,
Antillean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware River inshore gillnet 60 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Island Sound inshore 20 None documented
gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rhode Island, southern 32 None documented
Massachusetts (to Monomoy
Island), and New York Bight
(Raritan and Lower New York
Bays) inshore gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeast Atlantic inshore unknown None documented
gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic shellfish bottom trawl 972 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico butterfish trawl 2 Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX outer
continental shelf
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX continental
shelf edge and slope
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico mixed species 20 None documented
trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, >18,000 Bottlenose dolphin,
Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Western GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
bay, sound, estuarine
West Indian Manatee, FL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finfish aquaculture 48 Harbor seal, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shellfish aquaculture unknown None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine Atlantic herring 30 Harbor porpoise, GME/BF
purse seine Harbor seal, WNA
Gray seal, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine menhaden purse 50 None documented
seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida west coast sardine 10 Bottlenose dolphin,
purse seine Eastern GMX coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Atlantic tuna purse seine 5 Long-finned pilot whale,
WNA
Short-finned pilot whale,
WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic hand seine >250 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/HOOK-AND-LINE ............ .........................
FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic bottom 46 None documented
longline/hook-and-line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid- 26,223 Humpback whale, WNA
Atlantic tuna, shark swordfish
hook-and-line/harpoon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, >5,000 None documented
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
snapper-grouper and other reef
fish bottom longline/hook-and-
line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, <125 None documented
Gulf of Mexico shark bottom
longline/hook-and-line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, 1,446 None documented
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
pelagic hook-and-line/harpoon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48822]]
TRAP/POT FISHERIES ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean mixed species trap/ >501 None documented
pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean spiny lobster trap/ >197 None documented
pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida spiny lobster trap/pot 2,145 Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/ 4,113 Bottlenose dolphin,
pot Western GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
Bay, Sound, & Estuarine
West Indian manatee, FL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico mixed species unknown None documented
trap/pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, 10 None documented
Gulf of Mexico golden crab
trap/pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, 4,453 None documented
Gulf of Mexico stone crab trap/
pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic eel trap/pot >700 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP SEINE/WEIR/POUND NET ............ .........................
FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine herring and 50 Gray seal, Northwest
Atlantic mackerel stop seine/ North Atlantic
weir Harbor porpoise, GME/BF
Harbor seal, WNA
Minke whale, Canadian
east coast
White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic crab stop 2,600 None documented
seine/weir
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic mixed species 751 None documented
stop seine/weir/pound net
(except the North Carolina roe
mullet stop net)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREDGE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine mussel >50 None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid- 233 None documented
Atlantic sea scallop dredge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic/Gulf of 7,000 None documented
Mexico oyster
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic offshore surf 100 None documented
clam and quahog dredge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES: ............ .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean haul/beach seine 15 West Indian manatee,
Antillean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico haul/beach seine unknown None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, 25 None documented
haul/beach seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL ............ .........................
COLLECTION FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, 20,000 None documented
Caribbean shellfish dive, hand/
mechanical collection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine urchin dive, hand/ >50 None documented
mechanical collection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico, Southeast unknown None documented
Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and
Caribbean cast net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING ............ .........................
VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT)
FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 48823]]
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, 4,000 Bottlenose dolphin,
Caribbean commercial passenger Eastern GMX coastal
fishing vessel Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Western GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 2: FL - Florida; GA -
Georgia; GME/BF - Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy; GMX - Gulf of Mexico; NC
- North Carolina; SC - South Carolina; TX - Texas; WNA - Western North
Atlantic; \1\ - Fishery classified based on serious injuries and
mortalities of this stock are greater than 1 percent, but less than 50
percent of the stock's PBR; \2\ - Fishery classified by analogy.
Classification
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration that this rule would not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. For convenience, the
factual basis leading to the certification is repeated below.
Under existing regulations, all fishers participating in Category I
or II fisheries must register under the MMPA, obtain an Authorization
Certificate, and pay a fee of $25 (with the exception of those in
regions with a registration integrated with existing state and Federal
permitting processes). Additionally, fishers may be subject to a take
reduction plan and requested to carry an observer. The Authorization
Certificate authorizes the taking of marine mammals incidental to
commercial fishing operations. NMFS has estimated that approximately
41,730 fishing vessels, most of which are small entities, operate in
Category I or II fisheries, and therefore, are required to register.
However, registration has been integrated with existing state or
Federal registration programs for the majority of these fisheries so
that the majority of fishers do not need to register separately under
the MMPA. Currently, approximately 600 fishers register directly with
NMFS under the MMPA authorization program.
Though this rule would affect approximately 500 small entities, the
$25 registration fee, with respect to anticipated revenues, is not
considered a significant economic impact. If a vessel is requested to
carry an observer, fishers will not incur any economic costs associated
with carrying that observer. As a result of this certification, an
initial regulatory flexibility analysis was not prepared. In the event
that reclassification of a fishery to Category I or II results in a
take reduction plan, economic analyses of the effects of that plan will
be summarized in subsequent rulemaking actions.
This rule contains collection-of-information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of information for the
registration of fishers 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 and 0.09 hours per report for
renewals). The requirement for reporting marine mammal injuries or
mortalities 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
collection of information. Send comments regarding these reporting
burden estimates or any other aspect of the collections of information,
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 collection of information subject to the requirements of
the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
This rule has been determined to be not significant for the
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for regulations to implement section
118 of the MMPA (1995 EA). NMFS revised that EA relative to classifying
U.S. commercial fisheries on the LOF in December 2005. Both the 1995 EA
and the 2005 EA concluded that implementation of MMPA section 118
regulations would not have a significant impact on the human
environment. This rule would not make any significant change in the
management of reclassified fisheries, and therefore, this rule is not
expected to change the analysis or conclusion of the 2005 EA. If NMFS
takes a management action, for example, through the development of a
Take Reduction Plan (TRP), NMFS will first prepare an environmental
document, as required under NEPA, specific to that action.
This rule would not affect species listed as threatened or
endangered under the Endangered Species Act (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
conduct consultation under ESA section 7 for 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.
Dated: August 15, 2006.
Samuel D. Rauch, III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-7071 Filed 8-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S