Therefore, NMFS retains both the MHI insular and NWHI false killer whale stocks on the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I Hawaii deep-set longline fishery. However, large whale fishery interaction assessments are dependent on direct counts of entangled whales, not the fishery per se. How does NMFS determine which species or stocks are included as incidentally killed or injured in a fishery? For fisheries with no observer coverage and for observed fisheries with evidence indicating that undocumented interactions may be occurring (e.g., fishery has low observer coverage and stranding network data include evidence of fisheries interactions that cannot be attributed to a specific Start Printed Page 3030fishery) species and stocks may be retained for longer than 5 years. These waters support valuable commercial, tribal, and recreational fisheries and are also home to many protected species of marine mammals, turtles, and seabirds. ESUs/DPSs of west coast anadromous salmonids was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2015 (80 FR 6695). Tables 1 and 2 serve to provide a description of the fishery's potential effort (state and Federal). That quota was further divided into two equal quotas of 432,500 lb (196,179 kg) for vessels in each of two groups by gear typesvessels fishing with run-around This catch data is used along with captain-reported logbooks in place of observer data to debit vessel accounts. "We've always been like the punching bag for, like, the whale people. This area appeared to be with live bottom and artificial structure and is a known coastal nursery area for this species along the U.S. Atlantic east coast . All other documented lobster interactions were determined to result in non-serious injuries. Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Sharper Picture of Salmon in the Ocean Resets Threshold for Fishing Limits, Coordinated Response Protected Southern Residents From Sunken Ship Leaking Oil, Incidental Take Authorization: NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities in the Pacific Ocean (2023-2028), Incidental Take Authorization: San Mateo County Harbor District's Pillar Point Harbor Johnson Pier Expansion and Dock Replacement Project in Princeton, California, Incidental Take Authorization: City of Santa Cruz Murray St. Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project in Santa Cruz, California, 90-Day Finding on the Petition to List Olympic Peninsula Steelhead as a Threatened or Endangered Distinct Population Segment, Regulations to Authorize Deep-set Buoy Gear under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP), Final EIS Available for Public Review: Proposed Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fisheries: Authorization of Deep-set Buoy Gear, Correcting Amendment for West Coast Groundfish 2023-2024 Harvest Specifications and Management Measures, Advance Notice of Electronic Monitoring Regulatory Program, Proposed Regulations to Implement Proposed Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fisheries to Authorize Deep-set Buoy Gear, Notice of Opportunities to Submit Public Comments on 2023 Ocean Salmon Fisheries, Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program Funding. biennium). Starting with the 2005 SARs, each Pacific and Alaska SAR includes an appendix with detailed descriptions of each Category I and II fishery on the LOF, including the observer coverage in those fisheries. Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 12/13/2022. In other stocks of pantropical dolphins, the only documented fishery-related M/SI in the Northern Gulf of Mexico stock of pantropical are incidental to the pelagic longline fishery (2015 SAR). Ferguson, L.W. For high seas fisheries, Table 3 lists the number of valid HSFCA permits currently held. better and aid in comparing the online edition to the print edition. In January 2019, there was an observed mortality of a false killer whale incidental to the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery that occurred within the Start Printed Page 3034range of the NWHI stock. The groundfish fishery may affect leatherback sea turtles by entanglement in fishing gear. NMFS also reviewed other sources of new information, including marine mammal stranding and entanglement data, observer program data, fishermen self-reports, reports to the SRGs, conference papers, FMPs, and ESA documents. Discarded catch is accounted for by the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program. West Coast Region Species in the Spotlight: Sacramento River Winter-Run Chinook 5:00 The Sacramento River system is home to the only winter-run Chinook salmon in the world. include documents scheduled for later issues, at the request NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, West Coast Division; NOAA General Counsel, Northwest Section; and NOAA General Counsel, Southwest Section December 2021 1 "NOAA" is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system. Covering 317,690 square miles of the eastern Pacific Ocean, and more than 7,000 miles of tidal coastline, as well as the ecological functions within the states vast rivers and estuaries, we build sustainable fisheries, recover endangered and threatened species, maintain healthy ecosystems, and protect human health. Category I: Annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in a given fishery is greater than or equal to 50 percent of the PBR level (i.e., frequent incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals). Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX oceanic. publication in the future. As discussed in the proposed rule, NMFS clarifies its response to Comment #14 in the 2020 Final LOF (85 FR 21079; April 16, 2020). (Federal Register 11 January 2023 [Proposed Rule] Pages 1548-1555) . To ensure ESA compliance for the issuance of IHAs, NMFS consults internally whenever we propose to authorize take for endangered or threatened species. NMFS is requesting comments on this proposed RFD schedule. 1362 (20)) defines the PBR level as the maximum number of animals, not including natural mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal stock while allowing that stock to reach or maintain its optimum sustainable population (OSP). In some cases, more recent information may be available and used in the LOF. In the 2020 LOF final rule, NMFS cites all U.S. undetermined M/SI, potential M/SI prevented by intervention, and North Atlantic right whale entanglement scarring rates as data used for the Category I classification of the Northeast/mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot fishery. Authorization certificates may also be obtained by visiting the MMAP website https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-authorization-program#obtaining-a-marine-mammal-authorization-certificate. In addition, Maine's state and Federal waters lobstermen must declare a lobster zone and are required to fish the majority of gear in their home zone, limiting the spatial footprint of where individual lobstermen can set gear. Response: The LOF is the annual process NMFS conducts to place all U.S. commercial fisheries into one of three categories based on the level of incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals occurring in each fishery. Thus, M/SI of false killer whales of unknown stock within the stock overlap zones must be prorated to MHI insular, pelagic, or NWHI stocks. One killer whale (Gulf of Alaska, BSAI transient stock) M/SI was driving the Category II classification of the BSAI Pacific cod longline fishery. Individuals fishing in Category I and II fisheries for which no state or Federal license or permit is required must register with NMFS by contacting their appropriate Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). The MMPA and implementing regulations (50 CFR 229.6) also include a marine mammal mortality and injury reporting requirement for all Category I, II and III fisheries. The state is currently pursuing a gear marking regime in these exempted waters that may provide additional data about entanglement risk in these areas in the future. SARs are brief reports summarizing the status of each stock of marine mammals occurring in waters under U.S. jurisdiction, including information on the identity and geographic range of the stock, population statistics related to abundance, trend, and annual productivity, notable habitat concerns, and estimates of human-caused mortality and serious injury (M/SI) by source. It transmits that position to a NOAA Fisheries-approved communications service provider. We assimilated more than 4500 unique estimates of published juvenile densities (e.g., fish/m2) in estuarine and floodplain habitats. Measures including closed areas, reduced catch limits, and a shift to catch shares management were implemented. We review federal proposals for land and water development to make sure these activities do not further degrade habitat or harm protected species. Comment 12: AOLA expresses concern that data used in the LOF do not represent the current conditions of the Category I Northeast/mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot fishery nor marine mammal stocks. Caribbean haul/beach seine fishery from 15 to 38 vessels/person. From left: Kourtney Burger and Cory Hom-Weaver in the technology tank at Southwest Fisheries Science Center testing surface buoys for the ADRIFT project. [FR Doc. We also study the impacts of environmental variability and climate change on marine ecosystems and fishery socioeconomics. However, the current implemented measures are not enough to suggest Massachusetts's state waters lobster trap/pot fishery should be split from the Category I Northeast/mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot fishery. 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 notice initiated a 60-day period for the public to provide comments to NMFS related to the status of the species being reviewed. MLA states that according to the 2019 North Atlantic right whale SAR, PBR is 0.8, and M/SI for commercial fisheries is 5.55. 2019. Credit: NOAA/Liana Heberer. Boveng, J.M. NMFS adds the Aleutian Islands stock of harbor seal to the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category III AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Atka mackerel trawl fishery. Further, eligible commercial fisheries not specifically identified on the LOF are deemed to be Category II fisheries until the next LOF is published (50 CFR 229.2). This includes developing and implementing salmon, steelhead, and green sturgeon recovery plans, with a particular focus on habitat, and working with hatcheries along the coast. Learn more about the work of the West Coast Area Offices. The fishery fact sheets summarize LOF classification information for the public and we will review and correct this error. Northeast mid-water trawl (including pair trawl). Together with decision-makers at NOAA, other federal agencies, states, and others, we apply this scientific knowledge to make our environment healthier and improve peoples lives and livelihoods. NMFS adds both the Eastern North Pacific Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea Transient stock, and West Coast Transient stock, of killer whales to the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category II CA Dungeness crab pot fishery. Landed catch is tracked primarily on fish tickets, which are administered by the West Coast States through the Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN). NMFS has classified these fisheries by analogy to other Category I or II fisheries that use similar fishing techniques or gear that are known to cause mortality or serious injury of marine mammals, 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 (i.e., fishing techniques, gear types, methods used to deter marine mammals, target species, seasons and areas fished, qualitative data from logbooks or fishermen reports, stranding data, and the species and distribution of marine mammals in the area). As stated in the 2020 Final LOF (85 FR 21079, April 16, 2020), fisheries are classified based on the gear types used, how the gear is fished, and the behavior of the fishery related to the risk to marine mammals. Red tracers are indicative of the gear marking scheme required for the ALWTRP Northern Inshore Trap/Pot fishery management area, a management area that overlaps Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts state waters. March 18, 2022. Response: In addition to the M/SI included in the SARs, the LOF references data from injury determination reports, bycatch estimation reports, observer data, logbook data, stranding data, disentanglement network data, fishermen self-reports, and anecdotal reports. The documents posted on this site are XML renditions of published Federal The COI for the registration of individuals under the MMPA has been approved by the OMB under OMB Control Number 0648-0293 (0.15 hours per report for new registrants). These differences among the lobster fisheries include: Fishing techniques, gear used, seasons and areas fished, fishermen's observations of right whales and distribution of marine mammals. the timing of BAT evacuation occurred during the known window of parturition for both species in the region based on the occurrence of neonates (25; 15). NMFS West Coast Region's 2018 Guidance on Assessing the Effects of Existing Structures in ESA Section 7 Consultations In 2018, the NMFS West Coast Region (WCR) issued internal guidance (2018 Guidance) on ESA Section 7 consultations for work on existing structures. Because fisheries are classified on a per-stock basis, a fishery may qualify as one category for one marine mammal stock and another category for a different marine mammal stock. Comment 9: The Commission recommends that NMFS reclassify the Category III Hawaii troll fishery as a Category II fishery. Learn more about key issues in our sub-regions. AOLA requests NMFS incorporate more timely data and recent information into the 2021 LOF. NOAA Fisheries and the Council carefully manage salmon bycatch through bycatch guidelines (limits on salmon bycatch by fishing sector). NMFS adds the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands stock of bottlenose dolphin to the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in Category III Caribbean mixed species trap/pot fishery. Given NMFS's assessment in 2012 proposed LOF that interactions were likely `occasional', combined with more recent information, the Commission recommends that NMFS reclassify the Category III Hawaii troll fishery as a Category II fishery. Comment 2: FLC recommends NMFS reclassify the AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Pacific cod longline fishery from a Category II to Category III. SUMMARY: We, NMFS, have completed a status review of the northern right whale under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Additional details regarding categorization of fisheries is provided in the preamble to the final rule implementing section 118 of the MMPA (60 FR 45086; August 30, 1995).Start Printed Page 3036. Response: MMPA section 118 requires individuals participating in a Category I or II fishery to accommodate an observer aboard their vessel(s) upon request from NMFS. Regulatory Branch Chief U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . Below are links to learn about a few of our West Coast species. The West Coast Region Register (ACFR) issues a regulation granting it official legal status. This unique population is cut off from its historical spawning and rearing habitat, and faces many other threats, but efforts are underway to help it recover. Additionally, species identified by logbook entries, stranding data, or fishermen self-reports (i.e., MMAP reports) may not be verified. She has served as Assistant Regional Administrator for Operations, Management and Informations for the last few years. The low numbers, patchy distribution, and preference for rocky habitats of the widow rockfish make this stock difficult to monitor using standard bottom trawl survey . Bottlenose dolphin, HI Pelagic. With a few exceptions, groundfish live on or near the bottom of the ocean. "NOAA Fisheries Service" and the "National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)" are synonymous names for the same agency. NMFS also makes changes to the estimated number of vessels/persons and list of species and/or stocks killed or injured in certain fisheries. Maine gear was involved in a second case in 2004, but it was not the primary entangling gear in this case. West Coast Region . documents in the last year, 26 Therefore, NMFS has classified certain fisheries by analogy to other fisheries that use similar fishing techniques or gear that are known to cause mortality or serious injury of marine mammals, or according to factors discussed in the final LOF for 1996 (60 FR 67063; December 28, 1995) and listed in the regulatory definition of a Category II fishery. Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl (including pair trawl). This includes relying on the SARs, which are peer reviewed by the U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Scientific Review Group. Refer to NMFS No. documents in the last year, 20 that improve habitat. on This table of contents is a navigational tool, processed from the in some extreme cases they may reach ages of 100 years or greater. CA anchovy, mackerel, sardine purse seine, WA/OR herring, smelt, squid purse seine or lampara, WA/OR/CA albacore surface hook and line/troll, AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands groundfish hand troll and dinglebar troll, AK Gulf of Alaska groundfish hand troll and dinglebar troll, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands tuna troll, AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot longline, AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline, AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands sablefish longline, AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands halibut longline, AK state-managed waters longline/setline (including sablefish, rockfish, lingcod, and miscellaneous finfish), WA/OR/CA groundfish, bottomfish longline/set line. Most individual species tend to localize by depth more than latitude. NMFS acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimates may be inflations of actual effort. Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. Bottlenose dolphin, HI Pelagic. MLA alleges that based on these factors, the lobster fishery prosecuted close to shore in Maine is significantly different than lobster fisheries which occur in offshore Lobster Management Area 3 or off of New Jersey. Thus, the comparison of the estimated annual M/SI does not provide a meaningful basis for classifying this fishery, given the likely population structure found in the Southeast Alaska (SEAK) harbor porpoise stock, as described in the 2019 SAR. NMFS removes the Western North Atlantic offshore stock of bottlenose dolphin from the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category III Gulf of Maine, U.S. mid-Start Printed Page 3040Atlantic tuna, shark, swordfish hook-and line/harpoon fishery. Non-trawl (commercial, including limited entry and open access), Specifications of OFL, ABC, ACL, ACT and Fishery HG, Sablefish North of 36 N lat. This rule contains existing collection-of-information (COI) requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act and would not impose additional or new COI requirements.
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