[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 111 (Thursday, June 11, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27739-27766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13714]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
50 CFR Part 229
[Docket No. 090218194-9196-01]
RIN 0648-AX65
List of Fisheries for 2010
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its
proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2010, as required by the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The proposed LOF for 2010 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: Comments must be received by August 10, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Send comments by any one of the following methods.
(1) Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments through
the Federal eRulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov (follow
instructions for submitting comments).
(2) Mail: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation
Division, Attn: List of Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Comments regarding the burden-hour estimates, or any other aspect
of the collection of information requirements contained in this
proposed rule, should be submitted in writing to Chief, Marine Mammal
and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources,
NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or to David
Rostker, OMB, by fax to 202-395-7285 or by email to [email protected].
Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without
change. All personal identifying information (for example, name,
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly
accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or
otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields, if you wish
to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be
accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file
formats only.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a listing of all Regional
Offices.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Andersen, Office of Protected
Resources, 301-713-2322; David Gouveia, Northeast Region, 978-281-9280;
Anne Ney, Southeast Region, 727-551-5758; Elizabeth Petras, Southwest
Region, 562-980-3238; Brent Norberg, Northwest Region, 206-526-6733;
Bridget Mansfield, Alaska Region, 907-586-7642; Lisa Van Atta, Pacific
Islands Region, 808-944-2257. 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/lof/, or from any NMFS Regional
Office at the addresses listed below:
[[Page 27740]]
NMFS, Northeast Region, Fifty five Great Republic 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;
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, Attn: Bridget Mansfield; or
NMFS, Pacific Islands Region, Protected Resources, 1601 Kapiolani
Boulevard, Suite 1100, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700, Attn: Lisa Van Atta.
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 classification of a fishery on the
LOF determines whether participants in that fishery may be required to
comply with certain provisions of the MMPA, such as registration,
observer coverage, and take reduction plan requirements. NMFS must
reexamine the LOF annually, considering new information in the Marine
Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SAR) 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 proposed rule implementing section 118 of the MMPA (60
FR 45086, August 30, 1995).
Because 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 of 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 reports, stranding data, and the species and
distribution of marine mammals in the area, or at the discretion of the
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (50 CFR 229.2). Further, eligible
commercial fisheries not specifically identified on the LOF are deemed
to be Category II fisheries until the next LOF is published.
How Does NMFS Determine which Species or Stocks are Included as
Incidentally Killed or Injured in a Fishery?
The LOF includes a list of marine mammal species or stocks
incidentally killed or injured in each commercial fishery. To determine
which species or stocks are included as incidentally killed or injured
in a fishery, NMFS annually reviews the information presented in the
current SARs. The SARs are based upon the best available scientific
information and provide the most current and inclusive information on
each stock's PBR level and level of interaction with commercial fishing
operations. NMFS also reviews other sources of new information,
including observer data, stranding data, and fisher self-reports.
In the absence of reliable information on the level of mortality or
injury of a marine mammal stock, or insufficient observer data, NMFS
will determine whether a species or stock should be added to, or
deleted from, the list by considering other factors such as: changes in
gear used, increases or decreases in fishing effort, increases or
decreases in the level of observer coverage, and/or changes in fishery
management that are expected to lead to decreases in interactions with
a given marine mammal stock (such as a fishery management plan (FMP) or
a take reduction plan (TRP)). NMFS will provide case-specific
justification in the LOF for changes to the list of species or stocks
incidentally killed or injured.
How Does NMFS Determine the Level of Observer Coverage in a Fishery?
Data obtained from observers and the level of observer coverage are
important tools in estimating the level of marine mammal mortality and
serious injury in commercial fishing operations. The best available
information on the level of observer coverage, and the spatial and
temporal distribution of observed marine mammal interactions, is
presented in the SARs. Starting with the 2005 SARs, each SAR includes
an appendix with detailed descriptions of each Category I and II
fishery in the LOF, including observer coverage. The SARs generally do
not provide detailed information on observer coverage in Category III
fisheries because, under the
[[Page 27741]]
MMPA, Category III fisheries are not required to accommodate observers
aboard vessels due to the remote likelihood of mortality and serious
injury of marine mammals. Information presented in the SARs' appendices
includes: level of observer coverage, target species, levels of fishing
effort, spatial and temporal distribution of fishing effort,
characteristics of fishing gear and operations, management and
regulations, and interactions with marine mammals. Copies of the SARs
are available on the NMFS Office of Protected Resource's website at:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. Additional information on observer
programs in commercial fisheries can be found on the NMFS National
Observer Program's website: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st4/nop/.
How Do I Find Out if a Specific Fishery is in Category I, II, or III?
This proposed rule includes three 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;
Table 3 lists all U.S.-authorized fisheries on the high seas. A fourth
table, Table 4, lists all fisheries managed under applicable take
reduction plans or teams.
Are High Seas Fisheries Included on the LOF?
Beginning with the 2009 LOF, NMFS includes high seas fisheries in
Table 3 of the LOF, along with the number of valid High Sea Fishing
Compliance Act (HSFCA) permits in each fishery. As of 2004, NMFS issues
HSFCA permits only for high seas fisheries analyzed in accordance with
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species
Act (ESA). The authorized high seas fisheries are broad in scope and
encompass multiple specific fisheries identified by gear type. For the
purposes of the LOF, the high seas fisheries are subdivided based on
gear type (e.g., trawl, longline, purse seine, gillnet, troll, etc.) to
provide more detail on composition of effort within these fisheries.
Many fisheries operate in both U.S. waters and on the high seas,
creating some overlap between the fisheries listed in Tables 1 and 2
and those in Table 3. In these cases, the high seas component of the
fishery is not considered a separate fishery, but an extension of a
fishery operating within U.S. waters (listed in Table 1 or 2). NMFS
designates those fisheries in Tables 1, 2, and 3 by a ``*'' after the
fishery's name. The number of HSFCA permits listed in Table 3 for the
high seas components of these fisheries operating in U.S. waters do not
necessarily represent additional fishers that are not accounted for in
Tables 1 and 2. Many fishers holding these permits also fish within
U.S. waters and are included in the number of vessels and participants
operating within those fisheries in Table 1 and 2.
HSFCA permits are valid for five years, during which time FMPs can
change. Therefore, some fishers may possess valid HSFCA permits without
the ability to fish under the permit because it was issued for a gear
type that is no longer authorized under the most current FMP. For this
reason, the number of HSFCA permits displayed in Table 3 is likely
higher than the actual U.S. fishing effort on the high seas. For more
information on how NMFS classifies high seas fisheries on the LOF, see
the preamble text in the final 2009 LOF (73 FR 73032; December 1,
2008).
Are Treaty Tribal Fisheries Included on the LOF?
In the final rule implementing section 118 of the MMPA (60 FR
45086, August 30, 1995) NMFS concluded that treaty tribal fisheries are
conducted under the authority of the Indian treaties; therefore, the
MMPA's requirements in section 118 do not apply to treaty Indian
tribes. NMFS stated, `` the rights to fish and hunt are already secured
separately for Northwest tribes pursuant to their treaties with the
United States. NMFS reviewed the relationship of the Northwest Indian
treaties to the MMPA and did not find clear evidence that Congress
intended to abrogate treaty Indian rights. Section 14 of the Amendments
to the MMPA (Pub. L. No. 103-238) states 'Nothing in this Act,
including any amendments to the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
made by this Act -- alters or is intended to alter any treaty between
the United States and one or more Indian tribes.' This provision
clarifies that existing treaty Indian fishing rights are not affected
by the amendments to the MMPA. Therefore, tribal fisheries are
conducted under the authority of the Indian treaties rather than the
MMPA, and the MMPA's mandatory registration systems do not apply to
treaty Indian fishers operating in their usual and accustomed fishing
areas. Since inclusion of the treaty Indian fisheries in the LOF would
also establish an obligation to obtain an MMPA registration under
section 118, NMFS has deleted reference to tribal fisheries in the LOF.
The registration requirements for Category I or II fisheries will not
apply to treaty Indian tribes.'' (60 FR 45086, August 30, 1995.)
During the public comment phase for the proposed 2009 LOF, NMFS
received a comment requesting the LOF be amended to include tribal
fisheries (73 FR 73039, December 1, 2008; comment/response 4). The
commenter stated that because of the subsequent holding of the Ninth
Circuit in Anderson v. Evans, 371 F.3d 475 (9th Cir. 2002) finding that
the MMPA applies to the Makah application to the gray whale hunt, NMFS'
1995 conclusion exempting tribal fisheries from the LOF and the Section
118 authorization process may no longer be valid. NMFS responded in the
final 2009 LOF that the Agency would consider the comment during the
development of future proposed LOFs (73 FR 73039, December 1, 2008;
comment/response 4).
NMFS is evaluating whether or not the 1995 conclusion to exempt
tribal fisheries from the LOF should be changed due to Anderson v.
Evans. At this time, NMFS is seeking public comment on whether or not
to include treaty tribal fisheries on future LOFs during the public
comment period for the proposed 2010 LOF.
Am I Required to Register Under the MMPA?
Owners of vessels or gear engaging in a Category I or II fishery
are required under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(2)), as described in 50
CFR 229.4, to register with NMFS and obtain a marine mammal
authorization to lawfully take a non-endangered and non-threatened
marine mammal incidental to commercial fishing. 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?
NMFS has integrated the MMPA registration process, the Marine
Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP), with existing state and Federal
fishery license, registration, or permit systems for Category I and II
fisheries on the LOF. Participants in these fisheries are automatically
registered under the MMAP and are not required to submit registration
or renewal materials directly under the MMAP. In the Pacific Islands,
Southwest, Northwest, and Alaska regions, NMFS will issue vessel or
gear owners an authorization certificate; in the Northeast and
Southeast Regions, NMFS will issue vessel or gear owners notification
of registry and directions on obtaining 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
[[Page 27742]]
for non-vessel fisheries, in the possession of the person in charge of
the fishing operation (50 CFR 229.4(e)). Although efforts are made to
limit the issuance of authorization certificates to only those vessel
or gear owners that participate in Category I or II fisheries, not all
state and Federal permit systems distinguish between fisheries as
classified by the LOF. Therefore, some vessel or gear owners in
Category III fisheries may receive authorization certificates even
though they are not required for Category III fisheries. Individuals
fishing in Category I and II fisheries for which no state or Federal
permit is required must register with NMFS by contacting their
appropriate Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
How Do I Receive My Authorization Certificate and Injury/Mortality
Reporting Forms?
All vessel or gear owners that participate in Pacific Islands,
Southwest, Northwest, or Alaska regional fisheries will receive their
authorization certificates and/or injury/mortality reporting forms via
U.S. mail, or with their State or Federal license at the time of
renewal. Vessel or gear owners participating in the Northeast and
Southeast Regional Integrated Registration Program will receive their
authorization certificates as follows:
1. Northeast Region vessel or gear owners participating in Category
I or II fisheries for which a state or Federal permit is required may
receive their authorization certificate and/or injury/mortality
reporting form by contacting the Northeast Regional Office at 978-281-
9328 or by visiting the Northeast Regional Office Web site (http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/mmap/certificate.html) and following
instructions for printing the necessary documents.
2. Southeast Region vessel or gear owners participating in Category
I or II 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 will
receive notice of registry and may receive their authorization
certificate and/or injury/mortality reporting form by contacting the
Southeast Regional Office at 727-551-5758 or by visiting the Southeast
Regional Office Web site (http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pr.htm) and
following instructions for printing the necessary documents.
How Do I Renew My Registration Under the MMPA?
Vessel or gear owners that participate in Pacific Islands,
Southwest, or Alaska regional fisheries are automatically renewed and
should receive an authorization certificate by January 1 of each new
year. Vessel or gear owners in Washington and Oregon fisheries receive
authorization with each renewed state fishing license, the timing of
which varies based on target species. Vessel or gear owners who
participate in these regions and have not received authorization
certificates by January 1 or with renewed fishing licenses must contact
the appropriate NMFS Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).
Vessel or gear owners participating in Southeast or Northeast
regional fisheries may receive an authorization certificate by calling
the relevant NMFS Regional Office or visiting the relevant NMFS
Regional Office Web site (see How Do I Receive My Authorization
Certificate and Injury/Mortality Reporting Forms).
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 reporting 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. MMPA Section 118
states that an observer will not be placed on a vessel if the
facilities for quartering an observer or performing observer functions
are inadequate or unsafe, thereby exempting vessels too small to
accommodate an observer from this requirement. However, observer
requirements will not be exempted for U.S. Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean,
Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline vessels operating in special
areas designated by the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan
implementing regulations (50 CFR 229.36(d)). 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 TRP regulations. Table 4 in this proposed
rule provides a list of fisheries affected by take reduction teams and
plans. Take reduction plan regulations can be found at 50 CFR 229.30
through 229.35.
Sources of Information Reviewed for the Proposed 2010 LOF
NMFS reviewed the marine mammal incidental serious injury and
mortality information presented in the SARs for all observed fisheries
to determine whether changes in fishery classification were warranted.
The 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 marine mammal population status, trends, and stock structure,
uncertainties in the science, research needs, and other issues.
NMFS also reviewed other sources of new information, including
marine mammal stranding data, observer program data, fisher self-
reports, fishery management plans, and ESA documents.
The proposed LOF for 2010 was based, among other things, on
information provided in the NEPA and ESA documents analyzing authorized
high seas fisheries, and the final SARs for 1996 (63 FR 60, January 2,
1998), 2001 (67 FR 10671, March 8, 2002), 2002 (68 FR 17920, April 14,
2003), 2003 (69 FR 54262, September 8, 2004), 2004 (70 FR 35397, June
20, 2005), 2005 (71 FR 26340, May 4, 2006), 2006 (72 FR 12774, March
19, 2007), 2007 (73 FR 21111, April 18, 2008), and 2008 (74 FR 19530,
April 29, 2009). The SARs are available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/.
[[Page 27743]]
Fishery Descriptions
Beginning with the final 2008 LOF (72 FR 66048, November 27, 2007),
NMFS describes each Category I and II fishery on the LOF. Below, NMFS
describes the fisheries classified as Category I or II fisheries on the
2010 LOF that were not classified as such on a previous LOF (and
therefore have not yet been defined on the LOF). Additional details for
Category I and II fisheries operating in U.S. waters are included in
the SARs, FMPs, and TRPs, or through state agencies. Additional details
for Category I and II fisheries operating on the high seas are included
in various FMPs, NEPA, or ESA documents.
American Samoa Longline Fishery
The Category II ``American Samoa longline'' fishery operates in
waters around American Samoa targeting tuna (mainly albacore, also
skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye). Wahoo, sharks, billfish, and other
miscellaneous pelagic species are also caught, with most of the sharks
and billfish released. In 2000, the ``American Samoa longline'' fishery
began to expand rapidly with the influx of large (more than 50 ft (15.2
m) overall length) conventional monohull vessels, similar to the type
used in the Hawaii-based longline fisheries. Vessels over 50 ft (15.2
m) may set 1,500 - 2,500 hooks and have a greater fishing range and
capacity for storing fish (8 - 40 metric tons). The fleet reached a
peak of 66 vessels in 2001, and set a peak of almost 7,000 sets in
2002.
The rapid expansion of longline fishing effort within the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) waters around American Samoa prompted the Western
Pacific Fishery Management Council (WPFMC) to develop a limited entry
system for the fishery, implemented by NMFS in 2005. Under the limited
access program, NMFS issued a total of 60 initial longline limited
entry permits in 2005 to qualified candidates, spread among 4 vessel
size classes (72 FR 10711, March 9, 2007): 22 permits issued in Class A
(less than or equal to 40 ft (12.2 m) length); 5 in Class B (40-50 ft
(12.2-15.2 m)); 12 in Class C (50-70 ft (15.2-21.3 m)); and 21 in Class
D (more than 70 ft (21.3 m)). The limited entry program regulations cap
the maximum number of permits to the 60 initial permits issued. Permits
may be transferred, upgraded, and renewed. In 2008, the American Samoa
longline fishery had 28 active vessels. Observers were first placed on
American Samoa longline vessels in April 2006 to monitor protected
species interactions, with observer coverage averaging approximately 6-
8 percent each year.
Under the limited entry program, vessel operators must submit
federal longline logbooks, vessels over 40 ft (12.2 m) must carry
observers if requested by NMFS, and vessels over 50 ft (15.2 m) must
have an operational vessel monitoring system. In addition, vessel
owners and operators of vessels registered to an American Samoa
longline limited entry permit must attend a protected species workshop
annually, carry and use dip nets, line clippers, and bolt cutters, and
follow handling, resuscitation, and release requirements for
incidentally hooked or entangled sea turtles (70 FR 69282, November 15,
2005). There are existing regulations intended to mitigate sea turtle
incidental hookings, and in 2009 the WPFMC recommended additional
measures be implemented to minimize interactions with green sea
turtles, including modifications to gear to place hooks below 100 m
(328 ft) depth and to increase observer coverage (WPFMC 144th Meeting,
March 23-26, 2009). Current regulations include a prohibition on U.S.
vessels greater than 50 ft (15.2 m) in length overall from using
longline gear within 50 nmi around the islands of American Samoa.
American Samoa longline fishery regulations can be found at 50 CFR
665.36-38.
HI Shortline Fishery
The Category II ``HI shortline'' fishery is a small-scale system
operating off the State of HI, and targeting bigeye tuna (Thunnus
obesus) or the lustrous pomfret (Eumigistes illustris). This fishery
was developed to target these fish species when they concentrate over
the summit of Cross Seamount (290 km (180 mi) south of the State of
HI). The gear style is designed specifically to target the aggregating
fish species over seamount structures. The primary gear type used is a
horizontal main line (monofilament) less than 1 nmi long, and includes
two baskets of approximately 50 hooks each. The gear is set before dawn
and has a short soak time, with the gear retrieved about two hours
after it is set. This fishery has no seasonal component and may operate
year-round. There are no specific fishing permits issued for this
fishery. However, all persons with a State of Hawaii Commercial Marine
License (CML) may participate in any fishery, including the ``HI
shortline'' fishery. Of those persons possessing CMLs, shortline
participation has changed from 5 to 11 vessels during 2003 - 2008. From
2003-2008, there was an average of 135,757 pounds (lbs) of fish landed
each year. In 2008 alone, 104,152 lbs of fish were landed. Currently,
there is no reporting system in place to document potential marine
mammal interactions in this fishery. However, there are anecdotal
reports of interactions off the north side of Maui, but the species and
extent of interactions are unknown.
CA Spiny Lobster Trap Fishery
The Category II ``CA spiny lobster trap'' fishery operates in
southern California, with the highest proportion of landings made into
Santa Barbara. The fishery operates from the first Wednesday in October
to the first Wednesday after March 15. The fishery tends to be most
productive during the first two months, when gear is set close to shore
in shallow water (15 fathoms or less). By the end of the season, traps
are set in waters deeper than 50 fathoms. This is a limited access
fishery with both transferable and non-transferable permits. An
estimated 225 permits are in use each year. There is no restriction on
the number of traps set, but most vessels set 100 to 500 traps per day.
Traps are generally fished singularly and are required to have a buoy
marker with the owner's license number, followed by the letter ``P'' to
signify that it is a spiny lobster trap. This estimated number of
vessels/participants in this fishery is 225.
Summary of Changes to the LOF for 2010
The following summarizes changes to the LOF for 2010 in fishery
classification, fisheries listed in the LOF, the estimated number of
vessels/participants in a particular fishery, and the species/stocks
that are incidentally killed or seriously injured in a particular
fishery. The classifications and definitions of U.S. commercial
fisheries for 2010 are identical to those provided in the LOF for 2009
with the proposed changes discussed below. State abbreviations used in
the following paragraphs include: AK (Alaska), CA (California), HI
(Hawaii), MD (Maryland), NC (North Carolina), NJ (New Jersey), SC
(South Carolina), and VA (Virginia).
Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
Fishery Classification
NMFS proposed to elevate the ``American Samoa longline'' fishery
from Category III to Category II based on analogy with other Category I
and II longline fisheries in the tropical/sub-tropical latitudes of the
Pacific. The fishing gear and methods used to fish in the ``American
Samoa longline'' fishery are similar to the Category I ``HI deep-set
(tuna target) longline/set line'' and
[[Page 27744]]
the Category II ``HI shallow-set (swordfish target) longline/set line''
fisheries, both fisheries which frequently or occasionally seriously
injure or kill marine mammals. The ``American Samoa longline'' fishery,
although a Category III, has been observed since 2006 with an average
of 7.2 percent coverage. There were three interactions between the
``American Samoa longline'' fishery and marine mammals in 2008, two
false killer whales (stock unknown), one of which was a mortality, and
one rough-tooth dolphin (stock unknown). These interactions will be
analyzed by the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) during the
development of the 2010 SARs to determine whether or not the surviving
animals were injured or seriously injured during these interactions.
The analysis may also enable NMFS to determine whether or not the false
killer whales interacting with this fishery are from the HI stock which
interacts with the ``HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/set line''
fishery, or if the animals belong to a separate stock associated with
American Samoa. Although the abundance estimate and the PBR for the
false killer whales are unknown, the population around American Samoa
may be a relatively small, island-associated population, as has been
documented around other Pacific Islands. When completed, the results of
these analyses will be reported and addressed in future LOFs.
NMFS proposes to reclassify the ``AK southeast salmon purse seine''
fishery from Category II to Category III. The current Category II
classification is based on one permit holder self-report of an
incidental mortality of a humpback whale (Central North Pacific) in
this fishery in 1996. There are no further self-reports, known
entanglements, or anecdotal information of any humpback whales or other
marine mammals injured or killed in this fishery since 1996. Though
entanglements of humpbacks occur annually in Southeast Alaska, gear
found on such animals in Southeast Alaska has never been identified as
purse seine gear. While the ``AK southeast salmon purse seine'' fishery
has never been observed, NMFS reasons that some additional information
on incidental takes would have come to light over the thirteen years
since the first report if there were a level of serious injury and
mortality of concern in this fishery, either through strandings/
entanglement network data or permit holder self-reports.
NMFS stated in a response to public comments in the final 2009 LOF
that the agency would review sperm whale (North Pacific) interactions
in the Category III ``Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline'' fishery. The
2008 SAR reports three sperm whales were observed seriously injured in
this fishery in 2006 (with 11.2 percent observer coverage), which
extrapolates to 10 sperm whales from 2002-2006 (or an average annual
serious injury or mortality level of two sperm whales/year). Analysis
for more recent years' data is not complete, and there is no calculated
PBR for this stock. Therefore, no change to this fishery's category is
recommended at this time. NMFS will continue to review sperm whale
interactions with this fishery and will revisit the classification of
the fishery on future LOFs, if warranted, once the more recent years'
data are analyzed and reported.
NMFS proposes to classify the ``CA spiny lobster trap'' fishery
(proposed to be split from the Category III ``CA spiny lobster,
coonstripe shrimp, rock crab, tanner crab pot or trap'' fishery,
proposed to be renamed the ``CA coonstripe shrimp, rock crab, tanner
crab pot or trap'' fishery, in this proposed rule) as Category II based
on serious injuries to humpback whales (CA/OR/WA). The NMFS Large Whale
Disentanglement Network (LWDN) reported four humpback whale
entanglement events off CA resulting in serious injury, with various
types of fishing gear, in 2007. (Details on humpback whale
entanglements on the west coast prior to 2007 can be found in the 2009
proposed LOF (73 FR 33760; June 13, 2008.)) The gear involved in a July
2007 entanglement event that caused a serious injury to a humpback
whale was identified as lobster trap gear. The total annual rate of
mortality and serious injury (Tier 1 analysis) of humpback whales (CA/
OR/WA) in all commercial fisheries from 2002 through 2006 exceeds 10
percent of the PBR level for this stock (final 2008 SAR). This single
serious injury of a humpback whale in lobster trap gear results in an
average mortality and serious injury rate of 0.2 humpback whales/year
(when averaged over 5 years), or 8 percent of the PBR (2.5). Therefore,
Category II classification is warranted. NMFS acknowledges that
entanglements reported to the LWDN likely represent a minimum number of
interactions. There is no observer coverage in this fishery.
NMFS proposes to reclassify the ``CA pelagic longline'' fishery
from Category II to Category III. This fishery includes the shallow-set
longline fishery that previous to 2004 operated on the high seas with
most vessels landing in CA. In 2004, this fishery was prohibited inside
the EEZ under a regulation promulgated under the ESA in order to
protect loggerhead sea turtles. This fishery also includes a deep-set
longline fishery that developed since 2005. The classification of this
fishery as Category II was based upon analogy with other pelagic
longline fisheries and an injury of a Risso's dolphins (CA/OR/WA) in
2003. In addition, one mortality of an unidentified dolphin was
observed in this fishery in 2003. The total annual fishery mortality
and serious injury of Risso's dolphins (CA/OR/WA) in all commercial
fisheries (Tier 1 analysis) is less than10 percent of the stock's PBR
(final 2008 SAR); therefore, Category III classification is warranted.
NMFS has no information to indicate that the ``CA pelagic longline''
fishery interacts with other marine mammal species/stocks and observer
coverage is high in this fishery (ranged from 12 percent to 50 percent
from 2003-2005, and was 100 percent in 2006 and 2007).
Addition of Fisheries to the LOF
NMFS proposes to add the ``CA spiny lobster trap'' fishery Category
II fishery (see the discussion in the previous section for details).
NMFS proposes to add the ``HI shortline'' fishery as Category II
based on analogy with the Category I ``HI deep-set (tuna-target)
longline/set line'' and Category II ``HI shallow-set (swordfish-target)
longline/set line'' fisheries. NMFS recently became aware of the
operation of this commercial fishery. NMFS proposes to classify the
``HI shortline'' fishery as Category II by analogy to the HI longline
fisheries based on similarities between the gear used, areas fished,
and species targeted in the three fisheries. NMFS has received
anecdotal reports of interactions with marine mammals in this fishery;
however, the species and extent of the interactions are unknown. For
more information, see the description of this fishery in the ``Fishery
Descriptions'' section of this proposed rule.
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications
NMFS proposes to rename the Category III ``CA spiny lobster,
coonstripe shrimp, rock crab, tanner crab pot or trap'' fishery to the
``CA coonstripe shrimp, rock crab, tanner crab pot or trap'' fishery to
more accurately reflect the target species of the fishery. As explained
above, the spiny lobster portion of this fishery is proposed to be
added to 2010 LOF as a separate Category II fishery. The estimated
number of vessels/participants in the Category III ``CA
[[Page 27745]]
coonstripe shrimp, rock crab, tanner crab pot or trap'' fishery is 305.
List of Species That are Incidentally Killed or Injured
NMFS proposes to change the stock name for false killer whales
incidentally killed/injured in the ``HI deep-set (tuna-target)
longline/set line'' fishery from ``HI'' to ``HI pelagic.'' The 2008
SARs separates the ``HI'' stock into the ``HI insular'' and ``HI
pelagic'' stocks, stating that all of the false killer whale injuries
and mortalities due to interactions with longline fisheries are
considered to be from the ``HI pelagic'' stock (74 FR 19530, April 29,
2009).
NMFS proposes to add pantropical spotted dolphin (stock unknown) to
the list of species/stocks incidentally killed/injured in the Category
I ``HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/set line'' fishery based on a
documented mortality in 2008. While analysis of the 2008 observer data
will not be finalized until publication of the 2010 SARs, NMFS proposes
to add the species at this time because a mortality does not need to be
analyzed to determine the severity (as is necessary for an animal
released after an interaction). The average observer coverage over the
past five years was 22.7 percent.
NMFS proposes to remove spinner dolphin (HI) from the list of
species/stocks incidentally killed/injured in the Category I ``HI deep-
set (tuna target) longline/set line'' fishery because there have been
no observed interactions in the past five years. The average observer
coverage over the past five years was 22.7 percent.
NMFS proposes to remove pantropical spotted dolphin (stock unknown)
from the list of species/stocks incidentally killed/injured in the
Category II ``HI shallow-set (swordfish target) longline/set line''
fishery. There have been no observed interactions in the past five
years and observer coverage is 100 percent.
NMFS indicated in the final 2009 LOF (73 FR 73032, December 1,
2008; comment response 15) that the agency would reexamine 2008
observer data which reported an interaction between the Category II
``HI shallow-set (swordfish target) longline/set line'' fishery and a
false killer whale. NMFS is not proposing to add false killer whales to
the list of species/stocks incidentally killed/injured in the ``HI
shallow-set (swordfish target) longline/set line'' fishery at this
time. As stated in the final 2009 LOF (comment response 15), the data
presented in the annual SARs have an average of a two-year time delay
because of the time needed to properly analyze the data and complete
the peer-review process. Therefore, this 2008 interaction will be
analyzed by the SWFSC during the development of the 2010 SARs to
determine whether or not the animal was injured or seriously injured
during this interaction. If the SWFSC analysis reveals the animal was
injured during the interaction, NMFS will add false killer whales to a
future LOF at that time.
NMFS proposes to add false killer whale (stock unknown) to the list
of species/stocks incidentally killed/injured in the ``American Samoa
longline'' fishery (proposed to be elevated from Category III to
Category II in this proposed rule) based on a mortality reported in
2008. As stated above during NMFS' justification for proposing to
elevate this fishery to Category II, there were two reported
interactions with false killer whales (stock unknown) (one interaction
resulted in the animal's mortality and the other animal was released
alive with the injury status not yet analyzed), and one with a rough-
toothed dolphin (stock unknown) (also released alive with the injury
status not yet analyzed). NMFS proposes to add false killer whale
(stock unknown) to the list of species/stocks incidentally killed/
injured because the mortality does not need to be analyzed further to
determine the level of injury to the animal. However, NMFS is not
proposing to add rough-toothed dolphin (stock unknown) to list of
species/stocks incidentally killed/injured until after the SWFSC
completes the analysis of the interaction and determines whether or not
the animal was injured during the interaction. If the analysis reveals
that the animal was injured during this interaction, NMFS will add
rough-toothed dolphin (stock unknown) to a future LOF at that time.
NMFS proposes to remove humpback whales (Central North Pacific)
from the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the
``AK southeast salmon purse seine'' fishery (proposed to be
reclassified from Category II to Category III in this proposed rule).
There are no self-reports, known entanglements, or anecdotal
information of any humpback whales or other marine mammals injured or
killed in this fishery since 1996. This fishery has never been
observed, but stranding and entanglement networks are active in the
area.
NMFS proposes to change the stock name for Northern fur seals on
the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the
Category II ``AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl'' fishery
from ``Eastern North Pacific'' to ``Eastern Pacific,'' to correct a
typographical error. This stock has been referred to as the ``Eastern
Pacific'' stock since the 1998 SARs.
NMFS proposes to remove short-finned pilot whales (CA/OR/WA) from
the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the
Category II ``CA squid purse seine'' fishery. NMFS has reviewed the
available information on the distribution and abundance of short finned
pilot whales, along with observer records, self-reports from the
fishers, and the SWR stranding data base, and has concluded that the
likelihood of interactions between this fishery and short-finned pilot
whales (CA/OR/WA) is extremely remote. Short-finned pilot whales were
once commonly seen off the coast of CA, but have become quite rare in
recent years (Barlow and Forney 2007). Observer coverage in the ``CA
squid purse seine'' fishery began in 2004 with less than 10 percent
observer coverage. In 2005 and 2006, observer coverage was
approximately 2.0 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.
NMFS proposes to add a superscript ``1'' after long-beaked common
dolphins (CA) in the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or
injured in the Category II ``CA squid purse seine'' fishery. This
fishery was classified as a Category II based on the level of serious
injury and mortality of short-finned pilot whales (CA/OR/WA), which
NMFS proposes to remove from the list of species/stocks incidentally
killed or injured in this proposed rule (see preceding paragraph). The
``CA squid purse seine'' fishery will remain a Category II fishery due
to a serious injury with a suspected long-beaked common dolphin. As
described in the final 2009 LOF (73 FR 73032, December 1, 2008) an
unidentified common dolphin was observed entangled and seriously
injured during an interaction with the squid purse seine fishery in
2006 in an area where long-beaked common dolphins (CA) are known to
occur. Given the area in which the interaction occurred, the
unidentified common dolphin could have been a short-beaked common
dolphin (CA) or a long-beaked common dolphin (CA). Due to the paucity
of the information on the interaction and the low level of observer
coverage in this fishery, NMFS cannot eliminate the possibility that a
long-beaked common dolphin was seriously injured during this event. The
level of serious injury of long-beaked common dolphin in this fishery,
when extrapolated from the level of observer coverage, results in a
mean annual mortality and serious injury of approximately 29 animals,
which is 30 percent of the stock's PBR (95) and consistent with
Category II
[[Page 27746]]
classification. Observer coverage in the ``CA squid purse seine''
fishery began in 2004 with less than 10 percent observer coverage. In
2005 and 2006, observer coverage was approximately 2.0 percent and 1.3
percent, respectively.
NMFS proposes to add humpback whale (CA/OR/WA) and gray whale
(Eastern North Pacific) to the list of species/stocks incidentally
killed or injured in the ``CA spiny lobster'' fishery (proposed to be
classified as Category II in this proposed rule), with a superscript
``1'' after humpback whales, indicating that takes of this stock are
driving the classification of the fishery. As described above, a
humpback whale was reported seriously injured due to an entanglement in
spiny lobster trap gear in July 2007, resulting in an average annual
serious injury and mortality level of 8 percent of the stock's PBR.
Gray whales (Eastern North Pacific) have also been reported
incidentally killed or injured in this fishery. NMFS has received
multiple reports of gray whales entangled in trap/pot gear off CA,
including a report from April 2000 of a dead gray whale stranded on a
beach in Santa Barbara County entangled in spiny lobster trap gear.
Interactions with gray whales are not driving the Category II
classification of this fishery. Currently, total commercial fishery-
related annual mortality levels less than10 percent of the stock's PBR
(final 2007 SAR); therefore, a Tier 2 evaluation is not necessary.
NMFS is requesting public comment and/or information on two large
whale entanglement events in 2007. On May 10, 2007, a free-swimming
humpback whale was reported seriously injured with pink monofilament
gillnet draped on its body. The animal was first seen offshore of Dana
Point and was seen again later the same day off Palos Verdes Bay Club,
of Palos Verdes, CA. On April 2, 2007, a free-swimming gray whale was
reported entangled in and seriously injured by small mesh blue/green
monofilament gillnet. The animal was seen at Rocky Point, near Rancho
Palos Verdes, CA. No other information is available on the sightings.
Based upon the area and time of year that these animals were sighted,
gear from either or both of the Category II ``CA halibut/white seabass
and other species set gillnet (3.5 in mesh)'' or the ``CA yellowtail,
barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet (mesh size [gteqt]3.5 in and
<14 in)'' fisheries could have caused the entanglement events. As
described in the proposed 2009 LOF (73 FR 33760, December 1, 2005),
NMFS must consider which fisheries operate in the same time and area as
an observed entangled marine mammal. Both gillnet fisheries were active
at the time and area when the humpback whale and gray whale were
observed entangled in gillnet gear. The ``CA halibut/white seabass and
other species set gillnet (>3.5 in mesh)'' fishery was observed only
once between 2003 and 2007, with 17.8 percent coverage in 2007. The
``CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet (mesh size
[gteqt]3.5 in and <14 in)'' fishery was observed twice between 2003 and
2007, with 10.4 percent and 11.0 percent coverage in 2003 and 2004,
respectively. NMFS is continuing to review the available information on
the types of gear used in each fishery, and the distribution of each
fishery and large whales during the time of the entanglement events.
NMFS is also specifically requesting available information on the gear
characteristics of each fishery or the entanglement events reported
above. NMFS may propose to add humpback whales (CA/OR/WA) and gray
whales (Eastern North Pacific) to the list of species/stocks
incidentally killed or injured in the Category II ``CA halibut/white
seabass and other species set gillnet (3.5 in mesh)'' and/or ``CA
yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet (mesh size
[gteqt]3.5 in and <14 in)'' fisheries to the final 2010 LOF or a future
LOF, if warranted.
NMFS proposes to remove CA sea lion (U.S.) from the list of
species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the ``CA pelagic
longline'' fishery (proposed to be reclassified as Category III in this
proposed rule). CA sea lions (U.S.) were included on the list of
species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in this fishery based on
logbook reports when the fishery was originally included on the LOF in
1996. There have been no reported interactions since that time.
Observer coverage in this fishery ranged from 12 percent to 50 percent
from 2003-2005, and was 100 percent in 2006 and 2007.
Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
Caribbean
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications
NMFS proposes to replace the existing description of the Category I
``Mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery from the final 2008 LOF (72 FR 66048;
November 27, 2007) and changes to the description outlined in the final
2007 LOF (73 FR 73032; December 1, 2008) with the following updated
language, to reflect multiple amendments, including changes in state
regulations, over the past several years: ``The Category I Mid-Atlantic
gillnet fishery targets monkfish, spiny dogfish, smooth dogfish,
bluefish, weakfish, menhaden, spot, croaker, striped bass, large and
small coastal sharks, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, American shad,
black drum, skate spp., yellow perch, white perch, herring, scup,
kingfish, spotted seatrout, and butterfish. The fishery uses drift and
sink gillnets, including nets set in a sink, stab, set, strike, or
drift fashion, with some unanchored drift or sink nets used to target
specific species. The dominant material is monofilament twine with
stretched mesh sizes from 2.5-12 in (6.4-30.5 cm), and string lengths
from 150-8,400 ft. (46-2,560 m). This fishery operates year-round west
of a line drawn at 72[deg] 30' W. long. south to 36[deg] 33.03' N. lat.
(VA/NC border) and east to the eastern edge of the EEZ and north of the
NC/SC border, not including waters where Category II and Category III
inshore gillnet fisheries operate in bays, estuaries, and rivers. This
fishery includes any residual large pelagic driftnet effort in the mid-
Atlantic, any shark and dogfish gillnet effort in the mid-Atlantic, and
those North Carolina small and large mesh beach-anchored gillnets
formerly placed in the Category II Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine
fishery in the mid-Atlantic zone described. This NC component fishing
effort is prosecuted right off the beach (6 ft [1.8 m]) or in nearshore
coastal waters to offshore waters (250 ft [76 m]). Gear in this fishery
is managed by several federal and interstate FMPs managed by the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the Atlantic Large
Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP), the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction
Plan (HPTRP), and the Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BDTRP).
Fisheries are primarily managed by total allowable catch limits;
individual trip limits (quotas); effort caps (limited number of days at
sea per vessel); time and area closures; and gear restrictions and
modifications.''
NMFS proposes to replace the existing description of the Category
II ``Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine'' fishery from the final 2008 LOF
(72 FR 66048; November 27, 2007) and changes to the description
outlined in the final 2007 LOF (73 FR 73032; December 1, 2008) with the
following updated language, to reflect multiple amendments, including
changes in state regulations, over the past several years: ``The
Category II Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine fishery targets striped bass,
mullet, spot, weakfish, sea trout, bluefish, kingfish, and harvestfish
using seines with one end secured (e.g., swipe nets and long seines)
and seines secured at both ends or those anchored to the beach and
hauled up on the
[[Page 27747]]
beach. The beach seine system also uses a bunt and a wash net that are
attached to the beach and extend into the surf. The fishery occurs in
waters west of 72[deg] 30' W. long. and north of a line extending due
east from the NC/SC border. The only haul/beach seine gear operating in
NC included in this Category II fishery is the ``Atlantic Ocean striped
bass beach seine fishery'' during the winter, as regulated by NC Marine
Fisheries Commission rules (NCDMF) and NCDMF proclamations. NCDMF
defines a beach seine operating under the Atlantic Ocean Striped Bass
beach seine fishery as a ``swipe net constructed of multifilament,
multifiber webbing fished from the ocean beach that is deployed from a
vessel launched from the ocean beach where the fishing operation takes
place, and one end of the beach seine is attached to the shore at all
times during the operation.'' All other NC small and large mesh beach-
anchored gillnets with webbing constructed of all monofilament material
or a combination of monofilament and multifilament material were moved
to the Category I Mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery in the final 2009 LOF
because their construction and fishing technique were more similar to a
gillnet than a traditional beach seine. A description of the gear and
fishing practices for the haul/beach seine and small and large mesh
beach-anchored gillnets operating in NC are found in the final 2008 LOF
(72 FR 66048; November 27, 2007) and final 2009 LOF (73 FR 73032,
December 1, 2008). In addition to the NC component as described above,
the ``Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine fishery also includes haul/beach
seining in other areas of the mid-Atlantic, including NY through VA.
Because the net materials and fishing practices of the Atlantic Ocean
striped bass beach seine fishery in NC are different from haul seining
in other areas, NMFS may consider splitting this fishery in the future.
The Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine fishery is managed under several
state and Interstate FMPs and is an affected fishery under the BDTRP.''
Number of Vessels/Persons
In past LOFs, the number of state participants for several
northeast and mid-Atlantic fisheries was unknown and therefore the
estimations for the number of vessels/persons participating in these
fisheries were based solely on available federal information. This year
NMFS has included available state permit information as well as federal
permit information for the following northeast and mid-Atlantic fishery
estimates. In some cases the addition of the state dataset has caused
the fishery participation estimates to increase significantly compared
to past LOFs. It should be noted that this may provide an artificial
representation of fishery participation trends and may only reflect the
addition of the new state dataset, not actual increases in the number
of fishery participants.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category I ``Mid-Atlantic gillnet'' fishery from >370 to 7,596.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category I ``Northeast sink gillnet'' fishery from 341 to
>6,455.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category II ``Atlantic mixed species trap/pot'' fishery from
unknown to >429.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category II ``Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine'' fishery from
22 to 34.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category II ``Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine'' fishery from 25 to
>221.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category II ``Mid Atlantic mid-water trawl'' fishery from 620 to
400.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category II ``Northeast bottom trawl'' fishery from 1052 to
1,600.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category II ``Northeast mid-water trawl'' fishery from 17 to
1,000.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category II ``VA pound net'' fishery from 187 to 62.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels or persons
in the Category III ``Gulf of Maine Atlantic herring purse seine''
fishery from 30 to <10.
List of Species That are Incidentally Killed or Injured
NMFS proposes to add the harbor porpoise (Gulf of Maine/Bay of
Fundy (GME/BF)) to the list of marine mammal species/stocks
incidentally killed or injured in the Category II ``Northeast bottom
trawl fishery'' because of mortalities reported in the final 2008 SARs.
NMFS removed this stock from the list of species/stocks incidentally
killed or injured in this fishery on the final 2009 LOF (73 FR 73032;
December 1, 2008) based on information from past LOFs indicating this
listing represented a typographical error persisting since the final
2005 LOF (71 FR 247; January 4, 2006). New information reported in the
final 2008 SAR indicates there have been several incidental mortalities
of harbor porpoises (GME/BF) in the Northeast bottom trawl between 2003
and 2008. These observed takes have included one fresh dead harbor
porpoise taken in 2003, four in 2005, and one in 2006. Estimates have
not been generated or reported in the SARs for the percentage of the
stock's PBR (PBR=610) seriously injured or killed in this fishery
(final 2008 SARs). Based on this newly available data, NMFS proposes to
relist the harbor porpoise (GME/BF) under species/stocks incidentally
injured or killed in the ``Northeast bottom trawl'' fishery. Estimated
observer coverage (measured in trips) for the ``Northeast bottom
trawl'' fishery during the period 1994-2006 was 0.4, 1.1, 0.2, 0.2,
0.1, 0.3, 1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 12 and 6 percent, respectively (final 2008
SARs).
NMFS proposes to remove fin whales (Western North Atlantic (WNA))
from the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the
Category I ``Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot''
fishery. Fin whales were added to the LOF in 1997 based on an animal
that was thought to have been entangled in lobster gear. However,
subsequent analysis revealed the interaction was with hagfish pot gear,
but the LOF was never updated to reflect this analysis. A fin whale has
never been reported incidentally killed or injured in Northeast/Mid-
Atlantic American lobster trap/pot gear. Additionally, this fishery
does not have observer coverage, although it should be noted that
initial encounters between large whales and fishing gear are rarely
observed.
NMFS proposes to remove the superscript ``1'' after humpback whale
(Gulf of Maine) and minke whale (Canadian east coast) in the Category I
``Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot'' fishery because
serious injury and mortality of these stocks are not driving the
Category I classification of this fishery. Annual mortality and serious
injury of humpback whales in all lobster fisheries is 0.2 animals (PBR
1.1), or 18 percent of the stock's PBR (final 2008 SAR). Annual
mortality and serious injury of minke whales in all lobster fisheries
is 0.4 animals (PBR=19), or 2 percent of the stock's PBR (final 2008
SAR). The level of annual mortality and serious injury of humpback and
minke whales in the ``Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/
pot'' fishery is unknown at this time, but is likely less than 50
percent of the stocks' PBRs. It is important to note that the date
sighted
[[Page 27748]]
and location provided in the SAR is not necessarily when or where the
large whale serious injury or mortality occurred. The NMFS Northeast
Regional Office (NERO) is currently working on a review of large whale
entanglement events where gear type was identified and the location
where the gear was set was known, to support the ALWTRP and to update
the LOF tables. Once this review is complete, NMFS may propose changes
to a future LOF, if warranted. There is no observer coverage in this
fishery.
NMFS proposes to leave the superscript ``1'' after North Atlantic
right whale (WNA) in the Category I ``Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American
lobster trap/pot'' fishery because annual mortality and serious injury
of right whales in all lobster fisheries is 0.2 animals (PBR=0) which
is greater than fifty percent of the stock's PBR (final 2008 SAR). The
level of annual mortality and serious injury of right whales in the
``Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot'' fishery is unknown
at this time, but is likely more than 50 percent of the stock's PBR. It
is important to note that the date sighted and location provided in the
SAR is not necessarily when or where the large whale serious injury or
mortality occurred. The NMFS NERO is currently working on a review of
large whale entanglement events where gear type was identified and the
location where the gear was set was known, to support the ALWTRP and to
update the LOF tables. Once this review is complete, NMFS may propose
changes to a future LOF, if warranted. There is no observer coverage in
this fishery.
NMFS proposes to remove the superscript ``1'' after minke whales
(Canadian east coast), humpback whales (Gulf of Maine), and North
Atlantic right whales (WNA) from the list of species/stocks
incidentally killed/injured in the Category I ``Northeast sink
gillnet'' fishery because serious injury and mortality of these
species/stocks are not driving the Category I classification of this
fishery. No serious injury or mortality of minke whales in gillnet
fisheries were reported from 2001-2006 (final 2008 SARs). The annual
mortality and serious injury for humpback whales (Gulf of Maine) in all
gillnet fisheries is 0.2 animals (PBR of 1.1), or 18 percent of the
stock's PBR (final 2008 SAR). The level of annual mortality and serious
injury of humpback whales in the ``Northeast sink gillnet'' fishery is
unknown at this time, but is likely less than 50 percent of the stock's
PBR. It is important to note that the date sighted and location
provided in the SAR is not necessarily when or where the large whale
serious injury or mortality occurred. The final 2008 SARs report one
mortality of a right whale in the most recent five years (2001-2006).
This mortality 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 (as described under the ALWTRP, 50 CFR 229.32), where two gillnet
fisheries traditionally operate: the Category II ``Southeast Atlantic
gillnet'' fishery and the Category II ``Southeastern U.S. Atlantic
shark gillnet'' fishery. However, NMFS was unable to determined which
specific gillnet fishery was responsible for the interaction (for more
information see comment/response 23 in the final 2006 LOF; 71 FR 48802,
August 22, 2006). NMFS proposed to retain humpback whales, North
Atlantic right whales, and minke whales on the list of species/stocks
incidentally killed or injured given that they have been known to
interact with or become entangled in gillnet gear, though not resulting
in serious injury or mortality. The NMFS NERO is currently working on a
review of large whale entanglement events where gear type was
identified and the location where the gear was set was known, to
support the ALWTRP and to update the LOF tables. Once this review is
complete, NMFS may propose changes for this fishery in a future LOF, if
warranted. Observer coverage in the ``Northeast sink gillnet'' fishery
from 2001 to 2006 was between 2 percent and 7 percent (final 2008 SAR).
NMFS proposes to remove the superscript ``1'' after harbor porpoise
(GME/BF) and humpback whale (Gulf of Maine) in the Category I ``Mid-
Atlantic gillnet'' fishery because serious injury and mortality of
these stocks are not driving the Category I classification of this
fishery. Annual mortality and serious injury of harbor porpoises in
this fishery is 299 animals (PBR=610), or 49 percent of the stock's PBR
(final 2008 SAR). The annual mortality and serious injury of humpback
whales in all gillnet fisheries is 0.2 animals (PBR of 1.1), or 18
percent of the stock's PBR (final 2008 SAR). The level of annual
mortality and serious injury of humpback whales in the ``Mid-Atlantic
gillnet'' fishery is unknown at this time, but is likely less than 50
percent of the stock's PBR. It is important to note that the date
sighted and location provided in the SAR is not necessarily when or
where the large whale serious injury or mortality occurred. The NMFS
NERO is currently working on a review of large whale entanglement
events where gear type was identified and the location where the gear
was set was known, to support the ALWTRP and to update the LOF tables.
Once this review is complete, NMFS may propose changes to a future LOF,
if warranted. Observer coverage in this fishery between 2001 and 2006
was between 1 percent and 3 percent (final 2008 SAR).
NMFS proposes to remove pygmy sperm whales (WNA) from the list of
species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I
``Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline''
fishery because there have been no injuries or mortalities reported in
the last five years (final 2008 SARs). Observer coverage in this
fishery from 2000-2006 was between 4 percent and 7 percent, with
coverage often greater than 10 percent in some areas and seasons (final
2008 SARs).
Commercial Fisheries on the High Seas
Removal of Fisheries
As stated in the preamble under ``How Does NMFS Authorize U.S.
Vessels to Participate in High Seas Fisheries?,'' HSFCA permits exist
that were obtained prior to 2004 for fisheries that are no longer
authorized by the HSFCA, but for which the 5-year permit is still
valid. These are included on the LOF as ``unspecified'' and these
fisheries will be removed from the LOF once those permits have expired.
For the 2010 LOF, all unspecified fisheries for all gear types are
removed, except for trawl gear. Four trawl gear permits remain for an
unspecified fishery.
Number of HSFCA Permits
As stated in the preamble under ``How Does NMFS Authorize U.S.
Vessels to Participate in High Seas Fisheries?,'' some fishers possess
valid HSFCA permits for gear types that are no longer authorized for
use (therefore, the fishers are unable to fish under the permit). For
this reason, the number of HSFCA permits updated below and displayed in
Table 3 of this proposed rule may not accurately represent actual
fishing effort by U.S. vessels on the high seas.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of HSFCA permits in
the High Seas Atlantic highly migratory species fishery for the
following gear types: longline, from 75 to 72; trawl, from 3 to 2;
handline/pole-and-line from 2 to 1; and troll, from 5 to 7.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of HSFCA permits in
the High Seas Pacific highly migratory species fishery for the
following gear types: drift gillnet, from 5 to 4; trawl, from 14 to 3;
purse seine, from 5 to 8; pot, from 8 to 7; longline, from 56 to 62;
handline/pole and line, from 18 to 22;
[[Page 27749]]
liners not elseware identified (NEI), from 3 to 1; multipurpose
vessels, from 9 to 7; and troll, from 222 to 249.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of HSFCA permits in
the High Seas South Pacific Albacore Troll fishery for the following
gear types: trawl, from 5 to 2; longline, from 12 to 11; handline/pole
and line, from 7 to 8; troll, from 45 to 53; multipurpose vessels, from
6 to 4.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of HSFCA permits in
the High Seas South Pacific Tuna fishery for the following gear types:
purse seine from 23 to 36; longline, from 2 to 3; troll, from 1 to 3.
NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of HSFCA permits in
the High Seas Western Pacific Pelagic fishery for the following gear
types: trawl, from 11 to 4; purse seine, from 4 to 3; pot, from 8 to 7;
handline/pole and line, from 8 to 9; liners NEI, from 2 to 1;
multipurpose vessels, from 7 to 5.
List of Species That are Incidentally Killed or Injured
NMFS proposes to change the stock name for false killer whales
incidentally killed/injured in the ``High Seas Western Pacific Pelagic
(Deep-set component)'' fishery from ``HI'' to ``HI pelagic.'' This
fishery is an extension of the ``HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/set
line'' fishery operating in U.S. waters. Since this fishery remains the
same and many marine mammals species are found on either side of the
EEZ boundary, the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured
in the high seas component of the fishery is identical to the list of
species/stocks killed or injured in the component operating in U.S.
waters. The 2008 SARs separates the ``HI'' stock into the ``HI
insular'' and ``HI pelagic'' stocks, stating that all of the false
killer whale injuries and mortalities due to interactions with longline
fisheries are considered to be from the ``HI pelagic'' stock (74 FR
19530, April 29, 2009).
NMFS proposes to add pantropical spotted dolphin (stock unknown) to
the list of species/stocks incidentally killed/injured in the Category
II ``High Seas Western Pacific Pelagic (Deep-set component)'' fishery.
This fishery is an extension of the ``HI deep-set (tuna target)
longline/set line'' fishery operating in U.S. waters. Since this
fishery remains the same and many marine mammals species are found on
either side of the EEZ boundary, the list of species/stocks
incidentally killed or injured in the high seas component of the
fishery is identical to the list of species/stocks killed or injured in
the component operating in U.S. waters. There was one observed
mortality of a pantropical spotted dolphin (stock unknown) in the ``HI
deep-set (tuna target) longline/set line'' fishery in 2008 (as
described above). The average observer coverage in the ``HI deep-set
(tuna target) longline/set line'' fishery over the past five years was
22.7 percent.
NMFS proposes to remove spinner dolphin (HI) from the list of
species/stocks incidentally killed/injured in the Category II ``High
Seas Western Pacific Pelagic (Deep-set component)'' fishery. This
fishery is an extension of the ``HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/set
line'' fishery component operating in U.S. waters. Since this fishery
remains the same and many marine mammals species found on either side
of the EEZ boundary, the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or
injured in the high seas component of the fishery is identical to the
list of species/stocks killed or injured in the U.S. waters component.
There have been no observed interactions with spinner dolphins (HI) in
the ``HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/set line'' fishery over the
past five years (as described above). The average observer coverage in
the ``HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/set line'' fishery over the
past five years was 22.7 percent.
NMFS proposes to remove pantropical spotted dolphin (stock unknown)
from the list of species/stocks incidentally killed/injured in the
Category II ``High Seas Western Pacific Pelagic (Shallow-set
component)'' fishery. This fishery is an extension of the ``HI shallow-
set (swordfish target) longline/set line'' fishery operating in U.S.
waters. Since this fishery remains the same and many marine mammals
species found on either side of the EEZ boundary, the list of species/
stocks incidentally killed or injured in the high seas component of the
fishery is identical to the list of species/stocks killed or injured in
the component operating in U.S. waters. There have been no observed
interactions with pantropical spotted dolphins (stock unknown) in the
``HI shallow-set (swordfish target) longline/set line'' fishery over
the past five years (as described above), with observer coverage at 100
percent.
List of Fisheries
The following tables set forth the proposed list of U.S. commercial
fisheries according to their classification under section 118 of the
MMPA. In Tables 1 and 2, the estimated number of vessels/participants
in fisheries operating within U.S. waters 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. For high seas fisheries,
Table 3 lists the number of currently valid HSFCA permits held by
fishers. Although this likely overestimates the number of active
participants in many of these fisheries, the number of valid HSFCA
permits is the most reliable data at this time.
Tables 1, 2, and 3 also list the marine mammal species and stocks
incidentally killed or injured in each fishery based on observer data,
logbook data, stranding reports, disentanglement network data, and
fisher reports. This list includes all species or stocks known to be
injured or killed in a given fishery, but also includes species or
stocks for which there are anecdotal records of an injury or mortality.
Additionally, species identified by logbook entries may not be
verified. NMFS has designated those stocks driving a fishery's
classification (i.e., the fishery is classified based on serious
injuries and mortalities of a marine mammal stock greater than 50
percent [Category I], or greater than 1 percent and less than 50
percent [Category II], of a stock's PBR) by a ``\1\''after the stock's
name.
In Tables 1 and 2, there are several fisheries classified in
Category II that have no recent documented injuries or mortalities of
marine mammals, or that did not result in a serious injury or mortality
rate greater than 1 percent of a stock's PBR level. NMFS has classified
these fisheries 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 listed by analogy in Tables
1 and 2 by a ``2'' after the fishery's name.
There are several fisheries in Tables 1, 2, and 3 in which a
portion of the fishing vessels cross the EEZ boundary, and therefore
operate within U.S. waters and on the high seas. NMFS has designated
those fisheries in each Table by a ``*'' after the 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 3 lists commercial fisheries on the
High Seas; Table 4 lists
[[Page 27750]]
fisheries affected by Take Reduction Plans or Teams.
Table 1 -- List of Fisheries -- Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine mammal species
Estimated of vessels/ incidentally killed/
persons injured
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY I
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet ([gteqt]14 in mesh) \*\ 85 California sea lion,
U.S.
Long-beaked common
dolphin, CA
Northern elephant
seal, CA breeding
Northern right-whale
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
Risso's dolphin, CA/
OR/WA
Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
Short-finned pilot
whale, CA/OR/WA\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/set line \*\ 129 Blainville's beaked
whale, HI
Bottlenose dolphin,
HI
False killer whale,
HI pelagic\1\
Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific
Pantropical spotted
dolphin, stock
unknown
Risso's dolphin, HI
Short-finned pilot
whale, HI
Striped dolphin, HI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA halibut/white seabass and other species set gillnet (>3.5 in mesh) 58 .....................
California sea lion,
U.S.\1\
Harbor seal, CA\1\
Long-beaked common
dolphin, CA
Northern elephant
seal, CA breeding
Sea otter, CA
Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet fishery 24 California sea lion,
(mesh size [gteqt]3.5 in and <14 in) U.S.
Long-beaked common
dolphin, CA\1\
Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bristol Bay salmon drift gillnet\2\ 1,862 Beluga whale, Bristol
Bay
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bristol Bay salmon set gillnet\2\ 983 Beluga whale, Bristol
Bay
Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific
Harbor seal, Bering
Sea
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
Spotted seal, AK
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Cook Inlet salmon set gillnet 738 Beluga whale, Cook
Inlet
Dall's porpoise, AK
Harbor porpoise, GOA
Harbor seal, GOA
Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific\1\
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27751]]
AK Cook Inlet salmon drift gillnet 571 Beluga whale, Cook
Inlet
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 Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon drift gillnet\2\ 162 Dall's porpoise, AK
Harbor porpoise, GOA
Harbor seal, GOA
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon set gillnet\2\ 115 Harbor porpoise,
Bering Sea
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Prince William Sound salmon drift gillnet 537 Dall's porpoise, AK
Harbor porpoise,
GOA\1\
Harbor seal, GOA
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, North
Pacific
Sea Otter, South
Central AK
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast salmon drift gillnet 476 Dall's porpoise, AK
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 gillnet\2\ 166 Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific
Harbor seal,
Southeast AK
Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific (Southeast
AK)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Puget Sound Region salmon drift gillnet (includes all inland 210 Dall's porpoise, CA/
waters south of US-Canada border and eastward of the Bonilla-Tatoosh OR/WA
line-Treaty Indian fishing is excluded) Harbor porpoise,
inland WA\1\
Harbor seal, WA
inland
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Cook Inlet salmon purse seine 82 Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Kodiak salmon purse seine 370 Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA anchovy, mackerel, sardine purse seine 63 Bottlenose dolphin,
CA/OR/WA offshore\1\
California sea lion,
U.S.
Harbor seal, CA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA squid purse seine 64 Long-beaked common
dolphin, CA\1\
Short-beaked common
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA tuna purse seine \2*\ 10 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl 34 Bearded seal, AK
Harbor porpoise,
Bering Sea
Harbor seal, Bering
Sea
Killer whale, AK
resident\1\
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
Spotted seal, AK
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.\1\
Walrus, AK
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27752]]
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands pollock trawl 95 Dall's porpoise, AK
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\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI shallow-set (swordfish target) longline/ set line \*\ 28 Bottlenose dolphin,
stock unknown
Bryde's whale, stock
unknown
Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific\1\
Risso's dolphin,
stock unknown
Sperm whale, stock
unknown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa longline\2\ 60 False killer whale,
stock unknown
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI shortline\2\ 11 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline 54 Killer whale, AK
resident\1\
Ribbon seal, AK
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea sablefish pot 6 Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific\1\
Humpback whale,
Western North
Pacific\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA spot prawn pot 29 Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific
Humpback whale, CA/OR/
WA\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Dungeness crab pot\2\ 625 Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific
Humpback whale, CA/OR/
WA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR Dungeness crab pot 433 Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific
Humpback whale, CA/OR/
WA\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA sablefish pot 155 Humpback whale, CA/OR/
WA\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA spiny lobster 225 Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific
Humpback whale, CA/OR/
WA\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Kuskokwim, Yukon, Norton Sound, Kotzebue salmon gillnet 824 Harbor porpoise,
Bering Sea
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish set gillnet 3 Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Prince William Sound salmon set gillnet 30 Harbor seal, GOA
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK roe herring and food/bait herring gillnet 986 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA set gillnet (mesh size <3.5 in) 304 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI inshore gillnet 5 Bottlenose dolphin,
HI
Spinner dolphin, HI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Grays Harbor salmon drift gillnet (excluding treaty Tribal 24 Harbor seal, OR/WA
fishing) coast
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR herring, smelt, shad, sturgeon, bottom fish, mullet, perch, 913 None documented
rockfish gillnet
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27753]]
WA/OR lower Columbia River (includes tributaries) drift gillnet 110 California sea lion,
U.S.
Harbor seal, OR/WA
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 Southeast salmon purse seine 415 None documented in
recent years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Metlakatla salmon purse seine 10 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish beach seine 1 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish purse seine 0 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid purse seine 0 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK roe herring and food/bait herring beach seine 4 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK roe herring and food/bait herring purse seine 361 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK salmon beach seine 31 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK salmon purse seine (excluding salmon purse seine fisheries listed 936 Harbor seal, GOA
as Category II)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR sardine purse seine 42 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI Kona crab loop net 42 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI opelu/akule net 12 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI inshore purse seine 23 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI throw net, cast net 14 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA (all species) beach seine or drag seine 235 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR herring, smelt, squid purse seine or lampara 130 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 pen >1 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA white seabass enhancement net pens 13 California sea lion,
U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 bottom fish, WA/OR/CA albacore, 1,302 (102 AK) None documented
groundfish, bottom fish, CA halibut non-salmonid troll fisheries \*\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27754]]
AK salmon troll 2,045 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 Mariana Islands tuna troll 88 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guam tuna troll 401 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI trolling, rod and reel 1,321 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot longline 29 Killer whale, AK
resident
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands rockfish longline 0 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands sablefish longline 28 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska halibut longline 1,302 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod longline 440 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish longline 0 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline 291 Sperm whale, North
Pacific
Steller sea lion,
Eastern U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK halibut longline/set line (State and Federal waters) 2,521 Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid longline 2 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK State-managed waters longline/setline (including sablefish, 1,448 None documented
rockfish, lingcod, and miscellaneous finfish)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA groundfish, bottomfish longline/set line 367 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR North Pacific halibut longline/set line 350 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA pelagic longline 6 Risso's dolphin, CA/
OR/WA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Atka mackerel trawl 9 Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod trawl 93 Harbor seal, Bering
Sea
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands rockfish trawl 10 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska flatfish trawl 41 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod trawl 62 Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska pollock trawl 62 Fin whale, Northeast
Pacific
Northern elephant
seal, North Pacific
Steller sea lion,
Western U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish trawl 34 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK food/bait herring trawl 4 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish otter or beam trawl 317 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK shrimp otter trawl and beam trawl (statewide and Cook Inlet) 32 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK State-managed waters of Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay, Prince William 2 None documented
Sound, Southeast AK groundfish trawl
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27755]]
CA halibut bottom trawl 53 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA groundfish trawl 160-180 California sea lion,
U.S.
Dall's porpoise, CA/
OR/WA
Harbor seal, OR/WA
coast
Northern fur seal,
Eastern Pacific
Pacific white-sided
dolphin, CA/OR/WA
Steller sea lion,
Eastern U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA shrimp trawl 300 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP FISHERIES: .................. .....................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK statewide miscellaneous finfish pot 293 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Aleutian Islands sablefish pot 8 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod pot 68 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands crab pot 297 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska crab pot 300 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod pot 154 Harbor seal, GOA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast Alaska crab pot 433 Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific (Southeast
AK)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast Alaska shrimp pot 283 Humpback whale,
Central North
Pacific (Southeast
AK)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK shrimp pot, except Southeast 15 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid pot 27 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK snail pot 1 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA coonstripe shrimp, rock crab, tanner crab pot or trap 305 Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific
Harbor seal, CA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR/CA hagfish pot or trap 54 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Dungeness crab pot 288 Gray whale, Eastern
North Pacific
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 handline/hand troll and mechanical jig 445 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK North Pacific halibut handline/hand troll and mechanical jig 228 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid handline 0 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa bottomfish <50 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands bottomfish <50 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guam bottomfish 200 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI aku boat, pole, and line 4 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27756]]
HI Main Hawaiian Islands, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands deep sea 300 Hawaiian monk seal
bottomfish
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI inshore handline 307 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI tuna handline 298 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 net 415 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast herring roe/food/bait pound net 6 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA herring brush weir 1 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAIT PENS:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA bait pens 13 California sea lion,
U.S.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREDGE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastwide scallop dredge 108 None documented
(12 AK)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL COLLECTION FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK abalone 0 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK clam 156 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA herring spawn on kelp 4 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK dungeness crab 2 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK herring spawn on kelp 266 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK urchin and other fish/shellfish 570 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA abalone 0 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, octopus, oyster, sea cucumber, scallop, 637 None documented
ghost shrimp hand, dive, or mechanical collection
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA shellfish aquaculture 684 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT) FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27757]]
AK/WA/OR/CA commercial passenger fishing vessel >7,000 Killer whale, stock
(2,702 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 nearshore finfish live trap/hook-and-line 93 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, which are greater than 50 percent (Category I) or greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent
(Category II) of the stock's PBR; \2\ Fishery classified by analogy; \*\ Fishery has an associated high seas
component listed in Table 3.
Table 2--List of Fisheries -- Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marine mammal species
Estimated of vessels/ incidentally killed/
persons injured
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY I
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic gillnet 7,596 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal\1\
Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore
Common dolphin, WNA
Gray seal, WNA
Harbor porpoise, GME/
BF
Harbor seal, WNA
Harp seal, WNA
Humpback whale, Gulf
of Maine
Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA
Minke whale, Canadian
east coast
Short-finned pilot
whale, WNA
White-sided dolphin,
WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast sink gillnet >6,455 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore
Common dolphin, WNA
Fin whale, WNA
Gray seal, WNA
Harbor porpoise, GME/
BF\1\
Harbor seal, WNA
Harp seal, WNA
Hooded seal, WNA
Humpback whale, Gulf
of Maine
Minke whale, Canadian
east coast
North Atlantic right
whale, WNA
Risso's dolphin, WNA
White-sided dolphin,
WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27758]]
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline \*\ 94 Atlantic spotted
dolphin, Northern
GMX
Atlantic spotted
dolphin, WNA
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX oceanic
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
continental shelf
Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore
Common dolphin, WNA
Cuvier's beaked
whale, WNA
Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA\1\
Mesoplodon beaked
whale, WNA
Northern bottlenose
whale, WNA
Pantropical spotted
dolphin, Northern
GMX
Pantropical spotted
dolphin, WNA
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 lobster trap/pot 13,000 Harbor seal, WNA
Humpback whale, Gulf
of Maine
Minke whale, Canadian
east coast
North Atlantic right
whale, WNA\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet\2\ 45 None documented in
recent years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC inshore gillnet 94 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast anchored float gillnet\2\ 133 Harbor seal, WNA
Humpback whale, Gulf
of Maine
White-sided dolphin,
WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast drift gillnet\2\ unknown None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeast Atlantic gillnet\2\ 779 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet 30 Atlantic spotted
dolphin, WNA
Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal\1\
North Atlantic right
whale, WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl (including pair trawl) 400 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA offshore
Common dolphin, WNA
Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA
Risso's dolphin, WNA
Short-finned pilot
whale, WNA
White-sided dolphin,
WNA\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl >1,000 Common dolphin,
WNA\1\
Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA\1\
Short-finned pilot
whale, WNA\1\
White-sided dolphin,
WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic flynet\2\ 21 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27759]]
Northeast mid-water trawl (including pair trawl) 1,000 Harbor seal, WNA
Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA\1\
Short-finned pilot
whale, WNA\1\
White-sided dolphin,
WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast bottom trawl 1,600 Common dolphin, WNA
Harbor porpoise, GME/
BF
Harbor seal, WNA
Harp seal, WNA
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/pot\2\ >429 Fin whale, WNA
Humpback whale, Gulf
of Maine
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine 40-42 Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
GMX bay, sound,
estuarine
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
coastal\1\
Bottlenose dolphin,
Western GMX
coastal\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine\2\ 34 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine >221 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC long haul seine 33 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP NET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC roe mullet stop net 13 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POUND NET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA pound net 62 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean gillnet >991 Dwarf sperm whale,
WNA
West Indian manatee,
Antillean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE River inshore gillnet 60 None documented in
recent years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Island Sound inshore gillnet 20 None documented in
recent years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RI, southern MA (to Monomoy Island), and NY Bight (Raritan and Lower 32 None documented in
NY Bays) inshore gillnet recent years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeast Atlantic inshore gillnet unknown None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic shellfish bottom trawl 972 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27760]]
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl >18,000 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Western GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
GMX bay, sound,
estuarine
West Indian manatee,
FL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico butterfish trawl 2 Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX oceanic
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
continental shelf
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico mixed species trawl 20 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA cannonball jellyfish trawl 1 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finfish aquaculture 48 Harbor seal, WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shellfish aquaculture unknown None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine Atlantic herring purse seine <10 Harbor seal, WNA
Gray seal, WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine menhaden purse seine 50 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL West Coast sardine purse seine 10 Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX coastal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Atlantic tuna purse seine \*\ 5 Long-finned pilot
whale, WNA
Short-finned pilot
whale, WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic bottom longline/hook-and-line 46 None documented in
recent years
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic tuna, shark swordfish hook-and-line/ 26,223 Humpback whale, Gulf
harpoon of Maine
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean snapper- >5,000 None documented
grouper and other reef fish bottom longline/hook-and-line
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico shark bottom longline/hook- <125 Bottlenose dolphin,
and-line Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX
continental shelf
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean pelagic 1,446 None documented
hook-and-line/harpoon
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico trotline unknown None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAP/POT FISHERIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean mixed species trap/pot >501 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean spiny lobster trap/pot >197 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL spiny lobster trap/pot 2,145 Bottlenose dolphin,
Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/pot 4,113 Bottlenose dolphin,
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 trap/pot unknown None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico golden crab trap/pot 10 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 27761]]
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico stone crab trap/pot 4,453 Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic eel trap/pot >700 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP SEINE/WEIR/POUND NET FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine herring and Atlantic mackerel stop seine/weir 50 Gray seal, Northwest
North Atlantic
Harbor porpoise, GME/
BF
Harbor seal, WNA
Minke whale, Canadian
East Coast
White-sided dolphin,
WNA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic crab stop seine/weir 2,600 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic mixed species stop seine/weir/pound net (except the 751 None documented
NC roe mullet stop net)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREDGE FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine mussel >50 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic sea scallop dredge 233 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico oyster 7,000 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic offshore surf clam and quahog dredge 100 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 haul/beach seine 25 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL COLLECTION FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean shellfish dive, hand/ 20,000 None documented
mechanical collection
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine urchin dive, hand/mechanical collection >50 None documented
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and Caribbean cast unknown None documented
net
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT) FISHERIES:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean commercial passenger 4,000 Bottlenose dolphin,
fishing vessel Eastern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Northern GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
Western GMX coastal
Bottlenose dolphin,
WNA coastal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 2: DE - Delaware; FL - Florida; GA - Georgia; GME/BF - Gulf of
Maine/Bay of Fundy; GMX - Gulf of Mexico; MA - Massachusetts; NC - North Carolina; VA - Virginia; WNA -
Western North Atlantic; \1\ Fishery classified based on serious injuries and mortalities of this stock, which
are greater than 50 percent (Category I) or greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent (Category II) of
the stock's PBR; \2\ Fishery classified by analogy; \*\ Fishery has an associated high seas component listed
in Table 3.
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
[[Page 27762]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP11JN09.000
[[Page 27763]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP11JN09.001
[[Page 27764]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP11JN09.002
[[Page 27765]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP11JN09.003
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
[[Page 27766]]
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. The factual basis
leading to the certification is set forth below.
Under existing regulations, all fishers participating in Category I
or II fisheries must register under the MMPA and obtain an
Authorization Certificate. The Authorization Certificate authorizes the
taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations.
Additionally, fishers may be subject to a Take Reduction Plan (TRP) and
requested to carry an observer. NMFS has estimated that approximately
59,500 fishing vessels, most of which are small entities, operate in
Category I or II fisheries, and therefore, are required to register
with NMFS. The MMPA registration process is integrated with existing
state and Federal licensing, permitting, and registration programs.
Therefore, fishers who have a federal or state fishery permit or
landing license, or who are authorized through another related federal
or state fishery registration program, are currently not required to
register separately under the MMPA or pay the $25 registration fee.
Therefore, there are no direct costs to small entities under this
proposed rule.
If a vessel is requested to carry an observer, fishers will not
incur any direct economic costs associated with carrying that observer.
Potential indirect costs to individual fishers required to take
observers may include: lost space on deck for catch, lost bunk space,
and lost fishing time due to time needed to process bycatch data. For
effective monitoring, however, observers will rotate among a limited
number of vessels in a fishery at any given time and each vessel within
an observed fishery has an equal probability of being requested to
accommodate an observer. Therefore, the potential indirect costs to
individual fishers are expected to be minimal because observer coverage
would only be required for a small percentage of an individual's total
annual fishing time. In addition, section 118 of the MMPA states that
an observer will not be placed on a vessel if the facilities for
quartering an observer or performing observer functions are inadequate
or unsafe, thereby exempting vessels too small to accommodate an
observer from this requirement. As a result of this certification, an
initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and was not
prepared. In the event that reclassification of a fishery to Category I
or II results in a TRP, economic analyses of the effects of that plan
will be summarized in subsequent rulemaking actions.
This proposed 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 proposed 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 in June 1995. 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 proposed rule would not make any significant
change in the management of reclassified fisheries, and therefore, this
proposed rule is not expected to change the analysis or conclusion of
the 2005 EA. The Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) recommends
agencies review EAs every five years; therefore, NMFS reviewed the 2005
EA in 2009. NMFS concluded that, because there have been no changes to
the process used to develop the LOF and implement section 118 of the
MMPA (including no new alternatives and no additional or new impacts on
the human environment), there is not a need to update the 2005 EA at
this time. If NMFS takes a management action, for example, through the
development of a TRP, NMFS will first prepare an environmental
document, as required under NEPA, specific to that action.
This proposed rule will 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 proposed 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 proposed rule will 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 proposed rule will not affect the land or water uses or
natural resources of the coastal zone, as specified under section 307
of the Coastal Zone Management Act.
References
Barlow, J., and K.A. Forney. 2007. Abundance and population density
of cetaceans in the California Current ecosystem. Fishery Bulletin
105:509-526.
Dated: June 4, 2009.
James W. Balsiger,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. E9-13714 Filed 6-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-C