[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 116 (Thursday, June 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28946-28952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14346]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R9-FHC-2009-N0092; 71490-1351-0000-M2-FY09]
Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Report
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of draft revised marine mammal stock
assessment reports for the Pacific walrus stock and two stocks of polar
bears; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended (MMPA), and its implementing regulations, we, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (Service), have developed draft revised marine
mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) for the Pacific walrus (Odobenus
rosmarus divergens) stock and for each of the two polar bear (Ursus
maritimus) stocks in Alaska: The southern Beaufort Sea polar bear stock
and the Chukchi/Bering seas polar bear stock. These three SARs are
available for public review and comment.
DATES: We must receive comments by September 16, 2009.
ADDRESSES: To obtain the SARs for the Pacific walrus or either polar
bear stock, and to submit comments, see Document Availability and
Public Comment, respectively, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosa Meehan, Marine Mammals Management
Office, (800) 362-5148 (telephone) or [email protected] (e-
mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 28947]]
Background
Under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and its implementing
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 18,
we regulate the taking, possession, transportation, purchasing,
selling, offering for sale, exporting, and importing of marine mammals.
One of the MMPA's goals is to ensure that stocks of marine mammals
occurring in waters under U.S. jurisdiction do not experience a level
of human-caused mortality and serious injury that is likely to cause
the stock to be reduced below its optimum sustainable population level
(OSP). OSP is defined as ``the number of animals which will result in
the maximum productivity of the population or the species, keeping in
mind the carrying capacity of the habitat and the health of the
ecosystem of which they form a constituent element.''
To help accomplish the goal of maintaining marine mammal stocks at
their OSPs, section 117 of the MMPA requires us and the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) to prepare a SAR for each marine mammal stock
that occurs in waters under U.S. jurisdiction. A SAR must be based on
the best scientific information available; therefore, we prepare it in
consultation with established regional scientific review groups. Each
SAR must include: (1) A description of the stock and its geographic
range; (2) a minimum population estimate, maximum net productivity
rate, and current population trend; (3) an estimate of human-caused
mortality and serious injury; (4) a description of commercial fishery
interactions; (5) a categorization of the status of the stock; and (6)
an estimate of the potential biological removal (PBR) level. The PBR is
defined 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 OSP.'' The PBR is the
product of the minimum population estimate of the stock
(Nmin); one-half the maximum theoretical or estimated net
productivity rate of the stock at a small population size
(Rmax); and a recovery factor (Fr) of between 0.1
and 1.0, which is intended to compensate for uncertainty and unknown
estimation errors.
Section 117 of the MMPA also requires us and NMFS to review the
SARs (a) at least annually for stocks that are specified as strategic
stocks, (b) at least annually for stocks for which significant new
information is available, and (c) at least once every 3 years for all
other stocks.
A strategic stock is defined in the MMPA as a marine mammal stock
(a) for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the
PBR; (b) which, based on the best available scientific information, is
declining and is likely to be listed as a threatened species under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.;
ESA), within the foreseeable future; or (c) which is listed as a
threatened or endangered species under the ESA, or is designated as
depleted under the MMPA.
The following table summarizes the information we are now making
available in the draft revised SARs for the Pacific walrus, the
southern Beaufort Sea polar bear, and the Chukchi/Bering Seas polar
bear stocks, listing each stock's Nmin, Rmax,
Fr, PBR, annual estimated human-caused mortality and serious
injury, and status. After consideration of any public comments we
receive, we will revise any or all of these SARs, as appropriate. We
will publish a notice of availability and summary for each final SAR,
including responses to comments we received.
Table 1--Summary: Draft Revised Stock Assessment Reports for the Pacific Walrus, Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bear, and Chukchi/Bering Seas Polar Bear
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Annual estimated average
Stock Nmin Rmax Fr PBR human-caused mortality Stock status
and serious injury
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Pacific Walrus....................... 15,164 0.08 1.0 607 4,963-5,460............. Strategic.
Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bear..... 1,397 0.0603 0.5 22 33 (Alaska)............. Strategic.
21 (Canada).............
Chukchi/Bering Seas Polar Bear....... 2,000 0.0603 0.5 30 37 (Alaska)............. Strategic.
--(Russia)..............
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Document Availability
Draft Revised SARs for Pacific Walrus, Southern Beaufort Sea Polar
Bear, and Chukchi/Bering Seas Polar Bear
You may obtain copies by any one of the following methods:
Internet: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/walrus/reports.htm (for the walrus stock) and http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/reports.htm (for both polar bear stocks).
Write to or visit (during normal business hours from 8
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) the Chief, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor
Road, Anchorage, AK 99503; telephone: (800) 362-3800.
Public Comment
Draft Revised SARs for Pacific Walrus, Southern Beaufort Sea Polar
Bear, and Chukchi/Bering Seas Polar Bear
You may submit a written comment by any one of the following
methods:
E-mail: [email protected].
Mail or hand-delivery: Chief, Marine Mammals Management
Office (see address above).
Fax: (907) 786-3816.
References
In accordance with the MMPA, we include in this notice a list of
the information sources and public reports upon which we based the
SARs.
Pacific Walrus
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[[Page 28948]]
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Authority: The authority for this action is the Marine Mammal
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Dated: June 9, 2009.
Marvin Moriarty,
Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E9-14346 Filed 6-17-09; 8:45 am]
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