Federal Register/Vol. 84, No. 229/Wednesday, November 27
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 27, 2019 / Notices 65353 consideration during the meeting, and reports-species-stock#cetaceans---large- Background to ensure transmission to the Committee whales. Section 117 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. prior to the meeting, comments must be Copies of the Alaska Regional SARs 1361 et seq.) requires NMFS and the received no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on may be requested from Marcia Muto, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to Monday, December 16, 2019. Comments Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, prepare stock assessments for each stock received after that date will be 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA of marine mammals occurring in waters distributed to the members but may not 98115–6349. under the jurisdiction of the United be considered at the meeting. Copies of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, States, including the U.S. Exclusive Copies of CINTAC meeting minutes and Caribbean Regional SARs may be Economic Zone. These reports must will be available within 90 days of the requested from Elizabeth Josephson, contain information regarding the meeting. Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 distribution and abundance of the stock, Dated: November 14, 2019. Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543. population growth rates and trends, Devin Horne, Copies of the Pacific Regional SARs estimates of annual human-caused Designated Federal Officer, Office of Energy may be requested from Jim Carretta, mortality and serious injury (M/SI) from and Environmental Industries. Southwest Fisheries Science Center, all sources, descriptions of the fisheries [FR Doc. 2019–25786 Filed 11–26–19; 8:45 am] 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA with which the stock interacts, and the BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P 92037–1508. status of the stock. Initial reports were You may submit comments or new completed in 1995. The MMPA requires NMFS and FWS information, identified by NOAA– to review the SARs at least annually for DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NMFS–2019–0090, by either of the strategic stocks and stocks for which following methods: National Oceanic and Atmospheric significant new information is available, Administration Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to and at least once every three years for www.regulations.gov/ non-strategic stocks. The term ‘‘strategic #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2019- [RTID 0648–XV011] stock’’ means a marine mammal stock: 0090, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, (A) For which the level of direct human- Draft 2019 Marine Mammal Stock complete the required fields, and enter caused mortality exceeds the potential Assessment Reports or attach your comments. biological removal level or PBR (defined Mail: Send comments, new by the MMPA as the maximum number AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries information, or requests for copies of of animals, not including natural Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and reports to: Dr. Zachary Schakner, mortalities, that may be removed from a Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Protected Species Science Branch, marine mammal stock while allowing Commerce. Office of Science and Technology, that stock to reach or maintain its ACTION: Notice; request for comments National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 optimum sustainable population); (B) and new information. East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD which, based on the best available 20910–3226, Attn: Stock Assessments. scientific information, is declining and SUMMARY: NMFS reviewed the Alaska, is likely to be listed as a threatened Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine Instructions: NMFS may not consider species under the Endangered Species mammal stock assessment reports comments if they are sent by any other Act (ESA) within the foreseeable future; (SARs) in accordance with the Marine method, to any other address or or (C) which is listed as a threatened Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). SARs individual, or received after the end of species or endangered species under the for marine mammals in the Alaska, the comment period. All comments ESA. NMFS and the FWS are required Atlantic, and Pacific regions were received are a part of the public record to revise a SAR if the status of the stock revised according to new information. and will generally be posted for public has changed or can be more accurately NMFS solicits public comments on the viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying determined. draft 2019 SARs. In addition to releasing Prior to public review, the updated draft 2019 Pacific SARs for public information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or SARs under NMFS’ jurisdiction are comment, NMFS is also providing an peer-reviewed within NMFS Fisheries opportunity to comment on the final otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will Science Centers and by members of 2018 Western North Pacific (WNP) gray three regional independent Scientific whale SAR previously published in the be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ Review Groups, established under the Federal Register on June 19, 2019 (84 MMPA to independently advise NMFS FR 28489). NMFS is also requesting new A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). on information and uncertainties related information for strategic stocks that to the status of marine mammals. were not updated in 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. The period covered by the 2019 draft DATES: Comments must be received by Zachary Schakner, Office of Science and SARs is 2013–2017. NMFS reviewed the February 25, 2020. Technology, 301–427–8106, status of all marine mammal strategic ADDRESSES: The 2019 draft SARs are [email protected]; Marcia stocks as required and considered available in electronic form via the Muto, 206–526–4026, Marcia.Muto@ whether significant new information internet at https:// noaa.gov, regarding Alaska regional was available for all other stocks under www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ stock assessments; Elizabeth Josephson, NMFS’ jurisdiction. As a result of this marine-mammal-protection/draft- 508–495–2362, Elizabeth.Josephson@ review, NMFS revised a total of 65 marine-mammal-stock-assessment- noaa.gov, regarding Atlantic, Gulf of reports representing 76 stocks in the reports. The 2018 final Gray Whale Mexico, and Caribbean regional stock Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions to Western North Pacific SAR is available assessments; or Jim Carretta, 858–546– incorporate new information. The 2019 at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ 7171, [email protected], regarding revisions consist primarily of updated national/marine-mammal-protection/ Pacific regional stock assessments. or revised M/SI estimate, updated marine-mammal-stock-assessment- SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: abundance estimates, including the VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Nov 26, 2019 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM 27NON1 65354 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 27, 2019 / Notices application of an established capture- public comment, NMFS is also into the SARs, and other information on mark-recapture method to estimate the providing an opportunity to comment emerging concerns for a strategic stock. abundance of Gulf of Maine humpback on the final 2018 WNP gray whale SAR Alaska Reports whales, and the introduction of a new previously published in the Federal method for estimating cryptic mortality Register on June 19, 2019 (84 FR 28489). In 2019, NMFS reviewed all 45 stocks for Gulf of Maine humpback whales and NMFS is providing this opportunity in the Alaska region for new North Atlantic right whales. One stock because of the difference in abundance information, and revised 18 SARs under (Alaska ringed seal) changed in status reported in the draft and final reports. NMFS jurisdiction representing 29 from non-strategic to strategic, and four To ensure NMFS is aware of new stocks (15 strategic and 14 non- stocks (Western North Atlantic false information relevant to all strategic strategic). The Alaska ringed seal stock killer whale and St. Andrew Bay, St. stocks, NMFS requests new information changed from non-strategic to strategic Joseph Bay, and West Bay common for strategic stocks that were not status because the stock is now bottlenose dolphin stocks) changed in updated in 2019. Specifically, new considered threatened under the ESA status from strategic to non-strategic. relevant information could include (see below). A list of the 29 stocks Substantive revisions to the SARs are peer-reviewed information on human- revised in 2019 for the Alaska region discussed below. caused serious injury and mortality, (contained in 18 reports) is presented in NMFS solicits public comments on fishery interactions, abundance, Table 1. Information on the remaining the draft 2019 SARs. In addition to distribution, stock structure and habitat Alaska region stocks can be found in the releasing draft 2019 Pacific SARs for concerns, which could be incorporated final 2018 reports (Muto et al., 2019). TABLE 1—LIST OF MARINE MAMMAL STOCKS IN THE ALASKA REGION REVISED IN 2019 Strategic stocks Non-strategic stocks • Steller sea lion, Western U.S ............................................................... • Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S. • Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific ......................................................... • Harbor seals (12 stocks): • Bearded seal, Alaska ............................................................................ Æ Aleutian Islands. • Ringed seal, Alaska .............................................................................