Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and Endangered Species Conservation; Restriction of Fishing Activities, 8223-8227 [06-1490]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8223-8227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1490]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Parts 224 and 229

[Docket No. 060213033-6033-01; I.D. 021006A]
RIN 0648-AU23


Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing 
Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and 
Endangered Species Conservation; Restriction of Fishing Activities

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Temporary rule.

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SUMMARY: The Assistant Administrator for Fisheries (AA), NOAA, 
announces temporary restrictions on gillnet fishing in the Southeast 
U.S. Restricted Area through March 31, 2006, consistent with the 
requirements of the ALWTRP's implementing regulations. NMFS is taking 
this action based on its determination that a right whale mortality, 
documented on January 22, 2006, was the result of an entanglement by 
gillnet gear within the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area. This action is 
necessary to protect North Atlantic right whales from further serious 
injury or mortality from entanglement in gillnet gear in the Southeast 
U.S. Restricted Area.

DATES: This action is effective from 0001 hours February 15, 2006 
through 2400 hours March 31, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared in 
association with this temporary rule may be obtained from the persons 
listed below under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vicki Cornish, 727-824-5312, Juan 
Levesque, 727-824-5312, or Barb Zoodsma, 904-321-2806.
    Electronic Access: Regulations and background documents for the 
ALWTRP can be downloaded from the ALWTRP Web site at https://
www.nero.noaa.gov/whaletrp/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) was severely 
depleted by commercial whaling and despite protection from commercial 
harvest since 1935, has not recovered. The population is believed to be 
at or less than 300 individuals, making it one of the most critically 
endangered large whale species in the world (NMFS, 2005).
    The North Atlantic right whale has been listed as endangered under 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since the ESA's passage in 1973 (35 FR 
8495, June 2, 1970). In June 1994, NMFS declared three areas of the 
right whale's range in the United States as critical habitat: (1) Great 
South Channel, (2) Cape Cod Bay, and (3) the Southeastern U.S. (59 FR 
28793, June 3, 1994). The Southeastern U.S. critical habitat includes 
coastal waters between 31[deg]15' N lat. and 30[deg]15' N lat. from the 
coast out 15 nautical miles, and the coastal waters between 30[deg]15' 
N lat. and 28[deg]00' N lat. from the coast out 5 nautical miles (50 
CFR 226.203).
    North Atlantic right whales occur in coastal and nearshore waters 
off the eastern United States and Canada, areas also used by fishing 
and other maritime activities that adversely affect the species. Deaths 
from collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear are 
significant impediments to the recovery of the species. From 1997 to 
2001, human-caused mortality and serious injury to North Atlantic right 
whales from fishery entanglements and ship strikes was estimated as an 
average of 2.0 per year (Waring et al., 2003). A serious injury has 
been defined as ``any injury that will likely result in mortality'' (50 
CFR 216.3). Kraus et al. (2005) indicated that the overall mortality 
rate increased between 1980 and 1998 to a level of at least four 
percent per year, a rate that is not sustainable. The Potential 
Biological Removal (PBR) level for right whales is zero; thus, any 
mortality or serious injury to the species is considered significant.
    The serious injury and mortality of the right whale as a result of 
commercial fishing activities continues to occur at a rate above PBR 
(Waring et al., 2003). Knowlton and Kraus (2001) documented 56 right 
whale human-related serious injuries and deaths from 1970 to 1999, with 
at least 31 attributed to entanglements in fishing gear, for an average 
of 1.0 mortalities and serious injuries per year over that time period. 
Cole et al. (2005) documented, for 1999-2003, 31 reports of 
entanglements, 5 resulting in serious injuries and 3

[[Page 8224]]

resulting in mortalities, for an average of 1.6 mortalities and serious 
injuries per year over that time period.
    NMFS criteria for determining whether an entanglement of a right 
whale is a serious injury (i.e., an injury likely to result in the 
mortality of an animal, when its actual fate is unknown), include 
fishing line constricting the tail flukes of the whale (Cole et al., 
2005). The same document states that a whale is typically not 
considered seriously injured if all constricting lines are shed by the 
animal or removed (presumably by an experienced team of disentanglement 
experts).
    To reduce the incidental serious injury and mortality of marine 
mammal stocks in commercial fishing operations, section 118(f) of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) directs NMFS to develop and 
implement Take Reduction Plans (TRP) to assist in the recovery or 
prevent the depletion of each strategic stock that interacts with a 
Category I or II fishery, as defined and classified in the annual List 
of Fisheries.
    On August 6, 1996 (61 FR 40819), NMFS established the Atlantic 
Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) to prepare a draft TRP to 
reduce the incidental serious injury and mortality of right, humpback, 
and fin whales in commercial fishing operations, as well as to provide 
conservation benefits to a fourth, non-endangered species, the minke 
whale. The ALWTRT submitted a report to NMFS on February 1, 1997, with 
recommendations to reduce the serious injury and mortality of Atlantic 
large whales; however, the ALWTRT did not reach consensus on some 
recommendations. NMFS then developed a final TRP and implementing 
regulations after considerable public input. An interim final rule was 
published on July 22,1997 (62 FR 39157), and a final rule was published 
February 16, 1999 (64 FR 7529), with an April 1, 1999, effective date. 
Since this time, the ALWTRP has been modified several times to reduce 
the serious injury and mortality of large whales in commercial 
fisheries.
    The ALWTRP, implemented through regulations at 50 CFR 229.32, 
relies on a combination of fishing gear modifications, operational 
restrictions, and time/area closures to reduce the risk of large whales 
becoming entangled in commercial fishing gear. NMFS implemented 
specific management measures for commercial fishing operations in 
Southeast U.S. waters.
    The Southeastern U.S. Restricted Area is defined in 50 CFR 
229.32(f)(1)(i) as the waters from 32[deg]00' N. lat. (near Savannah, 
GA) along the coast south to 27[deg]51' N. lat. (near Sebastian Inlet, 
FL) and extending from the shore eastward out to 80[deg]00' W. long. 
The regulations define the Southeast U.S. Observer Area as the 
Southeast U.S. Restricted Area plus an additional area along the coast 
south to 26[deg]46.5' N. lat. (near West Palm Beach, FL) and extending 
from the shore eastward out to 80[deg]00' W. long. (50 CFR 
229.32(f)(1)(ii)).
    In the Southeast U.S. Observer Area, the ALWTRP regulations mandate 
100-percent observer coverage of the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark 
gillnet fishery during the restricted period (November 15 through March 
31), which corresponds with the right whale calving season (50 CFR 
229.32(f)(3)). Additionally, fishermen are prohibited from using shark 
gillnet gear, defined as 5-inches (0.127-m) or greater stretch mesh (50 
CFR 229.2), in the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area during the restricted 
period (November 15 through March 31) (50 CFR 229.32(f)(4)(i)). Shark 
gillnetting using strikenet gear is allowed in the Southeast U.S. 
Restricted Area as long as the following conditions are met: (1) No 
nets are set at night or when visibility is less than 500 yards (460 
m); (2) each set is made under the observation of a spotter plane; (3) 
no net is set within 3 nautical miles of a right, humpback, or fin 
whale; and (4) if a right, humpback, or fin whale moves within 3 
nautical miles of the set gear, the gear is removed immediately from 
the water (50 CFR 229.32(f)(4)(iv)). Lastly, all gillnet fishermen are 
prohibited from fishing a straight set of gillnet gear at night within 
the Southeastern U.S. Restricted Area during the restricted period 
(November 15-March 31) (50 CFR 229.32(f)(4)(iii)).
    Because of the right whale's extremely endangered status, NMFS 
included in the ALWTRP regulations contingency measures that would 
allow further restriction on fishing in the Cape Cod Bay critical 
habitat, Great South Channel restricted area, and the Southeast U.S. 
Restricted Area, if a right whale mortality or serious injury resulted 
from the use of certain fishing gear in those areas. Specifically, 50 
CFR 229.32(g)(1) states that if a serious injury or mortality of a 
right whale occurs in the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area from November 
15 through March 31 as a result of an entanglement by gillnet gear 
allowed to be used in that area and time, the AA shall close that area 
to that gear type for the rest of that time period and for that same 
time period in each subsequent year, unless the AA revises the 
restricted period or implements other measures.

Recent Events

    On Sunday, January 22, 2006, at 10:30 a.m., a report was made to 
the United States Coast Guard by a member of the public that a floating 
whale had been spotted offshore of Jacksonville Beach, Florida. At 
approximately 11 a.m., a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) 
aerial survey team confirmed the whale species and location and 
photographed the carcass. The aerial survey team identified the whale 
as a right whale calf, and photos indicated the calf as having one 
large wound along the midline and smaller lesions around the base of 
its tail. The right whale calf was towed to shore that evening from the 
location of 30[deg]14.4' N. lat., 81[deg]04.2' W. long., which was 
approximately 1 nautical mile outside of designated right whale 
critical habitat, but within the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area.
    Each year NMFS coordinates an extensive aerial survey effort in the 
Southeast U.S. right whale critical habitat area from December 1 
through March 31. The New England Aquarium's right whale survey 
photograph database was consulted to determine the sighting history for 
the dead calf. On Friday, December 30, 2005, the calf and its mother 
were sighted together off St. Catherines Island, Georgia. The calf did 
not show evidence of entanglement at the time. On January 8 and 9, 
2006, the pair were sighted off the mouth of Nassau Sound, Florida and 
Cumberland Sound, Georgia, respectively. By that time, the aerial 
survey photographs suggested the calf had linear scars, consistent with 
some type of entanglement event. The pair was last observed together 
off Jacksonville Beach, Florida, on Wednesday, January 11, 2006. On 
Saturday, January 21, 2006, the calf's mother was observed, without the 
calf, near the area where the dead calf was recovered the following 
day. The adult female right whale was observed breaching, blowing 
bubbles, diving and surface swimming, which may have been signs of 
agitated behavior. The calf's carcass was found and reported on January 
22, 2006, approximately 16 nautical miles off Jacksonville Beach, 
Florida. Based on the condition of the whale when necropsied and local 
surface water temperatures, the investigators conclude that this animal 
died within 3 to 6 days prior to necropsy. An analysis of local wind 
and water currents prior to January 22 indicated that the winds were 
west to northwest, placing the location where the calf most likely died 
as inshore and north of where the carcass was found.

[[Page 8225]]

NMFS has determined that both the entanglement and death of the whale 
occurred within the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area for the following 
reasons: (1) All sightings of this calf occurred within the Southeast 
U.S. Restricted Area; (2) all the southeast sightings were recent; (3) 
mother-calf pairs typically remain on the calving grounds in January; 
(4) the carcass was found within the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area; 
and (5) the calf's most likely location when it died was inshore and 
north of where the carcass was found.
    On Monday, January 23, 2006, at 7:15 a.m., a specialized large 
whale necropsy team, which consisted of various Federal and state 
government representatives, and university and non-profit marine mammal 
specialists, performed a thorough necropsy of the whale. This consisted 
of measuring, photographing, dissecting, and collecting tissues samples 
of the animal in order to determine the possible cause of death. The 
necropsy team's gross examination indicated a variety of lesions 
including numerous small lesions around the tailstock and a single 
large dorsal lesion. The whale had a complex array of wounds around its 
tailstock. Two wounds were bites from a small shark. Those wounds had 
been seen in aerial photos of the calf as early as December 30, 2005. 
Most of the remaining wounds formed straight-line, vee-, and diamond-
shaped patterns. These small lesions appeared to be pre-mortem and 
caused by a fine cutting edge such as monofilament net, which would 
also correspond to the characteristic vee and diamond shapes of gillnet 
gear. There was also some post-mortem scavenging by sharks. The whale 
had a large wound splitting open most of its back. The wound appeared 
to have occurred post-mortem and was not the result of a vessel strike. 
The edges of the middle of the wound were clean-cut, while the ends 
were ragged. A notable observation by the necropsy team was that 
cyamids had migrated to the tailstock, indicating significant injury to 
this area which may have impeded the animal's ability to swim and dive. 
The necropsy team also noted that the blubber thickness would suggest 
the animal was in good body condition, but, based on its empty 
gastrointestinal track, it had not been able to nurse for at least a 
day prior to its death.
    The immediate cause of death of the whale (e.g., drowning, 
dehydration, infection) has not been determined and may never be 
completely known. However, all available evidence suggests the 
entanglement and injury of the whale by gillnet gear ultimately led to 
the death of the animal. The evidence of recent entanglement was 
clearly documented by the necropsy team. The degree of entanglement 
meets NMFS' criteria of a serious injury (i.e., an injury likely to 
result in mortality). While there was no entangling gear on the animal 
at the time it was reported, NMFS knows it was not removed through 
permitted disentanglement efforts, and NMFS believes that the calf did 
not disentangle itself as it was young and not expected to be strong 
enough to shed the imbedded gear. Therefore, based on the results of 
the necropsy, the New England Aquarium's aerial survey database, 
evidence of gillnet fisheries operating in the area (see Affected 
Fisheries), and in the absence of other significant explanatory 
findings, NMFS has determined that the right whale mortality, which 
occurred on January 22, 2006, was as a result of entanglement in 
gillnet gear.

Closure of Southeast U.S. Restricted Area to Gillnet Fisheries

    NMFS has evaluated the recent right whale mortality event and 
determined that the criteria specified in 50 CFR 229.32(g)(1) for 
taking additional action to protect right whales from further serious 
injury or mortality, under the ALWTRP, have been met. NMFS has 
determined that the mortality of this right whale was due to 
entanglement in gillnet gear, and that the entanglement occurred within 
the Southeastern U.S. Restricted Area. Thus, NMFS believes that closing 
the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area to all gillnet gear through the 
remainder of the restricted period, through March 31, 2006, is 
warranted and urgent. Therefore, the AA announces that all fishing with 
gillnets is prohibited in the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area, beginning 
at 0001 hours February 15, 2006 through 2400 hours March 31, 2006. All 
such gillnets that are currently set must be retrieved by 11:59 p.m on 
February 15, 2006. Since existing ALWTRP rules already prohibit gillnet 
fishing at night, except for run-around sets, which are tended sets, 
there is no need to provide any extended delay in effectiveness to 
allow fishermen to retrieve set gear.
    This restriction will be announced to state officials, fishermen, 
ALWTRT members, and other interested parties through e-mail, phone 
contact, NOAA Web site, and other appropriate media immediately upon 
filing with the Federal Register.
    The regulations at 50 CFR 229.32(g)(1) also requires the AA to 
close the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area for the rest of the time 
period, and for the time period November 15 through March 31 in each 
subsequent year, unless the AA revises the restricted period or unless 
other measures are implemented. NMFS plans to seek assistance and 
recommendations from the ALWTRT at their next meeting in order to 
evaluate whether permanent closures within the Southeast U.S. 
Restricted Area are necessary.

Affected Gillnet Fisheries

    In Southeast Atlantic waters, commercial fishermen target various 
finfish and shark species using gillnet gear of varied sizes and 
deployment techniques. Fisheries expected to be affected by this 
rulemaking include, but are not limited to, the Southeastern U.S. 
Atlantic shark gillnet fishery and the Southeast Atlantic gillnet 
fishery.
    The Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet fishery uses 5-inch 
(0.127 m) or greater stretch mesh gillnet gear, typically targeting 
various shark species. NMFS believes there are approximately six to 
eight active vessels in this fishery. The FWC's trip ticket database 
(2002-2005) for counties within the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area 
(Nassau, Duval, St. John's, Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard) indicates 
that overall shark landings, number of trips, and the dollar value of 
this fishery, has been declining since 2002 within this area. In 2005, 
there was a total of 280,235 pounds (127,113 kg) of sharks landed, 
which corresponded to 180 trips and a value of $180,015. Although the 
Southeast U.S. Restricted Area consists of Florida and Georgia waters, 
landings information was only obtained from Florida since landings from 
gillnet gear are prohibited in the State of Georgia. This fishery is 
managed by the NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries, Highly Migratory 
Species Division.
    The Southeast Atlantic gillnet fishery typically uses smaller mesh 
gillnet gear, less than 5-inch stretch mesh, targeting mostly coastal 
migratory species (King mackerel, Spanish mackerel, whiting, and 
bluefish). Based on the FWC's trip ticket database for 2005, NMFS 
believes that approximately 56 individuals participate in this fishery 
annually. Data from the same database for 2002-2005 for counties within 
the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area indicate that overall finfish 
landings (excluding whiting; see below), number of trips, and the value 
of the fishery has been decreasing since 2002 for fishermen targeting 
finfish with gillnets in this area. For 2005, there was a total of 
153,905 pounds (69,810 kg) of finfish landed, which corresponded to 978 
trips and a value of $129,454. As stated above, the Southeast U.S. 
Restricted Area consists of Florida and

[[Page 8226]]

Georgia waters, but landings information was only obtained from Florida 
since landings from gillnet gear are prohibited in the State of 
Georgia. Florida gillnet finfish landings have been dominated by the 
following species: bluefish, Spanish mackerel, cobia, and King 
mackerel. These species are managed by NMFS and the South Atlantic 
Regional Fishery Management Council.
    NMFS has also become aware of recent increases in fishing activity 
by fishermen specifically using sink gillnet gear of various mesh size 
targeting demersal finfish, primarily whiting (Menticirrhus 
americanus). In contrast to the above landings information, the FWC's 
trip ticket database (2002-2005) for counties within the Southeast U.S. 
Restricted Area indicates that overall finfish landings, number of 
trips, and the value of demersal finfish landings have been increasing 
since 2002, mostly from fishermen targeting whiting with gillnets in 
this area. NMFS is unaware how many participants fish for demersal 
finfish using only sink gillnet gear, since catches from all gillnet 
gear are combined in the trip ticket database. For 2005, there was a 
total of 461,858 pounds (209,495 kg) of whiting landed, which 
corresponded to 589 trips and a value of $363,960. Again, the Southeast 
U.S. Restricted Area consists of Florida and Georgia waters; however, 
landings information was only obtained from Florida since landings from 
gillnet gear are prohibited in the State of Georgia. At this time, the 
South Atlantic Regional Fishery Management Council does not prohibit 
the use of gillnets within the southeast Exclusive Economic Zone waters 
for non-FMP species (50 CFR 600.725). Thus, fishermen who target 
whiting are not regulated by a FMP, because currently this species is 
not managed under the Coastal Migratory FMP or any other FMP.
    The above-mentioned estimates for the total value of the gillnet 
fisheries operating in the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area are based on 
preliminary total annual landings for 2005. FWC's trip ticket data for 
counties within the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area for the past six 
years (2000-2005) during the months of February and March, indicate an 
average of 15 fishermen fish in these areas during the months that will 
be affected by this temporary closure. Total economic losses during 
February and March 2006 were projected, based on the combined average 
total landings and average total revenues from gillnet fishing in these 
three areas, and are estimated at 92,687 pounds and $74,364.

Additional Conservation Measures

    The AA may withdraw or modify any additional restriction on fishing 
activities if the AA determines that such action is warranted. 
Notification of any additional, modified, or suspended right whale 
conservation measures will be published in the Federal Register 
pursuant to 50 CFR 229.32(g)(1) or (2).
    NMFS will continue to monitor right whale serious injuries and 
mortalities to gauge the effectiveness of these conservation measures. 
In addition, although the ALWTRT recommended additional measures to 
further protect right whales from serious injury and mortality in 
commercial fishing operations in southeast waters during 2005 and NMFS 
published a proposed rule on June 21, 2005 (70 FR 35894), NMFS believes 
that, at this time, because of the recent entanglement event and the 
current level of commercial gillnet fishing operations in Southeast 
waters, NMFS plans to seek assistance and recommendations from the 
ALWTRT at their next meeting in order to evaluate whether permanent 
closures within the Southeast U.S. Restricted Area are necessary in 
addition to the recently proposed measures.

Literature Cited

Knowlton, A.R. and S.D. Kraus. 2001. Mortality and serious injury of 
North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in the North 
Atlantic Ocean. J. Cetacean Res. Manage. (Special Issue) 2 (in 
press).
Kraus, S.D., M.W. Brown, H. Caswell, C.W. Clark, M. Fujiwara, P.K. 
Hamilton, R.D. Kenney, A.R. Knowlton, S. Landry, C.A. Mayo, W.A. 
McLellan, M.J. Moore, D.P. Nowacek, D.A. Pabst, A.J. Read, R.M. 
Rolland. 2005. North Atlantic Right Whales in Crisis. Science 22 
July 2005: Vol. 309. no. 5734, pp. 561-562.
NMFS. 2005. Recovery Plan for the North Atlantic Right Whale 
(Eubalaena glacialis). National Marine Fisheries Service, Silver 
Spring, MD.
Waring, G., R. Pace, J. Quintal, C. Fairfield and K. Maze-Foley. 
2003. U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock 
Assessments--2003. NOAA Tech. Mem. NMFS-NE-182. 260 pp.

Classification

    In accordance with section 118(f)(9) of the MMPA, the AA has 
determined that this action is necessary to implement a take reduction 
plan to protect North Atlantic right whales. In addition, pursuant to 
section 11(f) of the ESA, the AA may promulgate regulations to enforce 
the ESA's prohibitions on the taking of endangered right whales.
    An Environmental Assessment for this action was prepared and is 
available from the agency upon request.
    Providing prior notice and opportunity for comment on this action 
would be impracticable because it would prevent NMFS from implementing 
timely measures, pursuant to regulations at 50 U.S.C. 229(g)(1), to 
immediately reduce the risk of further serious injury and mortality of 
endangered right whales. If this action were to be subject to the 
notice and comment rulemaking requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553, NMFS would 
not be able to assert these regulatory protections to endangered right 
whales because the rulemaking would not be concluded until some time 
beyond the end of the protection period. In order to ensure that right 
whales are protected during the restricted period, the AA finds that 
good cause exists, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), to waive prior 
notice and an opportunity to comment on this action to implement a 
commercial gillnet fishing closure within the Southeast U.S. Restricted 
Area to reduce the risk of entanglement of endangered right whales in 
commercial gillnet gear.
    For the same reasons, the AA finds that, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), 
good cause exists to waive the 30-day delay in effective date. If NMFS 
were to delay for 30 days the effective date of this action, right 
whales would be vulnerable to entanglement, which could result in 
further serious injury and mortality.
    NMFS determined that this action is consistent to the maximum 
extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the approved 
coastal management programs of Georgia and Florida. This determination 
was submitted on February 3, 2006, for review by the responsible state 
agencies under section 307 of the CZMA.
    The rule implementing the commercial gillnet fishing closure within 
the Southeastern U.S. Restricted Area has been determined not to be 
significant under Executive Order (E.O.) 12866.
    This temporary rule is exempt from the procedures of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act because the rule is issued without prior notice and 
opportunity for public comment.
    NMFS believes this temporary rule does not contain policies with 
federalism implications under E.O. 13132, since the state waters 
affected already prohibit gillneting under state law; however, full 
consultation with the states was not practicable for this action 
pursuant to section 6 of E.O. 13132.
    This action does not contain a collection-of-information 
requirement for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act.


[[Page 8227]]


    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., and 
50 CFR 229.32(g)(1).

    Dated: February 13, 2006.
John Oliver,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 06-1490 Filed 2-13-06; 3:56 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P