Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team Meeting, 51446-51447 [E8-20419]

Download as PDF 51446 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 3, 2008 / Notices Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Walter Ikehara, (808) 944– 2275 or Walter.Ikehara@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requires U.S. fishing vessels registered for use with, or any U.S. citizen issued with, a Special Coral Reef Ecosystem Fishing Permit (authorized under the Fishery Management Plan for Coral Reef Ecosystems of the Western Pacific Region) to complete logbooks and submit them to NMFS. The information in the logbooks is used to obtain fish catch/fishing effort data on coral reef taxa (level of classification such as family, genus, or species, depending on level applicable for management) harvested in designated low-use marine protected areas and on potentially-harvested coral reef taxa in waters of the U.S. exclusive economic zone in the western Pacific region. These data are needed to determine the condition of the stocks and whether the current management measures are having the intended effects, to evaluate the benefits and costs of changes in management measures, and to monitor and respond to incidental takes of endangered and threatened marine animals. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES II. Method of Collection Information is submitted to NMFS in the form of paper logbook sheets and paper transshipment forms within 30 days of each landing of coral reef harvest. whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Dated: August 28, 2008. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. E8–20416 Filed 9–2–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XK17 Endangered Species; File No. 13573 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Michael Salmon, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33431–0991, has applied in due form for a permit to take green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles for III. Data purposes of scientific research. OMB Number: 0648–0462. DATES: Written, telefaxed, or e-mail Form Number: None. comments must be received on or before Type of Review: Regular submission. October 3, 2008. Affected Public: Business or other forADDRESSES: The application and related profit organizations; individuals or documents are available for review households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 5. upon written request or by appointment Estimated Time Per Response: Pre-trip in the following offices: Permits, Conservation and Education and pre-landing notifications, 3 Division, Office of Protected Resources, minutes; logbook reports, 30 minutes; NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room and transshipment reports, 15 minutes. 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910; phone Estimated Total Annual Burden (301)713–2289; fax (301)427–2521; and Hours: 382. Southeast Region, NMFS, 263 13th Estimated Total Annual Cost to Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; Public: $0. phone (727)824–5312; fax (727)824– IV. Request for Comments 5309. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether Written comments or requests for a the proposed collection of information public hearing on this application is necessary for the proper performance should be mailed to the Chief, Permits, of the functions of the agency, including Conservation and Education Division, VerDate Aug<31>2005 22:59 Sep 02, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 F/PR1, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this particular request would be appropriate. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile at (301)427–2521, provided the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy submitted by mail and postmarked no later than the closing date of the comment period. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail. The mailbox address for providing e-mail comments is NMFS.Pr1Comments@noaa.gov. Include in the subject line of the e-mail comment the following document identifier: File No. 13573. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Opay or Kate Swails, (301)713– 2289. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species (50 CFR 222–226). The applicant proposes to study when green sea turtle navigation is guided by magnetic versus solar cues. Animals would be captured by hand, handled, weighed, measured, flipper tagged, passive integrated transponder tagged, transported, temporarily held for experiments in an outdoor tank arena, and released. Researchers would annually capture and conduct research on up to 28 animals on near shore reefs of Palm Beach County, Florida. The permit would be issued for 3 years. Dated: August 28, 2008. P. Michael Payne, Chief, Permits, Conservation and Education Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–20428 Filed 9–2–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XK12 Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\03SEN1.SGM 03SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 3, 2008 / Notices sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES SUMMARY: NMFS is convening a meeting of the Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team (PLTRT). The PLTRT will discuss the proposed Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan (RIN 0648–AV65) and provide updates to team members on recent research and actions. DATES: The meeting will be held on September 8, 2008, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and on September 9, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. ADDRESSES: The PLTRT meeting will be held at the Pier 5 Hotel, 711 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202. Phone: (410) 539–2000, Fax: (410) 783–1469. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Fougeres: (727) 824–5312 or Kristy Long: (301) 713–2322. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Bycatch Reduction Requirements in the MMPA Section 118(f)(1) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires NMFS to develop and implement take reduction plans to assist in the recovery or prevent the depletion of each strategic marine mammal stock that interacts with Category I and II fisheries. It also provides NMFS discretion to develop and implement a take reduction plan for any other marine mammal stocks that interact with a Category I fishery, which the agency determines, after notice and opportunity for public comment, has a high level of mortality and serious injury across a number of such marine mammal stocks. The MMPA defines a strategic stock as a marine mammal stock: (1) for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the potential biological removal (PBR) level; (2) which is declining and is likely to be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the foreseeable future; or (3) which is listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA or as a depleted species under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1362(2)). PBR is the maximum number of animals, not including natural mortalities, that can be removed annually from a stock, while allowing that stock to reach or maintain its optimum sustainable population level. Category I or II fisheries are fisheries that, respectively, have frequent or occasional incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals. The immediate goal of a take reduction plan for a strategic stock is to reduce, within six months of its implementation, the incidental serious injury or mortality of marine mammals from commercial fishing to levels less than PBR. The long-term goal is to reduce, within five years of its implementation, the VerDate Aug<31>2005 22:59 Sep 02, 2008 Jkt 214001 incidental serious injury and mortality of marine mammals from commercial fishing operations to insignificant levels approaching a zero serious injury and mortality rate, taking into account the economics of the fishery, the availability of existing technology, and existing state or regional fishery management plans. The insignificance threshold, or upper limit of annual incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammal stocks by commercial fisheries, has been defined at 50 CFR 229.2 as 10 percent of the PBR for a stock of marine mammals. History of the PLTRT The PLTRT was first convened on June 29, 2005 (70 FR 36120, June 22, 2005) to address the incidental serious injury and mortality of short- and longfinned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus and Globicephala melas) in the Atlantic region of the Pelagic Longline Fishery. Because the two species of pilot whales are difficult to differentiate at sea, abundance and total fishery-related mortality and serious injury cannot be estimated separately for each species. Therefore, in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, these estimates are combined for both Globicephala species (i.e., Globicephala spp.). Globicephala spp. is then split into the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico stocks. The western North Atlantic stocks of Globicephala spp. were identified as strategic in the 2003 Marine Mammal Stock Assessments report (SAR). However, NMFS revised the abundance estimates for pilot whales in the 2005 SAR and, just prior to convening the PLTRT, these stocks were no longer classified as strategic. More recently, the 2007 SAR also reports that the estimated average annual human-related mortality and serious injury for the last five years does not exceed PBR and the stocks remain non-strategic. The Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fishery also incidentally seriously injures and kills Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus). For Risso’s dolphins and longfinned and short-finned pilot whales, estimated serious injury and mortality levels in the pelagic longline fishery exceed the insignificance threshold but do not exceed the PBR level for each stock. Because these species are below PBR and considered non-strategic stocks but interact with a Category I fishery, NMFS directed the PLTRT to develop and submit a draft Take Reduction Plan to the agency within 11 months. In accordance with the long-term goal of MMPA section 118, this draft Take Reduction Plan would focus on reducing incidental mortalities and PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 51447 serious injuries of pilot whales and Risso’s dolphins to a level approaching a zero mortality and serious injury rate within five years of implementation of the plan. As required under section 118 (f)(8) of the MMPA, the PLTRT developed a draft Take Reduction Plan (TRP) by consensus, and submitted this draft to NMFS. NMFS then published the TRP and implementing regulations proposed by the team in the Federal Register on June 24, 2008 (73 FR 35623) for a public comment period of 90 days, ending on September 22, 2008. NMFS is convening a meeting of the PLTRT during the public comment period, which will be facilitated by Scott McCreary and Bennett Brooks, CONCUR, Inc., Berkeley, California. This meeting will occur September 8–9, 2008 in Baltimore, MD (see DATES and ADDRESSES). Take Reduction Teams are not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). Meetings are open to the public. Dated: August 27, 2008. Helen Golde, Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. E8–20419 Filed 9–2–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XJ92 Permanent Advisory Committee to the U.S. National Section to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC); Meeting Announcement National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: NMFS announces a meeting of the Permanent Advisory Committee to the U.S. National Section to the WCPFC from 17–19 September, 2008, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Meeting topics are provided under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. DATES: The meeting of the Permanent Advisory Committee will be held on September 17–19, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (or until business is concluded), Hawaii Standard Time. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in the Sea Pearl Meeting Room, 2005 Kalia Road, Honolulu, HI 96814. E:\FR\FM\03SEN1.SGM 03SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51446-51447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20419]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XK12


Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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[[Page 51447]]

SUMMARY: NMFS is convening a meeting of the Atlantic Pelagic Longline 
Take Reduction Team (PLTRT). The PLTRT will discuss the proposed 
Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan (RIN 0648-AV65) and 
provide updates to team members on recent research and actions.

DATES: The meeting will be held on September 8, 2008, from 1 p.m. to 6 
p.m., and on September 9, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The PLTRT meeting will be held at the Pier 5 Hotel, 711 
Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21202. Phone: (410) 539-2000, Fax: (410) 
783-1469.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Fougeres: (727) 824-5312 or 
Kristy Long: (301) 713-2322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Bycatch Reduction Requirements in the MMPA

    Section 118(f)(1) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) 
requires NMFS to develop and implement take reduction plans to assist 
in the recovery or prevent the depletion of each strategic marine 
mammal stock that interacts with Category I and II fisheries. It also 
provides NMFS discretion to develop and implement a take reduction plan 
for any other marine mammal stocks that interact with a Category I 
fishery, which the agency determines, after notice and opportunity for 
public comment, has a high level of mortality and serious injury across 
a number of such marine mammal stocks.
    The MMPA defines a strategic stock as a marine mammal stock: (1) 
for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the 
potential biological removal (PBR) level; (2) which is declining and is 
likely to be listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 
foreseeable future; or (3) which is listed as threatened or endangered 
under the ESA or as a depleted species under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 
1362(2)). PBR is the maximum number of animals, not including natural 
mortalities, that can be removed annually from a stock, while allowing 
that stock to reach or maintain its optimum sustainable population 
level. Category I or II fisheries are fisheries that, respectively, 
have frequent or occasional incidental mortality and serious injury of 
marine mammals. The immediate goal of a take reduction plan for a 
strategic stock is to reduce, within six months of its implementation, 
the incidental serious injury or mortality of marine mammals from 
commercial fishing to levels less than PBR. The long-term goal is to 
reduce, within five years of its implementation, the incidental serious 
injury and mortality of marine mammals from commercial fishing 
operations to insignificant levels approaching a zero serious injury 
and mortality rate, taking into account the economics of the fishery, 
the availability of existing technology, and existing state or regional 
fishery management plans. The insignificance threshold, or upper limit 
of annual incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammal 
stocks by commercial fisheries, has been defined at 50 CFR 229.2 as 10 
percent of the PBR for a stock of marine mammals.

History of the PLTRT

    The PLTRT was first convened on June 29, 2005 (70 FR 36120, June 
22, 2005) to address the incidental serious injury and mortality of 
short- and long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus and 
Globicephala melas) in the Atlantic region of the Pelagic Longline 
Fishery. Because the two species of pilot whales are difficult to 
differentiate at sea, abundance and total fishery-related mortality and 
serious injury cannot be estimated separately for each species. 
Therefore, in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, these estimates are 
combined for both Globicephala species (i.e., Globicephala spp.). 
Globicephala spp. is then split into the western North Atlantic and 
Gulf of Mexico stocks. The western North Atlantic stocks of 
Globicephala spp. were identified as strategic in the 2003 Marine 
Mammal Stock Assessments report (SAR). However, NMFS revised the 
abundance estimates for pilot whales in the 2005 SAR and, just prior to 
convening the PLTRT, these stocks were no longer classified as 
strategic. More recently, the 2007 SAR also reports that the estimated 
average annual human-related mortality and serious injury for the last 
five years does not exceed PBR and the stocks remain non-strategic.
    The Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fishery also incidentally seriously 
injures and kills Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus). For Risso's 
dolphins and long-finned and short-finned pilot whales, estimated 
serious injury and mortality levels in the pelagic longline fishery 
exceed the insignificance threshold but do not exceed the PBR level for 
each stock. Because these species are below PBR and considered non-
strategic stocks but interact with a Category I fishery, NMFS directed 
the PLTRT to develop and submit a draft Take Reduction Plan to the 
agency within 11 months. In accordance with the long-term goal of MMPA 
section 118, this draft Take Reduction Plan would focus on reducing 
incidental mortalities and serious injuries of pilot whales and Risso's 
dolphins to a level approaching a zero mortality and serious injury 
rate within five years of implementation of the plan.
    As required under section 118 (f)(8) of the MMPA, the PLTRT 
developed a draft Take Reduction Plan (TRP) by consensus, and submitted 
this draft to NMFS. NMFS then published the TRP and implementing 
regulations proposed by the team in the Federal Register on June 24, 
2008 (73 FR 35623) for a public comment period of 90 days, ending on 
September 22, 2008. NMFS is convening a meeting of the PLTRT during the 
public comment period, which will be facilitated by Scott McCreary and 
Bennett Brooks, CONCUR, Inc., Berkeley, California. This meeting will 
occur September 8-9, 2008 in Baltimore, MD (see DATES and ADDRESSES). 
Take Reduction Teams are not subject to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.). Meetings are open to the public.

    Dated: August 27, 2008.
Helen Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-20419 Filed 9-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S
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