Taking of Threatened or Endangered Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Issuance of Permit, 81972-81976 [2010-32689]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81972-81976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32689]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XZ23


Taking of Threatened or Endangered Marine Mammals Incidental to 
Commercial Fishing Operations; Issuance of Permit

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), 
NMFS hereby issues a permit for a period of three years to authorize 
the incidental, but not intentional, taking of individuals from six 
marine mammal stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by 
participants in several groundfish

[[Page 81973]]

fisheries in the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. This authorization 
is based on determinations that mortality and serious injury of 
endangered stocks of Central North Pacific (CNP) humpback whales, 
Western North Pacific (WNP) stock of humpback whales, Northeast Pacific 
(NEP) stock of fin whales, North Pacific stock of sperm whales, and 
Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions; and on the threatened Eastern 
U.S. stock of Steller sea lions incidental to commercial fishing will 
have a negligible impact on these stocks, that recovery plans have been 
developed or are being prepared, that a monitoring program is 
established, and that vessels in the fisheries are registered. Take 
Reduction Plans (TRPs) are not required for the NEP stock of fin whales 
or the Eastern U.S. stock of Steller sea lions because mortality and 
serious injury of these stocks incidental to commercial fishing 
operations are at insignificant levels approaching a zero mortality and 
serious injury rate; TRPs for other species will be deferred as 
sufficient funding is not available at this time.

DATES: This permit is effective for a three-year period beginning 
January 1, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Reference material for this permit is available on the 
Internet at the following address: https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/index/analyses/analyses.asp. Recovery plans 
for these species are available on the Internet at the following 
address: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm#mammals.
    Copies of the reference materials may also be obtained from the 
Protected Resources Division, NMFS, Alaska Region, Protected Resources 
Division, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802. Attention--Kaja Brix, 
Assistant Regional Administrator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana J. Seagars, Alaska Regional 
Office, (907) 271-5005, or Tom Eagle, Office of Protected Resources, 
(301) 713-2322, ext. 105.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) requires NMFS to allow the taking of 
marine mammals from species or stocks listed as threatened or 
endangered under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) incidental to 
commercial fishing operations if NMFS determines that: (1) Incidental 
mortality and serious injury will have a negligible impact on the 
affected species or stock; (2) a recovery plan has been developed or is 
being developed for such species or stock under the ESA; and (3) where 
required under section 118 of the MMPA, a monitoring program has been 
established, vessels engaged in such fisheries are registered in 
accordance with section 118 of the MMPA, and a take reduction plan has 
been developed or is being developed for such species or stock.
    On November 9, 2010 (75 FR 68767), NMFS proposed to issue a permit 
to incidentally take certain ESA listed marine mammal stocks by vessels 
registered in the following Federal and State-parallel Category II 
groundfish fisheries: The AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands flatfish 
trawl, AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Island pollock trawl, AK Bering Sea 
sablefish pot, and AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline 
fisheries. NMFS is now issuing a 3-year permit to participants in the 
above fisheries under MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) for the incidental 
taking of five marine mammal stocks listed as: Endangered under the 
ESA--the CNP stock of humpback whales, the WNP stock of humpback 
whales, the NEP stock of fin whales, the North Pacific stock of sperm 
whales, and the Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions, and from one 
stock listed as threatened--the Eastern U.S. stock of Steller sea 
lions.
    Taking of individuals from these threatened or endangered stocks of 
marine mammals would be authorized only in the fisheries identified in 
Table 1; no other Alaska-based groundfish fisheries are known to take 
these or other species or stocks of threatened or endangered marine 
mammals. There are no Category I fisheries designated in Alaska. 
Participants in the seven Category III fisheries identified in this 
notice (Table 1) are not required to obtain such incidental take 
permits but are required to report injuries or mortalities of marine 
mammals incidental to their operations for the taking to be authorized 
after a Negligible Impact Determination (NID) has been made. State-
parallel groundfish fisheries are included in this proposed permit. 
NMFS will consider issuing permits at a future date for the taking of 
the subject threatened or endangered species by participants in State-
managed fisheries other than the State-parallel groundfish fisheries. 
The data for considering these authorizations were reviewed coincident 
with the 2011 MMPA List of Fisheries (LOF) (75 FR November 8, 2010), 
the draft 2010 marine mammal stock assessment reports (dSAR) (Allen and 
Angliss 2010), and other relevant sources.
    Prior to issuing a permit to take ESA-listed marine mammals 
incidental to commercial fishing, NMFS must determine if the mortality 
and serious injury incidental to commercial fisheries will have a 
negligible impact on the affected species or stocks of marine mammals. 
NMFS satisfied this requirement through completion of an NID. NMFS 
issued a draft NID for the proposed action (November 9, 2010: 75 FR 
68767), with minor edits, NMFS now issues a final document (https://www.alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/index/analyses/analyses.asp).

Determinations for the Permit

    The following determinations and supporting information were 
included in notice of the proposed permit (75 FR 68767, November 9, 
2010).

Negligible Impact

    NMFS previously issued an NID for CNP humpback whales (75 FR 29984, 
May 28, 2010) addressing taking in both Alaska and Hawaiian waters; the 
conclusions reached in that document remain valid. In addition, 
relevant information was reviewed in the NID issued for this permit. 
Based on that review NMFS has estimated that mortality and serious 
injury of CNP humpback whales incidental to commercial fishing 
operations in HI and AK totals 3.8 whales per year, which is 6.2 
percent of the stock's Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level. NMFS 
concludes that incidental mortality and serious injury at this total 
rate will have a negligible impact on CNP humpback whales. Although 
humpback whales are taken incidental to fisheries in Hawaiian and 
Alaskan waters, this permit is limited to the Alaska-based fisheries 
because such taking was previously permitted for the Hawaii-based 
fisheries (75 FR 29984, May 28, 2010).
    NMFS estimated that mortality and serious injury of WNP humpback 
whales incidental to commercial fishing operations in AK at 0.2 whales 
per year, which is 10.0 percent of the stock's PBR level. NMFS 
concludes that incidental mortality and serious injury at this total 
rate will have a negligible impact on WNP humpback whales.
    NMFS estimated that mortality and serious injury of NEP fin whales 
incidental to commercial fishing operations in AK at 0.23 whales per 
year and 0.20 whales per year due to ship strikes. Thus the total 
annual human-related mortality of NEP fin whales is 0.43 whales per 
year which is less than 10.0 percent of the stock's PBR level. NMFS 
concluded that incidental mortality and serious injury at this total 
rate will have a negligible impact on NEP fin whales.
    While reliable estimates for the abundance and trends of sperm 
whales are not currently available, NMFS assessed the impact of the 
incidental

[[Page 81974]]

take by first determining the estimated annual mortality of sperm 
whales (3.5 whales per year in AK plus 0.2 whales per year in CA/OR/WA 
for a total of 3.7 whales per year) in commercial fisheries and then 
re-arranging the formula used to calculate PBR to estimate the number 
of sperm whales that would be required for 3.7 animals to be 10 percent 
of the stock's PBR (taking at or below this would be considered 
negligible). Solving for the minimum abundance estimate gives a minimum 
abundance of 18,500 sperm whales. Because the best estimate of sperm 
whale abundance in the North Pacific (39,200) is far greater than this 
calculated threshold minimum abundance, the NMFS concludes that the 
current level of human-caused mortality and serious injury is less than 
10 percent of a PBR for sperm whales in the eastern North Pacific 
Ocean; therefore, such taking will have a negligible impact on the 
stock.
    Total human related mortality and serious injury of the Western 
U.S. stock of Steller sea lions is estimated at 223.8 animals per year, 
greater than 10 percent of PBR (set at 254 animals). Following NID 
Criterion 3, NMFS has determined that mortality and serious injuries of 
Western U.S. stock Steller sea lions incidental to commercial fishing 
will have a negligible impact on the stock because population growth is 
stable or increasing at a (non-significant) 1.5 percent annual rate and 
the fishery-related mortalities and serious injuries (26.2) are less 
than PBR (254).
    The minimum estimated mortality and serious injury rate incidental 
to commercial fisheries (both U.S. and Canadian) is 25.6 Eastern U.S. 
stock Steller sea lions per year. With 15.1 animals estimated taken due 
to other human related sources, the total human related mortality is 
less than 10 percent of this stock's PBR (2,378 animals). Therefore, 
NMFS has determined that the annual mortality and serious injury 
incidental to commercial fisheries will have a negligible impact on the 
Eastern U.S. stock of Steller sea lions.

Recovery Plans

    Recovery Plans for both stocks of humpback whales and Steller sea 
lions have been completed. Recovery plans for fin and sperm whales have 
been drafted and are being completed. These draft and final recovery 
plans are available on the Internet (see ADDRESSES). Accordingly, the 
requirement to have recovery plans in place or being developed is 
satisfied.

Monitoring Program

    MMPA section 118(c)(5)(A) provides that registration of vessels in 
fisheries should, after appropriate consultations, be integrated and 
coordinated to the maximum extent feasible with existing fisher 
licenses, registrations, and related programs. Participants in the 
Alaska groundfish fisheries are required to hold a permit under 50 CFR 
665.21. The MMPA registration program has been integrated in this 
permitting system for the Alaska-based groundfish fisheries. 
Accordingly, vessels in the fisheries are registered in accordance with 
MMPA section 118 and a monitoring program is in place.

Take Reduction Plans

    Subject to available funding, MMPA section 118 requires a TRP in 
cases where a strategic stock interacts with a Category I or II 
fishery. The stocks considered for this permit are designated as 
strategic stocks under the MMPA because they are listed as threatened 
or endangered under the ESA. These strategic stocks interact with the 
Category II fisheries described above, and no TRPs have been developed 
for them. The short-term goal of a TRP is to reduce mortality and 
serious injury of marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing to 
levels below PBR. The short-term goal for TRPs has been realized for 
each of these stocks of marine mammals. The long-term goal of a TRP is 
to reduce incidental mortality and serious injury to insignificant 
levels approaching a zero mortality and serious injury rate, taking 
into account the economics of the fishery, the availability of existing 
technology, and existing State or regional fishery management plans. 
Development and implementation of TRPs are subject to the availability 
of funding. MMPA section 118(f)(3) (16 U.S.C. 1387(f)(3)) contains 
specific priorities for developing and implementing TRPs.
    NMFS has insufficient funding available to simultaneously develop 
and implement TRPs for all stocks that interact with Category I or 
Category II fisheries. Most recently in March 2009, NMFS considered 
multiple quantitative and qualitative factors to identify its 
priorities for establishing take reduction teams (TRTs) and collecting 
data. As provided in MMPA sections 118(f)(6)(A) and (f)(7), NMFS used 
the most recent SARs and LOF as the basis to determine its priorities 
for establishing TRTs and developing TRPs. Through this process, NMFS 
evaluated the WNP and CNP stocks of humpback whale, the North Pacific 
stock of sperm whales, and the Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions 
as ``low'' priorities for establishing TRTs, based on population trends 
of each stock and mortality and serious injury levels incidental to 
commercial fisheries that are below the stocks' PBRs. Accordingly, 
given these factors and NMFS' prioritization process, TRPs will be 
deferred under section 118 as other stocks have a higher priority for 
any available funding for establishing new TRPs.
    Mortality and serious injury of Steller sea lions, Eastern U.S. 
stock, and NEP fin whales incidental to commercial fisheries are at an 
insignificant levels, approaching a zero mortality and serious injury 
rate (Allen and Angliss, 2010). MMPA section 118(b)(2) states that 
fisheries maintaining such mortality and serious injury levels are not 
required to further reduce their mortality and serious injury rates. 
Because the goals of TRPs are to reduce mortality and serious injury of 
marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations, no TRPs are 
required for either of these stocks.
    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal 
agencies to evaluate the impacts of alternatives for their actions on 
the human environment. Operations of the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands, 
Gulf of Alaska, and Alaska State Parallel groundfish fisheries have 
been analyzed previously under NEPA for Federal actions authorizing the 
operations of the fisheries. The most recent analysis of the impacts of 
authorizing these fisheries on the human environment was contained in 
an Environmental Assessment (``Revisions to the Steller Sea Lion 
Protection Measures for the Aleutian Islands Atka Mackerel and Pacific 
Cod Fisheries,'' completed in November 2010). This EA, which included a 
finding of no significant impact on the human environment, followed a 
Programmatic Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on Alaska 
groundfish fisheries in 2004, and an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on specifications for Alaska groundfish fisheries in 2007. 
Issuing this permit to authorize the taking of threatened or endangered 
species does not modify the operation of the affected fisheries nor 
does it alter the impact of these fisheries on the human environment. 
Because the effects of the fisheries have already been analyzed as 
noted above, no additional analyses under NEPA are required.
    Section 7 of the ESA requires NMFS to consult with itself when 
agency actions may affect threatened or endangered marine species, 
including marine mammals. NMFS has evaluated the direct and indirect 
effects of the Alaska-based groundfish fishery in a recently issued 
(November 24, 2010) BiOp. NMFS reviewed this BiOp and

[[Page 81975]]

information related to issuing the permit and have concluded that 
issuing the permit would not modify the activities of the fishery nor 
the effects of these fishing activities on the subject ESA-listed 
species in a manner that would cause adverse effects not previously 
evaluated and that there has been no new listing of species or 
designation of critical habitat that could be affected by the action. 
Accordingly, no additional analyses under the ESA are required at this 
time.

Current Permit

    NMFS has made determinations under MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) that 
(1) mortality and serious injury of CNP and WNP humpback whales, NEP 
fin whales, North Pacific sperm whales, Western U.S. Steller sea lions, 
and Eastern U.S. Steller sea lions incidental to commercial fishing 
will have a negligible impact on these stocks, (2) recovery plans for 
all affected species or stocks have been completed or are currently in 
process, (3) as required by MMPA section 118, a monitoring program has 
been established for the Alaska groundfish fisheries, and vessels in 
the fishery are registered, and (4) NMFS has insufficient funds to 
complete TRPs for the two stocks of humpback whales, for the North 
Pacific stock of sperm whales, and for the Western U.S. stock of 
Steller sea lions. Take Reduction Plans (TRPs) are not required for the 
NEP stock of fin whales or the Eastern U.S. stock of Steller sea lions 
because mortality and serious injury of these stocks incidental to 
commercial fishing operations are at insignificant levels approaching a 
zero mortality and serious injury rate.
    Therefore, NMFS has determined that all the requirements have been 
met for issuing a permit to participants in the following Federally-
authorized and State-parallel Category II groundfish fisheries: The AK 
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl, AK Bering Sea/Aleutian 
Island pollock trawl, AK Bering Sea sablefish pot, and AK Bering Sea/
Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline fisheries. Accordingly, NMFS 
issues a permit to participants in these Category II fisheries for the 
taking of CNP humpback whales, WNP humpback whales, NEP fin whales, 
North Pacific sperm whales, and Steller sea lions (Western U.S. stock 
and Eastern U.S. stock) incidental to the fisheries' operations. As 
noted under MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E)(ii), no permit is required for 
vessels in Category III fishery. For incidental taking of marine 
mammals to be authorized in Category III fisheries, any injuries or 
mortalities must be reported to NMFS. If NMFS determines at a later 
date that incidental mortality and serious injury from commercial 
fishing is having more than a negligible impact on these six stocks of 
listed marine mammals, NMFS may use its emergency authority under MMPA 
section 118 to protect the stock and may modify the permit issued 
herein.
    MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) requires NMFS to publish in the Federal 
Register a list of fisheries that have been authorized to take 
threatened or endangered marine mammals. A list of such fisheries was 
published May 28, 2010 (75 FR 29984), which authorized the taking of 
threatened or endangered marine mammals incidental to commercial 
fishing in Hawaii. With issuance of the current permit, NMFS adds 4 
category II fisheries (AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl, 
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Island pollock trawl, AK Bering Sea sablefish 
pot, and AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline fisheries) 
and seven category III Alaska fisheries to this list (Table 1).

 Table 1--List of Fisheries Authorized to Take Threatened and Endangered
             Marine Mammals Incidental to Fishing Operations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Fishery                  Category       Marine mammal stock
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI deep-set (tuna target)        I..............  Humpback whale, CNP
 longline/set line.                                stock.
Hi shallow-set (swordfish        II.............  Humpback whale, CNP
 target) longline/set line.                        stock.
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands   II.............  Steller sea lion,
 flatfish trawl.                                   Western stock.
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Island    II.............  Fin whale, NEP stock.
 pollock trawl.                                   Steller sea lion,
                                                   Western stock.
AK Bering Sea sablefish pot....  II.............  Humpback whale, WNP
                                                   stock.
                                                  Humpback whale, CNP
                                                   stock.
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands   II.............  Steller sea lion,
 Pacific cod longline fisheries.                   Western stock.
AK miscellaneous finfish set     III............  Steller sea lion,
 gillnet.                                          Western stock.
AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish      III............  Sperm whale, NP.
 longline.                                        Steller sea lion,
                                                   Eastern stock.
AK halibut longline/set line     III............  Steller sea lion,
 (State and Federal waters).                       Western stock.
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands   III............  Steller sea lion,
 Atka mackerel trawl.                              Western stock.
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands   III............  Steller sea lion,
 Pacific cod trawl.                                Western stock.
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod    III............  Steller sea lion,
 trawl.                                            Western stock.
AK Gulf of Alaska pollock trawl  III............  Fin whale, NEP stock.
                                                  Steller sea lion,
                                                   Western stock.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Comments and Responses

    In response to the notice of proposed permit issuance (75 FR 68767, 
November 9, 2010), NMFS received letters containing comments from two 
organizations, the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) and the 
Marine Conservation Alliance (MCA). Each letter contained multiple 
comments.
    Comment 1: The Commission and the MCA briefly summarized NMFS' 
findings for the proposed permit and recommended that NMFS comply with 
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) by issuing the permit to authorize the 
incidental take of endangered stocks of CNP and WNP humpback whales, 
ENP fin whales, NP sperm whales, Western U.S. stock of Steller sea 
lions, and the threatened Eastern U.S. stock of Steller sea lions.
    Response: NMFS agrees and is issuing the permit as required by the 
MMPA.
    Comment 2: The Commission recommended that NMFS emphasize research 
and monitoring programs to address uncertainties related to 
reproduction and survival of the far-western sub-populations of the 
Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions and re-evaluate the negligible 
impact determination as new information becomes available.
    Response: NMFS agrees additional research and monitoring programs

[[Page 81976]]

would clarify uncertainties and to re-evaluate the findings in this 
notice as new information becomes available. In particular, NMFS will 
incorporate an annual review of any reports of incidental mortality of 
the subject listed species in the fisheries addressed by this permit. 
Particular attention will be paid to instances of incidental take of 
Western stock Steller sea lions in those sub-regions experiencing 
continued population declines (NMFS Fishery Statistical Areas 541, 542, 
and 543) to ensure the level of taking remains negligible on a local 
scale.
    Comment 3: The Commission recommended NMFS work with state and 
tribal fisheries managers and participants in those fisheries to expand 
observer coverage in fisheries that may take marine mammals and, as 
observers provide better data, re-evaluate the negligible impact 
determination.
    Response: In the NID, NMFS recognized that certain fisheries may 
have not been observed, have been only observed for a limited number of 
seasons, or were covered over a decade or longer ago. NMFS agrees that 
there is a pressing need for new and sound data, in particular for 
certain fisheries known to have taken marine mammals at some previous 
point (e.g., Prince William Sound salmon drift gillnet fishery) and 
will undertake new monitoring programs as budgetary constraints and 
priorities allow. NMFS has also recently taken steps to expand observer 
coverage in previously unmonitored groundfish fisheries in nearshore 
areas and in smaller boat fisheries (e.g., < 60 foot vessels). However, 
the implementation date for such an expanded program and the initial 
proportion of coverage are uncertain at this time. As any new data from 
observer programs become available, NMFS will re-evaluate the NID for 
all species, as appropriate.
    Comment 4: The Commission recommended NMFS identify information 
gaps related to endangered and threatened species that may be affected 
by the issuance of this permit and elevate the priority given to 
addressing those gaps, in particular to the possible affect of this 
action on critically endangered marine mammals such as the North 
Pacific right whale.
    Response: NMFS will continue to evaluate available data such as 
that obtained through the existing Groundfish Fishery Observer Program 
that may provide information relevant to a relationship among this 
action, ongoing Alaska groundfish fishing activities, and critically 
endangered marine mammal species and stocks. Research and management 
programs for listed species will continue to be a high priority for 
NMFS and will be expanded to the extent that future budgets allow.
    Comment 5: In their review of the draft NID, MCA called attention 
to information discussed in the NID concerning possible changes in, or 
``blurring at the edges,'' of the geographic boundary (144[deg]W) 
between the Western U.S. and Eastern U.S. stocks of Steller sea lions 
and referred to their additional comments on that topic submitted as 
part of NMFS's ongoing five-year status review of the Eastern U.S. 
stock.
    Response: There is adequate information to continue to manage these 
stocks as defined based on extensive prior scientific review as well as 
new information (e.g., Phillips, C.D., J.W. Bickham, J.C. Patton, and 
T.S. Gelatt. 2009. Systematics of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias 
jubatus): Subspecies recognition based on concordance of genetics and 
morphometrics. Occas. Pap. Mus. Texas Tech Univ. 283:1-15). Additional 
information and a response to those comments will be forthcoming 
through the public review process appropriate to the five year status 
review.
    Comment 6: The MCA opined the Draft NID did not incorporate the 
most up-to-date Western U.S. Steller sea lion population assessment 
data nor called attention to the relationship between current 
population trends and various Recovery Plan criteria, alleging the 
population is ``on track'' towards downlisting from endangered to 
threatened.
    Response: NMFS has used the best available scientific information 
which is complete at this time for preparing and issuing the NID. Data 
analysis and final report preparation for population surveys of Steller 
sea lions conducted in 2009 and 2010 remain in process. NMFS staff 
conferred and reached a preliminary conclusion that these data are not 
likely to result in any substantial alteration of the conclusions 
reached in the NID. The criteria for recovery and ultimate 
``downlisting'' of the Western U.S. stock are clearly stated in the 
Recovery Plan (NMFS 2008) and are based on (among a variety of factors) 
maintaining a statistically significant consistent but slow (e.g., 1.5 
percent) increasing trend of population growth for 15 years on average. 
Clearly, given the lack of any long-term statistical certainty in 
available population assessment data as well as the disparate trends 
within the various sub-regions as defined in the Recovery Plan, it is 
premature to make a statement as to whether the population is or is not 
``on track'' with respect to recovery and delisting; furthermore, such 
a determination is not relevant to the NID process. The NID uses the 
appropriate criteria and utilized the best available population 
information to determine that the effect of authorizing the incidental 
take of commercial groundfish fishing will have a negligible impact on 
the Western U.S. population stock of Steller sea lions. In addition, 
whether or not the status of any of these species may change under the 
ESA is not relevant to the NID under the MMPA. If such a change in 
status occurs, NMFS would evaluate whether or not additional analyses 
for this permit are necessary.
    Comment 7: The MCA inquired about how not convening a TRP might 
potentially affect recovery of the Western U.S. stock and whether or 
not funding is likely to be included in the FY2012/13 budgets.
    Response: As discussed in the notice of the proposed permit, the 
current levels of incidental mortality and serious injury (without a 
TRP) are expected to delay recovery of the Western U.S. stock of 
Steller sea lions by no more than 10 percent of the time to recovery if 
such mortality and serious injury did not occur. However, NMFS plans, 
through both monitoring of this permit, and actions required through 
the section 7 process of the ESA--the Reasonable and Prudent 
Alternatives issued with the Final BiOp for the subject groundfish 
fisheries--to assess the level of taking and to work with industry, the 
North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, and other groups to ensure 
that any such taking remains at negligible levels. NMFS will continue 
to assess the need for any TRPs and associated budgetary needs within 
the priorities of the agency.

    Dated: December 21, 2010.
P. Michael Payne,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-32689 Filed 12-28-10; 8:45 am]
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