Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Quotas, 16388 [2011-6889]

Download as PDF 16388 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 23, 2011 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XA309 Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Quotas National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; notification of quota for bowhead whales. AGENCY: NMFS provides notification of the aboriginal subsistence whaling quota for bowhead whales that it has assigned to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC), and other limitations deriving from regulations adopted at the 59th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). For 2011, the quota is 75 bowhead whales struck. This quota and other limitations govern the harvest of bowhead whales by members of the AEWC. SUMMARY: Effective March 23, 2011. Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Wulff, (202) 482–3689. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aboriginal subsistence whaling in the United States is governed by the Whaling Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 916 et seq.). Regulations that implement the Act, found at 50 CFR 230.6, require the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to publish, at least annually, aboriginal subsistence whaling quotas and any other limitations on aboriginal subsistence whaling deriving from regulations of the IWC. At the 59th Annual Meeting of the IWC, the Commission set catch limits for aboriginal subsistence use of bowhead whales from the BeringChukchi-Beaufort Seas stock. The bowhead catch limits were based on a joint request by the United States and the Russian Federation, accompanied by documentation concerning the needs of two Native groups: Alaska Eskimos and Chukotka Natives in the Russian Far East. This action by the IWC thus authorized aboriginal subsistence whaling by the AEWC for bowhead whales. This aboriginal subsistence harvest is conducted in accordance with a cooperative agreement between NOAA and the AEWC. DATES: jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:46 Mar 22, 2011 Jkt 223001 The IWC set a 5-year block quota of 280 bowhead whales landed. For each of the years 2008 through 2012, the number of bowhead whales struck may not exceed 67, except that any unused portion of a strike quota from any year, including 15 unused strikes from the 2003 through 2007 quota, may be carried forward. No more than 15 strikes may be added to the strike quota for any one year. At the end of the 2010 harvest, there were 15 unused strikes available for carry-forward, so the combined strike quota for 2011 is 82 (67 + 15). This arrangement ensures that the total quota of bowhead whales landed and struck in 2011 will not exceed the catch limits set by the IWC. Under an arrangement between the United States and the Russian Federation, the Russian natives may use no more than seven strikes, and the Alaska Eskimos may use no more than 75 strikes. Through its cooperative agreement with the AEWC, NOAA has assigned 75 strikes to the Alaska Eskimos. The AEWC will allocate these strikes among the 11 villages whose cultural and subsistence needs have been documented, and will ensure that its hunters use no more than 75 strikes. Other Limitations The IWC regulations, as well as the NOAA regulation at 50 CFR 230.4(c), forbid the taking of calves or any whale accompanied by a calf. NOAA regulations (at 50 CFR 230.4) contain a number of other prohibitions relating to aboriginal subsistence whaling, some of which are summarized here. For example: • Only licensed whaling captains or crew under the control of those captains may engage in whaling. • They must follow the provisions of the relevant cooperative agreement between NOAA and a Native American whaling organization. • The aboriginal hunters must have adequate crew, supplies, and equipment. • They may not receive money for participating in the hunt. • No person may sell or offer for sale whale products from whales taken in the hunt, except for authentic articles of Native handicrafts. • Captains may not continue to whale after the relevant quota is taken, after the season has been closed, or if their licenses have been suspended. They may not engage in whaling in a wasteful manner. PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: March 18, 2011. Jean Pierre-Ple, Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2011–6889 Filed 3–22–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION Fees for Reviews of the Rule Enforcement Programs of Contract Markets and Registered Futures Associations Commodity Futures Trading Commission. ACTION: FY 2008 and 2009 schedule of fees; establish the FY 2010 schedule of fees revision. AGENCY: The Commission charges fees to designated contract markets and registered futures associations to recover the costs incurred by the Commission in the operation of its program of oversight of self-regulatory organization (SRO) rule enforcement programs (National Futures Association (NFA), a registered futures association, and the contract markets are referred to as SROs). The calculation of the fee amounts to be charged for FY 2010 is based upon an average of actual program costs incurred during FY 2007, 2008, and 2009, as explained below. The FY 2010 fee includes adjustments to program costs incurred in FY 2008 and 2009, which are being revised as a result of an internal review of program costs. The FY 2010 fee schedule and the revision of FY 2008 and 2009 fees are set forth in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Electronic payment of fees is required. SUMMARY: The FY 2010 fees for Commission oversight of each SRO rule enforcement program must be paid by each of the named SROs in the amount specified by no later than May 23, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Carney, Chief Financial Officer, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, (202) 418–5477, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street, NW. Washington, DC 20581. For information on electronic payment, contact Jennifer Fleming, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st Street NW. Washington, DC 20581, (202) 418–5034. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: I. General This notice relates to fees for the Commission’s review of the rule enforcement programs at the registered E:\FR\FM\23MRN1.SGM 23MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 16388]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6889]



[[Page 16388]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA309


Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Quotas

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

ACTION: Notice; notification of quota for bowhead whales.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS provides notification of the aboriginal subsistence 
whaling quota for bowhead whales that it has assigned to the Alaska 
Eskimo Whaling Commission (AEWC), and other limitations deriving from 
regulations adopted at the 59th Annual Meeting of the International 
Whaling Commission (IWC). For 2011, the quota is 75 bowhead whales 
struck. This quota and other limitations govern the harvest of bowhead 
whales by members of the AEWC.

DATES: Effective March 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Wulff, (202) 482-3689.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aboriginal subsistence whaling in the United 
States is governed by the Whaling Convention Act (16 U.S.C. 916 et 
seq.). Regulations that implement the Act, found at 50 CFR 230.6, 
require the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to publish, at least 
annually, aboriginal subsistence whaling quotas and any other 
limitations on aboriginal subsistence whaling deriving from regulations 
of the IWC.
    At the 59th Annual Meeting of the IWC, the Commission set catch 
limits for aboriginal subsistence use of bowhead whales from the 
Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock. The bowhead catch limits were based 
on a joint request by the United States and the Russian Federation, 
accompanied by documentation concerning the needs of two Native groups: 
Alaska Eskimos and Chukotka Natives in the Russian Far East.
    This action by the IWC thus authorized aboriginal subsistence 
whaling by the AEWC for bowhead whales. This aboriginal subsistence 
harvest is conducted in accordance with a cooperative agreement between 
NOAA and the AEWC.
    The IWC set a 5-year block quota of 280 bowhead whales landed. For 
each of the years 2008 through 2012, the number of bowhead whales 
struck may not exceed 67, except that any unused portion of a strike 
quota from any year, including 15 unused strikes from the 2003 through 
2007 quota, may be carried forward. No more than 15 strikes may be 
added to the strike quota for any one year. At the end of the 2010 
harvest, there were 15 unused strikes available for carry-forward, so 
the combined strike quota for 2011 is 82 (67 + 15).
    This arrangement ensures that the total quota of bowhead whales 
landed and struck in 2011 will not exceed the catch limits set by the 
IWC. Under an arrangement between the United States and the Russian 
Federation, the Russian natives may use no more than seven strikes, and 
the Alaska Eskimos may use no more than 75 strikes.
    Through its cooperative agreement with the AEWC, NOAA has assigned 
75 strikes to the Alaska Eskimos. The AEWC will allocate these strikes 
among the 11 villages whose cultural and subsistence needs have been 
documented, and will ensure that its hunters use no more than 75 
strikes.

Other Limitations

    The IWC regulations, as well as the NOAA regulation at 50 CFR 
230.4(c), forbid the taking of calves or any whale accompanied by a 
calf.
    NOAA regulations (at 50 CFR 230.4) contain a number of other 
prohibitions relating to aboriginal subsistence whaling, some of which 
are summarized here. For example:
     Only licensed whaling captains or crew under the control 
of those captains may engage in whaling.
     They must follow the provisions of the relevant 
cooperative agreement between NOAA and a Native American whaling 
organization.
     The aboriginal hunters must have adequate crew, supplies, 
and equipment.
     They may not receive money for participating in the hunt.
     No person may sell or offer for sale whale products from 
whales taken in the hunt, except for authentic articles of Native 
handicrafts.
     Captains may not continue to whale after the relevant 
quota is taken, after the season has been closed, or if their licenses 
have been suspended. They may not engage in whaling in a wasteful 
manner.

    Dated: March 18, 2011.
Jean Pierre-Ple,
Acting Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-6889 Filed 3-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.