Taking of Threatened or Endangered Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Issuance of Permit, 54553-54559 [2013-21485]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2013 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XC645
Taking of Threatened or Endangered
Marine Mammals Incidental to
Commercial Fishing Operations;
Issuance of Permit
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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 of three stocks of
marine mammals listed as threatened or
endangered under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) by the California (CA)
thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet
(DGN) fishery (≥14 inch mesh) and the
incidental, but not intentional, taking of
individuals from one stock by the
Washington/Oregon/California (WA/
OR/CA) sablefish pot fishery.
DATES: This permit is effective for a
three-year period beginning September
4, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Reference material,
including the negligible impact
determination, for this permit is
available on the Internet at the following
address: https://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/.
Recovery plans for these species are
available on the Internet at the following
address: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
recovery/plans.htm#mammals.
Information on the Pacific Offshore
Cetacean Take Reduction Plan is
available the Internet at the following
address: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
interactions/trt/poctrp.htm.
Copies of the reference materials may
also be obtained from the Protected
Resources Division, 501 W Ocean Blvd.,
Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Monica DeAngelis, NMFS Southwest
Region, (562) 980–3232, or Shannon
Bettridge, NMFS Office of Protected
Resources, (301) 427–8402.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
Background
Section 101(a)(5)(E) of the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), 16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq., states that NOAA’s
National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS), as delegated by the Secretary of
Commerce, shall for a period of up to
three years allow the incidental taking
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Sep 03, 2013
Jkt 229001
of marine mammal species listed under
the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq., by persons using
vessels of the United States and those
vessels which have valid fishing permits
issued by the Secretary in accordance
with section 204(b) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1824(b),
while engaging in commercial fishing
operations, if NMFS makes certain
determinations. NMFS must determine,
after notice and opportunity for public
comment, 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 May 8, 2013 (78 FR 26751), NMFS
proposed to issue a permit under
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) to vessels
registered in the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
to incidentally take individuals from
three stocks of threatened or endangered
marine mammals: the CA/OR/WA stock
of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus),
the CA/OR/WA stock of humpback
whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and
the CA/OR/WA stock of sperm whales
(Physeter macrocephalus); and to
vessels registered in the and the WA/
OR/CA sablefish pot fishery to
incidentally take individuals from the
CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales.
The data for considering these
authorizations were reviewed
coincident with the preparation of the
2012 MMPA List of Fisheries (LOF or
List) (76 FR 73912; November 29, 2011),
the 2011 marine mammal stock
assessment reports (SARs) (Carretta et
al. 2012; Allen and Angliss 2011), the
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for
U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly
Migratory Species (HMS), Pacific Coast
Groundfish FMP, recovery plans for
these species (available on the Internet
at the following address: https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/
plans.htm#mammals), the Emergency
Rule (RIN 0648–BD57), and other
relevant sources.
Based on observer data and marine
mammal reporting forms, the CA
thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet
fishery (≥14 in mesh) and the WA/OR/
CA sablefish pot fishery are the Category
I or II fisheries that operate in the ranges
of affected stocks, namely the CA/OR/
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
54553
WA stocks of fin, sperm whales, and
humpback whales. A detailed
description of these fisheries can be
found in the negligible impact
determination (see ADDRESSES). All
other Category II fisheries that interact
with the marine mammal stocks
observed off the coasts of Washington,
Oregon, and California are Statemanaged and are not considered for
authorization under this permit.
Participants in Category III fisheries are
not required to obtain incidental take
permits under MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E) but are required to report
injuries or mortality of marine mammals
incidental to their operations.
In accordance with the MMPA, NMFS
has made a determination that
incidental taking from commercial
fishing will have a negligible impact on
the fin whale, CA/OR/WA stock;
humpback whale, CA/OR/WA stock;
and sperm whale, CA/OR/WA stock.
This authorization is based on a
determination that this incidental take
will have a negligible impact on the
affected marine mammal stocks,
recovery plans have been developed for
each species, a monitoring program is
established, vessels in the fisheries are
registered, and that the necessary take
reduction plan (TRP) is in place for the
humpback and sperm whale stocks. A
TRP is not required for the CA/OR/WA
stock of fin whales because mortality
and serious injury of this stock
incidental to the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery and the WA/OR/
CA sablefish pot fishery is at
insignificant levels approaching a zero
mortality and serious injury rate. NMFS
also issued emergency regulations to
reduce risk of sperm whale takes by the
West Coast swordfish drift gillnet
fishery (RIN 0648–BD57) below the
stock’s Potential Biological Removal
(PBR) level of 1.5 animals; NMFS
developed the measures in the
emergency rule based on
recommendations from the Pacific
Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction
Team. Revisions to the draft negligible
impact determination were based on
issuance of the emergency rule and on
public comment received on the draft
negligible impact determination (78 FR
26751, May 8, 2013).
Basis for Determining Negligible Impact
Prior to issuing a permit to take ESAlisted marine mammals incidental to
commercial fishing, NMFS must
determine if 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 a
E:\FR\FM\04SEN2.SGM
04SEN2
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
54554
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2013 / Notices
negligible impact determination (see
ADDRESSES). NMFS calculated the total
human-related serious injury and
mortality to make a negligible impact
determination for this authorization and
included all human sources, such as
commercial fisheries and ship strikes.
See the negligible impact determination
for more detailed information.
The average annual serious injury and
mortality, from all sources, is below
PBR for the CA/OR/WA fin and
humpback whale stocks, but is above
PBR for the CA/OR/WA sperm whale
stock. At this time, no other fishery,
with the exception of the CA thresher
shark/swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch
mesh), has documented takes of sperm
whales. As a result, NMFS convened the
Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take
Reduction Team (Team) on July 31 and
August 7, 2013 and charged the Team
with developing recommendations to
reduce sperm whale serious injury and
mortality in the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh).
NMFS considered the Team’s
recommendations and developed an
emergency rule (RIN 0648–BD57) to
modify the CA thresher shark/swordfish
DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh) to reduce
the risk of mortality and serious injury
of sperm whales incidental to the
fishery. In doing so, NMFS determined
that the negligible impact determination
conditions of the MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E) could be met, thereby
allowing NMFS to provide incidental
take authorization under the ESA and
MMPA for the 2013–2014 fishing
season.
The emergency rule, effective through
January 31, 2014, includes several
provisions to reduce risk to sperm
whales and monitor the fishery.
Specifically, the emergency rule
provides for immediate termination of
the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery (≥14 inch mesh) if one sperm
whale is observed killed or seriously
injured in DGN gear off California and
establishes a 100-percent observer
coverage zone that is closed to DGN
fishing during the August 15, 2013 to
January 31, 2014 fishing season unless
the fishing vessel is carrying a NMFStrained observer. The zone covers nearly
all areas in the U.S. exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) deeper than the 1,100
fathoms (fm) (2,012 meters (m)) depth
contour. Owners/operators of vessels
intending to fish with DGN gear are
required to install, activate, carry and
operate a vessel monitoring system prior
to embarking on a DGN fishing trip.
NMFS intends to reconvene the Team
to consider long-term measures for
reducing sperm whale mortality and
serious injury in the CA thresher shark/
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Sep 03, 2013
Jkt 229001
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
in subsequent fishing seasons. It is
expected that any future changes to the
CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery (≥14 inch mesh) that may occur
as a result of modifying the Pacific
Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan
would not change the negligible impact
analysis. However, if a mortality or
serious injury of a sperm whale (CA/
OR/WA stock) occurs in any fishery,
that would be included in the total
fishery-related serious injury or
mortality considered in a future
negligible impact determination. The
underlying data indicate that there is a
very low likelihood that another fishery
may take a sperm whale, but in the
unlikely event that a mortality or
serious injury occurs during the threeyear time frame for this authorization,
the negligible impact determination
would be re-evaluated pursuant to
section 101(a)(5)(E)(iii), (iv), and (v) of
the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)(E)(iii),
(iv), and (v)). Thus, based on this
information, the emergency rule (RIN
0648–BD57), and the applicability of
Criterion 3, NMFS determines that the
mortality and serious injury incidental
to commercial fisheries will have a
negligible impact on the CA/OR/WA
stock of sperm whales.
In conclusion, based on the negligible
impact criteria outlined in 1999 (64 FR
28800), the 2011 Pacific SARs (Carretta
et al. 2012), the best scientific
information and data available, and the
measures required in the emergency
rule (RIN 0648–BD57) to modify the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery
(≥14 inch mesh), NMFS has determined
that for a period of up to three years,
mortality and serious injury incidental
to the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery will have a negligible impact on
the CA/OR/WA stocks of sperm whales,
humpback whales, and fin whales, and
mortality and serious injury incidental
to the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery
will have a negligible impact on the CA/
OR/WA stock of humpback whales.
The available serious injury and
mortality data for the CA/OR/WA stock
of fin whales meet the factors for
negligible impact determination under
Criterion 2 of the 1999 criteria,
including because the annual average
fisheries-related mortality is less than
0.1 PBR. The available data for the CA/
OR/WA stock of humpback whales meet
the factors for negligible impact
determination under Criterion 3 of the
1999 criteria, including because the
expected fisheries-related mortality is
greater than 0.1 PBR and less than PBR
and the population is increasing. Total
fishery-related serious injury and
mortality for the CA/OR/WA stock of
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
sperm whales is greater than 0.1 PBR
and is anticipated to be less than PBR
following implementation of the
emergency rule to modify the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery
(≥14 inch mesh) fishery (RIN 0648–
BD57), and the population is stable;
thus, the conditions of Criterion 3 of the
1999 negligible impact criteria are met
for this stock and would be re-evaluated
pursuant to section 101(a)(5)(E)(iii), (iv),
and (v) of the MMPA. Therefore, the
identified commercial fisheries within
the range of the CA/OR/WA stocks of
fin, humpback, and sperm whales may
be permitted subject to their individual
review and the certainty of relevant
data, and provided that the other
provisions of MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E) are met.
Determinations for the Permit
Based on the final negligible impact
determination, NMFS concludes that
the incidental mortality and serious
injury from the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
will have a negligible impact on the CA/
OR/WA stock of humpback whales, fin
whales, and sperm whales and the WA/
OR/CA sablefish pot fishery will have a
negligible impact on the CA/OR/WA
stock of humpback whales.
The National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) requires Federal agencies to
evaluate the impacts of alternatives for
their actions on the human
environment. The impacts on the
human environment of continuing and
modifying the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
(as part of the FMP for U.S. West Coast
Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species)
and the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery (as part of the Pacific Coast
groundfish FMP), including the taking
of threatened and endangered species of
marine mammals, were analyzed in: the
Pacific Fishery Management Council
Highly Migratory Species Fishery
Management Plan final environmental
impact statement (August 2003); the
Pacific Fishery Management Council
Proposed Harvest Specifications and
Management Measures for the 2013–
2014 Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
and Amendment 21–2 to the Pacific
Coast Fishery Management Plan
(September 2012); Risk assessment of
U.S. West Coast groundfish fisheries to
threatened and endangered marine
species (NWFSC 2012); and in the Final
Biological Opinion prepared for the
West Coast groundfish fisheries (NMFS
2012a) and the Final Biological Opinion
(May 7, 2013) as amended (August 21,
2013), for the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
(NMFS 2012b), pursuant to the ESA.
E:\FR\FM\04SEN2.SGM
04SEN2
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2013 / Notices
Because this permit would not modify
any fishery operation and the effects of
the fishery operations have been
evaluated fully in accordance with
NEPA, no additional NEPA analysis is
required for this permit. Issuing the
proposed permit would have no
additional impact to the human
environment or effects on threatened or
endangered species beyond those
analyzed in these documents. NMFS
reviews the remaining requirements to
issue a permit to take the subject listed
species incidental to the CA thresher
shark/swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch
mesh) and WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fisheries in the sections below.
required by MMPA section 118, a
monitoring program is in place for both
fisheries.
Additionally, the emergency rule (RIN
0648–BD57) establishes a 100-percent
observer coverage zone that is closed to
DGN fishing during the August 15, 2013
to January 31, 2014 fishing season
unless the fishing vessel is carrying a
NMFS-trained observer. The zone
covers nearly all areas in the U.S. EEZ
deeper than the 1,100 fm (2,012 meters
m) depth contour. NMFS will reconvene
the Take Reduction Team to review this
requirement, among other issues, and
will take appropriate action for
subsequent fishing seasons.
Recovery Plans
Recovery Plans for humpback whales,
fin whales, and sperm whales have been
completed (see https://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/
plans.htm#mammals). Accordingly, the
requirement to have recovery plans in
place or being developed is satisfied for
all three stocks.
Take Reduction Plans
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
Vessel Registration
MMPA section 118(c) requires that
vessels participating in Category I and II
fisheries register to obtain an
authorization to take marine mammals
incidental to fishing activities. Further,
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 CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery
(≥14 inch mesh) and WA/OR/CA
sablefish pot fisheries already provide
the information needed by NMFS to
register their vessels for the incidental
take authorization under the MMPA
either through the Federal groundfish
limited entry permit process or the
Federal vessel monitoring system.
Therefore, vessel registration for an
MMPA authorization is integrated
through those programs in accordance
with MMPA section 118.
Monitoring Program
The CA thresher shark/swordfish
DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh) has been
observed by NMFS-certified observers
since the early 1990s. Levels of observer
coverage vary over time but are
adequate to produce reliable estimates
of mortality and serious injury of listed
species (e.g., from 2000–2010, coverage
ranged from 12.0 to 22.9 percent). As
part of the Pacific Coast Groundfish
FMP and MSA objectives, the WA/OR/
CA sablefish pot fishery is observed at
about 1–6% per year. Accordingly, as
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Sep 03, 2013
Jkt 229001
Subject to available funding, MMPA
section 118 requires the development
and implementation of a Take
Reduction Plan (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 (MMPA section
3(19)(C)).
In 1996, the Pacific Offshore Cetacean
Take Reduction Team was convened to
develop a TRP to address the incidental
taking of several strategic stocks in the
CA thresher shark/swordfish drift
gillnet fishery. A TRP was implemented,
through regulations, in October, 1997
(62 FR 51813) and has been in place
ever since. The 2011 U.S. Pacific Marine
Mammal Stock Assessment Reports
(Carretta et al. 2012) and the MMPA List
of Fisheries (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
pr/interactions/lof/) indicate no fin
whales have interacted with either the
CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery (≥14 inch mesh) or the WA/OR/
CA sablefish pot fishery in the last five
years, the time period used to determine
PBR levels for all marine mammal
stocks. As such, a take reduction plan is
not required for the CA/OR/WA stock of
fin whales because mortality and
serious injury of this stock incidental to
commercial fishing operations is at
insignificant levels approaching a zero
mortality and serious injury rate. The
short- and long-term goals of a TRP are
to reduce mortality and serious injury of
marine mammals incidental to
commercial fishing to levels below PBR
and to insignificant levels approaching
a zero mortality and serious injury rate
(i.e., 10% of PBR), respectively. 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
54555
The CA/OR/WA humpback whale
stock, also a strategic stock, interacts
with the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot/trap
fishery and other Category II fisheries.
However, the obligations to develop and
implement a TRP are subject to the
availability of funding. NMFS has
insufficient funding available to
simultaneously develop and implement
TRPs for all strategic stocks that interact
with Category I or Category II fisheries.
As provided in MMPA section
118(f)(6)(A) and (f)(7), NMFS used the
most recent SARs and LOF as the basis
to determine its priorities for
establishing Take Reduction Teams
(TRTs) and developing TRPs. Through
this process, NMFS evaluated the
available data on abundance and
fishery-related mortality for the CA/OR/
WA stock of humpback whales, and
identified them as a lower priority
compared to other marine mammal
stocks and fisheries for establishing
TRTs, based on increasing abundance as
well as mortality and serious injury
levels below the stock’s PBR. The CA/
OR/WA stock of humpback whales has
been designated as strategic because it is
ESA-listed (MMPA section 3(19)(C)) and
not because direct human-caused
mortality exceeds PBR (MMPA section
3(19)(A)). In addition, NMFS is
currently collecting data to characterize
fixed gear fisheries and assess their risk
to large whales off the U.S. west coast.
Given these factors and NMFS’
priorities, developing a TRP for the WA/
OR/CA sablefish pot trap fishery and
other similar Category II fisheries will
be deferred under section 118 as other
stocks/fisheries are a higher priority for
any available funding for developing
new TRPs.
Current Permit
As noted in the summary above, all of
the requirements to issue a permit to the
following Federally-authorized fisheries
have been satisfied: the CA thresher
shark/swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch
mesh) and WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery. Accordingly, NMFS hereby
issues a permit to participants in the
Category I CA thresher shark/swordfish
DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh) for the
taking of CA/OR/WA humpback whales,
CA/OR/WA fin whales, and CA/OR/WA
sperm whales, and participants in the
Category II WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery for the taking of CA/OR/WA
stock of humpback whales, incidental to
the fisheries’ operations. As noted under
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E)(ii), no
permit is required for vessels in
Category III fisheries. For incidental
taking of marine mammals to be
authorized in Category III fisheries, any
injuries or mortality must be reported to
E:\FR\FM\04SEN2.SGM
04SEN2
54556
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2013 / Notices
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 the CA/OR/WA stocks of fin,
humpback, or sperm whales, 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 most recently
published, as required, on February 27,
2012 (77 FR 11493), which authorized
the taking of threatened or endangered
marine mammals incidental to one
Category II fishery along the west coast
of the United States. With issuance of
the current permit, NMFS adds the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery
(≥14 inch mesh) fishery and WA/OR/CA
sablefish pot fishery to this list (Table
1).
TABLE 1—LIST OF FISHERIES AUTHORIZED TO TAKE SPECIFIC THREATENED AND ENDANGERED MARINE MAMMALS
INCIDENTAL TO COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS
Category
HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/set line ......................................
CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (≥14 in mesh) ......
I ..............
I ..............
Hi shallow-set (swordfish target) longline/set line ..........................
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl .................................
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Island pollock trawl ..................................
II .............
II .............
II .............
AK Bering Sea sablefish pot ...........................................................
II .............
AK Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline fisheries .......
WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery .....................................................
AK miscellaneous finfish set gillnet ................................................
AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline ...............................................
II .............
II .............
III ............
III ............
AK
AK
AK
AK
AK
halibut longline/set line (State and Federal waters) .................
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Atka mackerel trawl .....................
Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Pacific cod trawl ..........................
Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod trawl ................................................
Gulf of Alaska pollock trawl ......................................................
III
III
III
III
III
............
............
............
............
............
CA set gill net ..................................................................................
CA/OR/WA salmon troll ..................................................................
WA/OR/CA groundfish, bottomfish longline/set line .......................
WA/OR North Pacific halibut longline/set line ................................
CA halibut bottom trawl ...................................................................
WA/OR/CA shrimp trawl .................................................................
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
Fishery
III
III
III
III
III
III
............
............
............
............
............
............
Comments and Responses
On May 8, 2013 (78 FR 26751), NMFS
proposed to issue a permit under
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) to vessels
registered in the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
and the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery to incidentally take individual
animals from the CA/OR/WA stocks of
fin, humpback, and sperm whales.
NMFS solicited comments on the
proposal to issue a permit and the
negligible impact determination and
received letters containing comments
from four organizations, the Marine
Mammal Commission (Commission)
and a joint letter from the Center for
Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana. Each
letter contained multiple comments.
NMFS also received one petition letter
signed by 13,425 people, and one
individual sent the exact same petition
letter separately.
Comment 1: The Commission briefly
summarized NMFS’ findings for the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Sep 03, 2013
Jkt 229001
Marine mammal stock
Humpback whale, CNP stock.
Fin whale, CA/OR/WA stock.
Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA stock.
Sperm whale, CA/OR/WA stock.
Humpback whale, CNP stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
Fin whale, NEP stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
Humpback whale, WNP stock.
Humpback whale, CNP stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
Sperm whale, NP stock.
Steller sea lion, Eastern stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
Fin whale, NEP stock.
Steller sea lion, Western stock.
None documented.
None documented.
None documented.
None documented.
None documented.
None documented.
proposed permit and recommended that
NMFS comply with the MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E) by issuing the permit to the
CA thresher shark/swordfish drift
gillnet fishery (≥14 in mesh) for the CA/
OR/WA fin and humpback whale stocks
and the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery for the CA/OR/WA humpback
whale stock. The Commission also
recommended that NMFS comply with
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) by issuing
the permit to the WA/OR/CA sablefish
pot fishery for the CA/OR/WA fin and
sperm whale stocks.
Response: NMFS agrees and is issuing
the permit as required by the MMPA.
NMFS clarifies that the permit will be
issued for the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery for the CA/OR/WA humpback
whale stock, but not for the CA/OR/WA
fin and sperm whale stocks as these two
stocks do not interact with this fishery.
Comment 2: The Commission
recommended that NMFS, before
authorizing the take of sperm whales in
the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
gillnet fishery (≥14 in mesh), account for
negative bias in the serious injury and
mortality estimates and demonstrate
that the available survey data and the
degree of uncertainty in the data on
population size and trends,
reproductive rate and serious injury and
mortality estimates provide statistical
evidence that the stock is stable and not
declining. Further, the Commission
recommended that ‘‘total fisheriesrelated serious injuries and mortalities’’
should include extrapolated values from
the observed number of serious injury or
mortality with the corresponding
observer coverage rate, not just the
observed number of serious injuries and
mortalities. The Center for Biological
Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration
Network, and Oceana provided a similar
comment and also indicated that takes
of sperm whales exceeded the PBR of
1.5 animals.
Response: With respect to bias and
uncertainty and the PBR equation,
NMFS notes that PBR is based upon
E:\FR\FM\04SEN2.SGM
04SEN2
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2013 / Notices
conservative estimates of abundance
and Rmax and includes a recovery
factor (0.1 for sperm whales). The PBR
approach was thoroughly tested in
simulation trials and found to be robust
to over-estimates of Rmax,
underestimates of mortality, and low
precision of abundance and mortality
estimates. Further, NMFS has
established that the CA/OR/WA sperm
whale stock is not decreasing; therefore,
it is either stable or increasing (Carretta
et al. 2012).
NMFS agrees that further analysis of
the CA/OR/WA sperm whale stock was
warranted. As recommended by the
Commission, the negligible impact
determination analysis now includes
the estimated mortality and serious
injury as an extrapolated value based on
the takes observed by a NMFS-certified
fishery observer and the observer
coverage for that year.
Comment 3: The Commission noted
that while NMFS is developing a Take
Reduction Plan for the sablefish pot
fishery, the details of that process have
yet to be published and no Take
Reduction Team has been formed.
Response: As noted earlier in this
notice, MMPA section 118(f)(3) (16
U.S.C. 1387(f)(3)) contains specific
priorities for developing TRPs if
insufficient funding is available to
develop and implement TRPs for all
applicable stocks and fisheries. NMFS
has insufficient funding available to
simultaneously develop and implement
TRPs for all strategic stocks that interact
with Category I or Category II fisheries.
As such, NMFS prioritizes which stocks
and fisheries to address under a TRP.
MMPA section 118(f) provides that if
there is insufficient funding available to
develop and implement a take reduction
plan for stocks that interact with
Category I and II fisheries, the Secretary
shall give highest priority to the
development of TRP’s for species or
stocks whose level of incidental
mortality and serious injury exceeds
PBR, that that have small population
size, and those that declining most
rapidly. Further, NMFS notes that the
CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales
has been designated as strategic because
it is ESA-listed (MMPA section 3(19)(C))
and not because direct human-caused
mortality exceeds PBR (MMPA section
3(19)(A)). At this time, developing a
TRP for the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
trap fishery and other similar Category
II fisheries will be deferred under
section 118 as other stocks/fisheries are
a higher priority for developing new
TRPs.
In the meantime, NMFS has identified
conservation recommendations for
humpback whales in the biological
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Sep 03, 2013
Jkt 229001
opinion, dated December 7, 2012, on the
Continuing Operation of the Pacific
Coast Groundfish Fishery, that provides
general guidance for unique, visual
marking of sablefish pot/trap gear as
identifiable to a specific fishery, as well
as guidance to report, track, and retrieve
pot/trap gear that becomes lost and
minimize the loss of pot/trap gear.
Consistent with the terms and
conditions of that biological opinion,
the Pacific Fishery Management Council
recently established the Pacific Coast
Groundfish and Endangered Species
Work Group, to serve as a multi-party
advisory body to the Council for the
purpose of supporting ESA compliance
for species including humpback whales.
One of the work group’s duties will be
to propose, for Council consideration,
conservation and management measures
to minimize bycatch of the
aforementioned species. NMFS
anticipates that this group will draw
from the conservation recommendations
developed in the biological opinion
when considering measures.
Appointments to the workgroup will be
made at the September 2013 Council
meeting, and a first meeting will follow
this coming fall/winter. Lastly, over the
last four years, NMFS has been
collecting data and conducting a risk
assessment of the impact of fixed gear
fisheries, including the sablefish pot
fishery, on large whales off the United
States. This assessment will help NMFS
to determine whether additional data
collection would be necessary to
convene a TRT.
Comment 4: The Commission
questioned whether the observer
coverage in the CA thresher shark/
swordfish drift gillnet fishery (≥14 in
mesh) is sufficient to meet the MMPA’s
mandate under section 118(d)(1)(A) that
such programs be adequate to ‘‘obtain
statistically reliable estimates of
incidental mortality and serious injury’’
or describe plans for attaining the
recommended 30 percent coverage
level. Similarly, Center for Biological
Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration
Network, and Oceana opposed the
issuance of the permit because the
existing monitoring programs for the
fisheries considered in the proposed
authorization do not meet the MMPA’s
requirement to provide statistically
reliable estimates of serious injury and
mortality.
Response: The CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
has been observed by NMFS-certified
observers since the early 1990s.
Observer coverage levels in the fishery
vary over time but are adequate to
produce reliable estimates of mortality
and serious injury of listed species (e.g.,
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
54557
from 2000–2010, coverage ranged from
12.0 to 22.9 percent). Additionally, the
recent emergency rule (RIN 0648–BD57)
requires increased observer coverage in
the fishery. Specifically, the rule
establishes a 100-percent observer
coverage zone that is closed to DGN
fishing during the August 15, 2013 to
January 31, 2014 fishing season unless
the fishing vessel is carrying a NMFStrained observer. The zone covers nearly
all areas in the U.S. EEZ deeper than the
1,100 fm (2,012 m) depth contour.
Therefore, 100% observer coverage is
required in areas deeper than the 1,100
fm (2,012 m) depth contour, and NMFS
hopes to attain at least 30% observer
coverage in other areas where fishing
will occur. NMFS expects to reconvene
the Take Reduction Team to review this
monitoring requirement, among other
issues, and would take appropriate
action for subsequent fishing seasons.
Comment 5: The Commission noted
that the sablefish pot fishery has been
subject to much lower observer coverage
and recommended that NMFS describe
alternative approaches, such as gear
marking, to obtain reliable estimates of
serious injury and mortality rates in the
sablefish pot fishery.
Response: The observer coverage for
the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery is
at 1–6% per year, and NMFS expects to
maintain this level of coverage.
Observer programs have not observed
entangled humpback whales because
the interactions are occurring when the
fishing vessel is not present (the pot
gear is left unattended). The probability
of observing a take in this fishery is
therefore extremely rare. Large whales
can swim considerable distances after
becoming entangled in such gear, so
takes can go unobserved in these
fisheries even if observers are on board.
NMFS has records of entangled whales,
including humpback whales, from
opportunistic sightings reported to
stranding networks, not from observer
programs.
NMFS acknowledges the
Commission’s recommendation to
describe alternative approaches to
obtain reliable estimates of serious
injury and mortality rates in the
sablefish pot fishery; and, as discussed
in Comment 3, NMFS has identified
conservation recommendations for
humpback whales in the biological
opinion, dated December 7, 2012, on the
Continuing Operation of the Pacific
Coast Groundfish Fishery, that provide
general guidance for unique, visual
marking of sablefish pot/trap gear as
identifiable to a specific fishery, as well
as guidance to report, track, and retrieve
pot/trap gear that becomes lost, and
E:\FR\FM\04SEN2.SGM
04SEN2
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
54558
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2013 / Notices
guidance to minimize the loss of pot/
trap gear.
Comment 6: The Commission noted
that the criteria for establishing a
negligible impact determination under
section 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA are
not well defined. The Commission
recommended that NMFS, in
consultation with the Commission,
review the negligible impact
determination criteria and their
application, and take the necessary
steps to establish improved criteria that
are clear, logical, internally consistent,
and cover all probable scenarios. In
addition, the Commission stated that
NMFS should examine its other
authorities that play a part in making
determinations under section 118 of the
MMPA to identify possible
modifications to fishing gear and
practices that would reduce the
likelihood of serious injury or mortality
to the lowest degree practicable and
further efforts to satisfy the zero
mortality rate goal of the MMPA.
Response: NMFS agrees that the
criteria for establishing a negligible
impact determination under section
101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA should be
reviewed and appreciates the
Commission’s willingness to work with
NMFS and to review and, if necessary,
modify the criteria. NMFS will also
continue to work with TRTs to develop
take reduction measures that achieve
the MMPA’s long-term goal for TRPs.
Comment 7: The Center for Biological
Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration
Network, and Oceana opposed the
issuance of the permit because the
proposed authorization included no
measures to (1) reduce entanglements
and loss of fishing gear; (2) collect better
data to quantify loss of gear from
fisheries; and (3) encourage the removal
of derelict fishing gear and proper
disposal.
Response: Authorization under
section 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA
requires a determination that (a) the
incidental mortality and serious injury
incidental to commercial fisheries will
have a negligible impact on the stock or
species; (b) a recovery plan has been or
is being developed; and (c) where
required, a monitoring program is
established, vessels are registered
accordingly, and a Take Reduction Plan
has been or is being developed. These
authorizations themselves do not
include measures that will reduce
entanglements, collect better data, or
encourage the removal of derelict
fishing gear. However, NMFS
implements other programs to address
marine mammal entanglement in fishing
gear, such as the Pacific Offshore
Cetacean Take Reduction Plan and ESA
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Sep 03, 2013
Jkt 229001
section 7 consultations on FMPs (see
Response to Comment 3).
Comment 8: The Center for Biological
Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration
Network, and Oceana stated that NMFS
neglected to include in its tally of sperm
whale serious injury events the
observed collision in 2007 between a
sperm whale and a limited entry fixed
gear vessel, fishing with longline gear
and participating in the sablefish
fishery. Commenters indicated that the
serious injury should be attributed to
this fishery, which includes sablefish
and longlines.
Response: NMFS disagrees. The tally
for total human-caused serious injury
and mortality did include the mortality
of this sperm whale, but the event was
not considered a fisheries-related
serious injury or mortality as the cause
of death was a ship strike and not
related to interactions with fishing gear.
This interaction was applied to nonfisheries mortality and included in the
total human-caused mortality figure.
Comment 9: The Center for Biological
Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration
Network, and Oceana stated that NMFS
must consider additional measures to
mitigate the take of endangered marine
mammals in process of its
determination and alternatives should
include examination of whether a
closed area may protect endangered
marine mammals based on the density
data NMFS has collected.
Response: NMFS agrees and has
modified the CA thresher shark/
swordfish drift gillnet fishery (≥14 in
mesh) in a separate emergency rule (RIN
0648–BD57) to reduce risk to sperm
whales.
Comment 10: The Center for
Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana stated
that NMFS did not consider all Category
I and II fisheries that seriously injure
and kill the fin, humpback, and sperm
whales in California, Oregon, and
Washington and that it is improper to
issue a permit for some commercial
fisheries while stating that NMFS will
not consider others operating in
violation of the MMPA by taking the
same stocks.
Response: NMFS considered all
fishery-related serious injury and
mortality to the CA/OR/WA stocks of
fin, humpback, and sperm whales in
making its negligible impact
determination. All recorded takes from
all fisheries that interact with the CA/
OR/WA stocks of fin, humpback, and
sperm whales are accounted for in the
analysis. In this notice, NMFS is
authorizing incidental take by
commercial fishers in the CA thresher
shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (≥14
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
in mesh) and the WA/OR/CA sablefish
pot fishery to take specific marine
mammal stocks (see Table 1). The
remaining Category II fisheries that
interact with the marine mammal stocks
observed off the coasts of Washington,
Oregon, and California are statemanaged and not considered under this
permit for authorization of incidental
take by fishers in those state-managed
fisheries. Serious injuries and
mortalities attributed to the statemanaged fisheries were, however,
included in the tallies of take in the
negligible impact determination
analysis.
Comment 11: The Center for
Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana stated
that the proposed authorization must be
self-effectuating with respect to the
expiration date of the permit.
Commenters further explained that
based on NMFS’ history of issuing
authorizations, the proposed
authorization may in practice allow take
of endangered whales for six to seven
years and that the MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E) authorization allow
incidental take ‘‘during any period of up
to 3 consecutive years.’’ Therefore,
issuing the permit without language that
requires the fishery to shut down or
otherwise avoid incidental take of
marine mammals at the expiration of the
permit is outside of NMFS’ statutory
authority.
Response: NMFS acknowledges that
there have been delays between the
expiration of one 101(a)(5)(E)
authorization and the issuance of
another. Authorization to incidentally
take endangered marine mammals
under MMPA 101(a)(5)(E) is for a period
of up to three consecutive years.
Comment 12: The Center for
Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana stated
that the permit could not be issued
because no take reduction plan has or is
being developed for the fin whale
because the 1997 Pacific Offshore Take
Reduction Plan did not anticipate the
incidental bycatch of fin whales in the
California drift gillnet fishery.
Response: The MMPA List of
Fisheries (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
pr/interactions/lof/) indicates that fin
whales do not interact with the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery or
the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery;
and, as indicated in the 2011 U.S.
Pacific Marine Mammal Stock
Assessments (Carretta et al. 2012), no fin
whales have interacted with either of
these fisheries in the last five years, the
time period used to determine PBR.
Take Reduction Plans are not required
for the CA/OR/WA stock of fin whales
E:\FR\FM\04SEN2.SGM
04SEN2
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2013 / Notices
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES2
because mortality and serious injury of
this stock incidental to commercial
fishing operations is at insignificant
levels approaching a zero mortality and
serious injury rate.
Comment 13: The Center for
Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana state
that the proposed authorization will
violate section 7 of the ESA without
completion of formal consultation
regarding NMFS’ issuance of a MMPA
section 101(a)(5)(E) permit authorizing
take of endangered fin, humpback, and
sperm whales.
Response: NMFS has complied with
the ESA for the issuance of the MMPA
permit through the issuance of a
biological opinion on December 7, 2012
for the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery,
a biological opinion on May 2, 2013 for
the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift
gillnet fishery (≥14 in mesh), and
updated memo on August 21, 2013 to
account for the emergency rule (RIN
0648–BD57).
Comment 14: The Commission and
the Center for Biological Diversity,
Turtle Island Restoration Network, and
Oceana stated that NMFS needs to make
the finding that the sperm whale stock
is either stable or increasing and that
NMFS cannot assume for the purposes
of the negligible impact determination
that the stock is stable or increasing,
especially given that the most recent
estimate from 2008 survey is the lowest
to date.
Response: As described in response to
Comment 2, NMFS has established that
the CA/OR/WA sperm whale stock is
not decreasing; therefore, it is either
stable or increasing. Although there
remains some uncertainty related to the
abundance of the population, the
apparent trend for sperm whales in the
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 Sep 03, 2013
Jkt 229001
Pacific Ocean is an increase, and this
increase is occurring even with current
levels of mortality and serious injury.
Comment 15: The Center for
Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana
requested that NMFS prescribe
emergency regulations that reduce the
incidental mortality and serious injury
in the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift
gillnet fishery (≥14 in mesh) as
requested in a letter sent to NMFS on
September 12, 2012; reconvene the Take
Reduction Team for the purposes of
modifying the existing Take Reduction
Plan so as to reduce mortality and
serious injury of all marine mammals in
the fishery to insignificant levels
approaching a zero mortality and
serious injury rate (i.e., 10% of PBR);
and issue a section 101(a)(5)(E) permit
only if such modifications to the Take
Reduction Plan are deemed likely to
reduce take of endangered marine
mammals to levels below 10% of PBR.
Response: Modifications to the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery
(≥14 inch mesh) were made in an
emergency rule to reduce risk of sperm
whale takes by the West Coast swordfish
drift gillnet fishery (RIN 0648–BD57) in
accordance with the MSA, the ESA, and
the MMPA for the 2013/2014 fishing
season. These measures emerged from
Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take
Reduction Team meetings, which NMFS
convened on July 31 and August 7,
2013. The Team was charged with
developing recommendations to reduce
sperm whale mortality and serious
injury in the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh).
NMFS considered the Team’s
recommendations and developed an
emergency rule to modify the fishery
and reduce risk to sperm whales during
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 9990
54559
the 2013–14 fishing season. The
emergency rule provides for immediate
termination of the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
if one sperm whale is observed killed or
seriously injured in the fishery and
establishes a 100-percent observer
coverage zone that is closed to DGN
fishing during the August 15, 2013 to
January 31, 2014 fishing season unless
the fishing vessel is carrying a NMFStrained observer. The zone covers nearly
all areas in the U.S. EEZ deeper than the
1,100 fm (2,012 m) depth contour.
Owners and operators of vessels
intending to fish in the CA thresher
shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (≥14
in mesh) will be required to install,
activate, carry, and operate a vessel
monitoring system. NMFS intends to
convene the Take Reduction Team to
consider long-term measures for
reducing sperm whale mortality and
serious injury in the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (≥14 inch mesh)
in subsequent fishing seasons.
Comment 16: NMFS received one
petition letter signed by 13,425 people
and one individual opposing the threeyear authorization urging the closure of
the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery (≥14 inch mesh) fishery and the
denial of the permit, based upon
underfunded monitoring of the fishery
and marine mammal bycatch associated
with the fishery (specifically sperm
whales).
Response: See responses above under
Comments 2, 4, 7, 9, and 16.
Dated: August 28, 2013.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–21485 Filed 9–3–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
E:\FR\FM\04SEN2.SGM
04SEN2
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54553-54559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21485]
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 4, 2013 /
Notices
[[Page 54553]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC645
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 of three
stocks of marine mammals listed as threatened or endangered under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) by the California (CA) thresher shark/
swordfish drift gillnet (DGN) fishery (>=14 inch mesh) and the
incidental, but not intentional, taking of individuals from one stock
by the Washington/Oregon/California (WA/OR/CA) sablefish pot fishery.
DATES: This permit is effective for a three-year period beginning
September 4, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Reference material, including the negligible impact
determination, for this permit is available on the Internet at the
following address: https://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/. Recovery plans for these
species are available on the Internet at the following address: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm#mammals. Information on the
Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan is available the Internet
at the following address: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/trt/poctrp.htm.
Copies of the reference materials may also be obtained from the
Protected Resources Division, 501 W Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long
Beach, CA 90802.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica DeAngelis, NMFS Southwest
Region, (562) 980-3232, or Shannon Bettridge, NMFS Office of Protected
Resources, (301) 427-8402.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 101(a)(5)(E) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), 16
U.S.C. 1361 et seq., states that NOAA's National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), as delegated by the Secretary of Commerce, shall for a
period of up to three years allow the incidental taking of marine
mammal species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq., by persons using vessels of the United States and those
vessels which have valid fishing permits issued by the Secretary in
accordance with section 204(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1824(b), while engaging in
commercial fishing operations, if NMFS makes certain determinations.
NMFS must determine, after notice and opportunity for public comment,
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 May 8, 2013 (78 FR 26751), NMFS proposed to issue a permit under
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) to vessels registered in the CA thresher
shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) to incidentally take
individuals from three stocks of threatened or endangered marine
mammals: the CA/OR/WA stock of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), the
CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), and the CA/
OR/WA stock of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus); and to vessels
registered in the and the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery to
incidentally take individuals from the CA/OR/WA stock of humpback
whales. The data for considering these authorizations were reviewed
coincident with the preparation of the 2012 MMPA List of Fisheries (LOF
or List) (76 FR 73912; November 29, 2011), the 2011 marine mammal stock
assessment reports (SARs) (Carretta et al. 2012; Allen and Angliss
2011), the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for U.S. West Coast Fisheries
for Highly Migratory Species (HMS), Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP,
recovery plans for these species (available on the Internet at the
following address: https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm#mammals), the Emergency Rule (RIN 0648-BD57), and other
relevant sources.
Based on observer data and marine mammal reporting forms, the CA
thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (>=14 in mesh) and the
WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery are the Category I or II fisheries that
operate in the ranges of affected stocks, namely the CA/OR/WA stocks of
fin, sperm whales, and humpback whales. A detailed description of these
fisheries can be found in the negligible impact determination (see
ADDRESSES). All other Category II fisheries that interact with the
marine mammal stocks observed off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and
California are State-managed and are not considered for authorization
under this permit. Participants in Category III fisheries are not
required to obtain incidental take permits under MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E) but are required to report injuries or mortality of marine
mammals incidental to their operations.
In accordance with the MMPA, NMFS has made a determination that
incidental taking from commercial fishing will have a negligible impact
on the fin whale, CA/OR/WA stock; humpback whale, CA/OR/WA stock; and
sperm whale, CA/OR/WA stock. This authorization is based on a
determination that this incidental take will have a negligible impact
on the affected marine mammal stocks, recovery plans have been
developed for each species, a monitoring program is established,
vessels in the fisheries are registered, and that the necessary take
reduction plan (TRP) is in place for the humpback and sperm whale
stocks. A TRP is not required for the CA/OR/WA stock of fin whales
because mortality and serious injury of this stock incidental to the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery and the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery is at insignificant levels approaching a zero mortality and
serious injury rate. NMFS also issued emergency regulations to reduce
risk of sperm whale takes by the West Coast swordfish drift gillnet
fishery (RIN 0648-BD57) below the stock's Potential Biological Removal
(PBR) level of 1.5 animals; NMFS developed the measures in the
emergency rule based on recommendations from the Pacific Offshore
Cetacean Take Reduction Team. Revisions to the draft negligible impact
determination were based on issuance of the emergency rule and on
public comment received on the draft negligible impact determination
(78 FR 26751, May 8, 2013).
Basis for Determining Negligible Impact
Prior to issuing a permit to take ESA-listed marine mammals
incidental to commercial fishing, NMFS must determine if 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 a
[[Page 54554]]
negligible impact determination (see ADDRESSES). NMFS calculated the
total human-related serious injury and mortality to make a negligible
impact determination for this authorization and included all human
sources, such as commercial fisheries and ship strikes. See the
negligible impact determination for more detailed information.
The average annual serious injury and mortality, from all sources,
is below PBR for the CA/OR/WA fin and humpback whale stocks, but is
above PBR for the CA/OR/WA sperm whale stock. At this time, no other
fishery, with the exception of the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery (>=14 inch mesh), has documented takes of sperm whales. As a
result, NMFS convened the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Team
(Team) on July 31 and August 7, 2013 and charged the Team with
developing recommendations to reduce sperm whale serious injury and
mortality in the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch
mesh). NMFS considered the Team's recommendations and developed an
emergency rule (RIN 0648-BD57) to modify the CA thresher shark/
swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) to reduce the risk of mortality
and serious injury of sperm whales incidental to the fishery. In doing
so, NMFS determined that the negligible impact determination conditions
of the MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) could be met, thereby allowing NMFS to
provide incidental take authorization under the ESA and MMPA for the
2013-2014 fishing season.
The emergency rule, effective through January 31, 2014, includes
several provisions to reduce risk to sperm whales and monitor the
fishery. Specifically, the emergency rule provides for immediate
termination of the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch
mesh) if one sperm whale is observed killed or seriously injured in DGN
gear off California and establishes a 100-percent observer coverage
zone that is closed to DGN fishing during the August 15, 2013 to
January 31, 2014 fishing season unless the fishing vessel is carrying a
NMFS-trained observer. The zone covers nearly all areas in the U.S.
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) deeper than the 1,100 fathoms (fm) (2,012
meters (m)) depth contour. Owners/operators of vessels intending to
fish with DGN gear are required to install, activate, carry and operate
a vessel monitoring system prior to embarking on a DGN fishing trip.
NMFS intends to reconvene the Team to consider long-term measures
for reducing sperm whale mortality and serious injury in the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) in subsequent
fishing seasons. It is expected that any future changes to the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) that may occur as
a result of modifying the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan
would not change the negligible impact analysis. However, if a
mortality or serious injury of a sperm whale (CA/OR/WA stock) occurs in
any fishery, that would be included in the total fishery-related
serious injury or mortality considered in a future negligible impact
determination. The underlying data indicate that there is a very low
likelihood that another fishery may take a sperm whale, but in the
unlikely event that a mortality or serious injury occurs during the
three-year time frame for this authorization, the negligible impact
determination would be re-evaluated pursuant to section
101(a)(5)(E)(iii), (iv), and (v) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1371(a)(5)(E)(iii), (iv), and (v)). Thus, based on this information,
the emergency rule (RIN 0648-BD57), and the applicability of Criterion
3, NMFS determines that the mortality and serious injury incidental to
commercial fisheries will have a negligible impact on the CA/OR/WA
stock of sperm whales.
In conclusion, based on the negligible impact criteria outlined in
1999 (64 FR 28800), the 2011 Pacific SARs (Carretta et al. 2012), the
best scientific information and data available, and the measures
required in the emergency rule (RIN 0648-BD57) to modify the CA
thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh), NMFS has
determined that for a period of up to three years, mortality and
serious injury incidental to the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery will have a negligible impact on the CA/OR/WA stocks of sperm
whales, humpback whales, and fin whales, and mortality and serious
injury incidental to the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery will have a
negligible impact on the CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales.
The available serious injury and mortality data for the CA/OR/WA
stock of fin whales meet the factors for negligible impact
determination under Criterion 2 of the 1999 criteria, including because
the annual average fisheries-related mortality is less than 0.1 PBR.
The available data for the CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales meet the
factors for negligible impact determination under Criterion 3 of the
1999 criteria, including because the expected fisheries-related
mortality is greater than 0.1 PBR and less than PBR and the population
is increasing. Total fishery-related serious injury and mortality for
the CA/OR/WA stock of sperm whales is greater than 0.1 PBR and is
anticipated to be less than PBR following implementation of the
emergency rule to modify the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery
(>=14 inch mesh) fishery (RIN 0648-BD57), and the population is stable;
thus, the conditions of Criterion 3 of the 1999 negligible impact
criteria are met for this stock and would be re-evaluated pursuant to
section 101(a)(5)(E)(iii), (iv), and (v) of the MMPA. Therefore, the
identified commercial fisheries within the range of the CA/OR/WA stocks
of fin, humpback, and sperm whales may be permitted subject to their
individual review and the certainty of relevant data, and provided that
the other provisions of MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) are met.
Determinations for the Permit
Based on the final negligible impact determination, NMFS concludes
that the incidental mortality and serious injury from the CA thresher
shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) will have a negligible
impact on the CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm
whales and the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery will have a negligible
impact on the CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales.
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires Federal
agencies to evaluate the impacts of alternatives for their actions on
the human environment. The impacts on the human environment of
continuing and modifying the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery
(>=14 inch mesh) (as part of the FMP for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for
Highly Migratory Species) and the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery (as
part of the Pacific Coast groundfish FMP), including the taking of
threatened and endangered species of marine mammals, were analyzed in:
the Pacific Fishery Management Council Highly Migratory Species Fishery
Management Plan final environmental impact statement (August 2003); the
Pacific Fishery Management Council Proposed Harvest Specifications and
Management Measures for the 2013-2014 Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
and Amendment 21-2 to the Pacific Coast Fishery Management Plan
(September 2012); Risk assessment of U.S. West Coast groundfish
fisheries to threatened and endangered marine species (NWFSC 2012); and
in the Final Biological Opinion prepared for the West Coast groundfish
fisheries (NMFS 2012a) and the Final Biological Opinion (May 7, 2013)
as amended (August 21, 2013), for the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery (>=14 inch mesh) (NMFS 2012b), pursuant to the ESA.
[[Page 54555]]
Because this permit would not modify any fishery operation and the
effects of the fishery operations have been evaluated fully in
accordance with NEPA, no additional NEPA analysis is required for this
permit. Issuing the proposed permit would have no additional impact to
the human environment or effects on threatened or endangered species
beyond those analyzed in these documents. NMFS reviews the remaining
requirements to issue a permit to take the subject listed species
incidental to the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch
mesh) and WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fisheries in the sections below.
Recovery Plans
Recovery Plans for humpback whales, fin whales, and sperm whales
have been completed (see https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/recovery/plans.htm#mammals). Accordingly, the requirement to have recovery plans
in place or being developed is satisfied for all three stocks.
Vessel Registration
MMPA section 118(c) requires that vessels participating in Category
I and II fisheries register to obtain an authorization to take marine
mammals incidental to fishing activities. Further, 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 CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery (>=14 inch mesh) and WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fisheries already
provide the information needed by NMFS to register their vessels for
the incidental take authorization under the MMPA either through the
Federal groundfish limited entry permit process or the Federal vessel
monitoring system. Therefore, vessel registration for an MMPA
authorization is integrated through those programs in accordance with
MMPA section 118.
Monitoring Program
The CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) has
been observed by NMFS-certified observers since the early 1990s. Levels
of observer coverage vary over time but are adequate to produce
reliable estimates of mortality and serious injury of listed species
(e.g., from 2000-2010, coverage ranged from 12.0 to 22.9 percent). As
part of the Pacific Coast Groundfish FMP and MSA objectives, the WA/OR/
CA sablefish pot fishery is observed at about 1-6% per year.
Accordingly, as required by MMPA section 118, a monitoring program is
in place for both fisheries.
Additionally, the emergency rule (RIN 0648-BD57) establishes a 100-
percent observer coverage zone that is closed to DGN fishing during the
August 15, 2013 to January 31, 2014 fishing season unless the fishing
vessel is carrying a NMFS-trained observer. The zone covers nearly all
areas in the U.S. EEZ deeper than the 1,100 fm (2,012 meters m) depth
contour. NMFS will reconvene the Take Reduction Team to review this
requirement, among other issues, and will take appropriate action for
subsequent fishing seasons.
Take Reduction Plans
Subject to available funding, MMPA section 118 requires the
development and implementation of a Take Reduction Plan (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 (MMPA section 3(19)(C)).
In 1996, the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Team was
convened to develop a TRP to address the incidental taking of several
strategic stocks in the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet
fishery. A TRP was implemented, through regulations, in October, 1997
(62 FR 51813) and has been in place ever since. The 2011 U.S. Pacific
Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (Carretta et al. 2012) and the
MMPA List of Fisheries (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/lof/)
indicate no fin whales have interacted with either the CA thresher
shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) or the WA/OR/CA sablefish
pot fishery in the last five years, the time period used to determine
PBR levels for all marine mammal stocks. As such, a take reduction plan
is not required for the CA/OR/WA stock of fin whales because mortality
and serious injury of this stock incidental to commercial fishing
operations is at insignificant levels approaching a zero mortality and
serious injury rate. The short- and long-term goals of a TRP are to
reduce mortality and serious injury of marine mammals incidental to
commercial fishing to levels below PBR and to insignificant levels
approaching a zero mortality and serious injury rate (i.e., 10% of
PBR), respectively. 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.
The CA/OR/WA humpback whale stock, also a strategic stock,
interacts with the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot/trap fishery and other
Category II fisheries. However, the obligations to develop and
implement a TRP are subject to the availability of funding. NMFS has
insufficient funding available to simultaneously develop and implement
TRPs for all strategic stocks that interact with Category I or Category
II fisheries. As provided in MMPA section 118(f)(6)(A) and (f)(7), NMFS
used the most recent SARs and LOF as the basis to determine its
priorities for establishing Take Reduction Teams (TRTs) and developing
TRPs. Through this process, NMFS evaluated the available data on
abundance and fishery-related mortality for the CA/OR/WA stock of
humpback whales, and identified them as a lower priority compared to
other marine mammal stocks and fisheries for establishing TRTs, based
on increasing abundance as well as mortality and serious injury levels
below the stock's PBR. The CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales has been
designated as strategic because it is ESA-listed (MMPA section
3(19)(C)) and not because direct human-caused mortality exceeds PBR
(MMPA section 3(19)(A)). In addition, NMFS is currently collecting data
to characterize fixed gear fisheries and assess their risk to large
whales off the U.S. west coast. Given these factors and NMFS'
priorities, developing a TRP for the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot trap
fishery and other similar Category II fisheries will be deferred under
section 118 as other stocks/fisheries are a higher priority for any
available funding for developing new TRPs.
Current Permit
As noted in the summary above, all of the requirements to issue a
permit to the following Federally-authorized fisheries have been
satisfied: the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh)
and WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery. Accordingly, NMFS hereby issues a
permit to participants in the Category I CA thresher shark/swordfish
DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) for the taking of CA/OR/WA humpback
whales, CA/OR/WA fin whales, and CA/OR/WA sperm whales, and
participants in the Category II WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery for the
taking of CA/OR/WA stock of humpback whales, incidental to the
fisheries' operations. As noted under MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E)(ii), no
permit is required for vessels in Category III fisheries. For
incidental taking of marine mammals to be authorized in Category III
fisheries, any injuries or mortality must be reported to
[[Page 54556]]
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 the CA/OR/WA stocks of fin, humpback, or sperm whales, 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
most recently published, as required, on February 27, 2012 (77 FR
11493), which authorized the taking of threatened or endangered marine
mammals incidental to one Category II fishery along the west coast of
the United States. With issuance of the current permit, NMFS adds the
CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) fishery and
WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery to this list (Table 1).
Table 1--List of Fisheries Authorized To Take Specific Threatened and
Endangered Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fishery Category Marine mammal stock
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI deep-set (tuna target) I.............. Humpback whale, CNP
longline/set line. stock.
CA thresher shark/swordfish I.............. Fin whale, CA/OR/WA
drift gillnet fishery (>=14 in stock.
mesh).
Humpback whale, CA/OR/
WA stock.
Sperm whale, CA/OR/WA
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.
WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery. II............. Humpback whale, CA/OR/
WA stock.
AK miscellaneous finfish set III............ Steller sea lion,
gillnet. Western stock.
AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish III............ Sperm whale, NP stock.
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.
CA set gill net................ III............ None documented.
CA/OR/WA salmon troll.......... III............ None documented.
WA/OR/CA groundfish, bottomfish III............ None documented.
longline/set line.
WA/OR North Pacific halibut III............ None documented.
longline/set line.
CA halibut bottom trawl........ III............ None documented.
WA/OR/CA shrimp trawl.......... III............ None documented.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments and Responses
On May 8, 2013 (78 FR 26751), NMFS proposed to issue a permit under
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) to vessels registered in the CA thresher
shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) and the WA/OR/CA sablefish
pot fishery to incidentally take individual animals from the CA/OR/WA
stocks of fin, humpback, and sperm whales. NMFS solicited comments on
the proposal to issue a permit and the negligible impact determination
and received letters containing comments from four organizations, the
Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) and a joint letter from the
Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network, and
Oceana. Each letter contained multiple comments. NMFS also received one
petition letter signed by 13,425 people, and one individual sent the
exact same petition letter separately.
Comment 1: The Commission briefly summarized NMFS' findings for the
proposed permit and recommended that NMFS comply with the MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E) by issuing the permit to the CA thresher shark/swordfish
drift gillnet fishery (>=14 in mesh) for the CA/OR/WA fin and humpback
whale stocks and the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery for the CA/OR/WA
humpback whale stock. The Commission also recommended that NMFS comply
with MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) by issuing the permit to the WA/OR/CA
sablefish pot fishery for the CA/OR/WA fin and sperm whale stocks.
Response: NMFS agrees and is issuing the permit as required by the
MMPA. NMFS clarifies that the permit will be issued for the WA/OR/CA
sablefish pot fishery for the CA/OR/WA humpback whale stock, but not
for the CA/OR/WA fin and sperm whale stocks as these two stocks do not
interact with this fishery.
Comment 2: The Commission recommended that NMFS, before authorizing
the take of sperm whales in the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift
gillnet fishery (>=14 in mesh), account for negative bias in the
serious injury and mortality estimates and demonstrate that the
available survey data and the degree of uncertainty in the data on
population size and trends, reproductive rate and serious injury and
mortality estimates provide statistical evidence that the stock is
stable and not declining. Further, the Commission recommended that
``total fisheries-related serious injuries and mortalities'' should
include extrapolated values from the observed number of serious injury
or mortality with the corresponding observer coverage rate, not just
the observed number of serious injuries and mortalities. The Center for
Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration Network, and Oceana
provided a similar comment and also indicated that takes of sperm
whales exceeded the PBR of 1.5 animals.
Response: With respect to bias and uncertainty and the PBR
equation, NMFS notes that PBR is based upon
[[Page 54557]]
conservative estimates of abundance and Rmax and includes a recovery
factor (0.1 for sperm whales). The PBR approach was thoroughly tested
in simulation trials and found to be robust to over-estimates of Rmax,
underestimates of mortality, and low precision of abundance and
mortality estimates. Further, NMFS has established that the CA/OR/WA
sperm whale stock is not decreasing; therefore, it is either stable or
increasing (Carretta et al. 2012).
NMFS agrees that further analysis of the CA/OR/WA sperm whale stock
was warranted. As recommended by the Commission, the negligible impact
determination analysis now includes the estimated mortality and serious
injury as an extrapolated value based on the takes observed by a NMFS-
certified fishery observer and the observer coverage for that year.
Comment 3: The Commission noted that while NMFS is developing a
Take Reduction Plan for the sablefish pot fishery, the details of that
process have yet to be published and no Take Reduction Team has been
formed.
Response: As noted earlier in this notice, MMPA section 118(f)(3)
(16 U.S.C. 1387(f)(3)) contains specific priorities for developing TRPs
if insufficient funding is available to develop and implement TRPs for
all applicable stocks and fisheries. NMFS has insufficient funding
available to simultaneously develop and implement TRPs for all
strategic stocks that interact with Category I or Category II
fisheries. As such, NMFS prioritizes which stocks and fisheries to
address under a TRP. MMPA section 118(f) provides that if there is
insufficient funding available to develop and implement a take
reduction plan for stocks that interact with Category I and II
fisheries, the Secretary shall give highest priority to the development
of TRP's for species or stocks whose level of incidental mortality and
serious injury exceeds PBR, that that have small population size, and
those that declining most rapidly. Further, NMFS notes that the CA/OR/
WA stock of humpback whales has been designated as strategic because it
is ESA-listed (MMPA section 3(19)(C)) and not because direct human-
caused mortality exceeds PBR (MMPA section 3(19)(A)). At this time,
developing a TRP for the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot trap fishery and other
similar Category II fisheries will be deferred under section 118 as
other stocks/fisheries are a higher priority for developing new TRPs.
In the meantime, NMFS has identified conservation recommendations
for humpback whales in the biological opinion, dated December 7, 2012,
on the Continuing Operation of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery,
that provides general guidance for unique, visual marking of sablefish
pot/trap gear as identifiable to a specific fishery, as well as
guidance to report, track, and retrieve pot/trap gear that becomes lost
and minimize the loss of pot/trap gear. Consistent with the terms and
conditions of that biological opinion, the Pacific Fishery Management
Council recently established the Pacific Coast Groundfish and
Endangered Species Work Group, to serve as a multi-party advisory body
to the Council for the purpose of supporting ESA compliance for species
including humpback whales. One of the work group's duties will be to
propose, for Council consideration, conservation and management
measures to minimize bycatch of the aforementioned species. NMFS
anticipates that this group will draw from the conservation
recommendations developed in the biological opinion when considering
measures. Appointments to the workgroup will be made at the September
2013 Council meeting, and a first meeting will follow this coming fall/
winter. Lastly, over the last four years, NMFS has been collecting data
and conducting a risk assessment of the impact of fixed gear fisheries,
including the sablefish pot fishery, on large whales off the United
States. This assessment will help NMFS to determine whether additional
data collection would be necessary to convene a TRT.
Comment 4: The Commission questioned whether the observer coverage
in the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (>=14 in mesh)
is sufficient to meet the MMPA's mandate under section 118(d)(1)(A)
that such programs be adequate to ``obtain statistically reliable
estimates of incidental mortality and serious injury'' or describe
plans for attaining the recommended 30 percent coverage level.
Similarly, Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island Restoration
Network, and Oceana opposed the issuance of the permit because the
existing monitoring programs for the fisheries considered in the
proposed authorization do not meet the MMPA's requirement to provide
statistically reliable estimates of serious injury and mortality.
Response: The CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch
mesh) has been observed by NMFS-certified observers since the early
1990s. Observer coverage levels in the fishery vary over time but are
adequate to produce reliable estimates of mortality and serious injury
of listed species (e.g., from 2000-2010, coverage ranged from 12.0 to
22.9 percent). Additionally, the recent emergency rule (RIN 0648-BD57)
requires increased observer coverage in the fishery. Specifically, the
rule establishes a 100-percent observer coverage zone that is closed to
DGN fishing during the August 15, 2013 to January 31, 2014 fishing
season unless the fishing vessel is carrying a NMFS-trained observer.
The zone covers nearly all areas in the U.S. EEZ deeper than the 1,100
fm (2,012 m) depth contour. Therefore, 100% observer coverage is
required in areas deeper than the 1,100 fm (2,012 m) depth contour, and
NMFS hopes to attain at least 30% observer coverage in other areas
where fishing will occur. NMFS expects to reconvene the Take Reduction
Team to review this monitoring requirement, among other issues, and
would take appropriate action for subsequent fishing seasons.
Comment 5: The Commission noted that the sablefish pot fishery has
been subject to much lower observer coverage and recommended that NMFS
describe alternative approaches, such as gear marking, to obtain
reliable estimates of serious injury and mortality rates in the
sablefish pot fishery.
Response: The observer coverage for the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery is at 1-6% per year, and NMFS expects to maintain this level of
coverage. Observer programs have not observed entangled humpback whales
because the interactions are occurring when the fishing vessel is not
present (the pot gear is left unattended). The probability of observing
a take in this fishery is therefore extremely rare. Large whales can
swim considerable distances after becoming entangled in such gear, so
takes can go unobserved in these fisheries even if observers are on
board. NMFS has records of entangled whales, including humpback whales,
from opportunistic sightings reported to stranding networks, not from
observer programs.
NMFS acknowledges the Commission's recommendation to describe
alternative approaches to obtain reliable estimates of serious injury
and mortality rates in the sablefish pot fishery; and, as discussed in
Comment 3, NMFS has identified conservation recommendations for
humpback whales in the biological opinion, dated December 7, 2012, on
the Continuing Operation of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery, that
provide general guidance for unique, visual marking of sablefish pot/
trap gear as identifiable to a specific fishery, as well as guidance to
report, track, and retrieve pot/trap gear that becomes lost, and
[[Page 54558]]
guidance to minimize the loss of pot/trap gear.
Comment 6: The Commission noted that the criteria for establishing
a negligible impact determination under section 101(a)(5)(E) of the
MMPA are not well defined. The Commission recommended that NMFS, in
consultation with the Commission, review the negligible impact
determination criteria and their application, and take the necessary
steps to establish improved criteria that are clear, logical,
internally consistent, and cover all probable scenarios. In addition,
the Commission stated that NMFS should examine its other authorities
that play a part in making determinations under section 118 of the MMPA
to identify possible modifications to fishing gear and practices that
would reduce the likelihood of serious injury or mortality to the
lowest degree practicable and further efforts to satisfy the zero
mortality rate goal of the MMPA.
Response: NMFS agrees that the criteria for establishing a
negligible impact determination under section 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA
should be reviewed and appreciates the Commission's willingness to work
with NMFS and to review and, if necessary, modify the criteria. NMFS
will also continue to work with TRTs to develop take reduction measures
that achieve the MMPA's long-term goal for TRPs.
Comment 7: The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana opposed the issuance of the permit
because the proposed authorization included no measures to (1) reduce
entanglements and loss of fishing gear; (2) collect better data to
quantify loss of gear from fisheries; and (3) encourage the removal of
derelict fishing gear and proper disposal.
Response: Authorization under section 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA
requires a determination that (a) the incidental mortality and serious
injury incidental to commercial fisheries will have a negligible impact
on the stock or species; (b) a recovery plan has been or is being
developed; and (c) where required, a monitoring program is established,
vessels are registered accordingly, and a Take Reduction Plan has been
or is being developed. These authorizations themselves do not include
measures that will reduce entanglements, collect better data, or
encourage the removal of derelict fishing gear. However, NMFS
implements other programs to address marine mammal entanglement in
fishing gear, such as the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan
and ESA section 7 consultations on FMPs (see Response to Comment 3).
Comment 8: The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana stated that NMFS neglected to include
in its tally of sperm whale serious injury events the observed
collision in 2007 between a sperm whale and a limited entry fixed gear
vessel, fishing with longline gear and participating in the sablefish
fishery. Commenters indicated that the serious injury should be
attributed to this fishery, which includes sablefish and longlines.
Response: NMFS disagrees. The tally for total human-caused serious
injury and mortality did include the mortality of this sperm whale, but
the event was not considered a fisheries-related serious injury or
mortality as the cause of death was a ship strike and not related to
interactions with fishing gear. This interaction was applied to non-
fisheries mortality and included in the total human-caused mortality
figure.
Comment 9: The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana stated that NMFS must consider
additional measures to mitigate the take of endangered marine mammals
in process of its determination and alternatives should include
examination of whether a closed area may protect endangered marine
mammals based on the density data NMFS has collected.
Response: NMFS agrees and has modified the CA thresher shark/
swordfish drift gillnet fishery (=14 in mesh) in a separate
emergency rule (RIN 0648-BD57) to reduce risk to sperm whales.
Comment 10: The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana stated that NMFS did not consider all
Category I and II fisheries that seriously injure and kill the fin,
humpback, and sperm whales in California, Oregon, and Washington and
that it is improper to issue a permit for some commercial fisheries
while stating that NMFS will not consider others operating in violation
of the MMPA by taking the same stocks.
Response: NMFS considered all fishery-related serious injury and
mortality to the CA/OR/WA stocks of fin, humpback, and sperm whales in
making its negligible impact determination. All recorded takes from all
fisheries that interact with the CA/OR/WA stocks of fin, humpback, and
sperm whales are accounted for in the analysis. In this notice, NMFS is
authorizing incidental take by commercial fishers in the CA thresher
shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (=14 in mesh) and the
WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery to take specific marine mammal stocks
(see Table 1). The remaining Category II fisheries that interact with
the marine mammal stocks observed off the coasts of Washington, Oregon,
and California are state-managed and not considered under this permit
for authorization of incidental take by fishers in those state-managed
fisheries. Serious injuries and mortalities attributed to the state-
managed fisheries were, however, included in the tallies of take in the
negligible impact determination analysis.
Comment 11: The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana stated that the proposed authorization
must be self-effectuating with respect to the expiration date of the
permit. Commenters further explained that based on NMFS' history of
issuing authorizations, the proposed authorization may in practice
allow take of endangered whales for six to seven years and that the
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) authorization allow incidental take ``during
any period of up to 3 consecutive years.'' Therefore, issuing the
permit without language that requires the fishery to shut down or
otherwise avoid incidental take of marine mammals at the expiration of
the permit is outside of NMFS' statutory authority.
Response: NMFS acknowledges that there have been delays between the
expiration of one 101(a)(5)(E) authorization and the issuance of
another. Authorization to incidentally take endangered marine mammals
under MMPA 101(a)(5)(E) is for a period of up to three consecutive
years.
Comment 12: The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana stated that the permit could not be
issued because no take reduction plan has or is being developed for the
fin whale because the 1997 Pacific Offshore Take Reduction Plan did not
anticipate the incidental bycatch of fin whales in the California drift
gillnet fishery.
Response: The MMPA List of Fisheries (https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/lof/) indicates that fin whales do not interact with the
CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery or the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot
fishery; and, as indicated in the 2011 U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock
Assessments (Carretta et al. 2012), no fin whales have interacted with
either of these fisheries in the last five years, the time period used
to determine PBR. Take Reduction Plans are not required for the CA/OR/
WA stock of fin whales
[[Page 54559]]
because mortality and serious injury of this stock incidental to
commercial fishing operations is at insignificant levels approaching a
zero mortality and serious injury rate.
Comment 13: The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana state that the proposed authorization
will violate section 7 of the ESA without completion of formal
consultation regarding NMFS' issuance of a MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E)
permit authorizing take of endangered fin, humpback, and sperm whales.
Response: NMFS has complied with the ESA for the issuance of the
MMPA permit through the issuance of a biological opinion on December 7,
2012 for the WA/OR/CA sablefish pot fishery, a biological opinion on
May 2, 2013 for the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery
(>=14 in mesh), and updated memo on August 21, 2013 to account for the
emergency rule (RIN 0648-BD57).
Comment 14: The Commission and the Center for Biological Diversity,
Turtle Island Restoration Network, and Oceana stated that NMFS needs to
make the finding that the sperm whale stock is either stable or
increasing and that NMFS cannot assume for the purposes of the
negligible impact determination that the stock is stable or increasing,
especially given that the most recent estimate from 2008 survey is the
lowest to date.
Response: As described in response to Comment 2, NMFS has
established that the CA/OR/WA sperm whale stock is not decreasing;
therefore, it is either stable or increasing. Although there remains
some uncertainty related to the abundance of the population, the
apparent trend for sperm whales in the Pacific Ocean is an increase,
and this increase is occurring even with current levels of mortality
and serious injury.
Comment 15: The Center for Biological Diversity, Turtle Island
Restoration Network, and Oceana requested that NMFS prescribe emergency
regulations that reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury in
the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (>=14 in mesh) as
requested in a letter sent to NMFS on September 12, 2012; reconvene the
Take Reduction Team for the purposes of modifying the existing Take
Reduction Plan so as to reduce mortality and serious injury of all
marine mammals in the fishery to insignificant levels approaching a
zero mortality and serious injury rate (i.e., 10% of PBR); and issue a
section 101(a)(5)(E) permit only if such modifications to the Take
Reduction Plan are deemed likely to reduce take of endangered marine
mammals to levels below 10% of PBR.
Response: Modifications to the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN
fishery (>=14 inch mesh) were made in an emergency rule to reduce risk
of sperm whale takes by the West Coast swordfish drift gillnet fishery
(RIN 0648-BD57) in accordance with the MSA, the ESA, and the MMPA for
the 2013/2014 fishing season. These measures emerged from Pacific
Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Team meetings, which NMFS convened on
July 31 and August 7, 2013. The Team was charged with developing
recommendations to reduce sperm whale mortality and serious injury in
the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh). NMFS
considered the Team's recommendations and developed an emergency rule
to modify the fishery and reduce risk to sperm whales during the 2013-
14 fishing season. The emergency rule provides for immediate
termination of the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch
mesh) if one sperm whale is observed killed or seriously injured in the
fishery and establishes a 100-percent observer coverage zone that is
closed to DGN fishing during the August 15, 2013 to January 31, 2014
fishing season unless the fishing vessel is carrying a NMFS-trained
observer. The zone covers nearly all areas in the U.S. EEZ deeper than
the 1,100 fm (2,012 m) depth contour. Owners and operators of vessels
intending to fish in the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet
fishery (>=14 in mesh) will be required to install, activate, carry,
and operate a vessel monitoring system. NMFS intends to convene the
Take Reduction Team to consider long-term measures for reducing sperm
whale mortality and serious injury in the CA thresher shark/swordfish
DGN fishery (>=14 inch mesh) in subsequent fishing seasons.
Comment 16: NMFS received one petition letter signed by 13,425
people and one individual opposing the three-year authorization urging
the closure of the CA thresher shark/swordfish DGN fishery (>=14 inch
mesh) fishery and the denial of the permit, based upon underfunded
monitoring of the fishery and marine mammal bycatch associated with the
fishery (specifically sperm whales).
Response: See responses above under Comments 2, 4, 7, 9, and 16.
Dated: August 28, 2013.
Helen M. Golde,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-21485 Filed 9-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P