Draft 2015 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports, 58705-58707 [2015-24762]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Notices data; reference methods; and documentary standards—that will enable interoperability and reproducibility. At this workshop the working groups will collaboratively develop work products. DATES: The Synthetic Biology Standards Consortium (SBSC)—Planning and Progress Workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Quadrus Conference Center, 2400 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. To register, go to https:// jimb.stanford.edu/sbsc-registration. There is no registration fee. Space is limited so please register early. For additional meeting details, including travel and parking information, visit https://jimb.stanford.edu/sbsc-1115workshop. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Matthew Munson, Sarah Munro, and Marc Salit by email at sbsc@nist.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A robust metrology infrastructure for the field of synthetic biology will enable coordination of labor and reuse of materials, driving economic growth. Metrology products—standards, including reference materials; reference data; reference methods; and documentary standards—can enable business-to-business transactions at scale. The intent of the NIST-hosted Synthetic Biology Standards Consortium (SBSC) is to collectively establish infrastructure to support a fully integrated global synthetic biology enterprise. NIST will provide standards development support for some consortium activities, as well as facilitation and technical leadership. The SBSC has been convened as a standards setting consortium focused on the shared standards development needs of consortium members. It will provide a forum for collaborative work through the formation of technical standards-setting working groups. Successful working groups will be organized around a clear vision of specific metrology products that will enable interoperability and reproducibility. Examples of metrology products include a reference material such as a standard proteome set from whole cell lysates to be used as a benchmark for mass spectroscopy; reference data such as a DNA watermark repository; a reference method for DNA sequence verification; and a documentary standard for minimum information standards for biological protocol interoperability. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:27 Sep 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 The goals of the workshop are to discuss working group progress and plans with the broad consortium, develop a timeline of deliverables for metrology products to be produced by each working group, and collaboratively design and draft relevant documents. The SBSC Planning and Progress Workshop will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Pacific time. The workshop will be held at the Quadrus Conference Center, 2400 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. To register, go to https:// jimb.stanford.edu/sbsc-registration. There is no registration fee. Space is limited so please register early. For additional meeting details, including travel and parking information, visit https://jimb.stanford.edu/sbsc-1115workshop. There is no cost for participating in the consortium or the workshop. No proprietary information will be shared at the workshop. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 272(b) and (c). Richard Cavanagh, Acting Associate Director for Laboratory Programs. [FR Doc. 2015–24734 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XE122 Draft 2015 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2015 SARs. DATES: Comments must be received by December 29, 2015. ADDRESSES: The 2015 draft SARs are available in electronic form via the Internet at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ pr/sars/draft.htm. Copies of the Alaska Regional SARs may be requested from Marcia Muto, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 58705 7600 Sand Point Way NE., BIN 15700, Seattle, WA 98115–0070. Copies of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Regional SARs may be requested from Peter Corkeron, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543. Copies of the Pacific Regional SARs may be requested from Jim Carretta, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037–1508. You may submit comments, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2015–0108, by any of the following methods: Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal https:// www.regulations.gov. Mail: Send comments or requests for copies of reports to: Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910–3226, Attn: Stock Assessments. Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted to https:// www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected Resources, 301–427–8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov; Marcia Muto 206- 526–4026, Marcia.Muto@ noaa.gov, regarding Alaska regional stock assessments; Peter Corkeron, 508– 495–2191, Peter.Corkeron@noaa.gov, regarding Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean regional stock assessments; or Jim Carretta, 858–546–7171, Jim.Carretta@noaa.gov, regarding Pacific regional stock assessments. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 117 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals occurring in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, including the Exclusive E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1 58706 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Notices mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Economic Zone. These reports must contain information regarding the distribution and abundance of the stock, population growth rates and trends, estimates of annual human-caused mortality and serious injury from all sources, descriptions of the fisheries with which the stock interacts, and the status of the stock. Initial reports were completed in 1995. The MMPA requires NMFS and FWS to review the SARs at least annually for strategic stocks and stocks for which significant new information is available, and at least once every three years for non-strategic stocks. The term ‘‘strategic stock’’ means a marine mammal stock: (A) for which the level of direct humancaused mortality exceeds the potential biological removal level; (B) which, based on the best available scientific information, is declining and is likely to be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) within the foreseeable future; or (C) which is listed as a threatened species or endangered species under the ESA. NMFS and the FWS are required to revise a SAR if the status of the stock has changed or can be more accurately determined. NMFS, in conjunction with the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific independent Scientific Review Groups (SRGs), reviewed the status of marine mammal stocks as required and revised reports in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions to incorporate new information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2015 SARs. Alaska Reports In the Alaska region, SARs for 31 Alaska stocks (15 ‘‘strategic’’, 16 ‘‘nonstrategic’’) were updated. All stocks were reviewed and the following stocks were revised for 2015: Steller sea lion, western U.S.; northern fur seal, eastern Pacific; bearded seal, Alaska; ringed seal, Alaska; beluga whale, Cook Inlet; killer whale, AT1 transient; harbor porpoise, Southeast Alaska; harbor porpoise, Gulf of Alaska; harbor porpoise, Bering Sea; sperm whale, North Pacific; humpback whale, Western North Pacific; humpback whale, Central North Pacific; fin whale, Northeast Pacific; right whale, Eastern North Pacific; bowhead whale, Western Arctic; harbor seal (12 stocks); ribbon seal, Alaska; Pacific white-sided dolphin, Central North Pacific; Dall’s porpoise, Alaska; and minke whale, Alaska. Information on the remaining Alaska region stocks can be found in the final 2014 reports (Allen and Angliss, 2015). Most revisions to the Alaska SARs included updates of abundance and/or VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:27 Sep 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 Atlantic Reports Information on the remaining Atlantic region stocks can be found in the final 2014 reports (Waring et al., 2015). Most revisions to the Atlantic SARs included updates of abundance and/or mortality and serious injury estimates. No changes in stock status occurred. In the Atlantic region (including the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. territories in the Caribbean), 43 reports for 69 stocks were updated. Of the updated stocks, 51 stocks are ‘‘strategic,’’ and 18 are ‘‘non-strategic.’’ Two common bottlenose dolphin stocks, the Gulf of Mexico northern coastal and Gulf of Mexico western coastal, changed in status from strategic to non-strategic. This change is a technical correction, and not due to a change in abundance, PBR, mortality estimates, or ESA listing status. All stocks were reviewed and reports for the following strategic stocks were revised for 2015: North Atlantic right whale; humpback whale, Gulf of Maine; fin whale, Western North Atlantic (WNA); sei whale, Nova Scotia; sperm whale, Gulf of Mexico; Bryde’s whale, Gulf of Mexico; and the following common bottlenose dolphin stocks: WNA northern migratory coastal; WNA southern migratory coastal; WNA South Carolina (SC)/Georgia (GA) coastal; WNA northern Florida coastal; WNA central Florida coastal; Northern NC Estuarine System; Southern NC Estuarine System; Northern SC Estuarine System; Charleston Estuarine System; Northern GA/Southern SC Estuarine System; Central GA Estuarine System; Southern GA Estuarine System; Jacksonville Estuarine System; Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System; Gulf of Mexico bay, sound, and estuary (27 stocks) Barataria Bay; Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau; St. Joseph Bay; and Choctawhatchee Bay. Reports for the following non-strategic stocks were revised for 2015: Minke whale, Canadian east coast; Risso’s dolphin, WNA; long-finned pilot whale, WNA; short-finned pilot whale, WNA; short-finned pilot whale, Gulf of Mexico; Atlantic white-sided dolphin, WNA; short-beaked common dolphin, WNA; harbor porpoise, Gulf of Maine/ Bay of Fundy; harbor seal, WNA; gray seal, WNA; pantropical spotted dolphin, Gulf of Mexico; Risso’s dolphin, Gulf of Mexico; Atlantic spotted dolphin, continental shelf and oceanic; and the following common bottlenose dolphin stocks: WNA offshore; Gulf of Mexico continental shelf; Gulf of Mexico northern coastal; Gulf of Mexico western coastal; and Gulf of Mexico eastern coastal. Pacific Reports In the Pacific region (waters along the west coast of the United States, within waters surrounding the main and Northwest Hawaiian Islands, and within waters surrounding U.S. territories in the Western Pacific), SARs were revised for 8 stocks under NMFS jurisdiction (5 ‘‘strategic’’ and 3 ‘‘non-strategic’’ stocks). All stocks were reviewed and reports for the following strategic stocks were revised for 2015: Hawaiian monk seal; Southern Resident killer whale; false killer whale, Main Hawaiian Islands Insular; false killer whale, Hawaii Pelagic; and blue whale, Eastern North Pacific. Reports for the following nonstrategic stocks were revised for 2015: false killer whale, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; Bryde’s whale, Eastern Tropical Pacific; and Northern fur seal, California. Information on the remaining Pacific region stocks can be found in the final 2014 reports (Carretta et al., 2015). New abundance estimates are available for three stocks in the Pacific Islands region (Hawaiian monk seal, Hawaii Pelagic and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands false killer whales) and two U.S. west coast stocks (Southern Resident killer whale and California northern fur seal). The stock range and boundaries of the three Hawaiian stocks of false killer whales were recently reevaluated based on new information on the occurrence and movements of each stock. The three stocks have partially overlapping ranges. No changes in stock status occurred. A stock assessment report for the Eastern Tropical Pacific stock of Bryde’s whale has been reinstated into the Pacific reports in response to a regular and increasing presence of this species in southern California waters. The Eastern Tropical Pacific Bryde’s whale report last appeared in the Pacific stock assessments in 2007. The genus of Hawaiian monk seal has been changed from Monachus to Neomonachus to reflect new genetic and skull morphology data. The report for Eastern North Pacific blue whales includes new information on historic whaling removals, the population’s status relative to carrying capacity, and risk of ship strikes to the population. mortality and serious injury estimates, including revised abundance estimates for the 12 stocks of harbor seals and for the two stocks of humpback whales. No changes in stock status occurred. PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 189 / Wednesday, September 30, 2015 / Notices Dated: September 25, 2015. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015–24762 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Advisory Committee on Arlington National Cemetery Remember Subcommittee Meeting Department of the Army, DoD. Notice of open subcommittee meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Department of the Army is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Remember Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Arlington National Cemetery (ACANC). The meeting is open to the public. For more information about the Committee and the Remember Subcommittee, please visit https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/ AboutUs/FocusAreas.aspx. DATES: The Remember Subcommittee will meet from 09:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. ADDRESSES: Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center, Conference Room, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Renea Yates; Designated Federal Officer for the committee and the Remembrance Subcommittee, in writing at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA 22211, or by email at renea.c.yates.civ@ mail.mil, or by phone at 1–877–907– 8585. SUMMARY: Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Designated Federal Officer and the Department of Defense, the Advisory Committee on Arlington National Cemetery was unable to provide public notification, as required by 41 CFR 102– 3.150(a), of its scheduled meeting of the Remember Subcommittee on October 14, 2015. Accordingly, the Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.150(b), waives the 15calendar day notification requirement. This subcommittee meeting is being held under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., Appendix, as amended), the Sunshine in the Government Act of 1976 (U.S.C. 552b, as amended) and 41 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:27 Sep 29, 2015 Jkt 235001 Code of the Federal Regulations (CFR 102–3.150). Purpose of the Meeting: The Advisory Committee on Arlington National Cemetery is an independent Federal advisory committee chartered to provide the Secretary of the Army independent advice and recommendations on Arlington National Cemetery, including, but not limited to, cemetery administration, the erection of memorials at the cemetery, and master planning for the cemetery. The Secretary of the Army may act on the committee’s advice and recommendations. The primary purpose of the Remember Subcommittee is to review and provide recommendations on preserving and caring for the marble components of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (TUS), including addressing the cracks in the large marble sarcophagus, the adjacent marble slabs, and the disposition of the dye block already gifted to the Army. Proposed Agenda: The Subcommittee will review the status of all pending commemorative monument requests. Public’s Accessibility to the Meeting: Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b and 41 CFR 102–3.140 through 102–3.165, and the availability of space, this meeting is open to the public. Seating is on a firstcome basis. The Arlington National Cemetery conference room is fully handicapped accessible. For additional information about public access procedures, contact Ms. Renea Yates, the subcommittee’s Designated Federal Officer, at the email address or telephone number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Written Comments and Statements: Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.105(j) and 102–3.140 and section 10(a)(3) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the public or interested organizations may submit written comments or statements to the subcommittee, in response to the stated agenda of the open meeting or in regard to the subcommittee’s mission in general. Written comments or statements should be submitted to Ms. Renea Yates, the subcommittee’s Designated Federal Officer, via electronic mail, the preferred mode of submission, at the address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Each page of the comment or statement must include the author’s name, title or affiliation, address, and daytime phone number. Written comments or statements being submitted in response to the agenda set forth in this notice must be received by the Designated Federal Officer at least seven business days prior to the meeting to be considered by the subcommittee. The Designated Federal Officer will PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 58707 review all timely submitted written comments or statements with the subcommittee Chairperson, and ensure the comments are provided to all members of the subcommittee before the meeting. Written comments or statements received after this date may not be provided to the subcommittee until its next meeting. Pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.140d, the Committee is not obligated to allow the public to speak; however, interested persons may submit a written statement or a request to speak for consideration by the subcommittee. After reviewing any written statements or requests submitted, the subcommittee Chairperson and the Designated Federal Officer may choose to invite certain submitters to present their comments verbally during the open portion of this meeting or at a future meeting. The Designated Federal Officer in consultation with the subcommittee Chairperson, may allot a specific amount of time for submitters to present their comments verbally. Brenda S. Bowen, Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–24778 Filed 9–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710–08–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Army Science Board Partially Closed Meeting Notice Department of the Army, DoD. Notice of a partially closed meeting; Correction. AGENCY: ACTION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 and title 41 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Department of the Army announces a meeting of the Army Science Board. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Army Science Board, Designated Federal Officer, 2530 Crystal Drive, Suite 7098, Arlington, VA 22202; LTC Stephen K. Barker, the committee’s Designated Federal Officer (DFO), at (703) 545–8652 or email: stephen.k.barker.mil@mail.mil, or Mr. Paul Woodward at (703) 695–8344 or email: paul.j.woodward2.civ@mail.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Designated Federal Officer and the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army Science Board was unable to provide public notification of its meeting of October 6, 2015, as required by 41 CFR 102–3.150(a). Accordingly, the Advisory Committee Management Officer for the SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 189 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58705-58707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24762]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XE122


Draft 2015 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional 
marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, 
Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new 
information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2015 SARs.

DATES: Comments must be received by December 29, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The 2015 draft SARs are available in electronic form via the 
Internet at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/draft.htm.
    Copies of the Alaska Regional SARs may be requested from Marcia 
Muto, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., 
BIN 15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070.
    Copies of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Regional SARs 
may be requested from Peter Corkeron, Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543.
    Copies of the Pacific Regional SARs may be requested from Jim 
Carretta, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores 
Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-1508.
    You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0108, by any 
of the following methods:
    Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal https://www.regulations.gov.
    Mail: Send comments or requests for copies of reports to: Chief, 
Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Attn: Stock Assessments.
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to https://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, 
address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required 
fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit attachments to 
electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF 
file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-427-8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov; Marcia Muto 206- 
526-4026, Marcia.Muto@noaa.gov, regarding Alaska regional stock 
assessments; Peter Corkeron, 508-495-2191, Peter.Corkeron@noaa.gov, 
regarding Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean regional stock 
assessments; or Jim Carretta, 858-546-7171, Jim.Carretta@noaa.gov, 
regarding Pacific regional stock assessments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 117 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 
1361 et seq.) requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS) to prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals 
occurring in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, 
including the Exclusive

[[Page 58706]]

Economic Zone. These reports must contain information regarding the 
distribution and abundance of the stock, population growth rates and 
trends, estimates of annual human-caused mortality and serious injury 
from all sources, descriptions of the fisheries with which the stock 
interacts, and the status of the stock. Initial reports were completed 
in 1995.
    The MMPA requires NMFS and FWS to review the SARs at least annually 
for strategic stocks and stocks for which significant new information 
is available, and at least once every three years for non-strategic 
stocks. The term ``strategic stock'' means a marine mammal stock: (A) 
for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the 
potential biological removal level; (B) which, based on the best 
available scientific information, is declining and is likely to be 
listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) 
within the foreseeable future; or (C) which is listed as a threatened 
species or endangered species under the ESA. NMFS and the FWS are 
required to revise a SAR if the status of the stock has changed or can 
be more accurately determined. NMFS, in conjunction with the Alaska, 
Atlantic, and Pacific independent Scientific Review Groups (SRGs), 
reviewed the status of marine mammal stocks as required and revised 
reports in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions to incorporate new 
information.
    NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2015 SARs.

Alaska Reports

    In the Alaska region, SARs for 31 Alaska stocks (15 ``strategic'', 
16 ``non-strategic'') were updated. All stocks were reviewed and the 
following stocks were revised for 2015: Steller sea lion, western U.S.; 
northern fur seal, eastern Pacific; bearded seal, Alaska; ringed seal, 
Alaska; beluga whale, Cook Inlet; killer whale, AT1 transient; harbor 
porpoise, Southeast Alaska; harbor porpoise, Gulf of Alaska; harbor 
porpoise, Bering Sea; sperm whale, North Pacific; humpback whale, 
Western North Pacific; humpback whale, Central North Pacific; fin 
whale, Northeast Pacific; right whale, Eastern North Pacific; bowhead 
whale, Western Arctic; harbor seal (12 stocks); ribbon seal, Alaska; 
Pacific white-sided dolphin, Central North Pacific; Dall's porpoise, 
Alaska; and minke whale, Alaska. Information on the remaining Alaska 
region stocks can be found in the final 2014 reports (Allen and 
Angliss, 2015).
    Most revisions to the Alaska SARs included updates of abundance 
and/or mortality and serious injury estimates, including revised 
abundance estimates for the 12 stocks of harbor seals and for the two 
stocks of humpback whales. No changes in stock status occurred.

Atlantic Reports

    In the Atlantic region (including the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, and U.S. territories in the Caribbean), 43 reports for 69 
stocks were updated. Of the updated stocks, 51 stocks are 
``strategic,'' and 18 are ``non-strategic.'' Two common bottlenose 
dolphin stocks, the Gulf of Mexico northern coastal and Gulf of Mexico 
western coastal, changed in status from strategic to non-strategic. 
This change is a technical correction, and not due to a change in 
abundance, PBR, mortality estimates, or ESA listing status.
    All stocks were reviewed and reports for the following strategic 
stocks were revised for 2015: North Atlantic right whale; humpback 
whale, Gulf of Maine; fin whale, Western North Atlantic (WNA); sei 
whale, Nova Scotia; sperm whale, Gulf of Mexico; Bryde's whale, Gulf of 
Mexico; and the following common bottlenose dolphin stocks: WNA 
northern migratory coastal; WNA southern migratory coastal; WNA South 
Carolina (SC)/Georgia (GA) coastal; WNA northern Florida coastal; WNA 
central Florida coastal; Northern NC Estuarine System; Southern NC 
Estuarine System; Northern SC Estuarine System; Charleston Estuarine 
System; Northern GA/Southern SC Estuarine System; Central GA Estuarine 
System; Southern GA Estuarine System; Jacksonville Estuarine System; 
Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System; Gulf of Mexico bay, sound, and 
estuary (27 stocks) Barataria Bay; Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay 
Boudreau; St. Joseph Bay; and Choctawhatchee Bay.
    Reports for the following non-strategic stocks were revised for 
2015: Minke whale, Canadian east coast; Risso's dolphin, WNA; long-
finned pilot whale, WNA; short-finned pilot whale, WNA; short-finned 
pilot whale, Gulf of Mexico; Atlantic white-sided dolphin, WNA; short-
beaked common dolphin, WNA; harbor porpoise, Gulf of Maine/Bay of 
Fundy; harbor seal, WNA; gray seal, WNA; pantropical spotted dolphin, 
Gulf of Mexico; Risso's dolphin, Gulf of Mexico; Atlantic spotted 
dolphin, continental shelf and oceanic; and the following common 
bottlenose dolphin stocks: WNA offshore; Gulf of Mexico continental 
shelf; Gulf of Mexico northern coastal; Gulf of Mexico western coastal; 
and Gulf of Mexico eastern coastal.
    Information on the remaining Atlantic region stocks can be found in 
the final 2014 reports (Waring et al., 2015).
    Most revisions to the Atlantic SARs included updates of abundance 
and/or mortality and serious injury estimates. No changes in stock 
status occurred.

Pacific Reports

    In the Pacific region (waters along the west coast of the United 
States, within waters surrounding the main and Northwest Hawaiian 
Islands, and within waters surrounding U.S. territories in the Western 
Pacific), SARs were revised for 8 stocks under NMFS jurisdiction (5 
``strategic'' and 3 ``non-strategic'' stocks).
    All stocks were reviewed and reports for the following strategic 
stocks were revised for 2015: Hawaiian monk seal; Southern Resident 
killer whale; false killer whale, Main Hawaiian Islands Insular; false 
killer whale, Hawaii Pelagic; and blue whale, Eastern North Pacific. 
Reports for the following non-strategic stocks were revised for 2015: 
false killer whale, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; Bryde's whale, 
Eastern Tropical Pacific; and Northern fur seal, California. 
Information on the remaining Pacific region stocks can be found in the 
final 2014 reports (Carretta et al., 2015).
    New abundance estimates are available for three stocks in the 
Pacific Islands region (Hawaiian monk seal, Hawaii Pelagic and 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands false killer whales) and two U.S. west 
coast stocks (Southern Resident killer whale and California northern 
fur seal). The stock range and boundaries of the three Hawaiian stocks 
of false killer whales were recently reevaluated based on new 
information on the occurrence and movements of each stock. The three 
stocks have partially overlapping ranges. No changes in stock status 
occurred.
    A stock assessment report for the Eastern Tropical Pacific stock of 
Bryde's whale has been reinstated into the Pacific reports in response 
to a regular and increasing presence of this species in southern 
California waters. The Eastern Tropical Pacific Bryde's whale report 
last appeared in the Pacific stock assessments in 2007.
    The genus of Hawaiian monk seal has been changed from Monachus to 
Neomonachus to reflect new genetic and skull morphology data.
    The report for Eastern North Pacific blue whales includes new 
information on historic whaling removals, the population's status 
relative to carrying capacity, and risk of ship strikes to the 
population.


[[Page 58707]]


    Dated: September 25, 2015.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24762 Filed 9-29-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

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