Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups, 66928-66929 [2016-23540]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
66928
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 189 / Thursday, September 29, 2016 / Notices
(Arctocephalus gazella), southern
elephant seals (Mirounga leonina),
crabeater seals (Lobodon
carcinophagus), leopard seals (Hydrurga
leptonyx), Ross seals (Ommatophoca
rossii), and Weddell seals
(Leptonychotes weddellii) for life history
studies and census surveys for
abundance and distribution of
pinnipeds in the South Shetland
Islands, Antarctica, as part of a longterm ecosystem monitoring program
established in 1986. The applicant also
requests permission to import tissue
samples collected from any animals
captured and from salvaged carcasses of
any species of pinniped or cetacean
found in the study area.
The applicant requests annual capture
of: 200 Antarctic fur seal adults and
juveniles; 600 Antarctic fur seal pups;
50 leopard seal adults and juveniles; 50
southern elephant seal adults and
juveniles; 100 southern elephant seal
pups; 30 Weddell seal adults and
juveniles; and 20 Weddell seal pups.
Research on captured animals would
include tissue sampling, attachment of
scientific instruments, application of
marks (flipper tags, hair bleach or dye),
morphometric measurement, tooth
extraction, and stomach content
sampling. An additional 23,000
Antarctic fur seals, 1,100 southern
elephant seals, 100 crabeater seals, 100
leopard seals, 200 Weddell seals, and 5
Ross seals would be taken annually by
harassment during aerial and ground
surveys, including behavioral
observations and photo-identification.
The applicant has requested an annual
incidental mortality allowance of: 3
Antarctic fur seal adults or juveniles; 5
Antarctic fur seal pups; 2 leopard seal
adults or juveniles; 2 southern elephant
seal adults or juveniles; 2 southern
elephant seal pups; 2 Weddell seal
adults or juveniles; and 2 Weddell seal
pups.
In compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial
determination has been made that the
activity proposed is categorically
excluded from the requirement to
prepare an environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement.
Concurrent with the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register,
NMFS is forwarding copies of the
application to the Marine Mammal
Commission and its Committee of
Scientific Advisors.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:51 Sep 28, 2016
Jkt 238001
Dated: September 26, 2016.
Julia Harrison,
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–23532 Filed 9–28–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE889
Nominations to the Marine Mammal
Scientific Review Groups
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.
AGENCY:
As required by the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the
Secretary of Commerce established three
independent regional scientific review
groups (SRGs) to provide advice on a
range of marine mammal science and
management issues. NMFS has
conducted a membership review of the
Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific SRGs, and
is soliciting nominations for new
members to fill vacancies and gaps in
expertise. Nominees should possess
demonstrable expertise in the areas
specified in this notice, be able to
conduct thorough scientific reviews of
marine mammal science, and be able to
fulfill the necessary time commitments
associated with a thorough review of
documents and to attend one annual
meeting.
DATES: Nominations must be received
by October 31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Nominations can be
emailed to Shannon.Bettridge@
noaa.gov, or mailed 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: SRGs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected
Resources, 301–427–8402,
Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov.
Information about the SRGs is available
at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/
group.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
117(d) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1386(d))
directs the Secretary of Commerce to
establish three independent regional
SRGs to advise the Secretary (authority
delegated to NMFS). The Alaska SRG
advises on marine mammals that occur
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
in waters off Alaska that are under the
jurisdiction of the United States. The
Pacific SRG advises on marine
mammals that occur in waters off the
U.S. West Coast, Hawaiian Islands, and
the U.S. Territories in the Central and
Western Pacific that are under the
jurisdiction of the United States. The
Atlantic SRG advises on marine
mammals that occur in waters off the
Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S.
Territories in the Caribbean that are
under the jurisdiction of the United
States.
SRGs members are highly qualified
individuals with expertise in marine
mammal biology and ecology,
population dynamics and modeling,
commercial fishing technology and
practices, and stocks taken under
section 101(b) of the MMPA. The SRGs
provide expert reviews of draft marine
mammal stock assessment reports and
other information related to the matters
identified in section 117(d)(1) of the
MMPA, including:
A. Population estimates and the
population status and trends of marine
mammal stocks;
B. Uncertainties and research needed
regarding stock separation, abundance,
or trends, and factors affecting the
distribution, size, or productivity of the
stock;
C. Uncertainties and research needed
regarding the species, number, ages,
gender, and reproductive status of
marine mammals;
D. Research needed to identify
modifications in fishing gear and
practices likely to reduce the incidental
mortality and serious injury of marine
mammals in commercial fishing
operations;
E. The actual, expected, or potential
impacts of habitat destruction,
including marine pollution and natural
environmental change, on specific
marine mammal species or stocks, and
for strategic stocks, appropriate
conservation or management measures
to alleviate any such impacts; and
F. Any other issue which the
Secretary or the groups consider
appropriate.
SRG members collectively serve as
independent advisors to NMFS and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
provide their expert review and
recommendations through participation
in the SRG. Members attend annual
meetings and undertake activities as
independent persons providing
expertise in their subject areas.
Members are not appointed as
representatives of professional
organizations or particular stakeholder
groups, including government entities,
and are not permitted to represent or
E:\FR\FM\29SEN1.SGM
29SEN1
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 189 / Thursday, September 29, 2016 / Notices
advocate for those organizations, groups
or entities during SRG meetings,
discussions and deliberations.
NMFS annually reviews the expertise
available on the SRG and identify gaps
in the expertise that is needed to
provide advice pursuant to section
117(d) of the MMPA. In conducting the
reviews, NMFS will attempt to achieve,
to the maximum extent practicable, a
balanced representation of viewpoints
among the individuals on each SRG.
For the Atlantic SRG (including
waters off the Atlantic coast, Gulf of
Mexico, and U.S. Territories in the
Caribbean), NMFS seeks individuals
with expertise in one or more of the
following areas: Ecological statistics,
with emphasis in line-transect theory,
abundance estimation, trend analysis,
and/or marine mammal bycatch
estimation; marine mammal health;
fisheries gear and technologies; and
pinnipeds.
For the Pacific SRG (including waters
off the Pacific coast, Hawaiian Islands
and the U.S. Territories in the Central
and Western Pacific), NMFS seeks
individuals with expertise in one or
more of the following areas: Bycatch
estimation; quantitative ecology,
population dynamics, modeling, and
statistics; fishing gear/techniques,
particularly for Hawaii and Pacific
Islands fisheries; genetics and/or other
methods of identifying marine mammal
population structure; passive acoustics;
abundance estimation, especially
distance sampling and mark-recapture
methods; and southern sea otters.
For the Alaska SRG, NMFS seeks
individuals with expertise in one or
more of the following areas: Genetics/
population structure; quantitative
ecology, modeling, and population
dynamics; acoustics; fishing gear and
practices; anthropogenic impacts; and
ice-associated or Arctic species.
Nominations for new members should
be sent to (see ADDRESSES) and must be
received by October 31, 2016.
Nominations should be accompanied by
the individual’s curriculum vitae and
detailed information regarding how the
recommended person meets the
minimum selection criteria for SRG
members (see below), and how the
recommended person would bring
needed expertise to the group. Selfnominations are acceptable. The
following contact information should
accompany each nomination: Nominee’s
name, address, telephone number, and
email address.
When reviewing nominations, NMFS
will consider the following criteria:
(1) Ability to make time available for
the purposes of the SRG;
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:51 Sep 28, 2016
Jkt 238001
(2) Knowledge of the species (or
closely related species) of marine
mammals in the SRG’s region;
(3) Scientific or technical
achievement in a relevant discipline,
particularly the areas of expertise
identified above, to be considered an
expert peer reviewer for the topic;
(4) Demonstrated experience working
effectively on teams;
(5) Expertise relevant to current and
expected needs of the SRG, in
particular, expertise required to provide
adequate review and knowledgeable
feedback on current or developing stock
assessment issues, techniques, etc. In
practice, this means that each member
should have expertise in more than one
topic as the species and scientific issues
discussed in SRG meetings are diverse;
and
(6) No conflict of interest with respect
to their duties as a member of the SRG.
An SRG member cannot be a
registered Federal lobbyist. Membership
is voluntary, and except for
reimbursable travel and related
expenses, service is without pay. The
term of service for SRG members is
three years and members may serve up
to three consecutive terms if
reappointed.
Dated: September 26, 2016.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–23540 Filed 9–28–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
RIN 0648–XE912
Fisheries of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico;
Southeast Data, Assessment and
Review (SEDAR); U.S. Gulf of Mexico
Data-Limited Species
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The SEDAR 49 assessment of
the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Data-Limited
Species will consist of a Data Workshop;
a series of Assessment Webinars; and a
Review Workshop, to view the agenda.
DATES: The SEDAR 49 Review
Workshop will begin at 9 a.m. on
Tuesday, November 1, 2016, and end at
6 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2016,
to view the agenda see SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
66929
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The SEDAR 49
Review Workshop will be held at the
Sonesta Coconut Grove, 2889 McFarlane
Road, Miami, FL 33133, 305–529–2828
or 1–800–766–3782.
SEDAR address: South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, 4055
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N.
Charleston, SC 29405 or on their Web
site, at www.sedarweb.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie
Neer, SEDAR Coordinator; phone 843–
571–4366 or toll free 866–SAFMC–10;
FAX 843–769–4520; email: Julie.neer@
safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda
The Gulf of Mexico, South Atlantic,
and Caribbean Fishery Management
Councils, in conjunction with NOAA
Fisheries and the Atlantic and Gulf
States Marine Fisheries Commissions
have implemented the Southeast Data,
Assessment and Review (SEDAR)
process, a multi-step method for
determining the status of fish stocks in
the Southeast Region. SEDAR is a three
step process including: (1) Data
Workshop; (2) Assessment Process
utilizing webinars; and (3) Review
Workshop. The product of the Data
Workshop is a data report which
compiles and evaluates potential
datasets and recommends which
datasets are appropriate for assessment
analyses. The product of the Assessment
Process is a stock assessment report
which describes the fisheries, evaluates
the status of the stock, estimates
biological benchmarks, projects future
population conditions, and recommends
research and monitoring needs. The
assessment is independently peer
reviewed at the Review Workshop. The
product of the Review Workshop is a
Summary documenting panel opinions
regarding the strengths and weaknesses
of the stock assessment and input data.
Participants for SEDAR Workshops are
appointed by the Gulf of Mexico, South
Atlantic, and Caribbean Fishery
Management Councils and NOAA
Fisheries Southeast Regional Office,
HMS Management Division, and
Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
Participants include: Data collectors and
database managers; stock assessment
scientists, biologists, and researchers;
constituency representatives including
fishermen, environmentalists, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs);
international experts; and staff of
Councils, Commissions, and state and
federal agencies.
The items of discussion in the Review
Workshop agenda are as follows:
E:\FR\FM\29SEN1.SGM
29SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66928-66929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23540]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XE889
Nominations to the Marine Mammal Scientific Review Groups
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the
Secretary of Commerce established three independent regional scientific
review groups (SRGs) to provide advice on a range of marine mammal
science and management issues. NMFS has conducted a membership review
of the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific SRGs, and is soliciting
nominations for new members to fill vacancies and gaps in expertise.
Nominees should possess demonstrable expertise in the areas specified
in this notice, be able to conduct thorough scientific reviews of
marine mammal science, and be able to fulfill the necessary time
commitments associated with a thorough review of documents and to
attend one annual meeting.
DATES: Nominations must be received by October 31, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Nominations can be emailed to Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov, or
mailed 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: SRGs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Bettridge, Office of Protected
Resources, 301-427-8402, Shannon.Bettridge@noaa.gov. Information about
the SRGs is available at https://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/group.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 117(d) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C.
1386(d)) directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish three
independent regional SRGs to advise the Secretary (authority delegated
to NMFS). The Alaska SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters
off Alaska that are under the jurisdiction of the United States. The
Pacific SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters off the U.S.
West Coast, Hawaiian Islands, and the U.S. Territories in the Central
and Western Pacific that are under the jurisdiction of the United
States. The Atlantic SRG advises on marine mammals that occur in waters
off the Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. Territories in the
Caribbean that are under the jurisdiction of the United States.
SRGs members are highly qualified individuals with expertise in
marine mammal biology and ecology, population dynamics and modeling,
commercial fishing technology and practices, and stocks taken under
section 101(b) of the MMPA. The SRGs provide expert reviews of draft
marine mammal stock assessment reports and other information related to
the matters identified in section 117(d)(1) of the MMPA, including:
A. Population estimates and the population status and trends of
marine mammal stocks;
B. Uncertainties and research needed regarding stock separation,
abundance, or trends, and factors affecting the distribution, size, or
productivity of the stock;
C. Uncertainties and research needed regarding the species, number,
ages, gender, and reproductive status of marine mammals;
D. Research needed to identify modifications in fishing gear and
practices likely to reduce the incidental mortality and serious injury
of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations;
E. The actual, expected, or potential impacts of habitat
destruction, including marine pollution and natural environmental
change, on specific marine mammal species or stocks, and for strategic
stocks, appropriate conservation or management measures to alleviate
any such impacts; and
F. Any other issue which the Secretary or the groups consider
appropriate.
SRG members collectively serve as independent advisors to NMFS and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provide their expert review and
recommendations through participation in the SRG. Members attend annual
meetings and undertake activities as independent persons providing
expertise in their subject areas. Members are not appointed as
representatives of professional organizations or particular stakeholder
groups, including government entities, and are not permitted to
represent or
[[Page 66929]]
advocate for those organizations, groups or entities during SRG
meetings, discussions and deliberations.
NMFS annually reviews the expertise available on the SRG and
identify gaps in the expertise that is needed to provide advice
pursuant to section 117(d) of the MMPA. In conducting the reviews, NMFS
will attempt to achieve, to the maximum extent practicable, a balanced
representation of viewpoints among the individuals on each SRG.
For the Atlantic SRG (including waters off the Atlantic coast, Gulf
of Mexico, and U.S. Territories in the Caribbean), NMFS seeks
individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
Ecological statistics, with emphasis in line-transect theory, abundance
estimation, trend analysis, and/or marine mammal bycatch estimation;
marine mammal health; fisheries gear and technologies; and pinnipeds.
For the Pacific SRG (including waters off the Pacific coast,
Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. Territories in the Central and Western
Pacific), NMFS seeks individuals with expertise in one or more of the
following areas: Bycatch estimation; quantitative ecology, population
dynamics, modeling, and statistics; fishing gear/techniques,
particularly for Hawaii and Pacific Islands fisheries; genetics and/or
other methods of identifying marine mammal population structure;
passive acoustics; abundance estimation, especially distance sampling
and mark-recapture methods; and southern sea otters.
For the Alaska SRG, NMFS seeks individuals with expertise in one or
more of the following areas: Genetics/population structure;
quantitative ecology, modeling, and population dynamics; acoustics;
fishing gear and practices; anthropogenic impacts; and ice-associated
or Arctic species.
Nominations for new members should be sent to (see ADDRESSES) and
must be received by October 31, 2016. Nominations should be accompanied
by the individual's curriculum vitae and detailed information regarding
how the recommended person meets the minimum selection criteria for SRG
members (see below), and how the recommended person would bring needed
expertise to the group. Self-nominations are acceptable. The following
contact information should accompany each nomination: Nominee's name,
address, telephone number, and email address.
When reviewing nominations, NMFS will consider the following
criteria:
(1) Ability to make time available for the purposes of the SRG;
(2) Knowledge of the species (or closely related species) of marine
mammals in the SRG's region;
(3) Scientific or technical achievement in a relevant discipline,
particularly the areas of expertise identified above, to be considered
an expert peer reviewer for the topic;
(4) Demonstrated experience working effectively on teams;
(5) Expertise relevant to current and expected needs of the SRG, in
particular, expertise required to provide adequate review and
knowledgeable feedback on current or developing stock assessment
issues, techniques, etc. In practice, this means that each member
should have expertise in more than one topic as the species and
scientific issues discussed in SRG meetings are diverse; and
(6) No conflict of interest with respect to their duties as a
member of the SRG.
An SRG member cannot be a registered Federal lobbyist. Membership
is voluntary, and except for reimbursable travel and related expenses,
service is without pay. The term of service for SRG members is three
years and members may serve up to three consecutive terms if
reappointed.
Dated: September 26, 2016.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23540 Filed 9-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
