Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Quotas, 72307-72308 [2019-28205]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 250 / Tuesday, December 31, 2019 / Notices
Dated: December 23, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–28201 Filed 12–30–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XV161]
Fisheries of the Atlantic; Southeast
Data, Assessment, and Review
(SEDAR); Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 65 PreAssessment Webinar for highly
migratory species Atlantic Blacktip
Shark.
AGENCY:
The SEDAR 65 assessment of
the Atlantic stock of Blacktip Shark will
consist of a series of workshops and
webinars: Data Workshop; Assessment
Webinars; and a Review workshop.
DATES: The SEDAR 65-Pre-assessment
Webinar has been scheduled for
Thursday, February 13, 2020, from 12
p.m. until 3 p.m., EST.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meeting will be
held via webinar. The webinar is open
to members of the public. Registration is
available online at: https://
attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/
8955867858539392267.
SEDAR address: South Atlantic
Fishery Management Council, 4055
Faber Place Drive, Suite 201, N
Charleston, SC 29405;
www.sedarweb.org.
SUMMARY:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathleen Howington, SEDAR
Coordinator, 4055 Faber Place Drive,
Suite 201, North Charleston, SC 29405;
phone: (843) 571–4366; email:
Kathleen.Howington@safmc.net.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 threestep process including: (1) Data
Workshop; (2) Assessment Process
utilizing webinars; and (3) Review
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17:30 Dec 30, 2019
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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,
Highly Migratory Species 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 at the PreAssessment webinar are as follows:
• Introduce and discuss model
development, model set up, and follow
up questions from the data workshop
report.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in this agenda may come
before this group for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Action will
be restricted to those issues specifically
identified in this notice and any issues
arising after publication of this notice
that require emergency action under
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management
Act, provided the public has been
notified of the intent to take final action
to address the emergency.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is accessible to people
with disabilities. Requests for auxiliary
aids should be directed to the South
Atlantic Fishery Management Council
office (see ADDRESSES) at least 5
business days prior to the meeting.
Note: The times and sequence specified in
this agenda are subject to change.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
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72307
Dated: December 23, 2019.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–28198 Filed 12–30–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XQ006]
Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal
Subsistence Whaling Quotas
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; notification of quota for
bowhead whales.
AGENCY:
NMFS notifies the public of
the aboriginal subsistence whaling
quota for bowhead whales that it has
assigned to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling
Commission (AEWC), and of limitations
on the use of the quota deriving from
regulations of the International Whaling
Commission (IWC). For 2020, the quota
is 93 bowhead whales struck. This quota
and other applicable limitations govern
the harvest of bowhead whales by
members of the AEWC.
DATES: Effective December 31, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Office for International
Affairs and Seafood Inspection, National
Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristin Rusello, (301) 427–8376.
Aboriginal
subsistence whaling in the United States
is governed by the Whaling Convention
Act (WCA) (16 U.S.C. 916 et seq.).
Under the WCA, IWC regulations shall
generally become effective with respect
to all persons and vessels subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, within
90 days of notification from the IWC
Secretariat of an amendment to the IWC
Schedule (16 U.S.C. 916k). Regulations
that implement the WCA, found at 50
CFR 230.6, require the Secretary of
Commerce (Secretary) to publish, at
least annually, aboriginal subsistence
whaling quotas and any other
limitations on aboriginal subsistence
whaling deriving from regulations of the
IWC.
At the 67th Meeting of the IWC, the
Commission set catch limits for
aboriginal subsistence use of bowhead
whales from the Bering-ChukchiBeaufort Seas stock. The bowhead and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM
31DEN1
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
72308
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 250 / Tuesday, December 31, 2019 / Notices
other aboriginal subsistence whaling
catch limits were based on a joint
request by Denmark on behalf of
Greenland, the Russian Federation, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, and the
United States, accompanied by
documentation concerning the needs of
the Native groups.
The IWC set a seven-year block catch
limit of 392 bowhead whales landed.
For each of the years 2019 through 2025,
the number of bowhead whales struck
may not exceed 67, with unused strikes
from the three prior quota blocks carried
forward and added to the annual strike
quota of subsequent years, provided that
no more than 50 percent of the annual
strike limit is added to the strike quota
for any one year. At the end of the 2019
harvest, there were 33 unused strikes
available for carry-forward, so the
combined strike quota set by the IWC
for 2020 is 100 (67 + 33).
An arrangement between the United
States and the Russian Federation
ensures that the total quota of bowhead
whales landed and struck in 2020 will
not exceed the limits set by the IWC.
Under this arrangement, the Russian
natives may use no more than seven
strikes, and the Alaska natives may use
no more than 93 strikes.
Through its cooperative agreement
with the AEWC, NOAA has assigned 93
strikes to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling
Commission. The AEWC will in turn
allocate these strikes among the 11
villages whose cultural and subsistence
needs have been documented, and will
ensure that its hunters use no more than
93 strikes.
At its 67th Meeting, the IWC also
provided for automatic renewal of
aboriginal subsistence whaling catch
limits under certain circumstances.
Commencing in 2026, bowhead whale
catch limits shall be extended every six
years provided: (a) The IWC Scientific
Committee advises in 2024, and every
six years thereafter, that such limits will
not harm the stock; (b) the Commission
does not receive a request from the
United States or the Russian Federation
for a change in the bowhead whale
catch limits based on need; and (c) the
Commission determines that the United
States and the Russian Federation have
complied with the IWC’s approved
timeline and that the information
provided represents a status quo
continuation of the hunts.
Other Limitations
The IWC regulations, as well as the
NOAA regulation at 50 CFR 230.4(c),
forbid the taking of calves or any whale
accompanied by a calf.
NOAA regulations (at 50 CFR 230.4)
contain a number of other prohibitions
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17:30 Dec 30, 2019
Jkt 250001
relating to aboriginal subsistence
whaling, some of which are summarized
here:
• Only licensed whaling captains or
crew under the control of those captains
may engage in whaling;
• Captains and crew must follow the
provisions of the relevant cooperative
agreement between NOAA and a Native
American whaling organization;
• The aboriginal hunters must have
adequate crew, supplies, and equipment
to engage in an efficient operation;
• Crew may not receive money for
participating in the hunt;
• No person may sell or offer for sale
whale products from whales taken in
the hunt, except for authentic articles of
Native American handicrafts; and
• Captains may not continue to whale
after the relevant quota is taken, after
the season has been closed, or if their
licenses have been suspended. They
may not engage in whaling in a wasteful
manner.
Dated: December 23, 2019.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office for International Affairs and
Seafood Inspection, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–28205 Filed 12–30–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XR059]
Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to
Specified Activities; Taking Marine
Mammals Incidental to Elkhorn Slough
Tidal Marsh Restoration Project, Phase
II in California
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; proposed incidental
harassment authorization; request for
comments on proposed authorization
and possible renewal.
AGENCY:
NMFS has received a request
from California Department of Fish and
Wildlife (CDFW) for authorization to
take marine mammals incidental to
Elkhorn Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration
Project, Phase II in California. Pursuant
to the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments
on its proposal to issue an incidental
harassment authorization (IHA) to
incidentally take marine mammals
during the specified activities. NMFS is
also requesting comments on a possible
one-year renewal that could be issued
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
under certain circumstances and if all
requirements are met, as described in
Request for Public Comments at the end
of this notice. NMFS will consider
public comments prior to making any
final decision on the issuance of the
requested MMPA authorizations and
agency responses will be summarized in
the final notice of our decision.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than January 30,
2020.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
addressed to Jolie Harrison, Chief,
Permits and Conservation Division,
Office of Protected Resources, National
Marine Fisheries Service. Physical
comments should be sent to 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910
and electronic comments should be sent
to ITP. Bonnie.DeJoseph@noaa.gov.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments received
electronically, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF
file formats only. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted online at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act without
change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address)
voluntarily submitted by the commenter
may be publicly accessible. Do not
submit confidential business
information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bonnie DeJoseph, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
Electronic copies of the application and
supporting documents, as well as a list
of the references cited in this document,
may be obtained online at: https://
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/
incidental-take-authorizations-undermarine-mammal-protection-act. In case
of problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The MMPA prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of
marine mammals, with certain
exceptions. Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and
(D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et
seq.) direct the Secretary of Commerce
(as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon
request, the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of small numbers of
marine mammals by U.S. citizens who
E:\FR\FM\31DEN1.SGM
31DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 250 (Tuesday, December 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72307-72308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-28205]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XQ006]
Whaling Provisions; Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling Quotas
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; notification of quota for bowhead whales.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS notifies the public of the aboriginal subsistence whaling
quota for bowhead whales that it has assigned to the Alaska Eskimo
Whaling Commission (AEWC), and of limitations on the use of the quota
deriving from regulations of the International Whaling Commission
(IWC). For 2020, the quota is 93 bowhead whales struck. This quota and
other applicable limitations govern the harvest of bowhead whales by
members of the AEWC.
DATES: Effective December 31, 2019.
ADDRESSES: Office for International Affairs and Seafood Inspection,
National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Rusello, (301) 427-8376.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aboriginal subsistence whaling in the United
States is governed by the Whaling Convention Act (WCA) (16 U.S.C. 916
et seq.). Under the WCA, IWC regulations shall generally become
effective with respect to all persons and vessels subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States, within 90 days of notification from
the IWC Secretariat of an amendment to the IWC Schedule (16 U.S.C.
916k). Regulations that implement the WCA, found at 50 CFR 230.6,
require the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to publish, at least
annually, aboriginal subsistence whaling quotas and any other
limitations on aboriginal subsistence whaling deriving from regulations
of the IWC.
At the 67th Meeting of the IWC, the Commission set catch limits for
aboriginal subsistence use of bowhead whales from the Bering-Chukchi-
Beaufort Seas stock. The bowhead and
[[Page 72308]]
other aboriginal subsistence whaling catch limits were based on a joint
request by Denmark on behalf of Greenland, the Russian Federation, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United States, accompanied by
documentation concerning the needs of the Native groups.
The IWC set a seven-year block catch limit of 392 bowhead whales
landed. For each of the years 2019 through 2025, the number of bowhead
whales struck may not exceed 67, with unused strikes from the three
prior quota blocks carried forward and added to the annual strike quota
of subsequent years, provided that no more than 50 percent of the
annual strike limit is added to the strike quota for any one year. At
the end of the 2019 harvest, there were 33 unused strikes available for
carry-forward, so the combined strike quota set by the IWC for 2020 is
100 (67 + 33).
An arrangement between the United States and the Russian Federation
ensures that the total quota of bowhead whales landed and struck in
2020 will not exceed the limits set by the IWC. Under this arrangement,
the Russian natives may use no more than seven strikes, and the Alaska
natives may use no more than 93 strikes.
Through its cooperative agreement with the AEWC, NOAA has assigned
93 strikes to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission. The AEWC will in
turn allocate these strikes among the 11 villages whose cultural and
subsistence needs have been documented, and will ensure that its
hunters use no more than 93 strikes.
At its 67th Meeting, the IWC also provided for automatic renewal of
aboriginal subsistence whaling catch limits under certain
circumstances. Commencing in 2026, bowhead whale catch limits shall be
extended every six years provided: (a) The IWC Scientific Committee
advises in 2024, and every six years thereafter, that such limits will
not harm the stock; (b) the Commission does not receive a request from
the United States or the Russian Federation for a change in the bowhead
whale catch limits based on need; and (c) the Commission determines
that the United States and the Russian Federation have complied with
the IWC's approved timeline and that the information provided
represents a status quo continuation of the hunts.
Other Limitations
The IWC regulations, as well as the NOAA regulation at 50 CFR
230.4(c), forbid the taking of calves or any whale accompanied by a
calf.
NOAA regulations (at 50 CFR 230.4) contain a number of other
prohibitions relating to aboriginal subsistence whaling, some of which
are summarized here:
Only licensed whaling captains or crew under the control
of those captains may engage in whaling;
Captains and crew must follow the provisions of the
relevant cooperative agreement between NOAA and a Native American
whaling organization;
The aboriginal hunters must have adequate crew, supplies,
and equipment to engage in an efficient operation;
Crew may not receive money for participating in the hunt;
No person may sell or offer for sale whale products from
whales taken in the hunt, except for authentic articles of Native
American handicrafts; and
Captains may not continue to whale after the relevant
quota is taken, after the season has been closed, or if their licenses
have been suspended. They may not engage in whaling in a wasteful
manner.
Dated: December 23, 2019.
Alexa Cole,
Director, Office for International Affairs and Seafood Inspection,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-28205 Filed 12-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
