Pacific Island Fisheries; Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review; Public Meeting, 5633-5634 [2020-01777]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 21 / Friday, January 31, 2020 / Notices
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relatively short duration of the proposed
survey (10 days; eight days of survey
plus two contingency days) will further
limit the potential impacts of any
temporary behavioral changes that will
occur;
• The availability of alternate areas of
similar habitat value for marine
mammals to temporarily vacate the
survey area during the proposed survey
to avoid exposure to sounds from the
activity;
• The proposed project area does not
contain areas of significance for feeding,
mating or calving;
• The potential adverse effects on fish
or invertebrate species that serve as prey
species for marine mammals from the
proposed survey will be temporary and
spatially limited; and
• The planned mitigation measures,
including visual and acoustic
monitoring and shutdowns, are
expected to minimize potential impacts
to marine mammals.
Based on the analysis contained
herein of the likely effects of the
specified activity on marine mammals
and their habitat, and taking into
consideration the implementation of the
required monitoring and mitigation
measures, NMFS finds that the total
marine mammal take from the proposed
activity will have a negligible impact on
all affected marine mammal species or
stocks.
Small Numbers
As noted above, only small numbers
of incidental take may be authorized
under Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of
the MMPA for specified activities other
than military readiness activities. The
MMPA does not define small numbers
and so, in practice, where estimated
numbers are available, NMFS compares
the number of individuals taken to the
most appropriate estimation of
abundance of the relevant species or
stock in our determination of whether
an authorization is limited to small
numbers of marine mammals.
Additionally, other qualitative factors
may be considered in the analysis, such
as the temporal or spatial scale of the
activities.
Marine mammals in the survey area
are not assigned to NMFS stocks. For
purposes of the small numbers analysis,
we rely on the best available
information on the abundance estimates
for the species of marine mammals that
could be taken. The numbers of marine
mammals that we authorize to be taken
will be considered small relative to the
relevant populations (less than 13
percent for all species).
Based on the analysis contained
herein of the planned activity (including
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the required mitigation and monitoring
measures) and the authorized take of
marine mammals, NMFS concludes that
small numbers of marine mammals will
be taken relative to the population sizes
of the affected species or stocks.
Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis
and Determination
There are no relevant subsistence uses
of the affected marine mammal stocks or
species implicated by this action.
Therefore, NMFS has determined that
the total taking of affected species or
stocks will not have an unmitigable
adverse impact on the availability of
such species or stocks for taking for
subsistence purposes.
National Environmental Policy Act
To comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and
NOAA Administrative Order (NAO)
216–6A, NMFS must review our
proposed action (i.e., the issuance of an
incidental harassment authorization)
with respect to potential impacts on the
human environment.
This action is consistent with
categories of activities identified in
Categorical Exclusion B4 (incidental
harassment authorizations with no
anticipated serious injury or mortality)
of the Companion Manual for NOAA
Administrative Order 216–6A, which do
not individually or cumulatively have
the potential for significant impacts on
the quality of the human environment
and for which we have not identified
any extraordinary circumstances that
will preclude this categorical exclusion.
Accordingly, NMFS has determined that
the issuance of the IHA qualifies to be
categorically excluded from further
NEPA review.
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal
agency insure that any action it
authorizes, funds, or carries out is not
likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of any endangered or
threatened species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of
designated critical habitat. To ensure
ESA compliance for the issuance of
IHAs, NMFS consults internally, in this
case with the ESA Interagency
Cooperation Division, whenever we
propose to authorize take for
endangered or threatened species.
The NMFS Office of Protected
Resources Interagency Cooperation
Division issued a Biological Opinion on
January 23, 2020, under section 7 of the
ESA, on the issuance of an IHA to NSF
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5633
under section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA
by the NMFS Office of Protected
Resources Permits and Conservation
Division. The Biological Opinion
concluded that the proposed action is
not likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of blue, fin, sei, and sperm
whales, and is not likely to destroy or
modify critical habitat of listed species
because no critical habitat exists for
these species in the action area.
Authorization
As a result of these determinations,
NMFS has issued an IHA to NSF for
conducting the specified activity in the
Amundsen Sea, provided the previously
mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and
reporting requirements are incorporated.
Dated: January 27, 2019.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–01811 Filed 1–30–20; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XP007]
Pacific Island Fisheries; Western
Pacific Stock Assessment Review;
Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
AGENCY:
NMFS and the Western
Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) will convene a Western
Pacific Stock Assessment Review
(WPSAR) of a 2020 benchmark stock
assessment for Hawaii gray jobfish
(uku).
SUMMARY:
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
for meeting dates and times and daily
agenda.
DATES:
The meeting will be held at
the Council office, 1164 Bishop St.,
Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Seki, Director, NMFS Pacific
Islands Fisheries Science Center, tel
(808) 725–5360, fax (808) 725–5360,
email michael.seki@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science
Center (PIFSC) conducted a singlespecies benchmark stock assessment of
the gray jobfish (uku, Aprion virescens)
in the main Hawaiian Islands. PIFSC
ADDRESSES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 21 / Friday, January 31, 2020 / Notices
previously conducted a stock
assessment for uku in 2017 using a datalimited length-based approach. The
2020 benchmark assessment diverges
significantly from the 2017 assessment
in that it implements the first integrated
assessment of a domestic stock in the
U.S. Pacific Islands Region. The
integrated assessment uses the Stock
Synthesis (v. 3.30) framework to
integrate catch per unit effort indices,
size frequency, diver survey, and catch
data into a single age-structured model.
PIFSC used this integrated model to
estimate biomass and stock status
through time, and evaluated stock status
against the maximum sustainable yield
based reference points described in the
Council’s Fishery Ecosystem Plan for
the Hawaii Archipelago. The 2020
assessment provides projections to
inform management setting of
acceptable biological catch and annual
catch limits for 2020–2026.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Please direct
requests for sign language interpretation
or other auxiliary aids to Michael Seki
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section above) at least five days prior to
the meeting date.
Meeting Agenda
Pacific Fishery Management Council;
Public Meeting
The WPSAR panel will meet from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The agenda
order may change, and the meeting will
run as late as necessary to complete
scheduled business.
Day 1, Monday February 24
1. Welcome and Introductions.
2. Background information—Objectives
and Terms of Reference.
a. Fishery Operation.
b. Fishery Management.
3. History of stock assessments and
reviews.
4. Data.
a. Hawaii Division of Aquatic
Resources Fishing Report System
and Hawaii Marine Recreational
Fishery Survey.
b. Life history information.
c. Other.
5. Presentation and review of stock
assessment.
Day 2, Tuesday February 25
6. Continue presentation and review of
stock assessment.
Day 3, Wednesday February 26
7. Continue review of stock assessment.
Day 4, Thursday February 27
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8. Continue review of stock assessment.
9. Public comment period.
10. Panel discussions (closed to the
public).
Day 5, Friday February 28
11. Continue panel discussions (closed,
morning).
12. Panel presents recommendations
(afternoon).
13. Adjourn.
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Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 27, 2020.
Karyl K. Brewster-Geisz,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–01777 Filed 1–30–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XA026]
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
The Pacific Fishery
Management Council (Pacific Council)
will convene a Stock Assessment
Review (STAR) Panel meeting to review
the 2020 Pacific sardine stock
assessment.
SUMMARY:
The meeting will be held
Monday, February 24, 2020 through
Thursday, February 27, 2020. The
meeting will start at 1 p.m. Pacific
Standard Time on February 24, and 8:30
a.m. on each subsequent day. The
meeting will continue until 5 p.m. each
day or when business for the day has
been completed.
ADDRESSES:
Meeting address: The meeting will be
held in the Pacific Room at the NOAA
Southwest Fisheries Science Center,
8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA
92037–1508.
Council address: Pacific Fishery
Management Council, 7700 NE
Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland,
OR 97220–1384.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kerry Griffin, Pacific Council;
telephone: (503) 820–2409.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
primary purpose of the meeting is to
review the 2020 benchmark stock
assessment for Pacific sardine, which
will be used to set annual harvest
specifications and management
measures for the fishing year beginning
DATES:
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July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The
review panel will consist of three
members of the Pacific Council’s
Scientific and Statistical Committee’s
Subcommittee on Coastal Pelagic
Species (CPS), and two independent
experts. Representatives of the Pacific
Council’s CPS Management Team and
the CPS Advisory Subpanel will also
participate in the review as advisers.
As a courtesy, the meeting will be
broadcast via Webex in listen-only
mode. Login information will be
available in advance of the meeting on
the Pacific Council website or by
contacting Kerry Griffin (kerry.griffin@
noaa.gov; (503) 820–2409).
Although non-emergency issues not
contained in the meeting agenda may be
discussed, those issues may not be the
subject of formal action during this
meeting. Action will be restricted to
those issues specifically listed in this
document and any issues arising after
publication of this document 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
The public listening station is
physically accessible to people with
disabilities.
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be directed to Mr. Dale
Sweetnam (dale.sweetnam@noaa.gov) at
least 10 days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 28, 2020.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020–01874 Filed 1–30–20; 8:45 am]
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Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request; Patent Law Treaty
The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) will submit
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for clearance the following
proposal for collection of information
under the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
Agency: United States Patent and
Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
Title: Patent Law Treaty.
OMB Control Number: 0651–0073.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5633-5634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01777]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XP007]
Pacific Island Fisheries; Western Pacific Stock Assessment
Review; Public Meeting
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council
(Council) will convene a Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review
(WPSAR) of a 2020 benchmark stock assessment for Hawaii gray jobfish
(uku).
DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates and times and
daily agenda.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Council office, 1164 Bishop
St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Seki, Director, NMFS Pacific
Islands Fisheries Science Center, tel (808) 725-5360, fax (808) 725-
5360, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science
Center (PIFSC) conducted a single-species benchmark stock assessment of
the gray jobfish (uku, Aprion virescens) in the main Hawaiian Islands.
PIFSC
[[Page 5634]]
previously conducted a stock assessment for uku in 2017 using a data-
limited length-based approach. The 2020 benchmark assessment diverges
significantly from the 2017 assessment in that it implements the first
integrated assessment of a domestic stock in the U.S. Pacific Islands
Region. The integrated assessment uses the Stock Synthesis (v. 3.30)
framework to integrate catch per unit effort indices, size frequency,
diver survey, and catch data into a single age-structured model. PIFSC
used this integrated model to estimate biomass and stock status through
time, and evaluated stock status against the maximum sustainable yield
based reference points described in the Council's Fishery Ecosystem
Plan for the Hawaii Archipelago. The 2020 assessment provides
projections to inform management setting of acceptable biological catch
and annual catch limits for 2020-2026.
Meeting Agenda
The WPSAR panel will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The
agenda order may change, and the meeting will run as late as necessary
to complete scheduled business.
Day 1, Monday February 24
1. Welcome and Introductions.
2. Background information--Objectives and Terms of Reference.
a. Fishery Operation.
b. Fishery Management.
3. History of stock assessments and reviews.
4. Data.
a. Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources Fishing Report System and
Hawaii Marine Recreational Fishery Survey.
b. Life history information.
c. Other.
5. Presentation and review of stock assessment.
Day 2, Tuesday February 25
6. Continue presentation and review of stock assessment.
Day 3, Wednesday February 26
7. Continue review of stock assessment.
Day 4, Thursday February 27
8. Continue review of stock assessment.
9. Public comment period.
10. Panel discussions (closed to the public).
Day 5, Friday February 28
11. Continue panel discussions (closed, morning).
12. Panel presents recommendations (afternoon).
13. Adjourn.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities.
Please direct requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids to Michael Seki (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section above) at least five days prior to the meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: January 27, 2020.
Karyl K. Brewster-Geisz,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-01777 Filed 1-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
