Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Fisheries Research, 27388-27390 [2020-09925]

Download as PDF 27388 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 90 / Friday, May 8, 2020 / Notices Dated: May 1, 2020. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. Connection Information You can attend the meeting online using a computer, tablet, or smart phone; or by phone only. Connection information will be posted online at: https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/ Details/1483. For technical support please contact our administrative staff, email: npfmc.admin@noaa.gov. [FR Doc. 2020–09830 Filed 5–7–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Public Comment Public comment will be accepted and should be submitted electronically to https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/ Details/1483. [RTID 0648–XA170] North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Cook Inlet Salmon Committee will meet May 26, 2020 via web conference. DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Alaska Daylight Time. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be a web conference. Join online through the link at https://meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/ Details/1483. Council address: North Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1007 W 3rd Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501–2252; telephone: (907) 271–2809. Instructions for attending the meeting via web conference are given under Connection Information, below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Armstrong, Council staff; email: james.armstrong@noaa.gov. For technical support please contact administrative Council staff, email: npfmc.admin@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Agenda Tuesday, May 26, 2020 The agenda for the meeting will include Committee member proposals for additional management measures under Alternative 2 and Alternative 2– expanded scope, Committee action on final management measure recommendations, review of progress and further development on the Environmental Assessment and Regulatory Impact Review, and a discussion of next steps and the timeline for the amendment. The Agenda is subject to change, and the latest version will be posted at https:// meetings.npfmc.org/Meeting/Details/ 1483 prior to the meeting, along with meeting materials. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 May 07, 2020 Jkt 250001 Special Accommodations The meeting is accessible to people with disabilities. Requests should be directed to Shannon Gleason at (907) 903–3107 at least 7 working days prior to the meeting date. (Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) Dated: May 5, 2020. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–09881 Filed 5–7–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XA150] Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Pacific Council) Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee (Committees) will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public. DATES: The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day in completed. ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held online. Specific meeting information, including directions on how to join the meeting and system requirements will be provided in the meeting announcement on the Pacific Council’s website (see www.pcouncil.org). You may send an email to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@ noaa.gov) or contact him at 503–820– SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2280, extension 412 for technical assistance. Council address: Pacific Fishery Management Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220–1384. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Wiedoff, Staff Officer, Pacific Council; Brett.L.Wiedoff@noaa.gov; telephone: (503) 820–2424. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this meeting is for the Committees to discuss materials and develop recommendations that are scheduled to be considered during the June 2020 Pacific Council meeting. Specifically, the Committees will discuss recommendations for further development of electronic monitoring policies and regulations for federally managed West Coast groundfish fisheries. The Committees may also discuss other items on the Pacific Council’s June agenda, particularly administrative matters. 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 Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Mr. Kris Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@ noaa.gov; (503) 820–2412) at least 10 days prior to the meeting date. (Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) Dated: May 5, 2020. Tracey L. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–09880 Filed 5–7–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XA129] Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Fisheries Research National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM 08MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 90 / Friday, May 8, 2020 / Notices Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for Letters of Authorization; request for comments and information. NMFS’ Office of Protected Resources (OPR) has received a request from the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to conducting fisheries research, over the course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), OPR is announcing receipt of the SWFSC’s request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. OPR invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the SWFSC’s application and request. DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than June 8, 2020. ADDRESSES: Comments on the applications 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 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and electronic comments should be sent to ITP.Laws@noaa.gov. Instructions: OPR 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. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted online at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-research-and-otheractivities 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: Ben Laws, 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: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ marine-mammal-protection/incidentaltake-authorizations-research-and-otheractivities. In case of problems accessing SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 May 07, 2020 Jkt 250001 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 engage in a specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed incidental take authorization may be provided to the public for review. Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the availability of the species or stock(s) for taking for subsistence uses (where relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other ‘‘means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact’’ on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar significance, and on the availability of the species or stocks for taking for certain subsistence uses (referred to in shorthand as ‘‘mitigation’’); and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of the takings are set forth. Summary of Request On April 30, 2020, we received a complete and adequate application from SWFSC requesting authorization for take of marine mammals incidental to fisheries research conducted by SWFSC. The requested regulations would be valid for five years, from October 30, 2020, through October 29, 2025. The SWFSC plans to conduct fisheries research surveys in the California Current Research Area (off the U.S. west coast) and the Antarctic Research Area (in the Antarctic Scotia Sea). It is possible that marine mammals may interact with fishing gear (e.g., trawl nets, longlines) used in SWFSC’s research, resulting in injury, serious injury, or mortality. In addition, the SWFSC operates active acoustic devices that have the potential to disturb marine mammals. Because the specified activities have the potential to take marine mammals present within these action areas, SWFSC requests PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 27389 authorization to take multiple species of marine mammal that may occur in these areas. The requested regulations would be the second incidental take regulations issued to SWFSC, following regulations in place from 2015–2020. SWFSC has complied with all requirements of the previously issued Letters of Authorization and has not exceeded the authorized take numbers. Monitoring reports submitted by SWFSC are available online at: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ incidental-take-authorization-noaafisheries-swfsc-fisheries-and-ecosystemresearch. Specified Activities The Federal Government has a responsibility to conserve and protect living marine resources in U.S. Federal waters and has also entered into a number of international agreements and treaties related to the management of living marine resources in international waters outside the United States. NOAA has the primary responsibility for managing marine fin and shellfish species and their habitats, with that responsibility delegated within NOAA to NMFS. In order to direct and coordinate the collection of scientific information needed to make informed management decisions, Congress created six Regional Fisheries Science Centers, each a distinct organizational entity and the scientific focal point within NMFS for region-based Federal fisheries-related research. This research is aimed at monitoring fish stock recruitment, abundance, survival and biological rates, geographic distribution of species and stocks, ecosystem process changes, and marine ecological research. The SWFSC is the research arm of NMFS in the Southwest Region. The SWFSC conducts research and provides scientific advice to manage fisheries and conserve protected species in three geographic research areas: The California Current Research Area (along the U.S. West Coast), the Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Area (ETPRA) (throughout the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean), and the Antarctic Research Area (in the Scotia Sea area off Antarctica). However, no research activity is planned for the ETPRA during the next five years, and this research area is not included in the scope of SWFSC’s current request. The SWFSC provides scientific information to support the Pacific Fishery Management Council and numerous other domestic and international fisheries management organizations. E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM 08MYN1 27390 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 90 / Friday, May 8, 2020 / Notices The SWFSC collects a wide array of information necessary to evaluate the status of exploited fishery resources and the marine environment. SWFSC scientists conduct fishery-independent research onboard NOAA-owned and operated vessels or on chartered vessels. A few surveys are conducted onboard commercial fishing vessels, but the SWFSC designs and executes the studies and funds vessel time. The gear types used fall into several categories: Pelagic trawl gear used at various levels in the water column, pelagic longlines with multiple hooks, seine nets, and other gear. Of research gear used by SWFSC, only pelagic trawl, hook and line gear (including longline gears), and seine nets are likely to interact with marine mammals. The majority of these surveys also use active acoustic devices. Information Solicited Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and comments concerning the SWFSC’s request (see ADDRESSES). NMFS will consider all information, suggestions, and comments related to the request during the development of proposed regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals by the SWFSC, if appropriate. Dated: May 5, 2020. Donna S. Wieting, Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2020–09925 Filed 5–7–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Telecommunications and Information Administration [Docket No. 200504–0126] RIN 0660–XC045 Input on Proposals and Positions for the 2020 World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice, request for public comment. AGENCY: NTIA is seeking comments and recommendations on priorities that advance international communications and information policies at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Additionally, NTIA seeks input from stakeholders and interested parties on its proposals and positions on matters that will be addressed at the 2020 World Telecommunication SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 May 07, 2020 Jkt 250001 Standardization Assembly (WTSA– 2020) of the ITU. NTIA’s priorities, described below, are intended to best position the United States’ Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry to retain its global leadership in the rapidly evolving communications sector. NTIA is working closely with the U.S. Department of State (State), which is leading and coordinating the WTSA– 2020 preparatory process for the United States. This Notice and Request for Public Comment is the public’s opportunity to comment on NTIA’s proposals and positions for WTSA– 2020. DATES: Comments are due on or before June 8, 2020. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Office of International Affairs (OIA), National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4701, Washington, DC 20230. Written comments may also be submitted electronically to WTSA2020@ ntia.gov. Please submit electronic comments, either in Microsoft word or Adobe PDF, using a text searchable format. NTIA will post comments to the NTIA’s website at https://www.ntia.gov/ federal-register-notice/2020/commentsproposals-positions-wtsa20. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aimee Meacham, Office of International Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4701, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–5820; email: ameacham@ntia.gov. Please direct media inquiries to NTIA’s Office of Public Affairs at (202) 482– 7002 or press@ntia.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: Within the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce), NTIA is the Executive Branch agency responsible for advising the President on communications and information policy.1 NTIA was established in 1978 in response to the growing national consensus that ‘‘telecommunications and information are vital to the public welfare, national security, and competitiveness of the United States,’’ and that, ‘‘rapid technological advances being made in the telecommunications and information fields make it imperative that the United States maintain effective national and international policies and programs capable of taking advantage of continued advancements.’’ 2 The agency 1 47 2 47 PO 00000 U.S.C. 902(b)(2)(D). U.S.C. 901(b)(1–6). Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 plays a central role in the formulation of the U.S. Government’s ICT policies, particularly with respect to telecommunications and the internet. NTIA advances these policies and related priorities in conjunction with State at global venues, including the ITU. The ITU’s WTSA–2020 will be held in Hyderabad, India from November 17–27, 2020. It is an assembly of Member States and private sector organizations (sector members) that participate in the Standardization Sector of the ITU (‘‘ITU–T’’). WTSA– 2020 will set the ITU–T agenda for the next four years and will select the leadership of the ITU–T Study Groups. In addition to technical standards, the ITU–T studies and develops recommendations beyond standardization that affect industry, such as global numbering, accounting and settlement mechanisms, international mobile roaming, fraud and misuse of facilities, competition policy, and economic and regulatory impacts of the internet digital economy. Through this notice, NTIA is soliciting comments and recommendations from stakeholders and other interested parties on its proposals and positions that feed into the State-led preparatory process for WTSA–2020. Comments are welcomed from all interested stakeholders— including the private sector, the technical community, academia, government, civil society, and individuals. The comments will help NTIA, and the U.S. Government more broadly, to leverage and prioritize their resources and policy expertise most effectively. Please note that NTIA is not seeking additional comments from parties that may have responded to the Department of State’s Request for Comments.3 NTIA’s principles and objectives for WTSA–2020 align with the Administration’s 2017 National Security Strategy, which affirmed that ‘‘the United States will advocate for open, interoperable communications, with minimal barriers to the global exchange of information and services’’ 4 and the Administration’s 2018 National Cybersecurity Strategy Pillar II objective to ‘‘[p]reserve United States influence in the technological ecosystem and the development of cyberspace as an open engine of economic growth, innovation, and efficiency.’’ 5 3 See 85 FR 6256 (Feb. 2, 2020). National Security Strategy of the United States of America, December 2017, available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/ 2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905.pdf. 5 The National Cybersecurity Strategy of the United States of America, September 2018, 4 The E:\FR\FM\08MYN1.SGM 08MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 90 (Friday, May 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27388-27390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-09925]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XA129]


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Fisheries Research

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

[[Page 27389]]

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for Letters of Authorization; 
request for comments and information.

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

SUMMARY: NMFS' Office of Protected Resources (OPR) has received a 
request from the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) for 
authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to 
conducting fisheries research, over the course of five years from the 
date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), OPR is announcing receipt of the SWFSC's 
request for the development and implementation of regulations governing 
the incidental taking of marine mammals. OPR invites the public to 
provide information, suggestions, and comments on the SWFSC's 
application and request.

DATES: Comments and information must be received no later than June 8, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the applications 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 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and 
electronic comments should be sent to [email protected].
    Instructions: OPR 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 25-megabyte file size. All comments 
received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted 
online at www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-research-and-other-activities 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: Ben Laws, 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: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/incidental-take-authorizations-research-and-other-activities. 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 engage in a 
specified activity (other than commercial fishing) within a specified 
geographical region if certain findings are made and either regulations 
are issued or, if the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a 
proposed incidental take authorization may be provided to the public 
for review.
    Authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 
that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or 
stock(s) and will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for taking for subsistence uses 
(where relevant). Further, NMFS must prescribe the permissible methods 
of taking and other ``means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact'' on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, paying 
particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of similar 
significance, and on the availability of the species or stocks for 
taking for certain subsistence uses (referred to in shorthand as 
``mitigation''); and requirements pertaining to the mitigation, 
monitoring and reporting of the takings are set forth.

Summary of Request

    On April 30, 2020, we received a complete and adequate application 
from SWFSC requesting authorization for take of marine mammals 
incidental to fisheries research conducted by SWFSC. The requested 
regulations would be valid for five years, from October 30, 2020, 
through October 29, 2025. The SWFSC plans to conduct fisheries research 
surveys in the California Current Research Area (off the U.S. west 
coast) and the Antarctic Research Area (in the Antarctic Scotia Sea). 
It is possible that marine mammals may interact with fishing gear 
(e.g., trawl nets, longlines) used in SWFSC's research, resulting in 
injury, serious injury, or mortality. In addition, the SWFSC operates 
active acoustic devices that have the potential to disturb marine 
mammals. Because the specified activities have the potential to take 
marine mammals present within these action areas, SWFSC requests 
authorization to take multiple species of marine mammal that may occur 
in these areas.
    The requested regulations would be the second incidental take 
regulations issued to SWFSC, following regulations in place from 2015-
2020. SWFSC has complied with all requirements of the previously issued 
Letters of Authorization and has not exceeded the authorized take 
numbers. Monitoring reports submitted by SWFSC are available online at: 
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-noaa-fisheries-swfsc-fisheries-and-ecosystem-research.

Specified Activities

    The Federal Government has a responsibility to conserve and protect 
living marine resources in U.S. Federal waters and has also entered 
into a number of international agreements and treaties related to the 
management of living marine resources in international waters outside 
the United States. NOAA has the primary responsibility for managing 
marine fin and shellfish species and their habitats, with that 
responsibility delegated within NOAA to NMFS.
    In order to direct and coordinate the collection of scientific 
information needed to make informed management decisions, Congress 
created six Regional Fisheries Science Centers, each a distinct 
organizational entity and the scientific focal point within NMFS for 
region-based Federal fisheries-related research. This research is aimed 
at monitoring fish stock recruitment, abundance, survival and 
biological rates, geographic distribution of species and stocks, 
ecosystem process changes, and marine ecological research. The SWFSC is 
the research arm of NMFS in the Southwest Region. The SWFSC conducts 
research and provides scientific advice to manage fisheries and 
conserve protected species in three geographic research areas: The 
California Current Research Area (along the U.S. West Coast), the 
Eastern Tropical Pacific Research Area (ETPRA) (throughout the Eastern 
Tropical Pacific Ocean), and the Antarctic Research Area (in the Scotia 
Sea area off Antarctica). However, no research activity is planned for 
the ETPRA during the next five years, and this research area is not 
included in the scope of SWFSC's current request. The SWFSC provides 
scientific information to support the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council and numerous other domestic and international fisheries 
management organizations.

[[Page 27390]]

    The SWFSC collects a wide array of information necessary to 
evaluate the status of exploited fishery resources and the marine 
environment. SWFSC scientists conduct fishery-independent research 
onboard NOAA-owned and operated vessels or on chartered vessels. A few 
surveys are conducted onboard commercial fishing vessels, but the SWFSC 
designs and executes the studies and funds vessel time. The gear types 
used fall into several categories: Pelagic trawl gear used at various 
levels in the water column, pelagic longlines with multiple hooks, 
seine nets, and other gear. Of research gear used by SWFSC, only 
pelagic trawl, hook and line gear (including longline gears), and seine 
nets are likely to interact with marine mammals. The majority of these 
surveys also use active acoustic devices.

Information Solicited

    Interested persons may submit information, suggestions, and 
comments concerning the SWFSC's request (see ADDRESSES). NMFS will 
consider all information, suggestions, and comments related to the 
request during the development of proposed regulations governing the 
incidental taking of marine mammals by the SWFSC, if appropriate.

    Dated: May 5, 2020.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-09925 Filed 5-7-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P


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