The West Coast is home to a variety of seabird species. These are intended to either minimize the bycatch of overfished groundfish species or to protect groundfish habitat. We also study the impacts of environmental variability and climate change on marine ecosystems and fishery socioeconomics. Refer to NMFS No. Federal Register provide legal notice to the public and judicial notice Yet since 2013, the northwest Atlantic has undergone considerable climatic changes that have influenced the distributions of marine mammals and their prey. Since 2006, there has only been one observed leatherback sea turtle caught in groundfish fishing gear. Register documents. for U.S Army Corps of Engineers' (COE) maintenance dredging program for eight federally-authorized navigation channels around the Puget Sound and along the west coast of Washington State. Our research encompasses the waters of the California Current and adjacent inland watersheds, bays and estuaries of California. 1531 et seq.) | Find, read and cite all the research . Partnership Profiles: A Queen Conch Hatchery and the Local Fish Initiative, The NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan (20232028) includes goals and objectives to sustainably develop the aquaculture industry in the United States. This rule contains existing collection-of-information (COI) requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act and would not impose additional or new COI requirements. NMFS clarifies part of the response to Comment #14 to state: We recognize there has been only one confirmed mortality (in 2012) in the past decade in U.S. Northern inshore/nearshore trap/pot gear which could be gear from the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot fishery or the Atlantic mixed species trap/pot fishery. documents in the last year, by the Energy Department The Arctic region extends from the Bering Strait to the Chukchi. They also implement temporary and permanent area closures to protect salmon in the ocean and on their way back to their rivers to reproduce. For fisheries with no observer coverage and for observed fisheries with evidence indicating that undocumented interactions may be occurring (e.g., fishery has low observer coverage and stranding network data include evidence of fisheries interactions that cannot be attributed to a specific Start Printed Page 3030fishery) species and stocks may be retained for longer than 5 years. West Coast groundfish include more than 90 species of bottom-dwelling marine finfish, including all species of rockfishes, sole, sablefish, thornyheads, and lingcod. With this request, the commenter is also not taking into consideration the high percentage of unidentified entanglements that are both first sighted in the U.S. and in Canada. Theseare used to record fishing activity at sea. Forney, and N.C. Young. For more information on how NMFS classifies high seas fisheries on the LOF, see the preamble text in the final 2009 LOF (73 FR 73032; December 1, 2008). Pacific highly migratory species troll fishery from 119 to 111 HSFCA permits. Bottlenose dolphin, Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau. We provide a general overview of the fisheries and gear used to catch highly migratory species along the U.S. West Coast. Bottlenose dolphin, Central GA estuarine system. that agencies use to create their documents. Harbor seal, WNA. Species with shorter life expectancies tend to have more variable reproductive success. As noted in the 2016 SAR (Muto et al., 2017), the 2012 killer whale M/SI in the BSAI Pacific cod longline fishery was assigned to both the resident and transient stocks of killer whale, given no genetic samples were collected and the overlap in the range of the two stocks in Alaska waters. Response: NMFS uses the classification criteria described in the preamble to classify fisheries as Category I, Category II, or Category III. As part of her 20+ year tenure with NOAA Fisheries, Korie has worked on several marine and estuary habitat conservation programs nationally and along our West Coast, including national habitat policy for the Office of Habitat Con, Stay informed of all the latest regional news around NOAA Fisheries, Associate Deputy Regional Administrator (ADRA), (Acting), Assistant Regional Administrator, (Acting) Assistant Regional Administrator, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal, Climate, Ecosystems & Fisheries Initiative, whales, pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), sea turtles, fish, and mollusks, Report a Stranded or Entangled Marine Mammal. As noted, a fishery is classified under Category I if the annual M/SI of a stock in a given fishery is greater than or equal to 50 percent of the stock's PBR level. Only official editions of the Webster. documents in the last year, 940 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GA/Southern SC estuarine system. documents in the last year, 35 The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2021, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). How does NMFS determine in which category a fishery is placed? 1202 Seattle, Washington 98134-2388 The impacts of numerous fisheries have been analyzed in various biological opinions, and this rule will not affect the conclusions of those opinions. They typically become effective on January 1 of any given year (the beginning of the management cycle). They are in place for a two-year period, except as changed through in-season adjustments to management measures. FLC provides evidence that from 2013 through 2017 the only marine mammal stock incidentally killed or injured in the BSAI Pacific cod longline fishery was the Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions and these did not result in annual M/SI greater than 1 percent of the stock's PBR level. However, large whale fishery interaction assessments are dependent on direct counts of entangled whales, not the fishery per se. Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL coastal. Bottlenose dolphin, Northern migratory coastal. documents in the last year, by the Executive Office of the President From floodplains to estuaries, nearshore habitats to kelp forests, urban waterways to rural streams, NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of our nations living marine resources and their habitats. (Henry et al., 2019). Comment 15: MA DMF recommends NMFS reclassify the Massachusetts state waters lobster trap/pot fishery as its own non-Category I fishery, separate from the Category I Northeast/mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot fishery based on the gear restrictions and large whale conservation programs that are unique to Massachusetts. NMFS adds three stocks to the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category II AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod pot fishery: (1) Bristol Bay stock of harbor seal, (2) Western North Pacific stock of humpback whale, and (3) Central North Pacific stock of humpback whale. MA DMF states that they are the only state lobster trap/trap fishery implementing the following actions either currently or in the future: (1) Lobster trap/pot fishery closure from February 1st to April 30th (currently in place for the Massachusetts Bay Restricted Area, proposed closure of all state waters beginning February 1, 2021); (2) dynamic extension of the lobster trap/pot fishery closure to ensure Start Printed Page 3038safe passage of right whales from our waters prior to fixed gear being set (currently in place for the Massachusetts Bay Restricted Area, proposed for all state waters beginning February 1, 2021); (3) ban use of vertical buoy lines greater than 3/8 inch diameter (proposed to begin February 1, 2021); (4) ban fishing single traps by the majority of its active fleet (proposed to begin January 1, 2022); (5) universal requirement of 1,700 pound breaking strength line or equivalent contrivance (proposed to begin February 1, 2021); (6) permitting and regulatory scheme designed to reduce participation and effort over time (currently in place); and (7) demonstrated substantial decline in the number of participants and the number of buoy lines deployed (currently in place). (Photo courtesy of Woody Venard), Expanding Electronic Reporting Across the Pacific Ocean, Gray Whale Numbers Continue Decline; NOAA Fisheries Will Continue Monitoring, A gray whale mother calf pair migrating along the central California coast from the wintering grounds in Mexico to the summer feeding grounds in Alaska. The SARs are based on the best scientific information available at the time of preparation, including the level of mortality and serious injury of marine mammals that occurs incidental to commercial fishery operations and the PBR levels of marine mammal stocks. Gulf of Maine Atlantic herring purse seine. However, U.S. Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, or Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline vessels operating in special areas designated by the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan implementing regulations (50 CFR 229.36(d)) will not be exempted from observer requirements, regardless of their size. The study did not estimate mortality or injury rates incidental to fisheries. Bottlenose dolphin, Jacksonville estuarine system. Ivashchenko, A.S. Kennedy, J.M. MMPA section 118 states that the Secretary is not required to place an observer on a vessel if the facilities for quartering an observer or performing observer functions are so inadequate or unsafe that the health or safety of the observer or the safe operation of the vessel would be jeopardized; thereby authorizing the exemption of vessels too small to safely accommodate an observer from this requirement. documents in the last year, 36 Results of the study indicated that there is a high frequency of associations between troll and rod and reel fishing, and pantropical spotted dolphins, and in particular with the Hawaii Island stock. Aurioles-Gamboa, D. and C. J. Hernadez-Camacho. False Killer Whales and Fisheries Interaction in Hawaiian Waters: Evidence for Sex Bias and Variation Among Populations and Social Groups. Our ESA program supports a national focus on species needing immediate action to prevent extinction and species with identified actions that can be immediately implemented. This is the approach NMFS took this approach in 2012 proposed LOF. Most of the observed encounters have occurred in the Limited Entry groundfish bottom trawl sector. Section 118 of the MMPA requires NMFS to place all U.S. commercial fisheries into one of three categories based on the level of incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals occurring in each fishery (16 U.S.C. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-AFSC-355. Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA offshore. How do I register, renew and receive my Marine Mammal Authorization Program authorization certificate? For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Discarded catch is accounted for by the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program. TRP regulations are found at 50 CFR 229.30 through 229.37. Sharks and skates: The six species are leopard shark, soupfin shark, spiny dogfish, big skate, California skate, and longnose skate. For example, in case E25-10/RW 3911, the gear analysis found wire mesh is likely the remains of wire traps that parted off from themselves. For these fisheries, NMFS will review the other sources of relevant information to determine when it is appropriate to remove a species or stock from the LOF. As described in the 2019 LOF (84 FR 22051, May 16, 2019), six false killer whale M/SI incidental to the deep-set longline fishery were observed inside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Hawaii, including three that occurred close to the outer boundary of the Main Hawaiian Islands Longline Fishing Prohibited Area, in close proximity to the outer boundary of the MHI Insular false killer whale stocks' range. Tidal wetlands in the Nisqually River Basin, where restored habitat fosters growth of juvenile salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean. That final rule was effective January 1, 2023. Authority: 03/03/2023, 43 NMFS works in partnership with industry, universities, and state, local, and tribal agencies to collect data about commercial species. Regulatory Branch Chief U.S. Army Corps of Engineers . To establish whether the species has recovered and may be taken off the list of vulnerable and endangered species under the ESA, NMFS advises creating a recovery team of species specialists to prepare a recovery plan, including delisting criteria (Region, n.) Research/References. Changes made to Mid-Atlantic and New England fishery participants will not affect observer coverage or bycatch estimates, as observer coverage and bycatch estimates are based on vessel trip reports and landings data. They work with project applicants and NOAA Fisheries biologists to optimize project designs, construction, operations, instream flows, and habitat for the protection and recovery of aquatic species at both the project and watershed scale. Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. To reduce impacts on seabirds, streamer lines (tori lines, bird scaring lines) or night setting are required for longline vessels with an overall length greater than 26 feet (see streamer line regulations). In addition, Maine's state and Federal waters lobstermen must declare a lobster zone and are required to fish the majority of gear in their home zone, limiting the spatial footprint of where individual lobstermen can set gear. Comment 6: HLA restates a previous comment recommending NMFS remove the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) insular and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) stocks of false killer whales from the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I Hawaii deep-set longline fishery. section). Photo by Jeff Bash/NOAA Fisheries. West Coast Region . The OFR/GPO partnership is committed to presenting accurate and reliable However, the distribution of maturation ages for Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) The West Coast Regions Area OfficesCalifornia Coastal, California Central Valley, Interior Columbia Basin, and Oregon and Washington Coastalcarry out integrated watershed-based approaches by focusing on the conservation of anadromous fish, their habitats, and the ecosystems on which they depend. 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100 . These markup elements allow the user to see how the document follows the legal research should verify their results against an official edition of How does NMFS determine which species or stocks are included as incidentally killed or injured in a fishery? ESUs/DPSs of west coast anadromous salmonids was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2015 (80 FR 6695). NMFS adds the Cook Inlet stock of harbor seal to the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category III AK Gulf of Alaska halibut longline fishery. You can also see a list of all species managed on the West Coast. We harvestclose to a billion pounds of seafood, worth nearly $1 billion, each year. Response: MMPA section 118 requires individuals participating in a Category I or II fishery to accommodate an observer aboard their vessel(s) upon request from NMFS. West Coast groundfish fisheries, and fisheries that may take groundfish incidentally, are managed with a variety of closed areas. These waters support valuable commercial, tribal, and recreational fisheries and are also home to many protected species of marine mammals, turtles, and seabirds. The Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program freed fishermen from having to race each other to catch the most fish. Generally, each listed entity has one layer. Allen, P.L. Bottlenose dolphin, Indian River Lagoon estuarine system. The commenter notes that revising the single M/SI between both killer whale stocks (based on probability of encounter) would distribute the single 2012 M/SI in the BSAI Pacific cod longline fishery from 100 percent for both stocks to 80 percent to the resident stock and 20 percent to the transient stock. This wire mesh, along with the 7/16 inch poly and associated gangions, is consistent with gear used in trap/pot fisheries conducted along the east coast of the U.S. and Canada (NMFS 2010 Large Whale Entanglement Report), which is consistent with some gear fished in exempted waters. Parents teach their kids to fish the West Coasts 7,000 miles of shore and view wildlife such as elephant seals, sea turtles, and sea lions. the current document as it appeared on Public Inspection on The West Coast Groundfish Observer Program produces an annual groundfish mortality and bycatch report. NMFS adds the Western North Atlantic offshore stock of bottlenose dolphin to the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category II mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl (including pair trawl) fishery. Open Access (OA) Gears South of 4010' N. Lat. NOAA Technical Memorandum. We also conduct research throughout the Pacific Ocean and in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. Below are links to learn about a few of our West Coast species. This definition can also be found in the implementing regulations for section 118 of the MMPA (50 CFR 229.2). Bottlenose dolphin, Northern SC estuarine system. Am I required to take an observer aboard my vessel? The groundfish fishery may also interact with other protected species including eulachon, green sturgeon, humpback whales, leatherback sea turtles. of the issuing agency. A Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 01/14/2021. This rule is not expected to be an Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because this rule is not significant under Executive Order 12866. Response: This comment has been addressed previously (see 84 FR 22051, May 16, 2019; 85 FR 21079, April 16, 2020). Currently, the state of Maine does not require gear marking in ALWTRP exempted areas. We support salmon fisheries in the Columbia River and Washington Coast through funding and production of hatchery fish at Mitchell Act facilities, and we work with our international partners to fund and implement the Pacific Salmon Treaty. HSFCA permits are valid for 5 years, during which time Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) can change. Humpback whale, Central North Pacific (Southeast AK). NMFS clarifies the fishery description of the Category I Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline fishery. The documents posted on this site are XML renditions of published Federal In recognition of logistical challenges with certificate issuance related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the MMAP certificate issued in 2020 remains in effect, valid through December 31, 2021, for vessel or gear owners participating in all Category I and II fisheries as of the final 2021 LOF. Where does NMFS obtain information on the level of observer coverage in a fishery on the LOF? We work to recover and conserve threatened and endangered marine and anadromous species, as well as manage and conserve marine mammals. Without known M/SI attributed to the HI troll fishery, and a minimum population estimate and PBR for only one of the four stocks, we evaluated classification of the fishery by analogy. We observe and monitor living marine resources and their environments in the Pacific Northwest and California Current ecosystem. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Wade, J.M. 2020 certificates may be retained or replacements downloaded from https://go.usa.gov/xArUW. there is a paucity of data on species-specific PRS rates in the WCPO region. from 36 agencies. NMFS removes the Alaska stock of ringed seal from the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category III AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod trawl fishery. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. These offices consult with Federal, Tribal, and State agencies on actions that may adversely affect protected species or EFH, as well as on projects to improve fish passage or habitat conditions for managed and protected species. Only the Southern DPS is listed under the Endangered Species Act. NMFS works in partnership with the regional fishery management councils to prevent overfishing, and restore overfished stocks. There are approximately 50 ESA-listed species, distinct population segments, and evolutionarily significant units under our jurisdiction, including species of whales, pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), sea turtles, fish, and mollusks. documents in the last year, 83 All other documented lobster interactions were determined to result in non-serious injuries. William Abadie . 03/03/2023, 159 Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet. Should major changes to lobster gear and fishing practices be required and implemented for all Massachusetts state lobster fishing gear, making this gear unique and easily identified from other state and Federal gear, NMFS will re-evaluate the status of this fishery and consider it in a future proposed LOF. They note that the state of Massachusetts has a number of actions currently in place, as well as a number of additional actions that will be in place for the 2021 fishing season, that distinguish the Massachusetts state lobster trap/pot fishery as unique from the rest of the Category I Northeast/mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot fishery. Harbor porpoise, GME/BF. Affected Species and NMFS' Determinations: ESA-Listed Species Status . Learn more about the work of the West Coast Area Offices. Because HSFCA permits are valid for 5 years, permits obtained in past years exist in the HSFCA permit database for gear types that are now unauthorized. Response: This comment has been addressed previously (see 84 FR 22051, May 16, 2019). Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet. Box 22668, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Suzie Teerlink; orStart Printed Page 3032. Revised stock boundaries for false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) in Hawaiian waters. Alaska Marine Mammal Stock Assessments, 2016. biennium). Starting with the 2005 SARs, each Pacific and Alaska SAR includes an appendix with detailed descriptions of each Category I and II fishery on the LOF, including the observer coverage in those fisheries. Both the Northwest and Southwest Regional prioritizations began with a list of all 136 stocks managed by the PFMC under four Fishery Management Plans (FMPs): Coastal Pelagic Species (8 stocks) Pacific Coast Groundfish (50 stocks2) Pacific Coast Salmon (66 stocks3) U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (12 stocks4) March 18, 2022. Comments were received from members of the public, Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association (AOLA), Freezer Longline Coalition (FLC), Hawaii Longline Association (HLA), Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA), Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF), Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) and Whale Safe USA. NMFS-PIFSC-75. For Atlantic fisheries, this information can be found in the LOF Fishery Fact Sheets. U.S. Mid-Atlantic mixed species stop seine/weir/pound net (except the NC roe mullet stop net), Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic sea scallop dredge, U.S. Mid-Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico oyster dredge, New England and Mid-Atlantic offshore surf clam/quahog dredge, Southeastern U.S. Atlantic haul/beach seine, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean shellfish dive, hand/mechanical collection, Gulf of Maine urchin dive, hand/mechanical collection, Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and Caribbean cast net, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean commercial passenger fishing vessel. List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 1: AIAleutian Islands; AKAlaska; BSBering Sea; CACalifornia; ENPEastern North Pacific; GOAGulf of Alaska; HIHawaii; MHIMain Hawaiian Islands; OROregon; WAWashington; *Fishery has an associated high seas component listed in Table 3; and. For high seas fisheries, Table 3 lists the number of valid HSFCA permits currently held. The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce has certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA) that this rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, through its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has awarded grants of up to $30 million, over a five-year period, to two Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Florida A&M University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. NMFS is developing similar fishery fact sheets for each Category III fishery on the LOF. Reflections on the West Coast Groundfish Survey. As of 2004, NMFS issues HSFCA permits only for high seas fisheries analyzed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Due to the observed injury, the Central North Pacific stock of humpback whale is retained on the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category II HI shallow-set longline fishery. However, this information alone does not provide sufficient evidence with which to conclude that spotted dolphins are being seriously injured or killed on an Start Printed Page 3035occasional basis as necessary for a Category II fishery classification.