[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44308-44314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21091]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 072894C]


Marine Mammals

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of completion of final marine mammal stock assessment 
reports and guidelines.

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SUMMARY: The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) requires NMFS and the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to prepare stock assessment 
reports for all marine mammal stocks that occur in waters under the 
jurisdiction of the United States. NMFS made draft stock assessment 
reports and preliminary guidelines available for public review and 
comment on August 9, 1994. Comments received from the public and from 
scientific review groups, also established under the MMPA, were 
reviewed and incorporated into the reports and guidelines as 
appropriate. Final reports and guidelines have now been completed. 
Electronic copies are currently available. Printed copies will be 
available when duplication has been completed.

ADDRESSES: Printed copies may be obtained by writing to: Chief, Marine 
Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1335 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3226, Attn: Stock Assessments. Copies may also be obtained from one of 
the contacts below.
    The reports and guidelines are stored as Wordperfect 6.0/
6.1 files and may be downloaded from the World Wide Web at the 
following address until September 30, 1995: http://
kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov:80/home-page.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas C. Eagle, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, at (301) 713-2322. Or, contact James A. Balsiger at 
(206) 526-4000, Alaska Fisheries Science Center (F/AKC), NMFS, 7600 
Sand Point Way, NE BIN 15700, Seattle, WA 98115-0070 regarding Alaska 
regional stock assessments; James Lecky at (310) 980-4020, Southwest 
Regional Office (F/SWO3), NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, 
CA 90802-4213, regarding Pacific regional stock assessments; or Robert 
A. Blaylock at (305) 361-5761, Southeast Fisheries Science Center (F/
SEC4), NMFS, 75 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149-1003, or Gordon 
Waring at (508) 548-5123, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, 166 
Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1097 for Atlantic regional stock 
assessments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Stock Assessment Reports

    Section 117 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) requires NMFS and 
FWS to prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals that 
occurs in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States. These 
reports must contain information regarding the distribution and 
abundance of the stock, population growth rates and trends, estimates 
of annual human-caused mortality from all sources, descriptions of the 
fisheries with which the stock interacts, and the status of the stock.
    Although many of the items included in the reports were described 
explicitly in the MMPA, many elements, including a quantitative 
definition of the parameters used in calculating Potential Biological 
Removal levels (PBR), were defined only in general terms. To promote 
consistent interpretation of the provision of the law, NMFS and FWS 
convened a workshop in June, 1994, to develop preliminary guidelines to 
be used in preparing the draft stock assessments.
    NMFS completed the guidelines and draft stock assessment reports, 
including preliminary consultation with the three regional Scientific 
Review Groups, and made them available for public review and comment on 
August 9, 1994 (59 FR 40527). During and subsequent to the public 
comment period, NMFS consulted extensively with Scientific Review 
Groups to discuss their comments, as well as the public's comments on 
the guidelines and individual reports. Reports were typically revised, 
as necessary, according to the results of these consultations. Final 
stock assessment reports have been completed and are available to the 
public. Electronic copies are currently available, and printed copies 
may be obtained when duplication has been completed.

Comments

    NMFS received comments from a variety of sources, including state 
and Federal agencies, private citizens, and representatives of interest 
groups, on the draft stock assessment reports and preliminary 
guidelines for preparing reports. The primary sources of 

[[Page 44309]]
comment and guidance were the three regional scientific review groups 
established under section 117 of the MMPA. NMFS and the review groups 
held a series of meetings to discuss the guidelines, general issues, 
and individual assessment reports.
    The comments discussed below are limited to those that address the 
guidelines and general issues. Many of the recommendations duplicated 
others; therefore, individual comments were combined and addressed 
together below. Report-specific comments were considered by the authors 
of the reports and were incorporated, as appropriate.
    Comments generally fell into one of the following categories: (1) 
Interpreting uncertainty in the reports; (2) completeness of the 
reports; (3) the apparent conservative nature of the elements in the 
PBR calculation; and (4) miscellaneous issues.

1. Interpreting Uncertainty in Reports

    Comment: Uncertainty of biological information alone should not be 
the sole basis for a ``strategic'' determination; unknown values should 
not be interpreted as zero.
    Response: NMFS proposed in the preliminary guidelines that an 
unknown abundance estimate (no recent, reliable data on population size 
exist) be interpreted as zero in calculating PBR. Such an approach was 
based upon the logic that no level of human-caused mortality could be 
determined as not causing a population to be depressed below its 
optimum sustainable population levels, if there was no documented 
information on population size or status. After detailed discussion 
with the Scientific Review Groups on this topic, NMFS accepted that in 
the event no data exist, the ``best available scientific information'' 
could be interpreted as consensus judgement of an independent review 
panel with expertise in marine mammal biology and populations, 
commercial fishing technology and practices, and marine mammals taken 
for subsistence uses (e.g., the Scientific Review Group). For this 
reason, in those cases where NMFS had no data regarding population 
size, the best estimate of minimum abundance, and resulting PBR, these 
items were listed as ``unknown.'' In general, status determination was 
based upon the judgement of NMFS scientists and the appropriate 
Scientific Review Group.
    In some cases (e.g., California/Oregon/Washington sperm whales) 
abundance estimates were based upon surveys of only a portion of the 
range of the stock. When this occurred, NMFS used such survey data as 
the basis for the PBR calculation. Use of these estimates will flag 
cases where there is a potential for adverse impacts, and illustrate 
situations where additional data are necessary to be sure that a 
conservation problem does not occur.
    Comment: Numerous comments stated that the practice of decreasing 
abundance estimates by 20 per cent per year after the fifth year is 
scientifically unjustifiable.
    Response: Older information may not accurately reflect the current 
status of a stock and may form a poor basis for management decisions. 
NMFS, therefore, proposed that the additional uncertainty related to 
outdated abundance estimates be incorporated into the PBR calculation 
by adjusting the recovery factor (rather than abundance estimates) 
downward over time. This proposal was endorsed by the Scientific Review 
Groups and incorporated into the guidelines and into the final reports.
    Comments: Several comments were directed at the quality of data 
necessary to delineate stock identification. Commenters believe that 
NMFS should not split stocks unless there are sufficient genetic data 
to document the need for a split.
    Response: NMFS scientists noted that several lines of evidence 
could be used for stock identification. These include, but are not 
limited to, genetics, population response, distribution or movements of 
animals, morphology, and habitat differences. The preliminary 
guidelines noted that NMFS plans to use a small-unit foundation for 
stock identification and combine these small units only when compelling 
information is available. Such an approach was consistent with MMPA 
goals, particularly the goal of maintaining marine mammals as function 
elements of their ecosystem. No Scientific Review Group objected to the 
small-unit approach as an appropriate risk-averse method to identify 
stocks of marine mammals, although some individual review group members 
did object to the small-unit approach.

2. Completeness of reports

    Comment: Several commenters believed that the draft reports 
contained insufficient discussion of available information regarding 
stock structure, abundance estimates, and annual mortality estimates.
    Response: The draft reports were revised to discuss available 
information more completely and provide a rationale for the estimates 
used.
    Comment: One commenter suggested that stock assessment reports 
should contain a complete discussion of the uncertainties in the 
available information, to note the research necessary to resolve these 
uncertainties, and to describe human-caused impacts to the habitats of 
marine mammal stocks. These topics are among the areas in which the 
Scientific Review Groups should advise NMFS.
    Response: Although NMFS and the Scientific Review Groups have 
discussed many of the uncertainties related to status of marine mammal 
stocks and the research necessary to resolve these uncertainties, NMFS 
believes that the stock assessment reports are not the best place to 
discuss research needs. These needs would be addressed more 
appropriately in a long-term research plan that identifies and 
establishes priorities for needed research.
    Habitat issues have not yet been fully discussed with the 
Scientific Review Groups. Initial meetings with the Scientific Review 
Groups focused, instead, on the basic requirements of stock assessment 
reports to facilitate the completion of the reports. Habitat issues 
will be among the topics covered in continuing discussion between NMFS 
and Scientific Review Groups.

3. Conservativeness of PBR Calculations

    Comment: Several commenters stated that each of the elements of the 
PBR calculation is conservative and this conservative nature increases 
as the elements are multiplied.
    Response: The elements of the PBR equation are specified in the 
MMPA. The minimum abundance estimate is defined as the estimated number 
in the population that provides reasonable assurance that the stock 
size is equal to or greater than the estimate; therefore, this term in 
the PBR calculation is, by definition, conservative when the estimate 
is marked by uncertainty. As reliability of supporting information 
increases, the minimum population estimate approaches the ``best'' or 
``mean'' estimate.
    The measure of productivity included in the MMPA, one half the 
maximum theoretical or estimated net productivity rate of the stock at 
a small population size, is not necessarily conservative. For example, 
the default value for one half of the maximum theoretical net 
productivity rate for pinniped stocks is 6 per cent. Several stocks of 
pinnipeds are declining (e.g., harbor seals and Steller sea lions in 
the Gulf of Alaska and Hawaiian monk seals). Because the theoretical 
value is positive, it cannot be considered conservative in these 
situations. Use of these values, however, has been determined 
appropriate for evaluating direct, human-caused 

[[Page 44310]]
mortality because mortality and serious injury levels that are 
substantially lower than the calculated PBR indicate that human-caused 
mortality is not likely the cause of the decline.
    The recovery factor accounts for uncertainty in human-related 
mortality estimates and in the additional uncertainty associated with 
outdated abundance estimates. Its inclusion is necessary to ensure that 
removals up to the PBR level will not cause a population or stock to 
decline below its optimum sustainable population. As uncertainty in 
mortality and abundance estimates diminishes, the recovery factors, 
thus PBR, may be increased.
    In some cases, these elements of the PBR calculation could be 
considered conservative. However, the extent of the conservatism of 
each element considered alone or multiplied together, cannot be 
evaluated with available information. Therefore, the apparent 
conservatism of PBR levels that are derived from information with a 
high degree of uncertainty is appropriate to ensure that the stock 
assessment reports are consistent with the goals of the MMPA regarding 
the conservation of marine mammals. Based on simulations incorporating 
realistic levels of uncertainty, this combination of values was shown 
to have a high probability of meeting the goals of the MMPA without 
being overly conservative.
    Comment: The use of theoretical estimates for maximum net 
productivity rates may result in an overestimate of actual productivity 
for some stocks; in these cases, NMFS should use the best available 
estimates of the current net productivity rate.
    Response: The MMPA specifies that NMFS use one half of the maximum 
theoretical or estimated net productivity rate of the stock at small 
population size. ``Current'' net productivity rate is not a reliable 
estimate of the maximum net productivity rate when the population's 
status relative to its optimum sustainable population is unknown. 
Therefore, NMFS used the theoretical values of 4 per cent for cetaceans 
and 12 percent for pinnipeds that were included in the draft reports in 
cases where reliable estimates of maximum net productivity rate were 
not available.
    Comment: Minimum population estimates should be adjusted for 
animals that were not seen on the surveys; correction factors need not 
be determined on a stock-specific basis.
    Response: The preliminary guidelines for preparing stock assessment 
reports state that correction factors that adjust abundance estimates 
for animals that were not seen during survey efforts should be used 
only when the precision of the correction factor is known and can be 
incorporated into the minimum population estimate. Several commenters 
and the Alaska Scientific Review Group believed that the use of direct 
counts as estimates of minimum abundance would underestimate population 
size by a wide margin, and, even in cases where precision is unknown, 
correction factors could be incorporated into minimum population 
estimates if correction factors had been determined for other stocks of 
the same species and a relatively conservative correction factor could 
be selected. NMFS agrees, and several minimum population estimates for 
stocks in Alaska were increased by a correction factor that received 
consensus support from the Alaska Scientific Review Group. Such 
correction factors were not used in the Atlantic or Pacific stock 
assessment reports.
4. Miscellaneous Issues

    Comment: The stock assessment reports are based upon the best 
available science and should not include policy decisions. That is, 
elements of the PBR calculation should not incorporate the goals of the 
MMPA.
    Response: The MMPA specifies that stock assessment reports must be 
based upon the best available scientific information, and NMFS intends 
that subsequent management decisions will not affect the information 
that is included in the reports. Although no quantitative definition 
was provided for the elements of the PBR calculation and stock 
identification, the reports required a quantitative approach. With no 
specific guidance regarding the values to be used for each stock, NMFS 
and FWS had to use the general guidance contained in the MMPA and 
develop quantitative definitions that are consistent with its goals.
    Comment: The recovery factor for certain species of marine mammals 
used for subsistence purposes has been increased above the 0.5 level 
used for stocks of unknown status. Such an approach seems to give the 
``benefit of the doubt'' to subsistence harvest rather than marine 
mammal conservation.
    Response: The PBR methodology was devised primarily to govern the 
taking of marine mammals incidental to commercial fisheries although 
such taking must be evaluated in the context of total human-caused 
mortality and serious injury. The recovery factor in the PBR 
calculation adds a level of conservatism to the calculation to 
compensate for uncertainty. In the case of bowhead whales, the 
available biological information was sufficiently precise and complete 
to justify raising the recovery factor. In other cases (e.g., beluga 
stocks in the Beaufort and Eastern Chukchi Seas) NMFS and the Alaska 
Scientific Review Group believed there was sufficient information to 
indicate that populations were stable even when subjected to human-
caused mortality. Therefore, NMFS, in consultation with the Alaska 
Scientific Review Group, agreed to increase the recovery factor for 
some stocks of Alaskan marine mammals, even though the status of these 
stocks is unknown. The stocks affected by this decision include those 
that are used for subsistence purposes, but are not subjected to high 
levels of mortality incidental to fishing operations. Furthermore, 
recovery factors for other stocks (e.g., Steller sea lions, eastern 
stock) were increased after simulations indicated that the populations 
were stable or increasing in the presence of human-related mortality.
    Comment: The draft stock assessment reports failed to take 
advantage of traditional or local knowledge of Alaska Natives.
    Response: NMFS believes that it is appropriate to develop 
management programs for the status of stocks subject to subsistence 
harvests, but not significant commercial fisheries takes, through the 
co-management process, provided that process includes a sound research 
and management program to identify and address uncertainties concerning 
marine mammal stocks subject to subsistence harvests. Therefore, 
estimates of PBR and ``strategic'' or ``non-strategic'' determinations 
have not been made at this time for certain Alaskan marine mammal 
stocks that (a) are not listed as endangered or threatened under the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) or listed as depleted under the MMPA; (b) 
are subject to subsistence harvests by Alaska Natives but where 
mortality and serious injury incidental to commercial fishing is absent 
or is a relatively minor contribution to total human-related mortality 
and injury; and, (c) where indicated in the draft reports, are believed 
to have a total estimated human-related mortality that may not be 
sustainable over the long-term. Three stocks met these criteria: Harbor 
seals in the Gulf of Alaska and beluga whales in Cook Inlet and Norton 
Sound.
    Estimates for PBR and status determinations for such stocks will be 
determined from the analysis of scientific and other relevant 
information discussed during the co-management process; these estimates 
will maintain the intent of best available scientific information and 
reflect the degree of 

[[Page 44311]]
uncertainty associated with the information obtained for these stocks. 
This approach will provide a starting point to incorporate traditional 
knowledge into science-based management. Such an approach would take 
full advantage of local insights and would result in a repeatable, 
systematic information-collection process upon which management 
decisions could be based.

    Dated: August 9, 1995.
William W. Fox, Jr.,
Director, Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.

           Table 1.--Summary of Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports for Stocks of Marine Mammals That Occupy Waters Under U.S. Jurisdiction          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Total    Annual           
            Species                         Stock area             Region   NMFS center    Nmin     Rmax     Fr       PBR     annual    fish   Strategic
                                                                                                                              mort.    mort.     status 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steller sea lion...............  Western U.S....................  AKA       AKC            42,536    0.12     0.3       766      555       41         Y 
Steller sea lion...............  Eastern........................  AKA       AKC            23,533    0.12    0.75     1,059      8.0      4.0         Y 
Northern fur seal..............  North Pacific..................  AKA       AKC           969,595   0.086     0.5    20,846    1,783      6.4         Y 
Harbor seal....................  Southeast Alaska...............  AKA       AKC            32,745    0.12     1.0     1,965    1,643    1 N/A         N 
Harbor seal....................  Gulf of Alaska.................  AKA       AKC             2 N/D    0.12     N/D       N/D      868       35       N/D 
Harbor seal....................  Bering Sea.....................  AKA       AKC            17,243    0.12     1.0     1,035      334       12         N 
Spotted seal...................  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.12     0.5       N/A      N/A      1.0         N 
Bearded seal...................  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.12     0.5       N/A      N/A      6.2         N 
Ringed seal....................  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.12     0.5       N/A      N/A      0.8         N 
Ribbon seal....................  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.12     0.5       N/A      N/A      0.4         N 
Beluga.........................  Beaufort Sea...................  AKA       AKC            38,194    0.04     1.0       764      160      0.0         N 
Beluga.........................  Eastern Chukchi Sea............  AKA       AKC             3,710    0.04     1.0        74       65      0.0         N 
Beluga.........................  Norton Sound...................  AKA       AKC               N/D    0.04     N/D       N/D      147      0.0       N/D 
Beluga.........................  Bristol Bay....................  AKA       AKC             1,526    0.04     1.0        31       22      0.3         N 
Beluga.........................  Cook Inlet.....................  AKA       AKC               N/D    0.04     N/D       N/D      N/A      0.0       N/D 
Killer whale...................  Alaska and Washington inland     AKA       AKC               759    0.04     0.5       7.6      0.8      0.8         N 
                                  waters, resident.                                                                                                     
Killer whale...................  Alaska and Washington inland     AKA       AKC               245    0.04     0.5       2.4      0.8      0.8         N 
                                  waters, transient.                                                                                                    
Pacific white-sided dolphin....  North Pacific..................  AKA       AKC           486,719    0.04     0.5     4,867      1.1      1.1         N 
Harbor porpoise................  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC            24,635    0.04     0.5       246       33       33         N 
Dall's porpoise................  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC            76,874    0.04     1.0     1,537       41       41         N 
Sperm whale....................  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      0.0      0.0         Y 
Baird's beaked whale...........  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Cuvier's beaked whale..........  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Stejnerger's beaked whale......  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Gray whale.....................  Eastern North Pacific..........  AKA       AKC            21,715    0.04     1.0       434      0.3      0.3         N 
Humpback whale.................  Western North Pacific..........  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      0.0      0.0         Y 
Humpback whale.................  Central North Pacific..........  AKA       AKC             1,407    0.04     0.1       2.8      0.0      0.0         Y 
Fin whale......................  N. Pacific.....................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      0.0      0.0         Y 
Minke whale....................  Alaska.........................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Northern right whale...........  North Pacific..................  AKA       AKC               N/A    0.04     0.1       0.0      0.0      0.0         Y 
Bowhead whale..................  Western Arctic.................  AKA       AKC             7,524    0.04     0.5    \3\ 75       42      0.0         Y 
North Atlantic right whale.....  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               295   0.025     0.1       0.4      2.6      1.6         Y 
Humpback whale.................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC             4,848    0.04     0.1       9.7      1.0      1.0         Y 
Fin whale......................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC             1,704    0.04     0.1       3.4      N/A      0.0         Y 
Sei whale......................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      0.0      0.0         Y 
Minke whale....................  Canadian east coast............  ATL       NEC             2,053    0.04     0.5        21      2.5      2.5         N 
Blue whale.....................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      0.0      0.0         Y 
Sperm whale....................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               226    0.04     0.1       0.5      1.6      1.6         Y 
Dwarf sperm whale..............  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A      N/A      N/A         Y 
Pygmy sperm whale..............  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A      N/A      N/A         Y 
Killer whale...................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Pygmy killer whale.............  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       SEC                 6    0.04     0.5       0.1      0.0      0.0         N 
Northern bottlenose whale......  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Cuvier's beaked whale..........  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A       34   \4\ 34         Y 
True's beaked whale............  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A       34       34         Y 
Gervais' beaked whale..........  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A       34       34         Y 
Blainville's beaked whale......  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A       34       34         Y 
Sowerby's beaked whale.........  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A       34       34         Y 
Risso's dolphin................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC            11,140    0.04     0.5       111       68       68         N 
Pilot whale, long-finned         Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC             3,537    0.04     0.4        28      109  \5\ 109         Y 
 (Globicephala spp.).                                                                                                                                   
Pilot whale, short-finned......  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               457    0.04     0.5       3.7      109  \5\ 109         Y 
Atlantic white-sided dolphin...  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC            12,538    0.04     0.5       125      127      127         Y 
White-beaked dolphin...........  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Common dolphin.................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC             3,233    0.04     0.5        32      449      449         Y 
Atlantic spotted dolphin.......  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC             4,885    0.04     0.1       N/A   \6\ 31   \6\ 31         Y 

[[Page 44312]]
                                                                                                                                                        
Pantropical spotted dolphin....  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A     N/A     N/A       N/A  \6\ 31    \6\ 31         Y 
Striped dolphin................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC             9,165    0.04     0.4        73       63       63         N 
Spinner dolphin................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC               N/A     N/A     N/A       N/A      1.0      1.0         N 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Western North Atlantic,          ATL       NEC             9,195    0.04     0.5        92      128      128         Y 
                                  offshore.                                                                                                             
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Western North Atlantic, coastal  ATL       SEC             2,482    0.04     0.5        25       29       29         Y 
Harbor porpoise................  Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy.....  ATL       NEC            40,297    0.04     0.5       403    1,876    1,876         Y 
Harbor seal....................  Western North Atlantic.........  ATL       NEC            28,810    0.12     1.0     1,729      476      476         N 
Gray seal......................  Northwest North Atlantic.......  ATL       NEC             2,035    0.12     1.0       122      4.5      4.5         N 
Harp seal......................  Northwest North Atlantic.......  ATL       NEC               N/A     N/A     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Hooded seal....................  Northwest North Atlantic.......  ATL       NEC               N/A     N/A     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Sperm whale....................  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               411    0.04     0.1       0.8      0.0      0.0         Y 
Bryde's whale..................  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC                17    0.04     0.5       0.2      0.0      0.0         N 
Cuvier's beaked whale..........  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC                20    0.04     0.5       0.2      0.0      0.0         N 
Blainville's beaked whale......  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               N/A     N/A     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Gervais' beaked whale..........  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               N/A     N/A     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Gulf of Mexico, outer            ATL       SEC            43,233    0.04     0.5       432      2.8  \7\ 2.8         N 
                                  continental shelf.                                                                                                    
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Gulf of Mexico, continental      ATL       SEC             4,530    0.04     0.5        45      2.8  \7\ 2.8         N 
                                  shelf edge and slope.                                                                                                 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Western Gulf of Mexico coastal.  ATL       SEC             2,938    0.04     0.5        29       13    8 913         N 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Northern Gulf of Mexico coastal  ATL       SEC             3,518    0.04     0.5        35       10   \9\ 10         N 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Eastern Gulf of Mexico coastal.  ATL       SEC             8,963    0.04     0.5        90        8      9 8         N 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Gulf of Mexico bay, sound, and   ATL       SEC             3,934    0.04     0.5      39.7       30     9 30         Y 
                                  estuarine 10.                                                                                                         
Atlantic spotted dolphin.......  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC             2,255    0.04     0.5        23    5 1.5    5 1.5         N 
Pantropical spotted dolphin....  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC            26,510    0.04     0.5       265    5 1.5    5 1.5         N 
Striped dolphin................  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC             3,409    0.04     0.5        34      0.0      0.0         N 
Spinner dolphin................  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC             4,465    0.04     0.5        45      0.0      0.0         N 
Rough-toothed dolphin..........  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               660    0.04     0.5       6.6      0.0      0.0         N 
Clymene dolphin................  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC             4,120    0.04     0.5        41      0.0      0.0         N 
Fraser's dolphin...............  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC                66    0.04     0.5       0.7      0.0      0.0         N 
Killer whale...................  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               197    0.04     0.5       2.0      0.0      0.0         N 
False killer whale.............  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               236    0.04     0.5       2.4      0.0      0.0         N 
Pygmy killer whale.............  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       NEC               285    0.04    0.05       2.8      0.0      0.0         N 
Dwarf sperm whale..............  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         Y 
Pygmy sperm whale..............  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               N/A    0.04     N/A       N/A      0.0      0.0         Y 
Melon-headed whale.............  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC             2,888    0.04     0.5        29      0.0      0.0         N 
Risso's dolphin................  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC             2,199    0.04     0.5        22       19       19         N 
Pilot whale, short-finned......  Northern Gulf of Mexico........  ATL       SEC               186    0.04     0.5       1.9      0.3      0.3         N 
California sea lion............  U.S............................  PAC       SWC            84,195    0.12     1.0     5,052    2,446    2,446         N 
Harbor seal....................  California.....................  PAC       SWC            32,798    0.12     1.0     1,968      729      729         N 
Harbor seal....................  Oregon/Washington coast........  PAC       AKC            28,322    0.12     1.0     1,699      233      233         N 
Harbor seal....................  Washington inland waters.......  PAC       AKC            13,053    0.12     1.0       783       29       29         N 
Northern elephant seal.........  California breeding............  PAC       SWC            42,000   0.086     1.0     1,743      166      166         N 
Guadalupe fur seal.............  Mexico to California...........  PAC       SWC             3,028   0.137     0.5       104      0.0      0.0         Y 
Northern fur seal..............  San Miguel Island..............  PAC       AKC            10,536   0.086     0.5       227      0.0      0.0         N 
Hawaiian monk seal.............  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC             1,300    0.06     0.1  \11\ 3.9      N/A      N/A         Y 
Harbor porpoise................  Central California.............  PAC       SWC             3,430    0.04     0.5        34       31       31         N 
Harbor porpoise................  Northern California............  PAC       SWC             7,640    0.04     0.5        76      0.0      0.0         N 
Harbor porpoise................  Oregon/Washington coast........  PAC       AKC            22,049    0.04     0.5       220       14       14         N 
Harbor porpoise................  Inland Washington..............  PAC       AKC             2,680    0.04     0.5        27       16       16         N 
Dall's porpoise................  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC            58,902    0.04     0.5       589       36       36         N 
Pacific white-sided dolphin....  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC            82,939    0.04     0.5       829       28       28         N 
Risso's dolphin................  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC            22,388    0.04     0.5       224       39       39         N 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  California coastal.............  PAC       SWC               245    0.04     0.5       2.5      0.0      0.0         N 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  California/Oregon/ Washington    PAC       SWC             1,775    0.04     0.5        18      7.7      7.7         N 
                                  offshore.                                                                                                             

[[Page 44313]]
                                                                                                                                                        
Striped dolphin................  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC            13,639    0.04     0.5       136      0.0      0.0         N 
Common dolphin, short-beaked...  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC           179,185    0.04     0.5     1,792      316  \12\ 31         N 
                                                                                                                                            6           
Common dolphin, long-beaked....  California.....................  PAC       SWC             5,636    0.04     0.5        56       23  \12\ 23         N 
Northern right whale dolphin...  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC            15,080    0.04     0.5       151       46       46         N 
Killer whale...................  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC               139    0.04     0.5       1.4      0.0      0.0         N 
Pilot whale, short-finned......  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A       36       36         Y 
Baird's beaked whale...........  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC                19    0.04     0.5       0.2        0   \13\ 0         Y 
Mesoplodont beaked whales......  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC               136    0.04     0.5       1.4      7.7      7.7         Y 
Cuvier's beaked whale..........  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC               886    0.04     0.5       8.9       24       24         Y 
Pygmy sperm whale..............  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC               481    0.04     0.5       4.8      5.7      5.7         Y 
Dwarf sperm whale..............  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
Sperm whale....................  California to Washington.......  PAC       SWC               512    0.04     0.1       1.0       17       17         Y 
Humpback whale.................  California/Mexico..............  PAC       SWC               563    0.04     0.1       0.5     1.16      0.5         Y 
Blue whale.....................  California/Mexico..............  PAC       SWC             1,709    0.04     0.1       1.7      N/A      N/A         Y 
Fin whale......................  California to Washington.......  PAC       SWC               575    0.04     0.1       1.1       <1      0.0         Y 
Bryde's whale..................  Eastern Tropical Pacific.......  PAC       SWC            11,163    0.04     0.5  \14\ 0.5      N/A      0.0         N 
Sei whale......................  Eastern North Pacific..........  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      N/A      0.0         Y 
Minke whale....................  California/Oregon/Washington...  PAC       SWC               265    0.04     0.5       2.6      0.5      0.5         N 
Rough-Toothed dolphin..........  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Risso's dolphin................  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Pantropical spotted dolphin....  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Spinner dolphin................  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               677    0.04     0.5       6.8      N/A      N/A         N 
Striped dolphin................  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Melon-headed whale.............  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Pygmy killer whale.............  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
False killer whale.............  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Killer whale...................  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Pilot whale, short-finned......  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Blainville's beaked whale......  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Cuvier's beaked whale..........  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Pygmy sperm whale..............  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Dwarf sperm whale..............  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      N/A      N/A         N 
Sperm whale....................  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      N/A      N/A         Y 
Blue whale.....................  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      N/A      N/A         Y 
Fin whale......................  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.1       N/A      N/A      N/A         Y 
Bryde's whale..................  Hawaii.........................  PAC       SWC               N/A    0.04     0.5       N/A      0.0      0.0         N 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                        
The following is a summary of the stock assessment reports prepared by FWS for marine mammals under FWS authority. The full reports will be made        
 available by FWS.                                                                                                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                        
Polar bear.....................  Chukchi and Bering Seas: Alaska  AKA       FWS Region        N/A     N/A     1.0       N/A       55      0.0         N 
                                  and Russia.                                7                                                                          
Polar bear.....................  Beaufort Sea: Alaska and Canada  AKA       FWS Region      1,579    0.06     1.0    \15\72       63      0.0         N 
                                                                             7                                                                          
Sea otter......................  Alaska.........................  AKA       FWS Region    100,000     0.2     1.0    10,000      506       <1         N 
                                                                             7                                                                          
Pacific walrus.................  Alaska and Russia..............  AKA       FWS Region    188,316    0.08     1.0     7,533    5,894       16         N 
                                                                             7                                                                          
West Indian manatee............  SE USA (Florida)...............  ATL       FWS Region      1,822    0.04     0.1         3   \16\49       <1         Y 
                                                                             4                                                                          
West Indian manatee............  Antillean (Puerto Rico)........  ATL       FWS Region         86    0.04     0.1         0        2      N/A         Y 
                                                                             4                                                                          
Southern sea otter.............  Central Calif. and San Nicolas   PAC       FWS Region      2,376    0.06     0.1   \17\ N/      N/A      N/A         Y 
                                  Island.                                    1                                           AP                             

[[Page 44314]]
                                                                                                                                                        
Sea otter......................  Neah Bay to Destruction Island,  PAC       FWS Region        360    0.12     0.5        11      N/A      N/A         N 
                                  WA.                                        1                                                                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Logbook records indicate commercial fisheries cause a minimum annual mortality of 6 seals for this stock. N/A means that actual estimates are       
  unknown or not available.                                                                                                                             
\2\ N/D indicates an estimate was not determined. NMFS will determine these values after considering relevant information through the co-management     
  process with affected Alaska Native organizations.                                                                                                    
\3\ The IWC subsistence quota is not affected by the calculation of PBR using the formula specified in the MMPA.                                        
\4\ This is the average mortality of beaked whales (Mesoplodon sp.) based on 5 years of observer data. This annual mortality rate includes an unknown   
  number of Cuvier's beaked whales.                                                                                                                     
\5\ Mortality data are not separated by species; therefore, species-specific estimates are not available. The mortality estimate represents both short- 
  and long-finned pilot whales.                                                                                                                         
\6\ This value includes either or both of Stenella frontalis or Stenella attenuata.                                                                     
\7\ This value may include either or both of the Gulf of Mexico, continental shelf edge and slope and the outer continental shelf stocks of bottlenose  
  dolphins.                                                                                                                                             
\8\ Low levels of bottlenose dolphin mortality (0-4 per year) incidental to commercial fisheries have been reported. It is unknown to which stock this  
  mortality can be attributed.                                                                                                                          
\9\ Estimates derived from stranded animals with signs of fishery interactions, and these could be either coastal or estuary stocks.                    
\10\ This entry encompasses 33 stocks of bottlenose dolphins. All stocks are considered strategic; see the full report for information on individual    
  stocks. The listed estimates for abundance, PBR and mortality are sums across all bays, sounds, and estuaries.                                        
\11\ Although the calculated PBR is 3.9, the allowable take is zero due to findings under the ESA.                                                      
\12\ This value includes 6 animals that could not be specified as either short- or long-beaked common dolphins.                                         
\13\ Mortality for 1991-1993 was zero; two Baird's beaked whales were observed taken in 1994. This exceeds PBR.                                         
\14\ This PBR has been adjusted because only 0.5% of this stock is estimated to be in U.S. waters.                                                      
\15\ Adjusted upward to 72 animals from the calculated PBR of 48 to reflect the approximate 2 male: 1 female sex ratio of the harvest.                  
\16\ Estimated average human-caused mortality for the West Indian manatee-Florida stock from 1984-1992. The estimated average annual human-caused       
  mortality from 1974-1992 is 36 animals.                                                                                                               
\17\ N/AP means not applicable. Although the calculated PBR is 7, incidental take is not governed under section 118 or 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA.        


[FR Doc. 95-21091 Filed 8-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-W