[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
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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
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\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