[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3005-3010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1312]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 010897D]


Marine Mammals

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has revised the marine mammal stock assessment reports 
and the guidelines upon which the reports were based in accordance with 
the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Draft revised reports are 
available for public review and comment. Copies of the revised 
guidelines are also available for review.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments and requests for copies of reports or 
guidelines to: Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Attn: Stock Assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas C. Eagle, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, at (301) 713-2322; Douglas P. DeMaster at (206) 526-
4045, 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 Gordon Waring at 
(508) 495-2311, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, 166 Water 
Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1097 for Atlantic regional stock 
assessments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 117 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et 
seq.) required NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to 
prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals that occurs 
in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States. These reports 
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.
    NMFS convened a workshop in April 1996 to evaluate the guidelines 
upon which stock assessment reports were based and to revise the 
guidelines as needed. The workshop results indicated that substantive 
changes to the guidelines were not required; however, several 
provisions were clarified, primarily to ensure that default values for 
various parameters were interpreted correctly.
    The MMPA also requires NMFS and FWS to update these reports 
annually for strategic stocks of marine mammals and every 3 years for 
stocks determined to be non-strategic consistent with any new 
information. NMFS has revised those reports for which new information 
is available. Table 1 contains a summary of the information included in 
the reports. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft revised 
reports.
    Most proposed changes to the stock assessment reports incorporate 
new information into abundance or mortality estimates. Stock structure 
was also reexamined, which resulted in revised stock identification for 
killer whales in the Alaska and Pacific regions and for harbor porpoise 
in Alaska; none of these stocks is designated as strategic.
    Three stocks were identified as special subsistence stocks in the 
initial stock assessment reports; these included harbor seals in the 
Gulf of Alaska and beluga whales in Cook Inlet and Norton Sound. After 
examining new information, and in accordance with advice from the 
Alaska Scientific Review Group, NMFS proposes to revise these reports 
to present the full information required under the MMPA. Two of the 
stocks, Gulf of Alaska harbor seals and Cook Inlet beluga would be 
identified as strategic stocks because total human-caused mortality 
exceeds the calculated Potential Biological Removal level (PBR). Norton 
Sound beluga would be identified as non-strategic. Any management 
actions concerning these or any other stock that is used for 
subsistence purposes would be addressed through a co-management process 
as indicated by section 119 of the MMPA.
    New abundance estimates for beaked whales in the Pacific Ocean, 
which included a recently developed correction factor for animals not 
seen on the track line, allowed NMFS to determine that human-caused 
mortality and serious injury of these stocks did not exceed PBR; 
therefore, these stocks have been designated as nonstrategic. 
Uncertainty in field identification of these stocks does not allow 
either mortality or abundance estimates to be

[[Page 3006]]

identified to species in all cases, and estimates for these stocks 
continue to be combined.
    New information may become available during the comment period for 
these stock assessment reports; NMFS anticipates completion of a status 
review of North Atlantic right whales in the near future. This new 
information may be incorporated into final stock assessment reports 
without additional public review and comment if incorporation of the 
new information does not change the status of the affected stock (e.g., 
strategic to non-strategic).

    Dated: January 13, 1997.
Ann Terbush,
Acting Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

Table 1.--Summary of Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports for Stocks of Marine Mammals Under NMFS Authority That Occupy Waters Under U.S. Jurisdiction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                         Total    Annual                
           Species                Stock area      SRG  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       518        38  Y            
Steller sea lion.............  Eastern.........  AKA            AKC              23,533      0.12      0.75     1,059         9         4  Y            
Northern fur seal............  North Pacific...  AKA            AKC             969,595     0.086       0.5    20,846     1,731        18  Y            
Harbor seal..................  Southeast Alaska  AKA            AKC              35,226      0.12       1.0     2,114     1,630        34  N            
Harbor seal..................  Gulf of Alaska..  AKA            AKC              22,427      0.12       0.5       673       966        35  Y            
Harbor seal..................  Bering Sea......  AKA            AKC              12,648      0.12       0.5       379       242        30  N            
Spotted seal.................  Alaska..........  AKA            AKC              N/A\1\      0.12       0.5       N/A       N/A         2  N            
Bearded seal.................  Alaska..........  AKA            AKC                 N/A      0.12       0.5       N/A       N/A         2  N            
Ringed seal..................  Alaska..........  AKA            AKC                 N/A      0.12       0.5       N/A       N/A         1  N            
Ribbon seal..................  Alaska..........  AKA            AKC                 N/A      0.12       0.5       N/A       N/A         1  N            
  Beluga.....................  Beaufort Sea....  AKA            AKC              39,039      0.04       1.0       781       168         0  N            
  Beluga.....................  Eastern Chukchi   AKA            AKC               3,710      0.04       1.0        74        63         0  N            
                                Sea.                                                                                                                    
  Beluga.....................  Norton Sound....  AKA            AKC               6,439      0.04       1.0       129       109         0  N            
  Beluga.....................  Bristol Bay.....  AKA            AKC               1,526      0.04       1.0        31        21         1  N            
  Beluga.....................  Cook Inlet......  AKA            AKC                 981      0.04       1.0        20        40         0  Y            
Killer whale.................  Eastern North     AKA            AKC                 764      0.04       0.5       7.6       1.2       1.2  N            
                                Pacific,                                                                                                                
                                Northern                                                                                                                
                                Resident.                                                                                                               
Killer whale.................  Eastern North     AKA            AKC                 314      0.04       0.5       3.1       1.2       1.2  N            
                                Pacific,                                                                                                                
                                Transient.                                                                                                              
Pacific white-sided dolphin..  North Pacific...  AKA            AKC             486,719      0.04       0.5     4,867         2         2  N            
Harbor porpoise..............  Southeast Alaska  AKA            AKC               8,156      0.04       0.5        82         4         4  N            
Harbor porpoise..............  Gulf of Alaska..  AKA            AKC               7,085      0.04       0.5        71        27        27  N            
Harbor porpoise..............  Bering Sea......  AKA            AKC               8,549      0.04       0.5        86         2         2  N            
Dall's porpoise..............  Alaska..........  AKA            AKC              76,874      0.04       1.0     1,537        42        42  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     AKA            AKC              21,597      0.04       1.0       432        47         3  N            
                                Pacific.                                                                                                                
Humpback whale...............  Western North     AKA            AKC                 N/A      0.04       0.1       N/A       0.0       0.0  Y            
                                Pacific.                                                                                                                
Humpback whale...............  Central North     AKA            AKC               1,407      0.04       0.1       2.8       1.6       1.6  Y            
                                Pacific.                                                                                                                
Fin whale....................  N. Pacifc.......  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       N/A       0.0       0.0  Y            
Bowhead whale................  Western Arctic..  AKA            AKC               7,738      0.04       0.5     77\2\        51       0.0  Y            
Harbor seal..................  Western North     ATL            NEC              28,810      0.12       1.0     1,729       476       476  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Gray seal....................  Northwest North   ATL            NEC               2,035      0.12       1.0       122       4.5       4.5  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Harp seal....................  Northwest North   ATL            NEC                 N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Hooded seal..................  Northwest North   ATL            NEC                 N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Harbor porpoise..............  Gulf of Maine/    ATL            NEC              48,289      0.04       0.5       483     1,834     1,834  Y            
                                Bay of Fundy.                                                                                                           
Risso's dolphin..............  Western North     ATL            NEC              11,140      0.04       0.5       111        68        68  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Atlantic white-sided dolphin.  Western North     ATL            NEC              19,196      0.04       0.5       192       181       181  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               

[[Page 3007]]

                                                                                                                                                        
White-beaked dolphin.........  Western North     ATL            NEC                 N/A      0.04       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Common dolphin...............  Western North     ATL            NEC               3,996      0.04       0.5        40       234       234  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Atlantic spotted dolphin.....  Western North     ATL            NEC            \3\ 1,61      0.04       0.5        16    \3\ 22    \3\ 22  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                             7                                                                 
Pantropical spotted dolphin..  Western North     ATL            NEC            \3\ 1.61      0.04       0.5        16    \3\ 22    \3\ 22  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                             7                                                                 
Striped dolphin..............  Western North     ATL            NEC              18,220      0.04      0.45       164        47        47  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Spinner dolphin..............  Western North     ATL            NEC                 N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       1.0       1.0  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Bottlenose dolphin...........  Western North     ATL            NEC            \4\ 8,79      0.04       0.5        88        82        82  N            
                                Atlantic,                                             4                                                                 
                                offshore.                                                                                                               
Bottlenose dolphin...........  Western North     ATL            SEC               2,482      0.04       0.5        25        29        29  Y            
                                Atlantic,                                                                                                               
                                coastal.                                                                                                                
Dwarf sperm whale............  Western North     ATL            NEC                 N/A      0.04       N/A       N/A       0.2       0.2  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Pygmy sperm whale............  Western North     ATL            NEC                 N/A      0.04       N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Killer whale.................  Western North     ATL            NEC                 N/A      0.04       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Pygmy killer whale...........  Western North     ATL            SEC                   6      0.04       0.5       0.1       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Northern bottlenose whale....  Western North     ATL            NEC                 N/A      0.04       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Cuvier's beaked whale........  Western North     ATL            NEC             \6\ 895      0.04       0.5       8.9       9.7   \6\ 9.7  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Nesopldont beaked whale......  Western North     ATL            NEC             \5\ 895      0.04       0.5       8.9       9.7   \6\ 9.7  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Pilot whale, long-finned       Western North     ATL            NEC            \7\ 4,96      0.04       0.5        50        42    \8\ 42  Y            
 (Globiephala spp.).            Atlantic.                                             8                                                                 
Pilot whale, short-finned....  Western North     ATL            NEC                 457      0.04       0.5       3.7        42    \8\ 42  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Sperm whale..................  Western North     ATL            NEC               1,617      0.04       0.1       3.2       0.2       0.2  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
North Atlantic right whale...  Western North     ATL            NEC                 295     0.025       0.1       0.4       2.7       0.4  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Humpback whale...............  Western North     ATL            NEC               4,884      0.04       0.1       9.7       0.7       0.7  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Fin whale....................  Western North     ATL            NEC               1,704      0.04       0.1       3.4       0.0       0.0  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Sei whale....................  Western North     ATL            NEC                 N/A      0.04       0.1       N/A       0.0       0.0  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Minke whale..................  Canadian east     ATL            NEC               2,053      0.04       0.5        21       2.5       2.5  N            
                                coast.                                                                                                                  
Blue whale...................  Western North     ATL            NEC                 N/A      0.04       0.1       N/A       0.0       0.0  Y            
                                Atlantic.                                                                                                               
Bottlenose dolphin...........  Gulf of Mexico,   ATL            SEC              43,233      0.04       0.5       432       2.8    \9\2.8  N            
                                outer                                                                                                                   
                                continental                                                                                                             
                                shelf.                                                                                                                  
Bottlenose dolphin...........  Gulf of Mexico,   ATL            SEC               4,530      0.04       0.5        45       2.8    \9\2.8  N            
                                continental                                                                                                             
                                shelf edge and                                                                                                          
                                slope.                                                                                                                  
Bottlenose dolphin...........  Western Gulf of   ATL            SEC               2,938      0.04       0.5        29        13  \10\,\11  N            
                                Mexico coastal.                                                                                      \ 13               
Bottlenose dolphin...........  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC               3,518      0.04       0.5        35        10    \11\10  N            
                                Mexico coastal.                                                                                                         
Bottlenose dolphin...........  Eastern Gulf of   ATL            SEC               8,963      0.04       0.5        90         8     \11\8  N            
                                Mexico coastal.                                                                                                         
Bottlenose dolphin...........  Eastern Gulf of   ATL            SEC               3,934      0.04       0.5      39.7        30    \11\30  Y            
                                Mexico bay,                                                                                                             
                                sound, and                                                                                                              
                                estuarine\12\.                                                                                                          
Atlantic spotted dolphin.....  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC               2,255      0.04       0.5        23    \3\1.5    \3\1.5  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 

[[Page 3008]]

                                                                                                                                                        
Pantropical spotted dolphin..  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC              26,510      0.04       0.5       265    \3\1.5    \3\1.5  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Striped dolphin..............  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC               3,409      0.04       0.5        34       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Spinner dolphin..............  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC               4,465      0.04       0.5        45       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Rough-toothed dolphin........  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                 660      0.04       0.5       6.6       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Clymene dolphin..............  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC               4,120      0.04       0.5        41       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Fraser's dolphin.............  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                  66      0.04       0.5       0.7       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Killer whale.................  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                 197      0.04       0.5       2.0       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
False killer whale...........  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                 236      0.04       0.5       2.4       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Pygmy killer whale...........  Northern Gulf of  ATL            NEC                 285      0.04      0.05       2.8       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Dwarf sperm whale............  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                 N/A      0.04       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  Y            
                                MExico.                                                                                                                 
Pygmy sperm whale............  Northern Gulf of  ATL            NEC                 N/A      0.04       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  Y            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Melon-headed whale...........  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC               2,888      0.04       0.5        29       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Risso's dolphin..............  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC               2,199      0.04       0.5        22        19        19  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Cuvier's beaked whale........  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                  20      0.04       0.5       0.2       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Blainville's beaked whale....  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                 N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Gervais' beaked whale........  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                 N/A       N/A       N/A       N/A       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Pilot whale, short-finned....  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                 186      0.04       0.5       1.9       0.3       0.3  Y            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Sperm whale..................  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                 411      0.04       0.1       0.8       0.0       0.0  Y            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Bryde's whale................  Northern Gulf of  ATL            SEC                  17      0.04       0.5       0.2       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
California sea lion..........  U.S.............  PAC            SWC             106,825      0.12       1.0     6,410     1,294     1,242  N            
Guadalupe fur seal...........  Mexico to         PAC            SWC               3,028     0.137       0.5       104       0.0       0.0  Y            
                                California.                                                                                                             
Northern fur seal............  San Miguel        PAC            AKC               5,018     0.086       1.0       216         1         1  N            
                                Island.                                                                                                                 
Habor seal...................  California......  PAC            SWC              27,962      0.12       1.0     1,678       325       316  N            
Habor seal...................  Oregon/           PAC            AKC              25,665      0.12       1.0     1,540        15        15  N            
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Habor seal...................  Washington        PAC            AKC              15,349      0.12       1.0       921        36        36  N            
                                inland waters.                                                                                                          
Northern elephant breeding...  California        PAC            SWC              48,000     0.083       1.0     1,992       151       151  N            
                                breeding.                                                                                                               
Hawaiian monk seal...........  Hawaii..........  PAC            SWC               1,366      0.07       0.1  \13\ 4.8       N/A       N/A  Y            
Habor porpoise...............  Central           PAC            SWC               3,431      0.04      0.48        33        14        14  N            
                                California.                                                                                                             
Habor porpoise...............  Northern          PAC            SWC               7,640      0.04       0.5        76       0.0       0.0  N            
                                California.                                                                                                             
Habor porpoise...............  Oregon/           PAC            AKC              22,046      0.04       0.5       220        13        13  N            
                                Washington                                                                                                              
                                coast.                                                                                                                  
Dall's porpoise..............  California/       PAC            SWC              34,393      0.04      0.48       330        28        28  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Pacific white-sided dolphin..  California/       PAC            SWC              82,939      0.04      0.48       796        13        13  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Risso's dolphin..............  California/       PAC            SWC              22,388      0.04      0.48       215        32        32  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Bottlenose dolphin...........  California        PAC            SWC                 121      0.04       0.5       1.2       0.0       0.0  N            
                                coastal.                                                                                                                
Bottlenose dolphin...........  California/       PAC            SWC               1,904      0.04       0.5        19       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington                                                                                                              
                                offshore.                                                                                                               
Striped dolphin..............  California/       PAC            SWC              19,248      0.04       0.4       154       2.0       2.0  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Common dolphin, short-beaked.  California/       PAC            SWC             309,717      0.04       0.5     3,097       183       183  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             

[[Page 3009]]

                                                                                                                                                        
Common dolphin, long-beaked..  California......  PAC            SWC               5,504      0.04      0.48        53        15        15  N            
Northern right whale dolphin.  California/       PAC            SWC              15,080      0.04       0.5       151        50        50  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Killer whale.................  Southern          PAC            AKC                  96      0.04       1.0       1.9       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Resident Stock.                                                                                                         
Killer whale.................  California/       PAC            SWC                 436      0.04       0.4       3.5       2.0       2.0  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Pilot whale, short-finned....  California/       PAC            SWC                 741      0.04      0.48       7.1        20        20  Y            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Baird's beaked whale.........  California/       PAC            SWC                 252      0.04       0.4      2.02      2.00      2.00  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Mesoplodont beaked whales....  California/       PAC            SWC            \14\ 1,1      0.04      0.48    \15\11   5.7-7.7   5.7-7.7  N            
                                Oregon/                                              69                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Cuvier's beaked whale........  California/       PAC            SWC               6,070      0.04       0.5        61        29        29  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Pygmy sperm whale............  California/       PAC            SWC               2,059      0.04       0.4        16       2.3       2.3  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Dwarf sperm whale............  California/       PAC            SWC                 N/A      0.04       0.5       N/A       0.0       0.0  N            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Sperm whale..................  California to     PAC            SWC                 896      0.04       0.1       1.8         5         5  Y            
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Humpback whale...............  California/       PAC            SWC                 563      0.04       0.1       0.5       1.0       0.0  Y            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Blue whale...................  California/       PAC            SWC               1,463      0.04       0.1       1.5        <1       0.0  Y            
                                Mexico.                                                                                                                 
Fin whale....................  California to     PAC            SWC                 747      0.04       0.1       1.5        <1       0.0  Y            
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
Bryde's whale................  Eastern Tropical  PAC            SWC              11,163      0.04       0.5  \16\ 0.2       N/A       0.0  N            
                                Pacific.                                                                                                                
Sei whale....................  Eastern North     PAC            SWC                 N/A      0.04       0.1       N/A       N/A       0.0  Y            
                                Pacific.                                                                                                                
Minke whale..................  California/       PAC            SWC                 122      0.04       0.4       1.0       2.0       2.0  Y            
                                Oregon/                                                                                                                 
                                Washington.                                                                                                             
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       N/A       N/A  N            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ N/A means that an estimate for the affected value is not available.                                                                                 
\2\ The IWC subsistence quota is not affected by the calculation of PBR using the formula specified in the MMPA.                                        
\3\ This value includes either or both of Stenella frontalis or Stenella attenuata.                                                                     
\4\ Estimates may include sightings of the coastal form.                                                                                                
\5\ This estimate includes Cuvier's beaked whales and mesoplodont beaked whales.                                                                        
\6\ 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.                                                                                                                     
\7\ This estimate includes both long-finned and short-finned pilot whales.                                                                              
\8\ 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.                                                                                                                         
\9\ 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.                                                                                                                                             

[[Page 3010]]

                                                                                                                                                        
\10\ 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.                                                                                                                          
\11\ Estimates derived from stranded animals with signs of fishery interactions, and these could be either coastal or estuary stocks.                   
\12\ 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.                                        
\13\ Although the calculated PBR is 5.0, the allowable take is zero due to findings under the ESA.                                                      
\14\ This value includes a species-specific minimum abundance estimate of 249 Blainville's beaked whales, Mesoplodon densirostris.                      
\15\ This PBR includes 2.5 Blainville's beaked whales.                                                                                                  
\16\ This PBR has been adjusted because only 0.2% of this stock is estimated to be in U.S. waters.                                                      

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[FR Doc. 97-1312 Filed 1-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-25-P