[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 23 (Wednesday, February 4, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5748-5762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2749]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[Docket No. 970515117-8020-02; I.D. 050797D]
RIN 0648-AJ85


Final List of Fisheries for 1998

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended (MMPA), NMFS publishes its final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 
1998. The LOF classifies fisheries as Category I, II, or III, based on 
their levels of incidental mortalities and serious injuries of marine 
mammals. The LOF informs the public of the level of interactions with 
marine mammals in various U.S. commercial fisheries and of fisheries' 
requirements under certain MMPA provisions, to register for 
Authorization Certificates or carry fishery observers.

DATES: The changes to the List of Fisheries for 1998 are effective on 
February 4, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Information and registration materials for the region in 
which a fishery occurs and reporting forms may be obtained from the 
following addresses:

NMFS, Northeast Region, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298, 
Attn: Sandra Arvilla; NMFS, Southeast Region, 9721 Executive Center 
Drive North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702, Attn: Joyce Mochrie;
NMFS, Southwest Region, Protected Species Management Division, 501 W. 
Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802-4213, Attn: Don Peterson;
NMFS, Northwest Region, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 
Attn: Permits Office; NMFS, Alaska Region, Protected Resources, P.O. 
Box 22668, 709 West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Ursula 
Jorgensen.

    Comments regarding burden-hour estimates for collection-of-
information requirements contained in this final rule should be sent to 
Chief, Marine Mammal Division, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 
East-West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: NOAA Desk Officer, Washington, 
D.C. 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Eisele, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-713-2322; Kim Thounhurst, Northeast Region, 508-281-
9138; Kathy Wang, Southeast Region, 813-570-5312; Irma Lagomarsino, 
Southwest Region, 562-980-4016; Brent Norberg, Northwest Region, 206-
526-6733; Steven Zimmerman, Alaska Region, 907-586-7235.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Publication of the LOF, which places all 
U.S. commercial fisheries into one of the three categories based on 
their levels of incidental mortality and serious injury of marine 
mammals, is required by section 118 of the MMPA. The proposed LOF for 
1998 was published on May 27, 1997 (62 FR 28657). The fishery 
classification criteria are specified in the implementing regulations 
for section 118 of the MMPA (50 CFR part 229, see also a discussion of 
these criteria at 60 FR 45086, August 30, 1995).

Registration Requirements for Vessels Participating in Category I 
and II Fisheries

    Vessel or gear owners participating in Category I or II fisheries 
must register under the MMPA, as required by 50 CFR 229.4. Registration 
under the MMPA is administered by NMFS regional offices. Thus, the 
procedures and fees associated with registration differ between 
Regions. Under 50 CFR 229.4, the granting and administration of Marine 
Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP) certificates are to be integrated 
and coordinated with existing state and Federal fishery license, 
registration, or permit systems and related programs, whenever 
possible. Alternative registration programs have been implemented in 
the Alaska Region, Northwest Region, and Northeast Region. Special 
procedures and instructions for registration in these Regions are set 
forth below.
    For fisheries in which the granting and administration of 
authorizations have not been integrated with state licensing, 
registration, or permitting systems, owners of vessels or gear must 
register with the NMFS Region in which their fishery operates. NMFS 
Regional Offices annually send renewal packets to participants in 
Category I or II fisheries that have previously registered with NMFS; 
however, it is the responsibility of fishers to ensure that 
registration or renewal forms are submitted to NMFS at least 30 days in 
advance of fishing. If fishers have not received a renewal packet by 
January 1, or are registering for the first time, requests for 
registration forms should be sent to the appropriate NMFS Regional 
Offices listed in this notice under ADDRESSES.
    Registrants must return the registration form and a $25 fee to the 
NMFS Regional Office in which their fishery operates. NMFS will send 
the vessel owner an Authorization Certificate, a program decal, and 
reporting forms within 30 days of receiving the registration or renewal 
form and application fee.

[[Page 5749]]

Region-Specific Registration Requirements for Category I and II 
Fisheries

    These registration procedures were outlined in the 1997 LOF (62 FR 
33, January 2, 1997) and are clarified here to provide further guidance 
for registration in the Alaska, Northwest, and Northeast Regions.

Alaska Region MMAP Registration for 1998

    The Alaska Region has integrated MMAP registration for Alaska 
Category II fisheries with the Alaska State system for registering 
commercial vessels and permitting commercial fishers. The information 
required for MMAP registration will be obtained by NMFS directly from 
the State of Alaska and will be automatically incorporated into the 
NMFS MMAP database. At the beginning of each calendar year, permitted 
vessel owners and set net operators will be sent an MMAP certificate 
for that year, an MMAP decal, the terms and conditions of the 
authorization, and marine mammal injury and mortality reporting forms. 
MMAP certificates will be valid only if presented with a valid fishing 
permit.
    This integration process is in effect for all Category II Alaska 
fisheries. If a vessel owner plans to participate in one or more of the 
Category II fisheries and is licensed under the State of Alaska's 
Commercial Fisheries Entry Program, the vessel owner will be registered 
automatically in the MMAP and will not have to submit MMAP 
registration, or renewal materials, or a processing fee.

Northwest Region MMAP Registration for 1998

    In the Northwest Region, the States of Washington and Oregon have 
agreed to continue issuing MMAP certificates for Category I and II 
fishers as part of the fishing license renewal process. MMAP 
certificates will be valid only if presented with a valid fishing 
permit. This integration process is in effect for all WA and OR 
Category II fisheries. If a vessel owner plans to participate in one or 
more of the Category II fisheries and has a license issued by the State 
of Oregon or Washington, the vessel owner will be registered 
automatically in the MMAP and will not have to submit MMAP 
registration, or renewal materials, or a processing fee.

Northeast Region MMAP Registration for 1998

    The Northeast Region has integrated MMAP registration with Federal 
and/or state permit processes for the following fisheries: Gulf of 
Maine, U.S. mid-Atlantic lobster fishery; Atlantic squid, mackerel, 
butterfish trawl fishery; and the New England multispecies sink gillnet 
fishery (including, but not limited to, species as defined in the 
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, dogfish, and monkfish). 
The Category I sink gillnet fishery includes regulated and non-
regulated fisheries. Participants in the federally regulated segment 
will be registerd in the MMAP automatically through integration with 
the Federal permit process. Fishers who do not hold a Federal 
multispecies sink gillnet permit and who fish with sink gillnet in 
state waters and/or for non-regulated species (dogfish and monkfish) 
are required to submit an MMAP registration form and processing fee to 
NMFS.
    Federally permitted participants in the squid, mackerel, butterfish 
trawl fishery will be registered in the MMAP automatically through 
integration with the Federal permit process. Fishers who do not hold a 
Federal squid, mackerel, butterfish trawl permit and who trawl for 
those species are required to submit an MMAP registration form and 
processing fee to NMFS.
    State and federally permitted participants in the lobster trap/pot 
fishery will be registered in the MMAP automatically through 
integration with other permit processes.
    For all participants in fisheries for which NMFS has integrated 
registration with permit processes, the vessel owner will be registered 
automatically in the MMAP and will not have to submit MMAP 
registration, or renewal materials, or a processing fee. At the 
beginning of each calendar year, these vessel owners will be sent an 
MMAP certificate for that year, the terms and conditions of the 
authorization, and marine mammal and injury reporting forms. MMAP 
certificates will be valid only if presented with a valid state or 
Federal fishing permit.
    All fishers who plan to participate in any other Category I and II 
fisheries in the Northeast Region must register under the MMAP by 
submitting a registration or renewal form and the processing fee to 
NMFS.

General Requirements

    Vessel owners or operators or fishers (in the case of non-vessel 
fisheries) in Category I, II, or III fisheries must comply with 50 CFR 
229.6 and report all incidental mortality and injury of marine mammals 
during the course of commercial fishing operations to NMFS 
Headquarters. Instructions for submission of reports are found at 50 
CFR 229.6.
    Fishers participating in Category I and II fisheries may be 
required, upon request, to accommodate an observer aboard their 
vessels. Observer requirements may be found at 50 CFR 229.7.

Responses to Comments

    NMFS received four letters of comment on the proposed LOF for 1998, 
which raised several points of concern. These issues and concerns are 
summarized and responded to as follows:

General Comments

    Comment 1: How is a gillnet fishery down-listed? What specific 
levels of observer coverage for individual fisheries are considered 
enough?
    Response: A fishery is down-listed when the annual mortality and 
serious injury estimate decreases to the level defined for the lower 
category. For example, a Category I fishery is defined as having an 
annual mortality and serious injury of any marine mammal stock that is 
greater than or equal to 50 percent of the Potential Biological Removal 
(PBR) level. Generally, a fishery is considered a Category II fishery 
if the annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in that fishery 
is greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent of the PBR level. 
Thus, a Category I fishery will be down listed to Category II when the 
annual mortality and serious injury decreases to below 50 percent of 
the PBR level.
    The level of observer coverage is indirectly related to the 
categorization of a particular fishery. Higher levels of observer 
coverage increase the confidence associated with mortality estimates. 
Lower levels of observer coverage may result in lower confidence levels 
and higher coefficients of variation (CVs) associated with mortality 
estimates. NMFS' guidelines for calculating PBR levels state that, if 
CVs are high, recovery factors can be adjusted downward for threatened 
and depleted stocks or stocks of unknown status (Wade and Angliss, 
1997). Lower recovery factors may slightly decrease PBR values, which 
could affect the categorization of fisheries; however, the largest 
potential decrease in a recovery factor would be from 0.50 to 0.40, 
which would result in a relatively small decrease in the PBR level 
(approximately 20 percent). The likelihood that a small decrease in the 
PBR level would change the categorization of a fishery is remote.
    The level of observer coverage is based on a desired CV that is 
needed for a particular estimate. For example, if the objective of 
sampling is to estimate total

[[Page 5750]]

harbor porpoise mortality, the quantity of sampling will be adjusted to 
attain a certain CV for the harbor porpoise mortality estimate. The CV 
of the bycatch estimate consists of two components: the CV of the 
harbor porpoise bycatch rate and the total fishing effort. These two 
components determine the CV of the total estimate and, therefore, are 
used in developing a sampling schedule.

Comments on Fisheries in the Southwest Region

Comments on the California Squid Seine Fishery

    Comment 2: Technical changes that have occurred in the CA squid 
seine fishery since 1986 have greatly reduced the likelihood of 
incidental takes of marine mammals. Additionally, past mortalities of 
pilot whales and Risso's dolphins that have been attributed to this 
fishery are likely to have been incidences of intentional killing of 
marine mammals rather than of incidental takes. Before an observer 
program is considered for this recently recategorized Category II 
fishery, additional enforcement measures should be undertaken, in 
conjunction with fishery workshops, to ensure that fishers understand 
and comply with regulations regarding takings of marine mammals.
    Response: In 1997, the California squid purse seine fishery was 
reclassified from Category III to Category II. This reclassification 
was based on the recent increase in squid purse seine fishing effort in 
California, the presence of pilot whales in the fishing areas, and 
historical evidence of serious injury and mortality of pilot whales in 
the fishery.
    Under section 118 of the MMPA, NMFS has authority to place 
observers on any vessel participating in a Category I or II fishery. At 
this time, NMFS does not have the funding needed to support an observer 
program for the California squid purse seine fishery. However, due to 
the recent increase in fishing effort in the fishery, the California 
State Legislature recently established a new management and research 
program for the California squid purse seine fishery to regulate the 
fishery more efficiently and to collect information on the biology and 
status of market squid (Loligo opalescens). As part of this research 
program, observers may be placed on purse seine vessels to collect 
biological data. If the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) 
establishes an observer program for the fishery, NMFS will work with it 
to facilitate the collection of information on the fishery's 
interactions with marine mammals, both incidental and intentional.
    The Southwest Region, NMFS, Office of Law Enforcement currently 
implements public outreach programs to educate fishers about Federal 
laws, including the Magnuson-Stevenson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, and the MMPA. These efforts include providing fishers 
with public outreach materials and speaking to them at the docks. NMFS 
will continue to investigate reports of MMPA violations in the 
California squid purse seine fishery (e.g., illegal shootings) and, if 
necessary, to better enforce the MMPA. NMFS will explore the 
possibility of conducting fishers education workshops.

Comments on the California/Oregon Shark/Swordfish Drift Gillnet Fishery

    Comment 3: The California/Oregon shark/swordfish drift gillnet 
fishery should be renamed the ``Pacific pelagic drift net fishery'' to 
better describe both the type of gear employed and the variety of 
species harvested in this fishery.
    Response: The California/Oregon drift gillnet fishery originally 
targeted common thresher shark. Swordfish and shortfin mako shark later 
became commercially important components of the catch. Although 
swordfish, common thresher shark, and mako shark represent 
approximately 90 percent of the total catch by the fishery, other 
species that are commonly caught and landed include opah, big-eye 
thresher, louvar, barracuda, Pacific bonito, dolphinfish, mackerel, 
sardines, white seabass, and tunas (Hanan, et al., 1993). NMFS agrees 
that the nets deployed by the fishery do not capture the fish by the 
gills, rather fish are captured by entanglement in the nets. 
Nevertheless, the CDFG currently refers to the fishery as ``California 
drift gill net fishery for thresher shark and swordfish'' and the 
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) refers to the Oregon 
portion of the fishery as the ``Oregon swordfish drift gill net 
fishery.'' Although NMFS recently issued a rule that requires new 
training, equipment, and gear modifications for operators and vessels 
participating in the fishery (62 FR 51805, October 3, 1997), the CDFG 
and the ODFW have the major responsibility for managing the fishery at 
this time. For this reason, NMFS will continue to defer to the CDFG's 
and the ODFW's designation of the fishery as the ``California/Oregon 
drift gillnet fishery for thresher shark and swordfish.''

Comments on the California Shark and Bonito Longline Fishery

    Comment 4: The commenter questioned the classification of the 
California shark and bonito longline fishery as Category III because 
longline gear is known to interact with marine mammals in other 
fisheries.
    Response: The California shark/bonito longline fishery is a very 
small fishery, with less than 10 vessels currently operating. NMFS has 
found no evidence of serious injuries or mortalities of marine mammals 
associated with this fishery; thus, this fishery will remain in 
Category III. However, because this longline fishery primarily targets 
swordfish, and secondarily targets tunas and several other fish 
species, NMFS is renaming this fishery the ``California offshore 
longline'' fishery.

Comments on Fisheries in the Northwest Region

Oregon Swordfish Floating Longline and Oregon Blue Shark Floating 
Longline Fisheries

    Comment 5: The commenter questioned the classification of the 
Oregon swordfish longline and blue shark longline fishery as Category 
III because longline gear is known to interact with marine mammals in 
other fisheries.
    Response: The commenter is mistaken; the fisheries to which the 
commenter refers are currently placed in Category II. The Oregon 
swordfish/blue shark surface longline fishery, a Category II fishery, 
was divided in 1997 into two separate Category II fisheries to parallel 
more closely the State developmental fisheries licensing practices for 
these fisheries. These fisheries were placed in Category II and renamed 
the ``OR swordfish floating longline fishery'' and the ``OR blue shark 
floating longline fishery.'' NMFS believes that the Oregon swordfish 
floating longline fishery and the Oregon blue shark floating longline 
fisheries should remain in Category II.

Other Comments on Fisheries in the Northwest Region

    Comment 6: The commenter questioned the classification of the 
Washington, Oregon, North Pacific halibut longline fishery and the 
Washington, Oregon, California groundfish, bottomfish longline/set line 
fishery as Category III because longlines are known to interact with 
marine mammals in many areas.
    Response: In recent years, there have been no marine mammal 
mortalities or serious injuries documented for the Washington, Oregon, 
North Pacific

[[Page 5751]]

halibut longline/set line fishery or for the Washington, Oregon, 
California groundfish, bottomfish longline/set line fishery. For this 
reason, these fisheries will remain Category III fisheries. If new 
information becomes available on incidental takes of marine mammals in 
this fishery, NMFS will examine the information and determine whether 
their current classifications are appropriate.

Comments on Fisheries in the Alaska Region

    Comment 7: The commenter questioned the classification of the 
Alaska State waters sablefish longline/set line and the Alaska octopus/
squid longline fisheries as Category III fisheries because longlines 
are known to interact with marine mammals in other areas.
    Response: The Alaska State waters sablefish longline/set line 
fishery was reclassified from Category II to Category III in the 1996 
LOF (60 FR 67085, December 28, 1995) based on the prohibition of 
intentional lethal takes of marine mammals. Based on Hill, et al. 
(``Alaska Marine Mammal Stock Assessments, 1996,'' Appendix 3, 1997) 
there were no reported mortalities or serious injuries of marine 
mammals in either of these fisheries between 1990 and 1994; however, 
these fisheries have never been observed. Additionally, there were no 
reported mortalities and serious injuries in these fisheries from 
logbook data collected between 1990 and 1993 or from stranding data 
between 1990 and 1994.
    At a recent meeting of the AK Scientific Review Group (SRG), the 
SRG recommended that, in the absence of information, NMFS should not 
assume that fishers are likely to not report or under-report incidental 
mortalities of marine mammals in the course of commercial fishing 
operations. The current information supports the placement of these 
fisheries in Category III. NMFS will evaluate any new information that 
becomes available on the rate of serious injury and mortality 
incidental to these fisheries and will make changes to the LOF, as 
appropriate.
    Comment 8: The commenter expressed concern about the lack of 
observer programs in Alaska and in other areas of the northwest and 
believes that many of the Category II and Category III gillnet 
fisheries are likely to have interactions that are greater than what is 
being documented. There are several fisheries in Alaska that are stated 
to have no documented interactions with marine mammals.
    Response: NMFS agrees. A marine mammal observer program is needed 
in Alaska to provide the data needed to classify fisheries and to 
otherwise manage incidental takes of marine mammals. NMFS is in the 
process of implementing an observer program to monitor incidental takes 
of marine mammals by commercial fisheries in Alaskan nearshore waters. 
This multi-year program will focus on Category II Alaskan fisheries. 
Observers will be deployed in 8 of the 11 Category II fisheries in 
Alaska over the next 5 years. The observed fisheries will include: AK 
Cook Inlet salmon set gillnet, AK Cook Inlet drift gillnet, AK Yakutat 
salmon set gillnet, AK Bristol Bay set driftnet, AK Bristol Bay drift 
gillnet, AK Kodiak salmon set gillnet, Southeast AK salmon drift 
gillnet, and the AK Southeast salmon purse seine fishery. Funding 
limitations may delay the start date of this program until the summer 
of 1999.

Comments on Fisheries in the Northeast and Southeast Regions

Comments on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Coastal Gillnet Fishery

    Comment 9: The commenter questioned how NMFS can justify placing 
the mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery in Category II for bottlenose dolphin, 
when the PBR level for the coastal bottlenose dolphin stock is unknown. 
The commenter does not support the current calculated PBR level of 25 
animals.
    Response: The current PBR level for the Atlantic coastal bottlenose 
dolphin is based on the best available information. This PBR level was 
calculated based on survey results as described in the Atlantic Marine 
Mammal Stock Assessment Report and was peer-reviewed by the Atlantic 
Scientific Review Group, an external panel convened to advise NMFS on 
its Stock Assessment Reports (SARs). Although it is true that the exact 
stock structure for coastal bottlenose dolphins is unknown and, thus, 
the PBR level is necessarily uncertain, a significant body of knowledge 
regarding this stock structure is currently available and forms the 
basis for the current PBR level.
    NMFS has allocated funding in 1998 to expand observer coverage in 
the mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery and to support research aimed 
at defining the stock structure and at generating better population 
estimates for Atlantic coastal bottlenose dolphin. As new information 
becomes available on this fishery and on the rate of serious injury and 
mortality incidental to this fishery, NMFS will analyze this 
information to determine whether it warrants reclassification of the 
fishery.
    Comment 10: The mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery should not be 
subdivided at this time. It would be difficult to divide this fishery 
using the target species as the criterion because, in many of these 
fisheries, the target species differs from the predominant catch. In 
addition, data on marine mammal bycatch are so few that no 
justification exists at the time for sub-dividing a fishery by whether 
certain components seem more or less likely to interact with marine 
mammals. These fisheries should remain combined until complete and 
accurate data are collected on marine mammals bycatch levels and on the 
individual fisheries in this region.
    Response: NMFS agrees. The information currently available on the 
composition and distribution of the Mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet 
fishery and on its incidental take levels is insufficient to identify 
distinct sub-components of this fishery.
    NMFS has allocated funding in 1998 to expand its observer coverage 
of this fishery and to obtain a better characterization of the 
individual sub-components that comprise it.
    Comment 11: Regarding the U.S. mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet 
fishery, NMFS should, where feasible, separate the sink gillnet 
fisheries according to their target species.

Response: See response to Comment 10.

Comments on the North Atlantic Bottom Trawl Fishery

    Comment 12: Information presented at the serious injury and 
mortality workshop regarding the North Atlantic bottom trawl fishery 
documents interactions with marine mammals. Given the limited observer 
coverage to date in this fishery and the inability of NMFS to put 
observers aboard Category III vessels, this information supports 
recategorizing this fishery from Category III to Category II, so that 
additional information on marine mammal bycatch may be gathered.
    Response: NMFS is evaluating the levels of marine mammal mortality 
and serious injuries that occur incidentally to this fishery. This 
fishery is difficult to characterize because it is not a homogeneous 
fishery relative to target species, spatial/temporal fishing 
operations, vessel fishing power and net size, and other factors.
    There is currently a very low level of observer coverage in this 
fishery (approximately 1 percent). Because the fishery is so diverse, 
NMFS cannot assume that the likelihood of

[[Page 5752]]

encountering a marine mammal is similar in all areas where bottom trawl 
fishing occurs (i.e., inshore vs. offshore; low relief vs. more complex 
bottom topography). As a result, NMFS believes that it may be 
inappropriate to extrapolate this limited observer data across the 
entire fishery.
    At this time, there are no clear trends in the current observer 
data set that can be used to discern problem fishing areas and identify 
sub-components of this fishery.
    NMFS plans to conduct a thorough evaluation of marine mammal 
bycatch and total effort in this fishery in order to determine whether 
this fishery should be proposed for reclassification in 1999.

Comments on Category III Trap/Pot Fisheries in the Atlantic

    Comment 13: The lobster pot fishery is a Category I fishery partly 
because of its potential to entangle marine mammals in its buoy lines. 
By analogy, all Category III trap/pot fisheries in the Atlantic should 
be placed in Category I.
    Response: NMFS considers classification by analogy, especially if 
there is other information, such as a significant overlap in the 
distribution of marine mammals and the geographic location of a 
fishery, that provide evidence of a high probability of interactions 
with marine mammals. In this case, the NMFS Southeast Regional Office 
examined various pot/trap fisheries in waters of the southeastern U.S. 
and found that the geographic distribution of these fisheries generally 
precluded them from interacting with right whales. NMFS is continuing 
to analyze various trap/pot gear and the locations where they are used 
to determine whether the current classification is appropriate. If new 
information becomes available on the potential for serious injury or 
mortality of marine mammals in Atlantic trap/pot fisheries, NMFS will 
evaluate this information and propose recategorization as appropriate.

Justification for the Categorization of Commercial Fisheries

    The following are justifications for the final categorization of 
commercial fisheries into Category I, II, or III based on the 
classification scheme defined in the final rule implementing section 
118 of the MMPA (60 FR 45086, August 30, 1995). Discussions are 
presented for those fisheries specifically addressed in the proposed 
LOF for 1998 (62 FR 28657, May 27, 1997) as well as one additional 
fishery.

U.S. Mid-Atlantic Coastal Gillnet Fishery

    The U.S. mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery was classified in 
Category II in the 1992 LOF (57 FR 20328, May 12, 1992), based on a 
level of incidental mortality and serious injury of several species of 
marine mammals, including mid-Atlantic coastal bottlenose dolphins, 
harbor porpoise, and humpback whales. Since then, new information has 
become available on the interactions of this fishery with harbor 
porpoise and coastal bottlenose dolphin. NMFS has two sources of data 
on the level of serious injury and mortality in this fishery: (1) 
Observed mortalities of harbor porpoise on vessels targeting monkfish 
and dogfish; and (2) evidence from bottlenose dolphin strandings that 
were likely caused by interactions with gillnet vessels.
    The Northeast Fisheries Science Center presented preliminary data 
at a recent meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Take Reduction Team that 
estimated that 192 harbor porpoise are killed annually in the observed 
portion of the fishery (NMFS, unpublished data). Based on observer 
data, the estimated serious injury and mortality of harbor porpoise in 
this segment of the fishery is under 50 percent of the PBR level for 
harbor porpoise, which is currently 483 animals; thus, the retention of 
this fishery in Category II on the basis of harbor porpoise takes is 
justified at this time based on extrapolations from currently available 
observer data.
    Between 1993 and early October 15, 1997, stranded bottlenose 
dolphins from New Jersey to North Carolina were necropsied and examined 
for signs of fishery interaction. Examination of these carcasses 
indicated that an average of 17.6 bottlenose dolphins (86 total 
animals) which stranded annually during this time period had 
identifiable evidence of fishing interactions (NMFS, unpublished data). 
Of these animals, net marks were found on an average of 12.51 animals 
per year. The current PBR level for coastal bottlenose dolphin is 25 
animals. A conservative interpretation of the stranding data suggests a 
level of incidental mortality of almost exactly 50 percent of the PBR 
level. Because this take level places this fishery on the borderline 
between Category II and Category I and is based exclusively on 
stranding data, a recategorization of this fishery from Category III to 
Category II is not appropriate at this time. NMFS plans to conduct a 
closer analysis of stranding data in the mid-Atlantic region and will 
propose a recategorization of the mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery 
in 1999, if appropriate.

U.S. Mid-Atlantic Tuna Gillnet Fishery

    In the proposed LOF for 1998, NMFS requested public comments on 
whether a new drift gillnet fishery was operating in the U.S. mid-
Atlantic region, targeting primarily yellowfin and albacore tunas. NMFS 
did not receive any comments providing new information on this fishery. 
If a fishery is operating in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region targeting 
yellowfin and albacore tunas, as well as bonito and little tunny, NMFS 
believes that it is operating with similar mesh gear and in the same 
relatively shallow waters as the Mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery. 
NMFS does not believe that this fishery operates in the same area or 
with the same gear as the ``Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico 
large pelagics drift gillnet'' fishery. Accordingly, NMFS believes that 
this fishery should be considered part of the Mid-Atlantic coastal 
gillnet fishery. The Mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery, as described 
in the 1997 LOF (62 FR 33, January 2, 1997), includes all gillnet 
fishing in coastal waters (inside the 100 fathom curve) from 
72 deg.30'W. long to the North Carolina-South Carolina border, except 
for gillnet fisheries in Category III that occur solely within bays, 
estuaries, and rivers. Subsequently, this fishery would be subject to 
any regulations that were developed for the Mid-Atlantic coastal 
gillnet fishery, including those specified in both the Large Whale Take 
Reduction Plan (62 FR 39157, July 22, 1997) and the Mid-Atlantic Take 
Reduction Plan (a proposed Mid-Atlantic Take Reduction Plan is expected 
to be published in February 1998).
    NMFS will continue to collect information on the use of this gear 
and to characterize this component of the Mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet 
fishery with respect to geographic location, number of participants, 
target species, gear type, and fishing methods.

Atlantic Pelagic Mid-water Herring Trawl Fishery

    The current LOF includes a classification for the Gulf of Maine, 
Southern North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico coastal herring trawl fishery, 
a Category III fishery. Based on information provided in association 
with Framework Adjustment 18 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP), NMFS believes that a further-offshore Atlantic 
herring trawl fishery also exists. NMFS believes that this fishery is 
comprised of approximately 35 vessels operating in the Gulf of Maine/
Northwest Atlantic. NMFS notes

[[Page 5753]]

that this pelagic mid-water trawl fishery utilizes different gear than 
the coastal fishery and may be operating at time and in locations where 
there is a high density of harbor porpoise.
    This fishery utilizes gear that is similar to gear used in the 
Atlantic squid, mackerel, butterfish trawl fishery, a Category II 
fishery. Because of the similarities between these two fisheries, NMFS 
anticipates that several of the vessels that operate in the pelagic 
herring trawl fishery would be registered in the MMAP as participants 
in the Atlantic squid, mackerel, butterfish trawl fishery. In addition, 
NMFS believes that some herring trawl vessels may have permits to 
operate in the Northeast multispecies sink gillnet fishery.
    Because this herring trawl fishery uses similar gear to the 
Atlantic squid, mackerel, butterfish trawl fishery (a Category II 
fishery), and because of its potential to interact with harbor 
porpoise, it should be considered a Category II fishery. However, in 
order to provide sufficient opportunity for public notice and comment, 
NMFS is not adding this fishery to the LOF at this time. NMFS plans to 
propose a categorization for this fishery in the proposed 1999 LOF and 
provide opportunity for public comment at that time.
    Although this fishery is not being added to the LOF at this time, 
NMFS will continue to have the authority to place observers on pelagic 
herring trawl vessels under the Magnuson-Stevenson Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act. NMFS will continue to evaluate observer data and 
any new information that becomes available on the levels of serious 
injury and mortality of marine mammals that are occurring incidental to 
this fishery.

Summary of Changes to the LOF for 1998

    With the following exceptions, the placement and definitions of 
U.S. commercial fisheries are identical to those provided in the LOF 
for 1997, and, thus, the majority of the LOF for 1997 remains valid in 
1998. The following summarizes the changes in fishery definitions, the 
number of participants in a particular fishery, the species that are 
designated as strategic stocks, and the species and/or stocks that are 
incidentally killed or seriously injured that are made final by this 
LOF for 1998:
    Fishery definition: The ``California shark/bonito longline'' 
fishery is renamed the ``California offshore longline'' fishery.

Changes Resulting From Final 1996 SARs

    The table in the LOF that lists all U.S. commercial fisheries, the 
number of participants in each fishery, and the marine mammal species 
and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in each fishery was 
updated to include the following changes in the final SARs which were 
made available to the public on January 2, 1998 (63 FR 60):
    The Western North Atlantic stock of offshore bottlenose dolphin was 
designated as non-strategic.
    The stock formerly known as the Alaska harbor porpoise was divided 
into three stocks: the Southeast Alaska stock, the Gulf of Alaska 
stock, and the Bering Sea stock.
    The Cook Inlet stock of beluga whales was designated as strategic.

Other Changes to the LOF

    The number of participants in both the ``North Carolina haul 
seine'' fishery and the southeastern ``U.S. Atlantic, Caribbean haul 
seine'' fishery were updated in 1998 and changes are reflected in 
Tables 1 and 2 of this document.
    The Western North Atlantic stock of coastal bottlenose dolphin are 
added to the list of species that incurs incidental injury or mortality 
incidental to the ``Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, 
Caribbean spiny lobster trap/pot'' fishery.
    The Hawaiian stock of spinner dolphin and the Hawaiian stock of 
short-finned pilot whale were added to the list of species that incurs 
incidental injury or mortality incidental to the ``Hawaii swordfish, 
tuna, billfish, mahi mahi, wahoo, oceanic, sharks longline/set line'' 
fishery.
    The Southeast Alaska stock of harbor porpoise was added to the list 
of species that incurs incidental injury or mortality to the ``Alaska 
crustacean pot'' fishery.
    In addition to these changes, there were several typographical 
errors that have been corrected since the publication of the tables in 
the 1998 proposed LOF. These corrections are reflected in Tables 1 and 
2 of this final LOF.

List of Fisheries

    The following two tables list the commercial fisheries of the 
United States according to their assigned categories under section 118 
of the MMPA. The estimated number of vessels is expressed in terms of 
the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If 
this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or 
persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent 
information is available on the number of participants in a fishery, 
the number from the 1996 LOF is used. The information on which marine 
mammal species/stocks are involved in interactions with the fishery is 
based on observer data, logbook data, stranding reports, and fishers' 
reports. Only those species or stocks known to incur injury or 
mortality are listed. There are a few fisheries that are in Category II 
and have no recent documented interactions with marine mammals. 
Justifications for placement of these fisheries are found in the final 
LOF for 1996 (60 FR 45086, December 28, 1995).

References

Wade Paul R. and Robyn P. Angliss, ``Guidelines for Assessing Marine 
Mammal Stocks: Report of the GAAMS Workshop April 3-5, 1996,'' 
Seattle, Washington, U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-OPR-
12,93p, 1997.
Hanan, D.A., D.B. Holts, and A.L. Coan, Jr., ``The California drift 
gill net fishery for sharks and swordfish, 1981-82 through 1990-
91.'' California Department of Fish and Game. Fish Bulletin 175, 
1993.

[[Page 5754]]



                       Table 1.--List of Fisheries                      
               [Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean]              
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Estimated                           
                                      No. of     Marine mammal species/ 
       Fishery description           vessels/      stocks incidentally  
                                     persons         injured/killed     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Category I:                                                  
Gillnet fisheries:                                                      
    CA angel shark/halibut and              58  Harbor porpoise, central
     other species large mesh                    CA.                    
     (>3.5in) set gillnet fishery.              Common dolphin, short-  
                                                 beaked, CA/OR/WA.      
                                                Common dolphin, long-   
                                                 beaked CA.             
                                                California sea lion,    
                                                 U.S.                   
                                                Harbor seal, CA.        
                                                Northern elephant seal, 
                                                 CA breeding.           
    CA/OR thresher shark/                  150  Steller sea lion,       
     swordfish drift gillnet                     Eastern U.S.*+         
     fishery.                                   Sperm whale, CA to WA.*+
                                                Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/ 
                                                 WA.                    
                                                Pacific white sided     
                                                 dolphin, CA/OR/WA.     
                                                Risso's dolphin, CA/OR/ 
                                                 WA.                    
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, CA/ 
                                                 OR/WA offshore.        
                                                Common dolphin, short-  
                                                 beaked, CA/OR/WA.      
                                                Common dolphin, long-   
                                                 beaked, CA.            
                                                Northern right whale    
                                                 dolphin, CA/OR/WA.     
                                                Short-finned pilot      
                                                 whale, CA/OR/WA.*      
                                                Baird's beaked whale, CA/
                                                 OR/WA.                 
                                                Mesoplodont beaked      
                                                 whales, CA to WA.*     
                                                Cuvier's beaked whale,  
                                                 CA/OR/WA.              
                                                Pygmy sperm whale, CA/OR/
                                                 WA.*                   
                                                California sea lion,    
                                                 U.S.                   
                                                Harbor seal, CA.        
                                                Northern elephant seal, 
                                                 CA breeding.           
                                                Harbor porpoise, OR/WA  
                                                 coastal.               
                                                Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA-
                                                 Mexico.                
                                                Minke whale, CA/OR/WA.* 
           Category II:                                                 
Gillnet fisheries:                                                      
    AK Prince William Sound                518  Steller sea lion,       
     salmon drift gillnet.                       Western U.S.*+         
                                                Northern fur seal, North
                                                 Pacific.*              
                                                Harbor seal, GOA.*      
                                                Pacific white-sided     
                                                 dolphin, central North 
                                                 Pacific.               
                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA.   
                                                Dall's porpoise, AK.    
    AK Peninsula/Aleutians salmon          164  Northern fur seal, North
     drift gillnet fishery.                      Pacific.               
                                                Harbor seal, GOA.       
                                                Harbor seal, Bering Sea.
                                                Harbor porpoise, Bering 
                                                 Sea.                   
                                                Dall's porpoise, AK.    
                                                Northern (Alaska) sea   
                                                 otter, Pacific.        
    AK Peninsula/ Aleutian Island          109  Steller sea lion,       
     salmon set gillnet.                         Western U.S.*+         
                                                Harbor porpoise, Bering 
                                                 Sea.                   
    Southeast Alaska salmon drift          452  Steller sea lion,       
     gillnet fishery.                            Eastern U.S.*+         
                                                Harbor seal, Southeast  
                                                 AK.                    
                                                Pacific white-sided     
                                                 dolphin, central North 
                                                 Pacific.               
                                                Harbor porpoise,        
                                                 Southeast Alaska.      
                                                Dall's porpoise, AK.    
                                                Humpback whale, central 
                                                 North Pacific.*+       
    AK Cook Inlet drift gillnet..          577  Steller sea lion,       
                                                 Western U.S.*+         
                                                Harbor seal, GOA.*      
                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA.   
                                                Dall's porpoise, AK.    
    AK Cook Inlet salmon set               625  Steller sea lion,       
     gillnet.                                    Western U.S.*+         
                                                Harbor seal, GOA.*      
                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA.   
                                                Beluga, Cook Inlet.*    
    AK Yakutat salmon set gillnet          147  Harbor seal, Southeast  
                                                 AK.                    
    AK Kodiak salmon set gillnet.          173  Harbor seal, GOA.*      
                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA.   

[[Page 5755]]

                                                                        
    AK Bristol Bay drift gillnet.       1,882.  Steller sea lion,       
                                                 Western U.S.*+         
                                                Northern fur seal, North
                                                 Pacific.*              
                                                Harbor seal, Bering Sea.
                                                Beluga, Bristol Bay.    
                                                Gray whale, Eastern     
                                                 North Pacific.         
                                                Spotted seal, AK.       
                                                Pacific white-sided     
                                                 dolphin, central       
                                                North Pacific.          
    AK Bristol Bay set gillnet...          967  Harbor seal, Bering Sea.
                                                Beluga, Bristol Bay.    
                                                Gray whale, Eastern     
                                                 North Pacific.         
                                                Northern fur seal, North
                                                 Pacific.               
    AK Metlakatla/Annette Island            60  None documented.        
     salmon drift gillnet.                                              
    WA Puget Sound Region salmon           900  Harbor porpoise, inland 
     drift gillnet fishery                       WA.                    
     (includes all inland waters                Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/ 
     south of US-Canada border                   WA.                    
     and eastward of the Bonilla-               Harbor seal, WA inland. 
     Tatoosh line--Treaty Indian                                        
     fishing is excluded).                                              
Purse seine fisheries:                                                  
    CA anchovy, mackerel, tuna             150  Bottlenose dolphin, CA/ 
     purse seine.                                OR/WA offshore.        
                                                California sea lion,    
                                                 U.S.                   
                                                Harbor seal, CA.        
    CA squid purse seine.........           65  Pilot whales, short-    
                                                 finned, CA/OR/WA.      
    AK Southeast salmon purse              373  Humpback whale, central 
     seine.                                      North Pacific.+        
Trawl fisheries:                                                        
    AK pair trawl................            2  None documented.        
Longline fisheries:                                                     
    OR swordfish floating                    2  None documented.        
     longline fishery.                                                  
    OR blue shark floating                   1  None documented.        
     longline fishery.                                                  
           Category III                                                 
Gillnet fisheries:                                                      
    AK Prince William Sound set             22  Steller sea lion,       
     gillnet.                                    Western U.S.*+         
                                                Harbor seal, GOA.       
    AK Kuskokwim, Yukon, Norton          1,690  None documented.        
     Sound, Kotzebue salmon                                             
     gillnet.                                                           
    AK roe herring and food/bait            16  None documented.        
     herring gillnet.                                                   
    WA, OR herring, smelt, shad,           913  None documented.        
     sturgeon, bottom fish,                                             
     mullet, perch, rockfish                                            
     gillnet.                                                           
    WA Willapa Bay drift gillnet.           82  Harbor seal, OR/WA      
                                                 coast.                 
                                                Northern elephant seal, 
                                                 CA breeding.           
    WA Grays Harbor salmon drift            24  Harbor seal, OR/WA      
     gillnet (excluding treaty                   coast.                 
     Tribal fishing).                                                   
    WA, OR lower Columbia River            110  California sea lion,    
     (includes tributaries) drift                U.S.                   
     gillnet.                                   Harbor seal, OR/WA      
                                                 coast.                 
    CA set and drift gillnet               341  None documented.        
     fisheries that use a                                               
     stretched mesh size of 3.5                                         
     in or less.                                                        
    AK miscellaneous finfish set             9  Steller sea lion,       
     gillnet.                                    Western U.S.+          
    Hawaii gillnet...............          115  Bottlenose dolphin,     
                                                 Hawaiian.              
                                                Spinner dolphin,        
                                                 Hawaiian.              
Purse seine, beach seine, round                                         
 haul and throw net fisheries:                                          
    AK salmon purse seine (except          763  Harbor seal, GOA.       
     Southeast Alaska, which is                                         
     in Category II).                                                   
    AK salmon beach seine........            8  None documented.        
    AK roe herring and food/bait           480  None documented.        
     herring purse seine.                                               
    AK roe herring and food/bait             7  None documented.        
     herring beach seine.                                               
    AK Metlakatla purse seine....           10  None documented.        
    AK octopus/squid purse seine.            6  None documented.        
    CA herring purse seine.......          100  California sea lion,    
                                                 U.S.                   
                                                Harbor seal, CA.        
    CA sardine purse seine.......          120  None documented.        
    AK miscellaneous finfish                 7  None documented.        
     purse seine.                                                       
    AK miscellaneous finfish                 1  None documented.        
     beach seine.                                                       
    WA salmon purse seine........          440  None documented.        
    WA salmon reef net...........           53  None documented.        
    WA, OR herring, smelt, squid           130  None documented.        
     purse seine or lampara.                                            
    WA (all species) beach seine           235  None documented.        
     or drag seine.                                                     
    HI purse seine...............           18  None documented.        
    HI opelu/akule net...........           16  None documented.        
    HI throw net, cast net.......           47  None documented.        

[[Page 5756]]

                                                                        
Dip net fisheries:                                                      
    WA, OR smelt, herring dip net          119  None documented.        
    CA squid dip net.............          115  None documented.        
Marine aquaculture fisheries:                                           
    WA, OR salmon net pens.......           21  California sea lion,    
                                                 U.S.                   
    CA salmon enhancement rearing           >1  None documented.        
     pen.                                                               
    OR salmon ranch..............            1  None documented.        
Troll fisheries:                                                        
    AK salmon troll..............        1,278  Steller sea lion,       
                                                 Eastern U.S.*+         
    CA/OR/WA salmon troll........        4,300  None documented.        
    AK north Pacific halibut, AK         1,354  None documented.        
     bottom fish, WA, OR, CA                                            
     albacore, groundfish, bottom                                       
     fish, CA halibut non-                                              
     salmonid troll.                                                    
    HI trolling, rod and reel....        1,795  None documented.        
    Guam tuna troll..............           50  None documented.        
    Commonwealth of the Northern            50  None documented.        
     Mariana Islands tuna troll.                                        
    American Samoa tuna troll....          <50  None documented.        
    HI net unclassified..........          106  None documented.        
Longline/set line fisheries:                                            
    AK state waters sablefish              240  None documented.        
     long line/set line.                                                
    Miscellaneous finfish/               1,220  Harbor seal, GOA.*      
     groundfish longline/set line.              Harbor seal, Bering Sea.
                                                Northern elephant seal, 
                                                 CA breeding.           
                                                Dall's porpoise, AK.    
                                                Steller sea lion,       
                                                 Western U.S.           
                                                Harbor seal, Southeast  
                                                 AK.                    
    HI swordfish, tuna, billfish,          140  Hawaiian monk seal,     
     mahi mahi, wahoo, oceanic                   HI.*+                  
     sharks longline/set line.                  Humpback whale, Central 
                                                 North Pacific.*+       
                                                Risso's dolphin,        
                                                 Hawaiian.              
                                                Bottlenose dolphin,     
                                                 Hawaiian.              
                                                Spinner dolphin,        
                                                 Hawaiian.              
                                                Short-finned pilot      
                                                 whale, Hawaiian.       
    WA, OR North Pacific halibut           350  None documented.        
     longline/set line.                                                 
    AK southern Bering Sea,                226  Northern elephant seal, 
     Aleutian Islands, and                       CA breeding.           
     Western Gulf of Alaska                     Killer whale, resident. 
     sablefish longline/set line                Killer whale, transient.
     (federally regulated waters).              Steller sea lion,       
                                                 western U.S.           
                                                Pacific white-sided     
                                                 dolphin, central       
                                                North Pacific.          
    AK halibut longline/set line         2,396  Steller sea lion,       
     (state and Federal waters).                 Western U.S.*+         
    WA, OR, CA groundfish,                 367  None documented.        
     bottomfish longline/set line.                                      
    AK octopus/squid longline....            2  None documented.        
    CA offshore longline.........           10  None documented.        
Trawl fisheries:                                                        
    WA, OR, CA shrimp trawl......          300  None documented.        
    AK shrimp otter trawl and               48  None documented.        
     beam trawl (statewide and                                          
     Cook Inlet).                                                       
    AK Gulf of Alaska groundfish           209  Steller sea lion,       
     trawl.                                      Western U.S.*+ Northern
                                                 fur seal, North        
                                                 Pacific* Harbor seal,  
                                                 GOA* Dall's porpoise,  
                                                 AK Northern elephant   
                                                 seal, CA breeding.     
    AK Bering Sea and Aleutian             186  Steller sea lion,       
     Islands groundfish trawl.                   Western U.S.*+         
                                                Northern fur seal, North
                                                 Pacific*.              
                                                Killer whale, resident. 
                                                Killer whale, transient.
                                                Pacific white-sided     
                                                 dolphin, central.      
                                                North Pacific.          
                                                Harbor porpoise, Bering 
                                                 Sea.                   
                                                Harbor seal, Bering Sea.
                                                Harbor seal, GOA*.      
                                                Bearded seal, AK.       
                                                Ringed seal, AK.        
                                                Dall's porpoise, AK.    
                                                Ribbon seal, AK.        
                                                Northern elephant seal, 
                                                 CA breeding.           
                                                Northern (Alaska) sea   
                                                 otter, Pacific.        
                                                Walrus, Pacific.        
    AK state-managed waters of               8  None documented.        
     Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay,                                          
     Prince William Sound,                                              
     Southeast AK groundfish                                            
     trawl.                                                             

[[Page 5757]]

                                                                        
    AK miscellaneous finfish               391  None documented.        
     otter or beam trawl.                                               
    AK food/bait herring trawl...            3  None documented.        
    WA, OR, CA groundfish trawl..          585  Steller sea lion,       
                                                 Western U.S.*+         
                                                Northern fur seal, North
                                                 Pacific*.              
                                                Pacific white-sided     
                                                 dolphin, central.      
                                                North Pacific.          
                                                Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/ 
                                                 WA.                    
                                                California sea lion,    
                                                 U.S.                   
                                                Harbor seal, OR/WA      
                                                 coast.                 
Pot, ring net, and trap                                                 
 fisheries:                                                             
    AK crustacean pot............        1,511  Harbor porpoise,        
                                                 Southeast Alaska.      
    AK Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska          486  Harbor seal, GOA*.      
     finfish pot.                               Harbor seal, Bering Sea.
                                                Northern (AK) sea otter,
                                                 Pacific.               
    WA, OR, CA sablefish pot.....          176  None documented.        
    WA, OR, CA crab pot..........        1,478  None documented.        
    WA, OR shrimp pot & trap.....          254  None documented.        
    CA lobster, prawn, shrimp,             608  None documented.        
     rock crab, fish pot.                                               
    OR, CA hagfish pot or trap...           25  None documented.        
    HI lobster trap..............           15  Hawaiian monk seal,     
                                                 HI.*+                  
    HI crab trap.................           22  None documented.        
    HI fish trap.................           19  None documented.        
    HI shrimp trap...............            5  None documented.        
Handline and jig fisheries:                                             
    AK North Pacific halibut               119  None documented.        
     handline and mechanical jig.                                       
    AK other finfish handline and          598  None documented.        
     mechanical jig.                                                    
    AK octopus/squid handline....            2  None documented.        
    WA groundfish, bottomfish jig          679  None documented.        
    HI aku boat, pole and line...           54  None documented.        
    HI inshore handline..........          650  Bottlenose dolphin, HI. 
    HI deep sea bottomfish.......          434  Hawaiian monk seal,     
                                                 HI.*+                  
    HI tuna......................          144  Rough-toothed dolphin,  
                                                 HI. Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                 HI Hawaiian monk seal, 
                                                 HI.*+                  
    Guam bottomfish..............          <50  None documented.        
    Commonwealth of the Northern           <50  None documented.        
     Mariana Islands bottomfish.                                        
    American Samoa bottomfish....          <50  None documented         
Harpoon fisheries:                                                      
    CA swordfish harpoon.........          228  None documented.        
Pound net/weir fisheries:                                               
    AK Southeast Alaska herring              4  None documented.        
     food/bait pound net.                                               
    WA herring brush weir........            1  None documented.        
Bait pens:                                                              
    WA/OR/CA bait pens...........           13  None documented.        
Dredge fisheries:                                                       
    Coastwide scallop dredge.....          106  None documented.        
Dive, hand/mechanical collection                                        
 fisheries:                                                             
    AK abalone...................           44  None documented.        
    AK dungeness crab............            2  None documented.        
    AK herring spawn-on-kelp.....          314  None documented.        
    AK urchin and other fish/               17  None documented.        
     shellfish.                                                         
    AK clam hand shovel..........           53  None documented.        
    AK clam mechanical/hydraulic           104  None documented.        
     fishery.                                                           
    WA herring spawn-on-kelp.....            4  None documented.        
    WA/OR sea urchin, other clam,          637  None documented.        
     octopus, oyster, sea                                               
     cucumber, scallop, ghost                                           
     shrimp hand, dive, or                                              
     mechanical collection.                                             
    CA abalone...................          111  None documented         
    CA sea urchin................          583  None documented.        
    HI squiding, spear...........          267  None documented.        
    HI lobster diving............            6  None documented.        
    HI coral diving..............            2  None documented.        
    HI handpick..................          135  None documented.        
    WA shellfish aquaculture.....          684  None documented.        
    WA, CA kelp..................            4  None documented.        
    HI fish pond.................           10  None documented.        

[[Page 5758]]

                                                                        
Commercial passenger fishing                                            
 vessel (charter boat) fisheries:                                       
    AK, WA, OR, CA commercial          >17,000  None documented.        
     passenger fishing vessel.      (16,276 AK                          
                                         only)                          
    AK octopus/squid ``other''...           19  None documented.        
    HI ``other''.................          114  None documented.        
Live finfish/shellfish fisheries:                                       
    CA finfish and shellfish live           93  None documented.        
     trap/hook-and-line.                                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Marine mammal stock is strategic.                                     
+ Stock is listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA, or as      
  depleted under the MMPA.                                              
 List of Abbreviations Used in Table 1.                                 
 AK--Alaska.                                                            
 CA--California.                                                        
 HI--Hawaii.                                                            
 OR--Oregon.                                                            
 GOA--Gulf of Alaska.                                                   
 WA--Washington.                                                        


                       Table 2.--List of Fisheries                      
    [Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and    
                               Caribbean]                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Estimated                           
                                      No. of     Marine mammal species/ 
      Description of fishery         vessels/      stocks incidentally  
                                     persons         injured/killed     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Category I                                                  
Gillnet fisheries:                                                      
    Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean,              15  North Atlantic right    
     Gulf of Mexico large                        whale, WNA.*+          
     pelagics drift gillnet.                    Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
                                                Sperm whale, WNA.*+     
                                                Dwarf sperm whale, WNA.*
                                                Pygmy sperm whale, WNA.*
                                                Cuvier's beaked whale,  
                                                 WNA.*                  
                                                True's beaked whale,    
                                                 WNA.*                  
                                                Gervais' beaked whale,  
                                                 WNA.*                  
                                                Blainville's beaked     
                                                 whale, WNA.*           
                                                Risso's dolphin, WNA.   
                                                Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                 WNA.*                  
                                                Short-finned pilot      
                                                 whale, WNA.*           
                                                White-sided dolphin,    
                                                 WNA.                   
                                                Common dolphin, WNA.*   
                                                Atlantic spotted        
                                                 dolphin, WNA.*         
                                                Pantropical spotted     
                                                 dolphin, WNA.*         
                                                Striped dolphin, WNA.   
                                                Spinner dolphin, WNA.   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 offshore.              
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
    Northeast multispecies sink            341  North Atlantic right    
     gillnet (including species                  whale, WNA.*+          
     as defined in the                          Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
     Multispecies Fisheries                     Minke whale, Canadian   
     Management Plan and spiny                   east coast.            
     dogfish and monkfish).                     Killer whale, WNA.      
                                                White-sided dolphin,    
                                                 WNA.                   
                                                Striped dolphin, WNA.   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 offshore.              
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
                                                Harbor seal, WNA.       
                                                Gray seal, Northwest    
                                                 North Atlantic.        
                                                Common dolphin.         
                                                Fin whale.              
                                                Spotted dolphin.        
                                                False killer whale.     
                                                Harp seal.              

[[Page 5759]]

                                                                        
Longline fisheries:                                                     
    Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean,             361  Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
     Gulf of Mexico large                       Minke whale, Canadian   
     pelagics longline.                          east coast.            
                                                Risso's dolphin, WNA.   
                                                Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                 WNA.*                  
                                                Short-finned pilot      
                                                 whale, WNA.*           
                                                Common dolphin, WNA.*   
                                                Atlantic spotted        
                                                 dolphin, WNA.*         
                                                Pantropical spotted     
                                                 dolphin, WNA.*         
                                                Striped dolphin, WNA.   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 offshore.              
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX 
                                                 Outer.                 
                                                Continental Shelf.      
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX 
                                                 Continental.           
                                                Shelf Edge and Slope.   
                                                Atlantic spotted        
                                                 dolphin, Northern.     
                                                GMX.                    
                                                Pantropical spotted     
                                                 dolphin,               
                                                Northern GMX.           
                                                Risso's dolphin,        
                                                 Northern GMX.          
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
Trap/pot fisheries--lobster                                             
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. mid-            13,000  North Atlantic right    
     Atlantic lobster trap/pot.                  whale, WNA.*+          
                                                Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
                                                Fin whale, WNA.*        
                                                Minke whale, Canadian   
                                                 east coast.            
                                                White-sided dolphin,    
                                                 WNA.                   
                                                Harbor seal, WNA.       
           Category II                                                  
Gillnet fisheries:                                                      
    U.S. mid-Atlantic coastal             >655  Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
     gillnet fishery.                           Minke whale, Canadian   
                                                 east coast.            
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 offshore.              
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 coastal.*+             
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
    Gulf of Maine small pelagics           133  Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
     surface gillnet.                           White-sided dolphin,    
                                                 WNA.                   
                                                Harbor seal, WNA.       
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic              10  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
     shark gillnet fishery.                      coastal.*              
                                                North Atlantic right    
                                                 whale, WNA.*+          
Trawl fisheries:                                                        
    Atlantic squid, mackerel,              620  Common dolphin, WNA.*   
     butterfish trawl.                          Risso's dolphin, WNA.*  
                                                Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                 WNA.*                  
                                                Short-finned pilot      
                                                 whale, WNA.*           
                                                White-sided dolphin,    
                                                 WNA.                   
Haul seine fisheries:                                                   
    North Carolina haul seine....           25  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 coastal.*              
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
Stop net fisheries:                                                     
    North Carolina roe mullet               13  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
     stop net.                                   coastal.*              
          Category III:                                                 
Gillnet fisheries:                                                      
    Rhode Island, southern                  32  Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
     Massachusetts (to Monomoy                  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
     Island), and New York Bight                 coastal.*+             
     (Raritan and Lower New York                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
     Bays) inshore gillnet.                      BF.*                   
    Long Island Sound inshore               20  Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
     gillnet.                                   Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 coastal.*+             
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
    Delaware Bay inshore gillnet.           60  Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 coastal.*+             
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
    Chesapeake Bay inshore                  45  None documented.        
     gillnet.                                                           
    North Carolina inshore                  94  None documented.        
     gillnet.                                                           
    Gulf of Mexico inshore               (\1\)  None documented.        
     gillnet (black drum,                                               
     sheepshead, weakfish,                                              
     mullet, spot, croaker.                                             

[[Page 5760]]

                                                                        
    Gulf of Maine, Southeast U.S.        1,285  Minke whale, Canadian   
     Atlantic coastal shad,                      east coast             
     sturgeon gillnet (includes                 Harbor porpoise, GME/   
     waters of North Carolina).                  BF.*                   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 coastal.*+             
    Gulf of Mexico coastal               (\1\)  Bottlenose dolphin,     
     gillnet (includes mullet                    Western GMX coastal.   
     gillnet fishery in LA and                  Bottlenose dolphin,     
     MS).                                        Northern GMX coastal.  
                                                Bottlenose dolphin,     
                                                 Eastern GMX coastal.   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX 
                                                 Bay, Sound, &          
                                                 Estuarine.*            
    Florida east coast, Gulf of            271  Bottlenose dolphin,     
     Mexico pelagics king and                    Western GMX coastal.   
     Spanish mackerel gillnet.                  Bottlenose dolphin,     
                                                 Northern GMX coastal.  
                                                Bottlenose dolphin,     
                                                 Eastern GMX coastal.   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX 
                                                 Bay, Sound, &          
                                                 Estuarine.*            
Trawl fisheries:                                                        
    North Atlantic bottom trawl..        1,052  Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                 WNA.*                  
                                                Short-finned pilot      
                                                 whale, WNA.*           
                                                White-sided dolphin,    
                                                 WNA.                   
                                                Striped dolphin, WNA.   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 offshore.              
    Mid-Atlantic, Southeastern         >18,000  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
     U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of                      coastal.*+             
     Mexico shrimp trawl.                                               
    Gulf of Maine northern shrimp          320  None documented.        
     trawl.                                                             
    Gulf of Maine, Mid-Atlantic            215  None documented.        
     sea scallop trawl.                                                 
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. mid-                 5  None documented.        
     Atlantic, coastal herring                                          
     trawl.                                                             
    Mid-Atlantic mixed species          >1,000  None documented.        
     trawl.                                                             
    Gulf of Mexico butterfish                2  Atlantic spotted        
     trawl.                                      dolphin, Eastern GMX.  
                                                Pantropical spotted     
                                                 dolphin, Eastern GMX.  
    Georgia, South Carolina,                25  None documented.        
     Maryland whelk trawl.                                              
    Calico scallops trawl........          200  None documented.        
    Bluefish, croaker, flounder            550  None documented.        
     trawl.                                                             
    Crab trawl...................          400  None documented.        
    U.S. Atlantic monkfish trawl.        (\1\)  Common dolphins, WNA.*  
Marine aquaculture fisheries:                                           
    Finfish aquaculture..........           48  Harbor seals, WNA.      
    Shellfish aquaculture........        (\1\)  None documented.        
Purse seine fisheries:                                                  
    Gulf of Maine Atlantic                  30  Harbor porpoise, GME/   
     herring purse seine.                        BF.*                   
                                                Harbor seal, WNA.       
                                                Gray seal, Northwest    
                                                 North Atlantic.        
    Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse             22  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
     seine.                                      coastal.*+             
    Gulf of Maine menhaden purse            50  None documented.        
     seine.                                                             
    Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse           50  Bottlenose dolphin,     
     seine.                                      Northern GMX coastal.  
    Florida west coast sardine              10  Bottlenose dolphin,     
     purse seine.                                Eastern GMX coastal.   
    U.S. Atlantic tuna purse             (\1\)  None documented.        
     seine.                                                             
    U.S. mid-Atlantic hand seine.         >250  None documented.        
Longline/hook-and-line fisheries:                                       
    Gulf of Maine tub trawl                 46  Harbor seal, WNA.       
     groundfish bottom longline/                Gray seal, Northwest    
     hook-and-line.                              North Atlantic.        
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,          3,800  None documented.        
     Gulf of Mexico snapper-                                            
     grouper and other reef fish                                        
     bottom longline/hook-and-                                          
     line.                                                              
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,            124  None documented.        
     Gulf of Mexico shark bottom                                        
     longline/hook-and-line.                                            
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. mid-            26,223  None documented.        
     Atlantic tuna, shark                                               
     swordfish hook-and-line/                                           
     harpoon.                                                           
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,          1,446  None documented.        
     Gulf of Mexico & U.S. mid-                                         
     Atlantic pelagic hook-and-                                         
     line/harpoon.                                                      
Trap/pot fisheries--lobster,                                            
 crab, and fish:                                                        
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. mid-               100  North Atlantic right    
     Atlantic mixed species trap/                whale, WNA.*+          
     pot.                                       Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
                                                Minke whale, Canadian   
                                                 east coast.            
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
                                                Harbor seal, WNA.       
                                                Gray seal, Northwest    
                                                 North Atlantic.        
    U.S. mid-Atlantic and                   30  None documented.        
     Southeast U.S. Atlantic                                            
     black sea bass trap/pot.                                           
    U.S. mid-Atlantic eel trap/           >700  None documented.        
     pot.                                                               

[[Page 5761]]

                                                                        
    Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of             20,500  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
     Mexico blue crab trap/pot.                  coastal.*              
                                                Bottlenose dolphin,     
                                                 Western GMX coastal.   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin,     
                                                 Northern GMX coastal.  
                                                Bottlenose dolphin,     
                                                 Eastern GMX coastal.   
                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX 
                                                 Bay, Sound, &          
                                                 Estuarine.*            
                                                West Indian manatee,    
                                                 FL.*+                  
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,            750  West Indian manatee,    
     Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean                   FL.*+                  
     spiny lobster trap/pot.                    Bottlenose dolphin, WNA 
                                                 coastal.*+             
Stop seine/weir/pound fisheries:                                        
    Gulf of Maine herring and               50  North Atlantic right    
     Atlantic mackerel stop seine/               whale, WNA.*           
     weir.                                      Humpback whale, WNA.*+  
                                                Minke whale, Canadian   
                                                 east coast.            
                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/   
                                                 BF.*                   
                                                Harbor seal, WNA.       
                                                Gray seal, Northwest    
                                                 North Atlantic.        
    U.S. mid-Atlantic mixed                500  None documented.        
     species stop/seine/weir                                            
     (except the North Carolina                                         
     roe mullet stop net).                                              
    U.S. mid-Atlantic crab stop          2,600  None documented.        
     seine/weir.                                                        
Dredge fisheries:                                                       
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. mid-               233  None documented.        
     Atlantic sea scallop dredge.                                       
    U.S. mid-Atlantic offshore             100  None documented.        
     surfclam and quahog dredge.                                        
    Gulf of Maine mussel.........          >50  None documented.        
    U.S. mid-Atlantic/Gulf of            7,000  None documented.        
     Mexico oyster.                                                     
Haul seine fisheries:                                                   
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,             25  None documented.        
     Caribbean haul seine.                                              
Beach seine fisheries:                                                  
    Caribbean beach seine........           15  West Indian manatee,    
                                                 FL.+                   
Dive, hand/mechanical collection                                        
 fisheries:                                                             
    Gulf of Maine urchin dive,             >50  None documented.        
     hand/mechanical collection.                                        
    Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of             20,000  None documented.        
     Mexico, Caribbean shellfish                                        
     dive, hand/mechanical                                              
     collection.                                                        
Commercial passenger fishing                                            
 vessel (charter boat) fisheries:                                       
    Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of              4,000  None documented.        
     Mexico, Caribbean commercial                                       
     passenger fishing vessel.                                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Marine mammal stock is strategic.                                     
+ Stock is listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA, or as      
  depleted under the MMPA.                                              
\1\ Unknown.                                                            
List of Abbreviations Used in Table 2.                                  
FL--Florida.                                                            
GA--Georgia.                                                            
GME/BF--Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy.                                     
GMX--Gulf of Mexico.                                                    
NC--North Carolina.                                                     
SC--South Carolina.                                                     
TX--Texas.                                                              
WNA--Western North Atlantic.                                            

Classification

    This rule does not alter the existing requirements for 
registration, the accommodation of observers, or other substantive 
requirements. In addition, this final rule does not change the 
classification of any commercial fisheries. Accordingly, this rule 
imposes no new burdens on the public. For these reasons, under 5 U.S.C 
553(d)(3), the Assistant Administrator finds that it is unnecessary to 
provide for the normal 30-day delay in the effective date of this final 
rule. The changes to the List of Fisheries for 1998 are effective on 
the date of publication in the Federal Register.
    This action has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    When this LOF for 1998 was proposed, the Assistant General Counsel 
for Legislation and Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified 
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration 
certified that this rule would not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities. No comments were received 
regarding this certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility 
analysis was not prepared.
    This action makes minor changes to the current List of Fisheries 
and reflects new information on commercial fisheries, marine mammals, 
and interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. This 
final LOF informs the public which U.S. commercial fisheries in 1998 
are subject to the registration and reporting requirements specified 
under 50 CFR 229.4.
    This final rule does not contain policies with federalism 
implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism 
assessment under E.O. 12612.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required 
to respond to nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to 
comply with a collection of information subject to the

[[Page 5762]]

requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    The collection of information required for reporting of marine 
mammal injuries or mortalities to NMFS and for registration of fishers 
under the MMPA has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under OMB control numbers 0648-0292 (0.15 hours per report) and 
0648-0293 (0.25 hours per registration). Currently, there are 14,000 
Category I and II fishers who are required to register under section 
118 of the MMPA. This final rule does not make any changes to fishery 
classification and will not require the registration of additional 
fishers; therefore, this final rule is not expected to change the 
collection of information burdens significantly. Send comments 
regarding these burden estimates or any other aspect of the data 
requirements, including suggestions for reducing the burden to NMFS and 
OMB (see ADDRESSES).

    Dated: January 29, 1998.
Rolland A. Schmitten,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Services.
[FR Doc. 98-2749 Filed 2-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-W