[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41725-41741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17866]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[021213308-3165-02, I.D. 111802B]
RIN 0648-AQ60


List of Fisheries for 2003

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is publishing its 
final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2003 as required by the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act (MMPA). The final LOF for 2003 reflects new information 
on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals. Under 
the MMPA, NMFS must place each commercial fishery on the LOF into one 
of three categories based upon the level of serious injury and 
mortality of marine mammals that occurs incidental to that fishery. The 
categorization of a fishery in the LOF determines whether participants 
in that fishery are subject to certain provisions of the MMPA, such as 
registration, observer coverage, and take reduction plan requirements.

DATES: This final rule is effective August 14, 2003. However, 
compliance with the requirement to register with NMFS and to obtain an 
authorization certificate is not required until January 1, 2004 for 
fisheries added or elevated to Category II in this final rule. For 
fisheries affected by the delay, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Registration information, materials, and marine mammal 
reporting forms may be obtained from several regional offices. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for addresses of the offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tanya Dobrzynski, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-713-2322; Kim Thounhurst, Northeast Region, 978-281-
9138; Juan Levesque, Southeast Region, 727-570-5312; Cathy Campbell, 
Southwest Region, 562-980-4060; Brent Norberg, Northwest Region, 206-
526-6733; Bridget Mansfield, Alaska Region, 907-586-7642. Individuals 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 
Eastern time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Information may be obtained at the following 
offices:

NMFS, Northeast Region, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298, 
Attn: Marcia Hobbs.
NMFS, Southeast Region, 9721 Executive Center Drive North, St. 
Petersburg, FL 33702, Attn: Teletha Griffin.
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.

Compliance Date for Registration Under the MMPA

    Compliance with the requirement to register with NMFS and to obtain 
an authorization certificate is not required until January 1, 2004, for 
fisheries elevated to Category II in this final rule. These fisheries 
are: Gulf of Mexico gillnet fishery; California yellowtail, barracuda, 
white seabass, tuna drift gillnet fishery; and both the Mid-Atlantic 
mixed species trap/pot fishery and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and Southeast 
U.S. Atlantic black seabass trap/pot fishery, which will be combined 
with the Northeast trap/pot fishery in the newly-defined Atlantic mixed 
species trap/pot fishery for the 2003 LOF. The above mentioned 
fisheries are considered to be Category II fisheries on August 14, 
2003, and are required to comply with all requirements of Category II 
fisheries (i.e., complying with applicable take reduction plan 
requirements and carrying observers, if requested), other than the 
registration requirement, on that date.

What Is the List of Fisheries?

    Under section 118 of the MMPA, NMFS must publish, at least 
annually, a LOF that places all U.S. commercial fisheries into one of 
three categories based on the level of incidental serious injury and 
mortality of marine mammals that occurs in each fishery (16 U.S.C. 
1387(c)(1)). The categorization of a fishery in the LOF determines 
whether participants in that fishery may be required to comply with 
certain provisions of the MMPA, such as registration, observer 
coverage, and take reduction plan requirements.

How Does NMFS Determine in Which Category a Fishery Is Placed?

    The definitions for the fishery classification criteria can be 
found in the implementing regulations for section 118 of the MMPA (50 
CFR 229.2). The criteria are also summarized in the response to comment 
1 in the preamble below.

How Do I Find Out if a Specific Fishery Is in Category I, II, or III?

    This final rule includes two tables that list all U.S. commercial 
fisheries by LOF Category. Table 1 lists all of the fisheries in the 
Pacific Ocean (including Alaska). Table 2 lists all of the fisheries in 
the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean.

Am I Required To Register Under the MMPA?

    Owners of vessels or gear engaging in a Category I or II fishery 
are required under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(2)), as described in 50 
CFR 229.4, to register with NMFS and obtain a marine mammal 
authorization from NMFS in order to lawfully incidentally take a marine 
mammal in a commercial fishery. Owners of vessels or gear engaged in a 
Category III fishery are not required to register with NMFS or obtain a 
marine mammal authorization.

How Do I Register?

    Fishers must register with the Marine Mammal Authorization Program 
(MMAP) by contacting the relevant NMFS Regional Office (see ADDRESSES) 
unless they participate in a fishery that has an integrated 
registration program (described below). Upon receipt of a completed 
registration, NMFS will issue vessel or gear owners physical evidence 
of a current and valid registration that must be displayed or in the 
possession of the master of each vessel while fishing in accordance 
with section 118 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(3)(A)).

What Is the Process for Registering in an Integrated Fishery?

    For some fisheries, NMFS has integrated the MMPA registration 
process with existing state and Federal fishery license, registration, 
or permit systems and related programs. Participants in these fisheries 
are automatically registered under the MMPA and are not required to 
submit registration or renewal materials or pay the $25 registration 
fee. Following is a list of integrated fisheries and a

[[Page 41726]]

summary of the integration process for each Region. Fishers who operate 
in an integrated fishery and have not received registration materials 
should contact their NMFS Regional Office listed in the first paragraph 
of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

Which Fisheries Have Integrated Registration Programs?

    The following fisheries have integrated registration programs under 
the MMPA:
    1. all Alaska Category II fisheries;
    2. all Washington and Oregon Category II fisheries;
    3. Northeast Regional fisheries for which a state or Federal permit 
is required. Individuals fishing in fisheries for which no state or 
Federal permit is required must register with NMFS by contacting the 
Northeast Regional Office (see ADDRESSES); and
    4. all North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida 
Category II fisheries for which a state permit is required.

How Do I Renew My Registration Under the MMPA?

    Regional Offices, except for the Northeast Region, annually send 
renewal packets to participants in Category I or II fisheries that have 
previously registered; however, it is the responsibility of the fisher 
to ensure that registration or renewal forms are completed and 
submitted to NMFS at least 30 days in advance of fishing. Individuals 
who have not received a renewal packet by January 1 or are registering 
for the first time should request a registration form from the 
appropriate Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).

Am I Required To Submit Reports When I Injure or Kill a Marine Mammal 
During the Course of Commercial Fishing Operations?

    In accordance with the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1387(e)) and 50 CFR 229.6, 
any vessel owner or operator, or fisher (in the case of non-vessel 
fisheries), participating in a Category I, II, or III fishery must 
report all incidental injuries or mortalities of marine mammals that 
occur during commercial fishing operations to NMFS. ``Injury'' is 
defined in 50 CFR 229.2 as a wound or other physical harm. In addition, 
any animal that ingests fishing gear or any animal that is released 
with fishing gear entangling, trailing, or perforating any part of the 
body is considered injured, regardless of the absence of any wound or 
other evidence of an injury, and must be reported. Instructions on how 
to submit reports can be found in 50 CFR 229.6.

Am I Required To Take an Observer Aboard My Vessel?

    Fishers participating in a Category I or II fishery are required to 
accommodate an observer aboard vessel(s) upon request. Observer 
requirements can be found in 50 CFR 229.7.

Am I Required To Comply With Any Take Reduction Plan Regulations?

    Fishers participating in a Category I or II fishery are required to 
comply with any applicable take reduction plans.

Sources of Information Reviewed for the 2003 LOF

    NMFS reviewed the marine mammal incidental serious injury and 
mortality information presented in the Stock Assessment Reports (SARs) 
for all observed fisheries to determine whether changes in fishery 
classification were warranted. NMFS also reviewed other sources of new 
information, including marine mammal stranding data, observer program 
data, fisher self-reports, and other information that is not included 
in the SARs.
    NMFS SARs provide the best available information on both the level 
of serious injury and mortality of marine mammals that occurs 
incidental to commercial fisheries and the potential biological removal 
(PBR) levels for marine mammal stocks.
    The information contained in the SARs is reviewed by regional 
scientific review groups (SRGs) representing Alaska, the Pacific 
(including Hawaii), and the U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and the 
Caribbean. The SRGs were created by the MMPA to review the science that 
goes into the stock assessment reports and to advise NMFS on population 
status and trends, stock structure, uncertainties in the science, 
research needs, and other issues.
    The LOF for 2003 was based on information provided in the final 
SARs for 1996 (63 FR 60, January 2, 1998), the final SARs for 2001 (67 
FR 10671, March 8, 2002), and the draft (67 FR 19417, April 19, 2002) 
and final (68 FR 17920, April 14, 2003) SARs for 2002.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received 16 comment letters on the proposed 2003 LOF (68 FR 
1414, January 10, 2003) from environmental, commercial fishing, and 
federal and state agency interests. Issues outside the scope of the LOF 
are not responded to in this final rule. In particular, there were 
several comments regarding the SARs that will be handled through future 
SAR reviews and revisions where appropriate as SAR revisions undergo 
separate public review and comment. Typographic errors noted by 
commenters were corrected where appropriate.

General Comments

    Comment 1: Two commenters questioned the appropriateness of the 
current tier-based fishery classification system in terms of how it 
distinguishes Category I and II fisheries from Category III fisheries. 
Both commenters argued that whether a fishery exceeds PBR, and not the 
percentage of a stock's PBR incidentally killed or seriously injured in 
a fishery, should be the threshold NMFS uses to distinguish among 
different fishery classifications given that this is the standard 
established in the MMPA.
    Response: NMFS disagrees that PBR should be the threshold used to 
separate fisheries that result in ``frequent'' and ``occasional'' 
incidental mortality and serious injury from fisheries that have ``a 
remote likelihood of or no known incidental mortality or serious injury 
of marine mammals.'' The rationale for this threshold was explained in 
the proposed rule (60 FR 31666, June 16, 1995) and final rule (60 FR 
45086, August 30, 1995) for the management of unintentional taking of 
marine mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations under 
section 118 of the MMPA.
    The current fishery classification system is based on a two-tiered, 
stock-specific approach that first addresses the total impacts of all 
fisheries on each marine mammal stock and then addresses the impacts of 
individual fisheries on each stock. Tier 1 considers the additive 
fishery mortality and serious injury for a particular stock, while Tier 
2 considers fishery-specific mortality for a particular stock. This 
approach is based on the rate, in numbers of animals per year, of 
serious injuries and mortalities due to commercial fishing relative to 
a stock's PBR level. Under the Tier 1 analysis, if the total annual 
mortality and serious injury across all fisheries that interact with a 
stock is less than or equal to 10 percent of the PBR level of such a 
stock, then all fisheries interacting with this stock would be placed 
in Category III. Otherwise, these fisheries are subject to the next 
tier to determine their classification. Under the Tier 2 analysis, 
those fisheries in which annual mortality and serious injury of a stock 
in a given fishery is greater than or equal to 50 percent of the 
stock's PBR level are placed in Category I, while those fisheries in 
which annual mortality and serious injury is greater

[[Page 41727]]

than 1 percent and less than 50 percent of the stock's PBR level are 
placed in Category II. Individual fisheries in which annual mortality 
and serious injury is less than or equal to 1 percent of the PBR level 
would be placed in Category III. The threshold between Tier 1 and Tier 
2 was set at 10 percent of the PBR level based on recommendations that 
arose from a PBR Workshop held in La Jolla, California in June 1994. 
The Workshop Report indicated that if the total annual incidental 
serious injury and mortality level for a particular stock did not 
exceed 10 percent of the PBR level, the amount of time necessary for 
that population to achieve the optimum sustainable population level 
would only increase by 10 percent. Thus, 10 percent of the PBR level 
for a particular stock was equated to ``biological insignificance.'' 
This approach ensures that fisheries are categorized based on their 
impacts on stocks and allows NMFS to focus resources on those fisheries 
that have more than a negligible impact on marine mammals.
    Ultimately, this approach is based on the fact that the MMPA 
established both a short-term and a long-term goal with respect to take 
reduction plans for reducing marine mammal mortality and serious injury 
incidental to commercial fishing operations. MMPA section 118(f)(2) 
provides: ``The immediate goal of a take reduction plan for a strategic 
stock shall be to reduce, within 6 months of its implementation, the 
incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals incidentally 
taken in the course of commercial fishing operations to levels less 
than the potential biological removal established for that stock under 
section 117. The long-term goal of the plan shall be to reduce, within 
5 years of its implementation, the incidental mortality or serious 
injury of marine mammals incidentally taken in the course of commercial 
fishing operations to insignificant levels approaching a zero mortality 
and serious injury rate, taking into account the economics of the 
fishery, the availability of existing technology, and existing State or 
regional fishery management plans.'' NMFS established the tier-based 
fishery classification system with each goal in mind, and specifically, 
to ensure that fisheries progressively move toward the long-term goal 
of the MMPA.
    Comment 2: One commenter requested that NMFS better describe the 
information used and the basis for estimating incidental mortality and 
serious injury of marine mammals, specifically for fisheries where the 
level of take is uncertain but considered significant.
    Response: NMFS appreciates this comment and believes that it would 
be useful to provide a background document that better describes the 
types of information and methods used to estimate incidental mortality 
and serious injury of marine mammals and classify fisheries so that the 
public could better understand the rationale for each fishery 
classification. NMFS will consider the development of such a document 
in the future as time and resources permit. Generally, NMFS uses 
information on incidental mortality and serious injury provided in the 
annual SARs as the basis for fishery classifications. SARs contain a 
list of references that demonstrate the published information used and 
also describe how the data on incidental mortality and serious injury 
for a given stock were ascertained. NMFS refers the commenter to the 
SARs for marine mammal stocks in the U.S. Copies of the SARs are 
available on the NMFS Office of Protected Resource's Web site at: 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Stock_Assessment_Program/sars.html.
    Comment 3: One commenter recommended that NMFS distinguish between 
commercial and non-commercial (e.g., recreational, subsistence, 
personal use) pot fisheries given that non-commercial fisheries may use 
practices and gear types that result in interactions with marine 
mammals.
    Response: NMFS agrees that it is important to address all potential 
sources of fishery-related incidental mortality and serious injury of 
marine mammals. Furthermore, the agency understands that there are 
fisheries in which both commercial and non-commercial fisheries use the 
same gear and deploy it in the same manner and that both can result in 
incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals. While the 
MMPA does not currently provide NMFS with the authority to categorize 
or monitor non-commercial fisheries with respect to marine mammal 
interactions, NMFS is currently seeking this authority through the 
administration's proposal to reauthorize the MMPA. Nonetheless, where 
possible, NMFS has collected information on incidental mortality and 
serious injury of marine mammals resulting from non-commercial 
fisheries.
    Comment 4: One commenter urged NMFS to ensure consistency in 
methods used from fishery to fishery to determine the true level of 
incidental mortality and/or serious injury of marine mammals.
    Response: NMFS agrees with the commenter that applying its methods 
consistently in the determination of estimates of marine mammal 
mortality and serious injury incidental to fishing is essential. 
Through the workshops on Guidelines for Assessing Marine Mammal Stocks 
(GAMMS) held in 1994 and 1996 and the accompanying GAMMS reports, which 
are available on the NMFS Office of Protected Resources Web site at 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Stock_Assessment_Program/sars.html, NMFS has developed guidelines to ensure consistency in the 
methods used and analysis of information to determine rates of marine 
mammal incidental mortality and serious injury resulting from fishing.

Comments on Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean

Comments on the Alaska Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) 
Groundfish Longline/Setline Fishery

    Comment 5: One commenter stated that NMFS should reclassify the 
Alaska BSAI groundfish longline/setline fishery as Category II given 
the level of killer whale takes in the fishery.
    Response: According to the 2002 SARs, the BSAI groundfish longline/
setline fishery incurred an average of 0.8 incidental mortalities/
serious injuries of eastern North Pacific northern resident killer 
whales between 1995 and 1999, or 11 percent of the stock's PBR, which 
qualifies the fishery as Category II. However, the PBR for this stock 
is an underestimate because (1) the minimum abundance estimate is based 
on a count of known individuals rather than an estimate of population 
size and (2) the abundance estimate does not include resident animals 
identified during research cruises in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea 
in 2001-2002. NMFS expects that the minimum population estimate will 
increase as a result of the recent research. Should the minimum 
population estimate increase slightly, the PBR level would also 
increase, and the estimated mortality level incidental to this fishery 
would not be sufficiently high to trigger its placement in Category II. 
Therefore, given that the PBR level is likely an underestimate and the 
incidental mortality and serious injury rate is so close to the 
threshold between Category II and Category III, NMFS will retain this 
fishery in Category III at this time.

[[Page 41728]]

Comments on the Hawaii (HI) Swordfish, Tuna, Billfish, Mahi Mahi, 
Wahoo, and Oceanic Sharks Longline/Setline Fishery

    Comment 6: One commenter stated that NMFS should reclassify the 
Hawaii swordfish, tuna, billfish, mahi mahi, wahoo, and oceanic sharks 
longline/setline fishery as Category I given that takes of false killer 
whales in the fishery exceed the marine mammal stock's PBR level. The 
commenter expressed concern that sea turtle regulations that went into 
effect have not helped reduce marine mammal takes. The commenter also 
expressed concern about the results of recent abundance surveys for 
false killer whales.
    Response: In 2002, NMFS conducted an abundance survey to estimate 
abundance for marine mammals inhabiting waters off the Hawaiian 
islands, including areas in which the HI swordfish, tuna, billfish, 
mahi mahi, wahoo, and oceanic sharks longline/set line fishery 
operates. NMFS is currently analyzing the results of this survey and 
will include this information in the Draft Stock Assessment Reports 
(SARs) for 2004. NMFS will use the updated SARs to re-evaluate the 
classification of this fishery for the 2004 LOF.

Comments on the Alaska Crustacean Pot Fishery

    Comment 7: One commenter stated that NMFS should divide the Alaska 
crustacean pot fishery into different components based on variation in 
geographic area, season, depth, gear type, and interaction with 
humpback whales to help NMFS determine which element of the fishery is 
having the greatest number of interactions with humpback whales.
    Response: The LOF currently groups all Alaska pot fisheries into 
the ``Alaska crustacean pot fishery.'' However, this fishery does not 
exist as a single entity in terms of fishery operations or management. 
Rather, multiple crustacean fisheries target different species over 
distinct geographic areas and during separate seasons within the 
exclusive economic zone off Alaska and in state waters on an annual 
basis. These differences are recognized by NMFS, the North Pacific 
Fishery Management Council, and the State of Alaska, and are reflected 
in the numerous management specifications and restrictions captured in 
regulations promulgated under the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crabs and under Alaska 
state management plans for various crab and other crustacean fisheries, 
including shrimp, in state waters.
    Additionally, Alaska crustacean fisheries are known to result in 
incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in some areas 
(e.g., Southeast Alaska), but not in others (e.g., the Bering Sea). For 
purposes of future Lists of Fisheries, all crustacean fisheries in 
Alaska will be reviewed for correct delineations to accurately reflect 
existing fishery management regimes. Based on this review, NMFS will 
propose adjustments to this and other Alaska fisheries and will 
reevaluate data on marine mammal interactions in these fisheries 
accordingly for the 2004 LOF.
    Comment 8: Two commenters felt that NMFS should reclassify the 
Alaska crustacean pot fishery as Category I or II based on its level of 
interactions with humpback whales. The commenters felt the inability to 
determine the specific fishery that entangled humpback whales should 
not make it impossible to classify the fishery as Category I or II and 
stated that design of the fishing gear should be sufficient.
    Response: See response to Comment 7. The inability to determine the 
fishery in which the entanglements occurred does not prevent NMFS from 
classifying fisheries. NMFS regulations at 50 CFR 229.2 provide that 
the Assistant Administrator will, in the absence of reliable 
information, determine whether the incidental serious injury or 
mortality is ``occasional'' by evaluating other factors such as fishing 
techniques, gear used, seasons and areas fished, and the species and 
distribution of marine mammals in the area.
    NMFS has not reclassified this fishery at this time because, in 
addition to more appropriately delineating the Alaska crustacean pot 
fishery and looking at marine mammal incidental mortality and serious 
injury rates within different sectors of the fishery, the agency is 
currently evaluating the stock structure of Central North Pacific 
humpback whales. We will take this comment into consideration as we 
further define stock structure of Central North Pacific humpback whales 
as well as consider separating and reclassifying portions of the Alaska 
crustacean pot fishery, if appropriate, for the 2004 LOF.
    Comment 9: One commenter noted that the Central North Pacific stock 
of humpback whales should be added to the list of stocks that interact 
with the Alaska crustacean pot fishery given that NMFS mentioned in the 
text of the proposed rule that it is currently evaluating interactions 
between this stock and the fishery.
    Response: NMFS will add the Central North Pacific stock of humpback 
whales to the list of stocks that interact with this fishery.

Comments on the BSAI Groundfish Trawl Fishery

    Comment 10: NMFS received comments supporting and opposing 
reclassification of the BSAI groundfish trawl fishery from Category III 
to Category II. One commenter in favor of the reclassification stated 
that it is more appropriate to reclassify the fishery as Category I 
given uncertainty concerning the level of interactions occurring 
between the fishery and North Pacific humpback whales. One commenter 
opposed to reclassifying the fishery questioned the quality of the data 
on which NMFS based this decision as well as the appropriateness of 
double-counting humpback whales between the Western and Central North 
Pacific stocks. This commenter also requested that NMFS divide the 
fishery into smaller components given the sheer size and diversity of 
the fishery.
    Response: Where there is considerable uncertainty regarding to 
which stock a serious injury or mortality should be assigned, NMFS 
exercises a conservative approach of assigning the serious injury or 
mortality to both stocks. Clearly, if information were available 
regarding the location of take, genetics of the animal taken, or other 
information that would conclusively link mortality to a specific stock, 
NMFS would use it to assign the take to a specific stock. In the 
meantime, the agency will review the serious injuries and mortalities 
incidental to this fishery to determine whether any of the takes of 
concern can be conclusively linked to a specific stock.
    As with the Alaska crustacean pot fishery, this comment highlights 
the fact that a single BSAI groundfish trawl fishery, as currently 
listed in the annual LOF, does not exist as one homogenous fishery in 
terms of fishery operations or management, but rather, as a diverse 
group of fisheries that use different trawl gear types and target 
different groundfish species over distinct geographic areas and during 
different seasons within the Bering Sea on an annual basis. These 
fisheries are currently managed as separate entities. For instance, the 
BSAI groundfish trawl fisheries are managed by gear type (including 
pelagic and non-pelagic trawl gear), by target species (including 
pollock, Pacific cod, Atka mackerel, and various flatfish and rockfish 
complexes), and by geographic regions within the BSAI. These 
differences are recognized by NMFS and the North Pacific Fishery 
Management Council and are reflected in the numerous management

[[Page 41729]]

specifications and restrictions captured in regulations promulgated 
under the Fishery Management Plan for the Bering Sea and Aleutian 
Islands.
    Additionally, sectors within these fisheries are recognized by 
statute (the American Fisheries Act) and regulatory management measures 
endorsed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and 
implemented by NMFS. Such sectors include the head and gut sector of 
each of the Pacific cod and Atka mackerel trawl fisheries, and the 
catcher/processor and inshore processor sectors, as well as their 
associated catcher vessel fleets. In some cases, these sectors also 
comprise legally defined co-operatives. Distinct management measures 
for these recognized fisheries include separate harvest restrictions by 
time and area based on target species, non-target groundfish bycatch, 
and prohibited species catch, as well as time and area closures based 
on marine mammal management measures. These distinct fisheries are 
further recognized in several Biological Opinions promulgated under 
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and in Environmental Impact 
Statements on the fisheries promulgated under the National 
Environmental Policy Act.
    There is a likelihood that the incidental mortality and serious 
injury of marine mammals varies among BSAI groundfish trawl fisheries, 
based on gear type, time and area of operations, and target groundfish 
species. For this and all the above reasons, NMFS will not reclassify 
the fishery designated as the ``BSAI groundfish trawl fishery'' as 
Category II in the 2003 LOF. Rather, NMFS will propose fishery 
delineations within this fishery that accurately reflect the existing 
fishery management regimes for the BSAI groundfish trawl fisheries, and 
will analyze rates of marine mammal incidental mortality and serious 
injury within these new delineations accordingly, for the 2004 LOF.
    A one year delay in this process will not adversely affect NMFS' 
ability to monitor marine mammal interactions with this fishery, 
because, although currently in Category III, these fisheries already 
carry a minimum of 30 percent observer coverage for vessels 60 ft. 
(18.3 m.) length overall (LOA) and over, and a vast majority of the 
participating vessels maintain 100-200 percent observer coverage by 
regulation for purposes of fisheries management.
    Additionally, there are other Federal and state fisheries listed in 
the LOF that warrant similar review for similar reasons. Therefore, for 
purposes of the List of Fisheries, all Federal and state fisheries in 
Alaska will be reviewed for correct delineations to accurately reflect 
the existing fishery management regimes for the 2004 LOF.
    Comment 11: One commenter stated that NMFS should reassess its 
methods to monitor the Alaska BSAI groundfish trawl fishery to ensure 
that observer coverage is appropriately distributed to monitor humpback 
whale takes.
    Response: NMFS believes that the level and distribution of observer 
coverage in the BSAI groundfish trawl fishery is sufficient to monitor 
marine mammal interactions, including those involving humpback whales, 
and to identify issues of concern. Currently, there is a requirement 
for 100-percent observer coverage of vessels in this fishery that 
exceed 124 ft. (37.8 m.) LOA. In some cases, pursuant to the American 
Fisheries Act and Community Development Quota programs, 200-percent 
observer coverage is required on vessels that exceed this length. For 
vessels between 124 ft. (37.8 m.) and 60 ft. (18.3 m.) LOA, 30 percent 
observer coverage is required. Observers are not required on catcher 
vessels that deliver codends to catcher processors or motherships or on 
vessels less than 60 ft. (18.3 m.) LOA.
    NMFS' Alaska Regional office is currently working with the North 
Pacific Fishery Management Council to review the issue of appropriate 
observer coverage in federal groundfish fisheries, as well as halibut 
fisheries. All vessel categories in these fisheries, including those 
not currently required to carry observers, will be reviewed over the 
next several years to assess appropriate observer coverage levels for a 
suite of management and scientific needs.
    Comment 12: One commenter requested that NMFS clarify whether 
harbor seals or harbor porpoises should be removed from the list of 
species incidentally killed/seriously injured in the BSAI groundfish 
trawl fishery.
    Response: NMFS clarifies that in the proposed rule for the 2003 
List of Fisheries the agency proposed to remove Gulf of Alaska (GOA) 
harbor seals from the list of species interacting with the BSAI 
groundfish trawl fishery. Reevaluation of existing data on incidental 
mortality and serious injury, together with information on the BSAI 
groundfish trawl fishery, confirms that the range of the GOA harbor 
seal stock overlaps with the BSAI groundfish trawl fishery. Therefore, 
NMFS will retain this stock on the list of species interacting with the 
BSAI groundfish trawl fishery. The proposed deletion of the GOA harbor 
seal in this case was in error.

Comments on Alaska Cook Inlet Salmon Drift and Set Gillnet Fisheries

    Comment 13: Some commenters stated that reclassifying the Alaska 
Cook Inlet salmon drift and set gillnet fisheries as Category III is 
premature given that a decrease in observed interactions is likely due 
to declining numbers of Cook Inlet beluga and that reclassification 
should be based on estimated takes, not observed takes. Commenters 
recommended the fisheries be kept in Category II with continued 
observer coverage.
    Response: NMFS has determined that classification of the Alaska 
Cook Inlet salmon set gillnet fishery as a Category III fishery is 
appropriate based on the lack of any observed serious injuries or 
mortalities of marine mammals in that fishery after two consecutive 
years of observer coverage that occurred from 1999-2000. In contrast, 
analysis completed since the proposed rule was published indicates that 
one mortality of harbor porpoise in the Cook Inlet salmon drift gillnet 
fishery in 2000 extrapolates to a mortality estimate of 27 animals in 
2000, or an average of 13.5 per year for 1999 and 2000. This level of 
incidental mortality and serious injury is adequate to retain the Cook 
Inlet salmon drift gillnet fishery in Category II. Therefore, NMFS will 
retain this fishery as Category II.
    NMFS agrees that when classifying a fishery based on observer data, 
observed serious injuries and mortalities should be extrapolated to 
estimate the total level of incidental serious injury and mortality in 
that fishery. Observed levels of incidental mortality and serious 
injury were used previously only because the analysis for extrapolation 
had not yet been completed. The observed levels of serious injury and 
mortality indicated a Category II classification was appropriate, and 
the extrapolated estimate still supports this.
    Comment 14: One commenter requested that NMFS clarify what it was 
proposing with respect to the AK Cook Inlet salmon drift gillnet 
fishery.
    Response: NMFS clarifies that it initially proposed to reclassify 
the AK Cook Inlet salmon drift gillnet fishery as Category III. Upon 
further analysis of 2000 data, NMFS will retain this fishery as 
Category II in the 2003 LOF (see response to Comment 13 above).

Comments on the California (CA) Yellowtail, Barracuda, White Seabass, 
and Tuna Drift Gillnet Fishery

    Comment 15: One commenter expressed support for the addition of the 
CA yellowtail, barracuda, white

[[Page 41730]]

seabass, and tuna drift gillnet fishery as a Category II fishery.
    Response: NMFS agrees and has added the fishery to the LOF as a 
Category II fishery.
    Comment 16: One commenter recommended that NMFS address this 
fishery under the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan 
(POCTRP).
    Response: NMFS believes that it is premature at this point to 
include this fishery as part of the POCTRP because this fishery has 
little known interaction with marine mammals. In an effort to better 
assess this fishery's potential to entangle marine mammals and to 
determine the species of marine mammals, if any, that are incidentally 
killed or seriously injured in this fishery, NMFS began placing 
observers on a small number of vessels participating in this fishery 
beginning in summer 2002. NMFS will use the information collected 
through this observer program to re-evaluate the categorization of this 
fishery in the 2004 LOF and to reassess whether this fishery should be 
subject to the POCTRP.

Comments on the California/Oregon (OR) Thresher Shark/Swordfish Drift 
Gillnet Fishery (14 in. mesh)

    Comment 17: Several commenters supported reclassification of the 
CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery from Category I to 
Category II.
    Response: NMFS agrees and has reclassified the fishery from 
Category I to Category II.
    Comment 18: One commenter stated that reclassification of the CA/OR 
thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery from Category I to II is 
premature given the level of sperm whale takes that occur in the 
fishery.
    Response: NMFS does not believe that it is premature to reclassify 
the CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery from Category 
I to Category II. This fishery fits the criteria that were developed 
for defining a Category II fishery. These fishery classification 
criteria, which were subject to review and comment in 1995, consist of 
a two-tiered, stock specific approach that first addresses the total 
impact of all fisheries on each marine mammal stock and then addresses 
the impact of individual fisheries on each stock. Thus, a fishery that 
interacts with several marine mammal stocks can still be classified as 
a Category II fishery if the annual mortality and serious injury of 
each of these marine mammal stocks is greater than 1 percent but less 
than 50 percent of each stock's PBR level. This is the case for the CA/
OR thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery, thus NMFS is 
reclassifying this fishery as a Category II fishery.
    Comment 19: One commenter supported reclassification of this 
fishery from Category I to II, but urged NMFS to maintain observer 
coverage in the fishery given the history of marine mammal takes in the 
fishery, the uncertainty of the long-term efficacy of pingers, and the 
levels of sperm whale takes in the fishery.
    Response: NMFS will maintain observer coverage in this fishery to 
continue to monitor the effectiveness of the POCTRP and to ensure the 
appropriate categorization of the fishery.

Comments on Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, or Gulf of 
Mexico

Comments on the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Gillnet Fishery

    Comment 20: One commenter noted that reclassification of the Mid-
Atlantic coastal gillnet fishery as a Category I fishery is appropriate 
based on the level of incidental mortality and serious injury of 
Western North Atlantic coastal bottlenose dolphins in this fishery.
    Response: NMFS agrees and has reclassified the fishery as Category 
I as proposed.

Comments on the Gulf of Mexico Gillnet Fishery

    Comment 21: One commenter supported reclassification of the Gulf of 
Mexico gillnet fishery as Category II but said that, based on 
documented interactions with bottlenose dolphin stocks, the complexity 
of the stocks themselves, and the current scant level of monitoring in 
this fishery, a Category I classification would be more appropriate for 
this fishery.
    Response: NMFS believes that data uncertainties regarding marine 
mammal interactions in this fishery and bottlenose dolphin stock 
structure, as well as the declining level of gillnet fishing activity 
in the Gulf of Mexico, support a Category II classification. If new 
information indicates that take rates relative to population status are 
higher than currently estimated such that a Category I classification 
is warranted, NMFS would propose such a reclassification in the future.
    Comment 22: One commenter stated that NMFS should separate the Gulf 
of Mexico king and Spanish mackerel gillnet fisheries from the rest of 
the Gulf of Mexico gillnet fisheries and retain mackerel gillnet 
fisheries in Category III because of the lack of evidence of bottlenose 
dolphin takes in this portion of the fishery.
    Response: Because NMFS relies primarily on strandings data for 
information about incidental marine mammal mortality and serious injury 
in the Gulf of Mexico, it is often difficult to attribute stranded 
marine mammals that show clear signs of gear interaction to a specific 
portion of a fishery. Nonetheless, NMFS' observer data from the Mid-
Atlantic and South Atlantic show that mackerel gillnet fisheries have 
resulted in entanglement of bottlenose dolphins. In addition, the 
Atlantic SRG recommended that NMFS use its discretion under 50 CFR 
229.2, which enables the Assistant Administrator to evaluate factors 
including, but not limited to fishing techniques and gear used, to 
classify all gillnet fisheries as at least Category II given that 
observer data clearly show incidental mortality and serious injury of 
marine mammals where gillnet fisheries occur.

Comments on the Gulf of Mexico Menhaden Purse Seine Fishery

    Comment 23: One commenter stated that the Gulf of Mexico menhaden 
purse seine fishery should be listed as Category I based on information 
in the 1999 SAR, which indicates that fishery-related mortality and 
serious injury from this fishery exceeds PBR for the Gulf of Mexico 
bay, sound, and estuarine stocks of bottlenose dolphins. The commenter 
recommended that NMFS institute an observer program to obtain better 
information on this fishery.
    Response: With regard to reclassifying this fishery as Category I, 
NMFS responded to this request in the 1999 LOF (see Comment/Response 14 
in 64 FR 9067, February 24, 1999), and the same rationale applies. In 
summary, because of the lack of certainty regarding stock structure of 
the Gulf of Mexico bay, sound and estuarine bottlenose dolphins and the 
lack of observer coverage to accurately estimate fishery-related 
mortalities in this fishery, NMFS is retaining this fishery as Category 
II at this time. NMFS is currently investigating stock structure of 
Gulf of Mexico bottlenose dolphins in order to better define these 
stocks in the future.
    Also, as stated when this fishery was originally elevated to 
Category II status, this fishery coincides principally with the coastal 
stocks of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico. The original 
change in classification was based on PBR for Gulf of Mexico coastal 
stocks. NMFS agrees that more current observer data are necessary.

Comments on the Atlantic Mixed Species Trap/Pot Fishery

    Comment 24: One commenter supported inclusion of various Category

[[Page 41731]]

III trap/pot fisheries into a new generic trap/pot listing in Category 
II.
    Response: NMFS agrees and the generic Category II ``Atlantic mixed 
species trap/pot'' fishery has been established.
    Comment 25: One commenter stated that the newly-defined Atlantic 
mixed species trap/pot fishery should be addressed under the Atlantic 
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and Harbor Porpoise Take 
Reduction Plan (HPTRP).
    Response: NMFS added representatives of this fishery complex to the 
Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (ALWTRT) and raised this issue 
at the ALWTRT's meeting in April 2003. NMFS will be working with the 
ALWTRT to incorporate measures to address this fishery in the ALWTRP. 
With regard to the HPTRP, NMFS is not aware of any harbor porpoise 
interactions with trap/pot gear in recent years. The harbor porpoise 
(Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy stock) was listed as interacting with the 
fish trap/pot fisheries in the Northeast in the original LOF in 1989. 
However, NMFS is reevaluating that information during a review of older 
entanglement data and plans to update the list of interacting stocks in 
a future LOF based on a review of all available data. Based on data 
currently available, it is not appropriate to address trap/pot 
fisheries under the HPTRP at this time, although gillnet fisheries used 
to obtain bait for these fisheries may already be regulated under the 
HPTRP.
    Comment 26: One commenter stated that NMFS provided no scientific 
justification for classifying the Atlantic mixed species trap/pot 
fishery as Category II other than ``by analogy.'' The commenter 
objected to the imposition of registration costs that this 
classification would have on fishermen.
    Response: Classification by analogy refers to the exercise of 
administrative discretion using relevant information such as fishing 
techniques, gears used, and stranding data, as described in the 
definition of a Category II fishery included in the final rule for the 
Section 118 implementing regulations (60 FR 45086, August 30, 1995, 
codified at 50 CFR 229.2) to determine whether a fishery results in 
``occasional'' incidental mortality and serious injury of marine 
mammals.
    The generic Northeast trap/pot fishery is already a Category II 
fishery pursuant to the 2001 LOF. For the 2003 LOF, NMFS has combined 
the generic Category III trap/pot fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic and 
Southeast with the generic Category II Northeast trap/pot fishery and 
redefined the fishery as the Atlantic mixed species trap/pot fishery. 
The new Atlantic mixed species trap/pot fishery is appropriately 
classified as Category II based on known entanglement of cetaceans and 
pinnipeds in this gear type. The presence of trap/pot gear in areas and 
at times when these marine mammals are present is likely to result in 
occasional incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
    Since implementation of the 2002 LOF, NMFS automatically registers 
all Atlantic fishers with current state or federal fishing permits for 
fisheries designated as Category I or II and has waived the 
registration fee for the Marine Mammal Authorization Permit. Therefore, 
there will be no economic burden associated with registration under the 
MMPA.
    Comment 27: One commenter concurred with classifying Atlantic pot 
fisheries at least at the Category II level given that they include 
gears already known to incidentally take marine mammals. However, the 
commenter thought that Category I would be a more appropriate 
classification and said a lower Category is not warranted simply 
because the operation of Southeast trap/pot fisheries does not overlap 
with right whale distribution. The commenter said these fisheries 
entangle other species such as bottlenose dolphins and other small 
cetaceans and noted that this information was not provided in the LOF 
when justifying categorization of the fishery.
    Response: Although the definition of a Category II fishery in 50 
CFR 229.2 provides that NMFS may use a number of factors in determining 
whether incidental serious injury or mortality is ``occasional,'' the 
definition of a Category I fishery does not provide the same level of 
flexibility for administrative discretion in determining what is 
``frequent.'' If new information becomes available suggesting that 
takes in the Atlantic mixed species trap/pot fishery results in a rate 
of incidental mortality or serious injury of 50 percent or greater of 
the PBR for a marine mammal stock, then it would be appropriate to 
consider elevation of those fisheries to Category I.
    Data indicate that interactions between bottlenose dolphins and the 
spiny lobster and stone crab trap/pot fisheries in the Atlantic, 
Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico are rare. Additionally, NMFS has no data 
regarding interactions between bottlenose dolphins and other trap/pot 
fisheries in the Southeast or Mid-Atlantic. NMFS will continue to 
define and evaluate other trap/pot fisheries in the Atlantic, 
Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico and consider whether to reclassify them 
based on incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in 
the 2004 LOF.

Comments on the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico Large 
Pelagics Longline Fishery

    Comment 28: One commenter stated that NMFS should update the lists 
of species incidentally killed or seriously injured in the Atlantic 
Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline fishery based 
on data presented in the 2002 Stock Assessment Reports. The commenter 
specifically identified species that NMFS should review.
    Response: Unlike the SARs, which focus on the most recent 5 years 
of data, the list of marine mammals incidentally killed or seriously 
injured in a given fishery in the LOF often includes all species or 
stocks known to experience mortality or serious injury in a given 
fishery and may also include species for which there are anecdotal or 
historical, but not necessarily current, records of interaction based 
on a variety of data types (e.g., logbooks, strandings data, observer 
data). This helps the agency better understand the nature and types of 
interactions that occur in each fishery. NMFS plans to evaluate how 
best to present historical versus current data on marine mammal-fishery 
interactions in future Lists of Fisheries and will make any necessary 
changes in the LOF tables once that evaluation is complete.
    Comment 29: One commenter suggested that NMFS subdivide the pelagic 
longline fishery into three regional fisheries in the LOF to reflect 
variations in geographic region, target species, vessel size, area-
specific regulations, and time of year. The commenter noted 
specifically that the Atlantic portion of the longline fishery should 
be divided into northern and southern components with a boundary line 
at Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
    Response: NMFS appreciates the information provided by the 
commenter on potential subdivisions of the pelagic longline fishery and 
notes that we addressed similar comments in the final LOF for 1997 (see 
Comment/Response 37 in 62 FR 33, January 2, 1997), the final LOF for 
1999 (see Comment/Response 18 in 64 FR 9067, February 24, 1999), and 
the final LOF for 2001 (see Comment/Response 16 in 66 FR 42784, August 
15, 2001). At this time, however, NMFS is not aware of any information 
to suggest that there is differential marine mammal incidental 
mortality/serious injury in the pelagic longline fishery along 
geographic lines. Therefore, subdivision of this fishery as

[[Page 41732]]

the commenter suggests is not appropriate at this time. While 
subdivision of this fishery along ecosystem lines similar to that done 
for inshore fisheries may be considered in the future, the analysis to 
support such a division is not currently available.
    NMFS will, whenever possible, define fisheries the way they are 
defined in federal, regional, or state fishery management programs. 
This will (1) help NMFS fulfill its statutory obligations by 
coordinating registration under the MMPA with existing fishery 
management programs, (2) provide a ``common name'' for a fishery that 
can be used by NMFS, fishers, and state and regional fishery managers, 
and (3) allow NMFS to more easily collect information on fishery 
statistics, such as the number of participants, target species, length 
of fishing season, etc.
    Comment 30: One commenter requested that NMFS add the Western North 
Atlantic (WNA) pygmy sperm whale to the list of marine mammals 
incidentally killed or seriously injured in the pelagic longline 
fishery based on the report of a serious injury of a pygmy sperm whale 
in this fishery in 2000.
    Response: NMFS agrees and will add the WNA pygmy sperm whale to the 
list of marine mammals incidentally taken in this fishery.

Comments on the Gulf of Mexico Blue Crab Trap/pot Fishery

    Comment 31: One commenter stated that NMFS should reclassify the 
Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/pot fishery at least as Category II and 
expressed concern that the agency did not provide adequate 
justification for not reclassifying the fishery.
    Response: NMFS has decided not to reclassify this fishery in the 
2003 LOF because the bottlenose dolphin stock structure in the Gulf of 
Mexico is not well defined at this time. Additionally, the available 
data on strandings with signs of crab trap/pot interaction are 
relatively few in number. Therefore, NMFS believes it is more 
appropriate to reevaluate this fishery relative to PBRs for bay, sound, 
and estuarine stocks of bottlenose dolphins when the Gulf of Mexico 
bottlenose dolphin stock structure is better understood. NMFS is 
currently investigating the stock structure of bottlenose dolphins in 
the Gulf of Mexico to better define these stocks in the future.
    In the coming year, NMFS will work with the Gulf States Marine 
Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) and the Sea Grant program to better 
monitor bottlenose dolphin takes in this fishery, to educate blue crab 
fishermen about marine mammal interaction issues and ways to reduce 
takes in the fishery, and to continue work on the derelict trap/pot 
removal program, believed to be an important source of marine mammal 
mortality and serious injury in the fishery. The NMFS Southeast 
Regional Office will monitor the progress in this fishery closely and 
reevaluate it for reclassification in the future.
    Comment 32: Some commenters objected to future consideration of the 
Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/pot fishery as Category II given the lack 
of solid data to support the fishery's reclassification. The commenters 
expressed particular concern about the lack of scientific rigor of the 
strandings data used in this analysis.
    Response: See Comment/Response 31 above. NMFS has decided not to 
reclassify this fishery at this time and instead will work with the 
GSMFC and Sea Grant program to educate crabbers about ways to reduce 
interactions with marine mammals in this fishery.
    NMFS believes that strandings data are an important source of 
information on marine mammal mortality and serious injury in the Gulf 
of Mexico blue crab trap/pot fishery and has developed a proposal to 
strengthen strandings programs throughout the Southeast region, 
including the Gulf of Mexico, to improve data quality in the coming 
years. NMFS'' proposal includes recommendations aimed at ensuring 
adequate geographic coverage of strandings programs, improving accuracy 
of strandings data, increasing reporting frequency and response time, 
facilitating communication between strandings responders and 
individuals reporting marine mammal takes, ensuring a centralized 
repository, involving fishermen in gear interaction determinations, and 
providing guidance to enforcement agents about their role in stranding 
response. NMFS will reevaluate this fishery in the 2004 LOF.

Summary of Changes to the LOF for 2003

    With the following exceptions, the placement and definitions of 
U.S. commercial fisheries are identical to those provided in the LOF 
for 2002. The following summarizes changes in fishery classification, 
fishery name, fisheries listed on the LOF, number of participants in a 
particular fishery, and the species and/or stocks that are incidentally 
killed or seriously injured in a particular fishery, that are revised 
in the 2003 LOF.

Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean

Fishery Classification

    The ``California/Oregon Thresher Shark/Swordfish Drift Gillnet 
Fishery (= 14 in. mesh)'' is moved from Category I to 
Category II.
    The ``AK Cook Inlet Salmon Set Gillnet Fishery'' is moved from 
Category II to Category III.

Addition of Fisheries to the LOF

    The ``CA Yellowtail, Barracuda, White Seabass, and Tuna Drift 
Gillnet Fishery (mesh size  3.5 inches and < 14 inches)'' is 
added to the LOF as a Category II fishery.

Removals of Fisheries from the LOF

    The ``CA Shark/Bonito Longline/Set Line Fishery'' is removed from 
the LOF.

Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications

    The ``CA Angel Shark/Halibut and Other Species Large Mesh 
(3.5 in. mesh) Set Gillnet Fishery'' is renamed the ``CA 
Angel Shark/Halibut and Other Species Set Gillnet Fishery 
(3.5 in. mesh).''
    The ``CA Longline Fishery'' is renamed the ``CA Pelagic Longline 
Fishery.''
    The ``CA/OR Thresher Shark/Swordfish Drift Gillnet Fishery'' is 
renamed the ``CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery 
(=14 in. mesh).''

Number of Vessels/Persons

    The estimated number of participants in the ``AK Bering Sea 
Aleutian Islands Groundfish Longline/Set Line Fishery'' is updated to 
148.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``AK Gulf of Alaska 
Groundfish Longline/Set Line Fishery'is updated to 1030.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``AK Bering Sea 
Aleutian Islands Groundfish Trawl Fishery'' is updated to 157.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``AK Gulf of Alaska 
Groundfish Trawl Fishery'' is updated to 145.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``AK Bering Sea, Gulf 
of Alaska Finfish Pot Fishery'' is updated to 314.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``CA Pelagic Longline 
Fishery'' is updated to 30.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``CA/OR Thresher Shark/
Swordfish Drift Gillnet Fishery (=14 in. mesh)'' is updated 
to 113.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``WA Puget Sound Region 
Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery'' is updated to 225.

[[Page 41733]]

List of Species That Are Incidentally Injured or Killed by a Particular 
Fishery

    The Northeast Pacific stock of fin whales is added to the list of 
marine mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed in the 
``AK Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands groundfish trawl fishery'' because 
this stock is known to interact with this fishery and was inadvertently 
omitted from the list of marine mammal species in the past.
    The Central North Pacific stock of humpback whales is added to the 
list of marine mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed 
in the ``Alaska crustacean pot fishery'' because of evidence that this 
stock has interacted with components of this fishery.
    The CA coastal stock of bottlenose dolphins is removed from the 
list of marine mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed 
in the ``CA herring purse seine fishery.''
    The CA/OR/WA stock of fin whales and the eastern North Pacific 
stock of gray whales are both added to the list of marine mammal 
species and stocks incidentally injured or killed in the ``CA/OR 
thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery (=14 in. 
mesh).''

Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and 
Caribbean

Fishery Classification

    The ``Gulf of Mexico Gillnet Fishery'' is moved from Category III 
to Category II.
    The ``Mid-Atlantic Coastal Gillnet Fishery'' is moved from Category 
II to Category I.
    The ``Mid-Atlantic Mixed Species Trap/Pot Fishery'' and the ``U.S. 
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S. Atlantic Black Seabass Trap/Pot 
Fishery,'' formerly Category III fisheries, are combined with the 
``Northeast Trap/Pot Fishery,'' currently Category II, and any other 
trap/pot fishery gear in the Atlantic that is not included in other 
trap/pot fisheries specifically identified in the LOF, into the 
``Atlantic Mixed Species Trap/Pot Fishery.'' This newly-defined fishery 
is classified as Category II.

Addition of Fisheries to the LOF

    See discussion of the ``Atlantic Mixed Species Trap/Pot Fishery'' 
above.

Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications

    The ``Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, U.S. Mid-Atlantic 
Pelagic Hook-and-Line/Harpoon Fishery'' is renamed the ``Southeastern 
U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Pelagic Hook-and-Line/
Harpoon Fishery.''

Number of Vessels/Persons

    The estimated number of participants in the ``Southeastern U.S. 
Atlantic Shark Gillnet Fishery'' is updated to 6.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``U.S. Atlantic Tuna 
Purse Seine Fishery'' is updated to 5.
    The estimated number of participants in the ``Southeastern U.S. 
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico Shark Bottom Longline/Hook-and-Line Fishery'' 
is updated to <125.

List of Species That Are Incidentally Injured or Killed by a Particular 
Fishery

    The Western North Atlantic pygmy sperm whale is added to the list 
of marine mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed in 
the ``Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico Large Pelagics Longline 
Fishery'' given the report of a serious injury of this stock in this 
fishery.

List of Fisheries

    The following two tables list U.S. commercial fisheries according 
to their assigned categories under section 118 of the MMPA. The 
estimated number of vessels/participants 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 tables also list the marine mammal species and stocks that are 
incidentally killed or injured in each fishery based on observer data, 
logbook data, stranding reports, and fisher reports. This list includes 
all species or stocks known to experience injury or mortality in a 
given fishery, but also includes species or stocks for which there are 
anecdotal or historical, but not necessarily current, records of 
interaction. Additionally, species identified by logbook entries may 
not be verified. Not all species or stocks identified are the reason 
for a fishery's placement in a given category. There are a few 
fisheries that are in Category II that have no recently documented 
interactions with marine mammals. Justifications for placement of these 
fisheries are by analogy to other gear types that are known to cause 
mortality or serious injury of marine mammals, as discussed in the 
final LOF for 1996 (60 FR 67063, December 28, 1995), and according to 
factors listed in the definition of ``Category II fishery'' in 50 CFR 
229.2.
    Table 1 lists commercial fisheries in the Pacific Ocean (including 
Alaska); Table 2 lists commercial fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf 
of Mexico, and Caribbean.

 Table 1.--List of Fisheries--Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Marine mammal species
                                    Estimated           and stocks
      Fishery description           number of      incidentally killed/
                                 vessels/persons          injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Category I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES: CA angel      58               Harbor porpoise,
 shark/halibut and other                           central CA.
 species set gillnet (3.5 in mesh)                                   beaked, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Common dolphin, long-
                                                   beaked CA.
                                                  California sea lion,
                                                   U.S.
                                                  Harbor seal, CA.
                                                  Northern elephant
                                                   seal, CA breeding.
                                                  Sea otter, CA.
--------------------------------
                               Category II
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:

[[Page 41734]]

 
    AK Bristol Bay salmon drift  1,903            Steller sea lion,
     gillnet.                                      Western U.S.
                                                  Northern fur seal,
                                                   Eastern Pacific.
                                                  Harbor seal, Bering
                                                   Sea.
                                                  Beluga whale, Bristol
                                                   Bay.
                                                  Gray whale, Eastern
                                                   North Pacific.
                                                  Spotted seal, AK.
                                                  Pacific white-sided
                                                   dolphin, North
                                                   Pacific.
    AK Bristol Bay salmon set    1,014            Harbor seal, Bering
     gillnet.                                      Sea.
                                                  Beluga whale, Bristol
                                                   Bay.
                                                  Gray whale, Eastern
                                                   North Pacific.
                                                  Northern fur seal,
                                                   Eastern Pacific.
                                                  Spotted seal, AK.
    AK Cook Inlet salmon drift   576              Steller sea lion,
     gillnet.                                      Western U.S.
                                                  Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GOA.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                  Beluga whale, Cook
                                                   Inlet.
    AK Kodiak salmon set         188              Harbor seal, GOA.
     gillnet.                                     Harbor porpoise, GOA.
                                                  Sea otter, AK.
    AK Metlakatla/Annette        60               None documented.
     Island salmon drift
     gillnet.
    AK Peninsula/Aleutian        164              Northern fur seal,
     Islands salmon drfit                          Eastern Pacific.
     gillnet.                                     Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GOA.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, AK.
    AK Peninsula/Aleutian        116              Steller sea lion,
     Islands salmon set gillnet.                   Western U.S.
                                                  Harbor porpoise,
                                                   Bering Sea.
    AK Prince William Sound      541              Steller sea lion,
     salmon drift gillnet.                         Western U.S.
                                                  Northern fur seal,
                                                   Eastern gillnet
                                                   Pacific.
                                                  Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                  Pacific white-sided
                                                   dolphin, North
                                                   Pacific.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GOA.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                  Sea Otter, AK.
    AK Southeast salmon drift    481              Steller sea lion,
     gillnet.                                      Eastern U.S.
                                                  Harbor seal, Southeast
                                                   AK.
                                                  Pacific white-sided
                                                   dolphin, North
                                                   Pacific.
                                                  Harbor porpoise,
                                                   Southeast AK.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                  Humpback whale,
                                                   central North
                                                   Pacific.
    AK Yakutat salmon set        170              Harbor seal, Southeast
     gillnet.                                      AK.
                                                  Gray whale, Eastern
                                                   North Pacific.
    CA/OR thresher shark/        113              Steller sea lion,
     swordfish drift gillnet                       Eastern U.S.
     (=14 in. mesh).                   Sperm whale, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/
                                                   WA.
                                                  Fin whale, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Gray whale, eastern
                                                   North Pacific.
                                                  Northern Pacific white-
                                                   sided dolphin, CA/OR/
                                                   WA.
                                                  Southern Pacific white-
                                                   sided dolphin, CA/OR/
                                                   WA.
                                                  Risso's dolphin, CA/OR/
                                                   WA.
                                 ...............  Bottlenose dolphin, CA/
                                                   OR/WA offshore.
                                                  Short-beaked common
                                                   dolphin, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Long-beaked common
                                                   dolphin, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Northern right-whale
                                                   dolphin, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Short-finned pilot
                                                   whale, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Baird's beaked whale,
                                                   CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Mesoplodont beaked
                                                   whale, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Cuvier's beaked whale,
                                                   CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Pygmy sperm whale, CA/
                                                   OR/WA.
                                 ...............  California sea lion,
                                                   U.S.
                                                  Northern elephant
                                                   seal, CA breeding.
                                                  Humpback whale, CA/OR/
                                                   WA-Mexico.
                                                  Minke whale, CA/OR/WA.
                                                  Striped dolphin, CA/OR/
                                                   WA.
                                                  Killer whale, CA/OR/WA
                                                   Pacific coast.
                                                  Northern fur seal, San
                                                   Miguel Island.
    CA yellowtail, barracuda,    24               None documented.
     white seabass, and tuna
     drift gillnet fishery
     (mesh size  3.5
     inches and < 14 inches).

[[Page 41735]]

 
    WA Puget Sound Region        225              Harbor porpoise, WA.
     salmon drift gillnet                         Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/
     (includes all inland                          WA.
     waters south of US-Canada                    Harbor seal, WA
     border and eastward of the                    inland.
     Bonilla-Tatoosh line--
     Treaty Indian fishing is
     excluded).
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES
    AK Southeast salmon purse    416              Humpback whale,
     seine.                                        central North
                                                   Pacific.
    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               Short-finned pilot
                                                   whale, CA/OR/WA.
TRAWL FISHERIES AK               2                None documented.
 miscellaneous finfish pair
 trawl.
LONGLINE FISHERIES
    CA pelagic longline........  30               California sea lion.
    OR swordfish floating        2                None documented.
     longline.
    OR blue shark floating       1                None documented.
     longline.
--------------------------------
                              Category III
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    AK Cook Inlet salmon set     745              Steller sea lion,
     gillnet.                                      Western U.S.
                                                  Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GOA.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                  Beluga whale, Cook
                                                   Inlet.
    AK Kuskokwim, Yukon, Norton  1,922            Harbor porpoise,
     Sound, Kotzebue salmon                        Bering Sea.
     gillnet.
    AK miscellaneous finfish     3                Steller sea lion,
     set gillnet.                                  Western U.S.
    AK Prince William Sound      30               Steller sea lion,
     salmon set gillnet.                           Western U.S.
                                                  Harbor seal, GOA.
    AK roe herring and food/     2,034            None documented.
     bait herring gillnet.
    CA set and drift gillnet     341              None documented.
     fisheries that use a
     stretched mesh size of 3.5
     in or less.
    Hawaii gillnet.............  115              Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   HI.
                                                  Spinner dolphin, HI.
    WA Grays Harbor salmon       24               Harbor seal, OR/WA
     drift gillnet (excluding                      coast.
     treaty Tribal fishing).
    WA, OR herring, smelt,       913              None documented.
     shad, sturgeon, bottom
     fish, mullet, perch,
     rockfish gillnet.
    WA, OR lower Columbia River  110              California sea lion,
     (includes tributaries)                        U.S.
     drift gillnet.                               Harbor seal, OR/WA
                                                   coast.
    WA Willapa Bay drift         82               Harbor seal, OR/WA
     gillnet.                                      coast.
                                                  Northern elephant
                                                   seal, CA breeding.
PURSE SEINE, BEACH SEINE, ROUND
 HAUL AND THROW NET FISHERIES:
    AK Metlakatla salmon purse   10               None documented.
     seine.
    AK miscellaneous finfish     1                None documented.
     beach seine.
    AK miscellaneous finfish     3                None documented.
     purse seine.
    AK octopus/squid purse       2                None documented.
     seine.
    AK roe herring and food/     8                None documented.
     bait herring beach seine.
    AK roe herring and food/     624              None documented.
     bait herring purse seine.
    AK salmon beach seine......  34               None documented.
    AK salmon purse seine        953              Harbor seal, GOA.
     (except Southeast Alaska,
     which is in Category II).
    CA herring purse seine.....  100              California sea lion,
                                                   U.S.
                                                  Harbor seal, CA.
    CA sardine purse seine.....  120              None documented.
    HI opelu/akule net.........  16               None documented.
    HI purse seine.............  18               None documented.
    HI throw net, cast net.....  47               None documented.
    WA (all species) beach       235              None documented.
     seine or drag seine.
    WA, OR herring, smelt,       130              None documented.
     squid purse seine or
     lampara.
    WA salmon purse seine......  440              None documented.
    WA salmon reef net.........  53               None documented.
DIP NET FISHERIES:
    CA squid dip net...........  115              None documented.
    WA, OR smelt, herring dip    119              None documented.
     net.
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES:
    CA salmon enhancement        1     None documented.
     rearing pen.
    OR salmon ranch............  1                None documented.

[[Page 41736]]

 
    WA, OR salmon net pens.....  14               California sea lion,
                                                   U.S.
                                                  Harbor seal, WA inland
                                                   waters.
TROLL FISHERIES:
    AK North Pacific halibut,    1,530            None documented.
     AK bottom fish, WA, OR, CA  (330 AK)
     albacore, groundfish,
     bottom fish, CA halibut
     non-salmonid troll
     fisheries.
    AK salmon troll............  2,335            Steller sea lion,
                                                   Western U.S.
                                                  Steller sea lion,
                                                   Eastern U.S.
    American Samoa tuna troll..  <50              None documented.
    CA/OR/WA salmon troll......  4,300            None documented.
    Commonwealth of the          50               None documented.
     Northern Mariana Islands
     tuna troll.
    Guam tuna troll............  50               None documented.
    HI net unclassified........  106              None documented.
    HI trolling, rod and reel..  1,795            None documented.
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian      148              Northern elephant
     Islands groundfish                            seal, CA breeding.
     longline/set line                            Killer whale, Eastern
     (federally regulated                          North Pacific
     waters, including                             resident.
     miscellaneous finfish and                    Killer whale,
     sablefish).                                   transient.
                                                  Steller sea lion,
                                                   Western U.S.
                                                  Pacific white-sided
                                                   dolphin, North
                                                   Pacific.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                  Harbor seal, Bering
                                                   Sea.
    AK Gulf of Alaska            1,030            Steller sea lion,
     groundfish longline/set                       Western U.S.
     line (federally regulated                    Harbor seal, Southeast
     waters, including                             AK.
     miscellaneous finfish and                    Northern elephant
     sablefish).                                   seal, CA breeding.
    AK halibut longline/set      3,079            Steller sea lion,
     line (State and Federal                       Western U.S.
     waters).
    AK octopus/squid longline..  7                None documented.
    AK state-managed waters      731              None documented.
     groundfish longline/
     setline (including
     sablefish, rockfish, and
     miscellaneous finfish).
    HI swordfish, tuna,          140              Humpback whale,
     billfish, mahi mahi,                          Central North
     wahoo, oceanic sharks                         Pacific.
     longline/set line.                           False killer whales,
                                                   HI.
                                                  Risso's dolphin, HI.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   HI.
                                                  Spinner dolphin, HI.
                                                  Short-finned pilot
                                                   whale, HI.
                                                  Sperm whale, HI.
    WA, OR, CA groundfish,       367              None documented.
     bottomfish longline/set
     line.
    WA, OR North Pacific         350              None documented.
     halibut longline/set line.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
    AK Bering Sea and Aleutian   157              Steller sea lion,
     Islands Groundfish Trawl.                     Western U.S.
                                                  Northern fur seal,
                                                   Eastern Pacific.
                                                  Killer whale, Eastern
                                                   North Pacific
                                                   resident.
                                                  Killer whale, Eastern
                                                   North Pacific
                                                   transient.
                                                  Pacific white-sided
                                                   dolphin, North
                                                   Pacific.
                                                  Harbor porpoise,
                                                   Bering Sea .
                                                  Harbor seal, Bering
                                                   Sea.
                                                  Harbor seal, Gulf of
                                                   Alaska.
                                 ...............  Bearded seal, AK.
                                                  Ringed seal, AK.
                                                  Spotted seal, AK.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                  Ribbon seal, AK.
                                                  Northern elephant
                                                   seal, CA breeding.
                                                  Sea otter, AK.
                                 ...............  Pacific walrus, AK.
                                                  Humpback whale,
                                                   Central North
                                                   Pacific.
                                                  Humpback whale,
                                                   Western North
                                                   Pacific.
                                                  Fin whale, Northeast
                                                   Pacific.
    AK food/bait herring trawl.  3                None documented.
    AK Gulf of Alaska            145              Steller sea lion,
     groundfish trawl.                             Western U.S.
                                                  Northern fur seal,
                                                   Eastern Pacific.
                                                  Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                  Northern elephant
                                                   seal, CA breeding.
                                                  Fin whale, Northeast
                                                   Pacific.
    AK miscellaneous finfish     6                None documented.
     otter or beam trawl.
    AK shrimp otter trawl and    58               None documented.
     beam trawl (statewide and
     Cook Inlet).

[[Page 41737]]

 
    AK state-managed waters of   2                None documented.
     Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay,
     Prince William Sound,
     Southeast AK groundfish
     trawl.
    WA, OR, CA groundfish trawl  585              Steller sea lion,
                                                   Western U.S.
                                                  Northern fur seal,
                                                   Eastern Pacific.
                                                  Pacific white-sided
                                                   dolphin, central
                                                   North Pacific.
                                                  Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/
                                                   WA.
                                                  California sea lion,
                                                   U.S.
                                                  Harbor seal, OR/WA
                                                   coast.
    WA, OR, CA shrimp trawl....  300              None documented.
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP
 FISHERIES:
    AK Bering Sea, Gulf of       314              Harbor seal, GOA.
     Alaska finfish pot.                          Harbor seal, Bering
                                                   Sea.
                                                  Sea otter, AK.
    AK crustacean pot..........  1,852            Harbor porpoise,
                                                   Southeast AK.
                                                  Humpback whale,
                                                   Central North
                                                   Pacific.
    AK octopus/squid pot.......  72               None documented.
    AK snail pot...............  2                None documented.
    CA lobster, prawn, shrimp,   608              Sea otter, CA.
     rock crab, fish pot.
    OR, CA hagfish pot or trap.  25               None documented.
    WA, OR, CA crab pot........  1,478            None documented.
    WA, OR, CA sablefish pot...  176              None documented.
    WA, OR shrimp pot & trap...  254              None documented.
    HI crab trap...............  22               None documented.
    HI fish trap...............  19               None documented.
    HI lobster trap............  15               Hawaiian monk seal.
    HI shrimp trap.............  5                None documented.
HANDLINE AND JIG FISHERIES:
    AK miscellaneous finfish     100              None documented.
     handline and mechanical
     jig.
    AK North Pacific halibut     93               None documented.
     handline and mechanical
     jig.
    AK octopus/squid handline..  2                None documented.
    American Samoa bottomfish..  <50              None documented.
    Commonwealth of the          <50              None documented.
     Northern Mariana Islands
     bottomfish.
    Guam bottomfish............  <50              None documented.
    HI aku boat, pole and line.  54               None documented.
    HI deep sea bottomfish.....  434              Hawaiian monk seal.
    HI inshore handline........  650              Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   HI.
    HI tuna....................  144              Rough-toothed dolphin,
                                                   HI.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   HI.
                                                  Hawaiian monk seal.
    WA groundfish, bottomfish    679              None documented.
     jig.
HARPOON FISHERIES: CA swordfish  228              None documented.
 harpoon.
POUND NET/WEIR FISHERIES:
    AK herring spawn on kelp     452              None documented.
     pound net.
    AK Southeast herring roe/    3                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      108              None documented.
 scallop dredge.                 (12 AK)
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL
 COLLECTION FISHERIES:
    AK abalone.................  1                None documented.
    AK clam....................  156              None documented.
    WA herring spawn on kelp...  4                None documented.
    AK dungeness crab..........  3                None documented.
    AK herring spawn on kelp...  363              None documented.
    AK urchin and other fish/    471              None documented.
     shellfish.
    CA abalone.................  111              None documented.
    CA sea urchin..............  583              None documented.
    HI coral diving............  2                None documented.
    HI fish pond...............  10               None documented.
    HI handpick................  135              None documented.
    HI lobster diving..........  6                None documented.
    HI squiding, spear.........  267              None documented.
    WA, CA kelp................  4                None documented.
    WA/OR sea urchin, other      637              None documented.
     clam, octopus, oyster, sea
     cucumber, scallop, ghost
     shrimp hand, dive, or
     mechanical collection.
    WA shellfish aquaculture...  684              None documented.
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING
 VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT)
 FISHERIES:

[[Page 41738]]

 
    AK, WA, OR, CA commercial    7,00  None documented.
     passenger fishing vessel.    0
                                 (1,107 AK)
    HI ``other''...............  114              None documented.
LIVE FINFISH/SHELLFISH           93               None documented.
 FISHERIES: CA finfish and
 shellfish live trap/hook-and-
 line.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Abbreviations Used in Table 1: AK--Alaska; CA--California; GOA--
  Gulf of Alaska; HI--Hawaii; OR--Oregon; WA--Washington.


Table 2.--List of Fisheries--Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean,
                      Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Marine mammal species
                                    Estimated           and stocks
      Fishery Description           of    incidentally killed/
                                 vessels/persons          injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Category I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    Mid-Atlantic coastal.......  655   Humpback whale, Gulf
                                                   of gillnet Maine.
                                                  Minke whale, Canadian
                                                   east coast.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   WNA offshore.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   WNA coastal.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GME/
                                                   BF.
                                 ...............  Harbor seal, WNA.
                                                  Harp seal, WNA.
                                                  Long-finned pilot
                                                   whale, WNA.
                                                  Short-finned pilot
                                                   whale, WNA.
                                                  White-sided dolphin,
                                                   WNA.
                                                  Common dolphin, WNA.
    Northeast sink gillnet.....  341              North Atlantic right
                                                   whale, WNA.
                                                  Humpback whale, WNA.
                                                  Minke whale, Canadian
                                                   east coast.
                                                  Killer whale, WNA.
                                                  White-sided dolphin,
                                                   WNA.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   WNA offshore.
                                 ...............  Harbor porpoise, GME/
                                                   BF.
                                                  Harbor seal, WNA.
                                                  Gray seal, WNA.
                                                  Common dolphin, WNA.
                                                  Fin whale, WNA.
                                                  Spotted dolphin, WNA.
                                                  False killer whale,
                                                   WNA.
                                                  Harp seal, WNA.
LONGLINE FISHERIES: Atlantic     <200             Humpback whale, WNA.
 Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of                        Minke whale, Canadian
 Mexico large 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.
                                                  Pygmy sperm whale,
                                                   WNA.
TRAP/POT FISHERIES: Northeast/   13,000           North Atlantic right
 Mid-Atlantic American lobster                     whale, WNA.
 trap/pot.                                        Humpback whale, WNA.
                                                  Fin whale, WNA.
                                                  Minke whale, Canadian
                                                   east coast.
                                                  Harbor seal, WNA.
TRAWL FISHERIES:

[[Page 41739]]

 
    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.
--------------------------------
                               Category II
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    Gulf of Mexico gillnet.....  724              Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   Western GMX coastal.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   Northern GMX coastal.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   Eastern GMX coastal.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   GMX Bay, Sound, and
                                                   Estuarine.
    North Carolina inshore       94               Bottlenose dolphin,
     gillnet.                                      WNA coastal.
    Northeast anchored float     133              Humpback whale, WNA.
     gillnet.                                     White-sided dolphin,
                                                   WNA.
                                                  Harbor seal, WNA.
    Northeast drift gillnet....  (\1\)            None documented.
    Southeast Atlantic gillnet.  779              Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   WNA coastal.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic   6                Bottlenose dolphin,
     shark gillnet.                                WNA coastal.
                                                  North Atlantic right
                                                   whale, WNA.
                                                  Atlantic spotted
                                                   dolphin, WNA.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
    Atlantic herring midwater    17               Harbor seal, WNA.
     trawl (including pair
     trawl).
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:
    Atlantic blue crab trap/pot  16,0  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                  00               WNA coastal.
                                                  West Indian manatee,
                                                   FL.
    Atlantic mixed species trap/ (\1\)            Fin whale, WNA.
     pot.                                         Humpback whale, Gulf
                                                   of Maine.
                                                  Minke whale, Canadian
                                                   east coast.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GM/
                                                   BF.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
    Gulf of Mexico menhaden      50               Bottlenose dolphin,
     purse seine.                                  Western GMX coastal.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   Northern GMX coastal.
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:
    Mid-Atlantic haul/beach      25               Bottlenose dolphin,
     seine.                                        WNA coastal.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GME/
                                                   BF.
    North Carolina long haul     33               Bottlenose dolphin,
     seine.                                        WNA coastal.
STOP NET FISHERIES:
    North Carolina roe mullet    13               Bottlenose dolphin,
     stop net.                                     WNA coastal.
POUND NET FISHERIES: Virginia    187              Bottlenose dolphin,
 pound net.                                        WNA coastal.
--------------------------------
                              Category III
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    Caribbean gillnet..........  991   Dwarf sperm whale,
                                                   WNA.
                                                  West Indian manatee,
                                                   Antillean.
    Chesapeake Bay inshore       45               Harbor porpoise, GME/
     gillnet.                                      BF.
    Delaware Bay inshore         60               Humpback whale, WNA.
     gillnet.                                     Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   WNA coastal.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GME/
                                                   BF.
    Long Island Sound inshore    20               Humpback whale, WNA.
     gillnet.                                     Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   WNA coastal.
                                                  Harbor porpoise, GME/
                                                   BF.
    Rhode Island, southern       32               Humpback whale, WNA.
     Massachusetts (to Monomoy                    Bottlenose dolphin,
     Island), and New York                         WNA.
     Bight (Raritan and Lower                     Harbor porpoise, GME/
     New York Bays) inshore                        BF.
     gillnet.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
    Calico scallops trawl......  12               None documented.
    Crab trawl.................  400              None documented.
    Georgia, South Carolina,     25               None documented.
     Maryland whelk trawl.
    Gulf of Maine, Mid-Atlantic  215              None documented.
     sea scallop trawl.
    Gulf of Maine northern       320              None documented.
     shrimp trawl.
    Gulf of Mexico butterfish    2                Atlantic spotted
     trawl.                                        dolphin, Eastern GMX.
                                                  Pantropical spotted
                                                   dolphin, Eastern GMX.
    Gulf of Mexico mixed         20               None documented.
     species trawl.
    Mid-Atlantic mixed species   1,00  None documented.
     trawl.                       0

[[Page 41740]]

 
    North Atlantic bottom trawl  1,052            Long-finned pilot
                                                   whale, WNA.
                                                  Short-finned pilot
                                                   whale, WNA.
                                                  Common dolphin, WNA.
                                                  White-sided dolphin,
                                                   WNA.
                                                  Striped dolphin, WNA.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   WNA offshore.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,  18,0  Bottlenose dolphin,
     Gulf of Mexico shrimp        00               WNA coastal.
     trawl.
    U.S. Atlantic monkfish       (\1\)            Common dolphin, WNA.
     trawl.
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES:
    Finfish aquaculture........  48               Harbor seal, 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, WNA.
    Gulf of Maine menhaden       50               None documented.
     purse seine.
    Florida west coast sardine   10               Bottlenose dolphin,
     purse seine.                                  Eastern GMX coastal.
    Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse  22               Bottlenose dolphin,
     seine.                                        WNA coastal.
                                                  Humpback whale, WNA.
    U.S. Atlantic tuna purse     5                None documented.
     seine.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic hand       250   None documented.
     seine.
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.
                                                  Humpback whale, WNA.
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-     26,223           Humpback whale, WNA.
     Atlantic tuna, shark
     swordfish hook-and-line/
     harpoon.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,  5,00  None documented.
     Gulf of Mexico, and          0
     Caribbean snapper- grouper
     and other reef fish bottom
     longline/hook-and-line.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,  <125             None documented.
     Gulf of Mexico shark
     bottom longline/hook-and-
     line.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,  1,446            None documented.
     Gulf of Mexico, and
     Caribbean pelagic hook-and-
     line/harpoon.
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:
    Caribbean mixed species      501   None documented.
     trap/pot.
    Caribbean spiny lobster      197   None documented.
     trap/pot.
    Florida spiny lobster trap/  2,145            Bottlenose dolphin,
     pot.                                          Eastern GMX coastal.
    Gulf of Mexico blue crab     4,113            Bottlenose dolphin,
     trap/pot.                                     Western GMX coastal.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   Northern GMX coastal.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   Eastern GMX coastal.
                                                  Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                   GMX Bay, Sound, &
                                                   Estuarine.
                                                  West Indian manatee,
                                                   FL.
    Gulf of Mexico mixed         (\1\)            None documented.
     species trap/pot.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,  10               None documented.
     Gulf of Mexico golden crab
     trap/pot.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,  4,453            None documented.
     Gulf of Mexico stone crab
     trap/pot.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic eel trap/  700   None documented.
     pot.
STOP SEINE/WEIR/POUND NET
 FISHERIES:
    Gulf of Maine herring and    50               North Atlantic right
     Atlantic mackerel stop                        whale, WNA.
     seine/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 crab stop  2,600            None documented.
     seine/weir.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic mixed      751              None documented.
     species stop seine/weir/
     pound net (except the
     North Carolina roe mullet
     stop net).
DREDGE FISHERIES:
    Gulf of Maine mussel.......  50    None documented.
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-     233              None documented.
     Atlantic sea scallop
     dredge.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic/Gulf of    7,000            None documented.
     Mexico oyster.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic offshore   100              None documented.
     surf clam and quahog
     dredge.
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:
    Caribbean haul/beach seine.  15               West Indian manatee,
                                                   Antillean.
    Gulf of Mexico haul/beach    (\1\)            None documented.
     seine.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,  25               None documented.
     haul/beach seine.

[[Page 41741]]

 
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL
 COLLECTION FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of      20,000           None documented.
     Mexico, Caribbean
     shellfish dive, hand/
     mechanical collection.
    Gulf of Maine urchin dive,   50    None documented.
     hand/mechanical collection.
    Gulf of Mexico, Southeast    (\1\)            None documented.
     Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic,
     and Caribbean cast net.
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING
 VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT)
 FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of      4,000            None documented.
     Mexico, Caribbean
     commercial passenger
     fishing vessel.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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

    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. No comments were 
received regarding the economic impact of this rule. As a result, no 
regulatory flexibility analysis was prepared.
    This final rule contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of information 
for the registration of fishers under the MMPA has been approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB control number 0648-
0293 (0.25 hours per report for new registrants and 0.15 hours per 
report for renewals). The requirement for reporting marine mammal 
injuries or moralities has been approved by OMB under OMB control 
number 0648-0292 (0.15 hours per report). These estimates include the 
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information. Send comments regarding these reporting 
burden estimates or any other aspect of the collection of information, 
including suggestions for reducing burden, to NMFS and OMB (see 
Addresses).
    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 requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information 
displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    An environmental assessment (EA) was prepared under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for regulations to implement section 
118 of the MMPA (1995 EA). The 1995 EA concluded that implementation of 
those regulations would not have a significant impact on the human 
environment. This final rule would not make any significant change in 
the management of reclassified fisheries, and therefore, this final 
rule is not expected to change the analysis or conclusion of the 1995 
EA. If NMFS takes a management action, for example, through the 
development of a Take Reduction Plan (TRP), NMFS will first prepare an 
environmental document as required under NEPA specific to that action.
    This final rule will not affect species listed as threatened or 
endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or their associated 
critical habitat. The impacts of numerous fisheries have been analyzed 
in various biological opinions, and this final rule will not affect the 
conclusions of those opinions. The classification of fisheries on the 
LOF is not considered to be a management action that would adversely 
affect threatened or endangered species. If NMFS takes a management 
action, for example, through the development of a TRP, NMFS would 
conduct consultation under section 7 of the ESA for that action.
    This final rule will have no adverse impacts on marine mammals and 
may have a positive impact on marine mammals by improving knowledge of 
marine mammals and the fisheries interacting with marine mammals 
through information collected from observer programs or take reduction 
teams.
    This final rule will not affect the land or water uses or natural 
resources of the coastal zone, as specified under section 307 of the 
Coastal Zone Management Act.

    Dated: July 9, 2003.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-17866 Filed 7-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P