[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 27, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66048-66080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23076]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[Docket No. 070417093-7582-02]
RIN 0648-AV54


List of Fisheries for 2008

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is publishing its 
final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2008, as required by the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The final LOF for 2008 reflects new 
information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine 
mammals. NMFS must categorize each commercial fishery on the LOF into 
one of three categories under the MMPA based upon the level of serious 
injury and mortality of marine mammals that occurs incidental to each 
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 January 1, 2008.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for a listing of all Regional 
offices.
    Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates, or any other 
aspect of the collection of information requirements contained in this 
final rule, should be submitted in writing to Chief, Marine Mammal and 
Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 
1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or to David Rostker, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), by fax to 202-395-7285 or by 
email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Andersen, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-713-2322; David Gouveia, Northeast Region, 978-281-9280; 
Nancy Young, Southeast Region, 727-551-5607; Elizabeth Petras, 
Southwest Region, 562-980-3238; Brent Norberg, Northwest Region, 206-
526-6733; Bridget Mansfield, Alaska Region, 907-586-7642; Lisa Van 
Atta, Pacific Islands Region, 808-944-2257. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the hearing impaired 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:

Availability of Published Materials

    Information regarding the LOF and the Marine Mammal Authorization 
Program, including registration procedures and forms, current and past 
LOFs, observer requirements, and marine mammal injury/mortality 
reporting forms and submittal procedures, may be obtained at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/, or from any NMFS Regional Office at 
the addresses listed below.

Regional Offices

    NMFS, Northeast Region, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298, Attn: Marcia Hobbs;
    NMFS, Southeast Region, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701, Attn: Teletha Mincey;
    NMFS, Southwest Region, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, 
CA 90802-4213, Attn: Lyle Enriquez;
    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; or
    NMFS, Pacific Islands Region, Protected Resources, 1601 Kapiolani 
Boulevard, Suite 1100, Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.

What is the List of Fisheries?

    Section 118 of the MMPA requires NMFS to place all U.S. commercial 
fisheries into one of three categories based on the level of incidental 
serious injury and mortality of marine mammals occurring 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. NMFS must 
reexamine the LOF annually, considering new information in the Marine 
Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SAR) and other relevant

[[Page 66049]]

sources, and publish in the Federal Register any necessary changes to 
the LOF after notice and opportunity for public comment (16 U.S.C. 1387 
(c)(1)(C)).

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 here.

Fishery Classification Criteria

    The fishery classification criteria 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. This approach is based on 
consideration of the rate, in numbers of animals per year, of 
incidental mortalities and serious injuries of marine mammals due to 
commercial fishing operations relative to the potential biological 
removal (PBR) level for each marine mammal stock. The MMPA (16 U.S.C. 
1362 (20)) defines the PBR level as the maximum number of animals, not 
including natural mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal 
stock while allowing that stock to reach or maintain its optimum 
sustainable population. This definition can also be found in the 
implementing regulations for section 118 of the MMPA (50 CFR 229.2).
    Tier 1: If the total annual mortality and serious injury of a 
marine mammal stock, across all fisheries, is less than or equal to 10 
percent of the PBR level of the stock, all fisheries interacting with 
the stock would be placed in Category III (unless those fisheries 
interact with other stock(s) in which total annual mortality and 
serious injury is greater than 10 percent of PBR). Otherwise, these 
fisheries are subject to the next tier (Tier 2) of analysis to 
determine their classification.
    Tier 2, Category I: Annual mortality and serious injury of a stock 
in a given fishery is greater than or equal to 50 percent of the PBR 
level.
    Tier 2, Category II: Annual mortality and serious injury of a stock 
in a given fishery is greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent 
of the PBR level.
    Tier 2, Category III: Annual mortality and serious injury of a 
stock in a given fishery is less than or equal to 1 percent of the PBR 
level.
    While Tier 1 considers the cumulative fishery mortality and serious 
injury for a particular stock, Tier 2 considers fishery-specific 
mortality and serious injury for a particular stock. Additional details 
regarding how the categories were determined are provided in the 
preamble to the proposed rule implementing section 118 of the MMPA (60 
FR 45086, August 30, 1995).
    Since fisheries are categorized on a per-stock basis, a fishery may 
qualify as one Category for one marine mammal stock and another 
Category for a different marine mammal stock. A fishery is typically 
categorized on the LOF at its highest level of classification (e.g., a 
fishery qualifying for Category III for one marine mammal stock and for 
Category II for another marine mammal stock will be listed under 
Category II).

Other Criteria That May Be Considered

    In the absence of reliable information indicating the frequency of 
incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals by a 
commercial fishery, NMFS will determine whether the fishery qualifies 
for Category II by evaluating other factors such as fishing techniques, 
gear used, methods used to deter marine mammals, target species, 
seasons and areas fished, qualitative data from logbooks or fisher 
reports, stranding data, and the species and distribution of marine 
mammals in the area, or at the discretion of the Assistant 
Administrator for Fisheries (50 CFR 229.2).

How Does NMFS Determine which Species or Stocks are Included as 
Incidentally Killed or Seriously Injured in a Fishery?

    The LOF includes a list of marine mammal species or stocks 
incidentally killed or seriously injured in each commercial fishery, 
based on the level of mortality or serious injury in each fishery 
relative to the PBR level for each stock. To determine which species or 
stocks are included as incidentally killed or seriously injured in a 
fishery, NMFS annually reviews the information presented in the current 
SARs. The SARs are based upon the best available scientific information 
and provide the most current and inclusive information on each stock's 
PBR level and level of mortality or serious injury incidental to 
commercial fishing operations. NMFS also reviews other sources of new 
information, including observer data, stranding data, and fisher self-
reports.
    In the absence of reliable information on the level of mortality or 
serious injury of a marine mammal stock, or insufficient observer data, 
NMFS will determine whether a species or stock should be added to, or 
deleted from, the list by considering other factors such as: changes in 
gear used, increases or decreases in fishing effort, increases or 
decreases in the level of observer coverage, and/or changes in fishery 
management that are expected to lead to decreases in interactions with 
a given marine mammal stock (such as a Fishery Management Plan or a 
Take Reduction Plan). NMFS will provide case-specific justification in 
the LOF for changes to the list of species or stocks incidentally 
killed or seriously injured.

How Does NMFS Determine the Level of Observer Coverage in a Fishery?

    Data obtained from observers and the level of observer coverage are 
important tools in estimating the level of marine mammal mortality and 
serious injury in commercial fishing operations. The best available 
information on the level of observer coverage, and the spatial and 
temporal distribution of observed marine mammal interactions, is 
presented in the SARs. Starting with the 2005 SARs, each SAR includes 
an appendix with detailed descriptions of each Category I and II 
fishery in the LOF. The SARs generally do not provide detailed 
information on observer coverage in Category III fisheries because 
under the MMPA Category III fisheries are not required to accommodate 
observers aboard vessels due to the remote likelihood of mortality and 
serious injury of marine mammals. Information presented in the SARs' 
appendices include: level of observer coverage, target species, levels 
of fishing effort, spatial and temporal distribution of fishing effort, 
gear characteristics, management and regulations, and interactions with 
marine mammals. Copies of the SARs are available on the NMFS Office of 
Protected Resource's Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. 
Additional information on observer coverage in commercial fisheries can 
be found on the NMFS National Observer Program's website: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st4/nop/.

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.

Are High Seas Fisheries Included in the LOF?

    High seas fisheries in which U.S. persons or vessels participate 
are not included in the LOF. However, NMFS is considering the inclusion 
of U.S.-authorized high seas fisheries (fisheries operating beyond 200 
nmi of U.S. coasts) in future LOFs. At this time,

[[Page 66050]]

NMFS is gathering available information on the number of vessels 
permitted and/or actively fishing in U.S.-authorized high seas 
fisheries, gear types used, and marine mammal-fishery interactions data 
included in documents published under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (MSA), National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and MMPA, and from relevant 
Regional Fishery Management Organizations (RFMO) and the International 
Whaling Commission (IWC).

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?

    Vessel or gear owners 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 an 
authorization certificate. The authorization certificate, or a copy, 
must be on board the vessel while it is operating in a Category I or II 
fishery, or for non-vessel fisheries, in the possession of the person 
in charge of the fishing operation (50 CFR 229.4(e)).

What is the Process for Registering in an Integrated Fishery?

    For some fisheries, NMFS has integrated the MMAP registration 
process with existing state and Federal fishery license, registration, 
or permit systems. Participants in these fisheries are automatically 
registered under the MMAP and are not required to submit registration 
or renewal materials or pay the $25 registration fee. The following 
section indicates which fisheries are integrated fisheries and has a 
summary of the integration process for each Region. Although efforts 
are made to limit the issuance of authorization certificates to only 
those vessel or gear owners that participate in Category I or II 
fisheries, not all state and Federal permit systems distinguish between 
fisheries as classified by the LOF. Therefore, some vessel or gear 
owners in Category III fisheries may receive authorization certificates 
even though they are not required for Category III fisheries. 
Individuals fishing in Category I and II fisheries for which no state 
or Federal permit is required must register with NMFS by contacting 
their appropriate Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).

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;
    4. All Southeast Regional fisheries for which a Federal permit is 
required, as well as fisheries permitted by the states of North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, 
Louisiana, and Texas; and
    5. The HI Swordfish, Tuna, Billfish, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Oceanic 
Sharks Longline/Set line Fishery.

How Do I Receive My Authorization Certificate and Injury/Mortality 
Reporting Forms?

    All vessel or gear owners will receive their authorization 
certificates and/or injury/mortality reporting forms via U.S. mail upon 
registration, except those vessel owners participating in the Northeast 
and Southeast Regional Integrated Registration Program. Vessel or gear 
owners participating in the Northeast and Southeast Regional Integrated 
Registration Program will receive their authorization certificates as 
follows:
    1. Northeast Region vessel or gear owners participating in Category 
I or II fisheries for which a state or Federal permit is required may 
receive their authorization certificate and/or injury/mortality 
reporting form by contacting the Northeast Regional Office at 978-281-
9328 or by visiting the Northeast Regional Office Web site (http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/) and following instructions for printing 
the necessary documents.
    2. Southeast Region vessel or gear owners participating in Category 
I or II fisheries for which a Federal permit is required, as well as 
fisheries permitted by the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas may 
receive their authorization certificate and/or injury/mortality 
reporting form by contacting the Southeast Regional Office at 727-824-
5312 or by visiting the Southeast Regional Office Web site (http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pr.htm) and following instructions for printing 
the necessary documents.

How Do I Renew My Registration Under the MMPA?

     Vessel or gear owners that participate in Pacific Islands or 
Alaska regional fisheries are automatically renewed and should receive 
an authorization certificate by January 1 of each new year. Vessel or 
gear owners in Washington and Oregon fisheries receive authorization 
with each renewed state fishing license, the timing of which varies 
based on target species. Vessel or gear owners who participate in 
Pacific Islands, Alaska, Washington, or Oregon fisheries and have not 
received authorization certificates by January 1 or with renewed 
fishing licenses must contact the appropriate NMFS Regional Office (see 
ADDRESSES).
    Vessel or gear owners in Southeast or Northeast regional fisheries 
may receive their authorization certificates by calling the relevant 
NMFS Regional Office or visiting the relevant NMFS Regional Office Web 
site (see How Do I Receive My Authorization Certificate and Injury/
Mortality Reporting Forms).
    Vessel or gear owners that participate in Southwest regional 
fisheries, which do not have an integrated registration program, and 
have previously registered in a Category I or II fishery will receive a 
renewal packet from the NMFS Southwest Regional Office at least 30 days 
prior to January 1 of each new year. It is the responsibility of the 
vessel or gear owner in these fisheries to complete their renewal form 
and return it to the NMFS Southwest Regional Office at least 30 days in 
advance of fishing. Individuals who have not received a renewal packet 
by January 1 must request a registration form from the NMFS Southwest 
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 gear owner or operator (in the case of 
non-vessel fisheries), participating in a Category I, II, or III 
fishery must report to NMFS all incidental injuries and mortalities of 
marine mammals that occur during commercial fishing operations. 
``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

[[Page 66051]]

entangling, trailing, or perforating any part of the body is considered 
injured, regardless of the presence of any wound or other evidence of 
injury, and must be reported. Injury/mortality reporting forms and 
instructions for submitting forms to NMFS can be downloaded from: 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/interactions/mmap_reporting_form.pdf. Reporting requirements and procedures 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. Take reduction plan 
regulations can be found at 50 CFR 229.30-35.

Sources of Information Reviewed for the Final 2008 LOF

    NMFS reviewed the marine mammal incidental mortality and serious 
injury information presented in the SARs for all observed fisheries to 
determine whether changes in fishery classification were warranted. 
NMFS' SARs are based on the best scientific information available at 
the time of preparation, including the level of mortality and serious 
injury of marine mammals that occurs incidental to commercial fisheries 
and the PBR levels of 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 Caribbean. The SRGs were created by the 
MMPA to review the science that informs the SARs, and to advise NMFS on 
population status and trends, stock structure, uncertainties in the 
science, research needs, and other issues.
    NMFS also reviewed other sources of new information, including 
marine mammal stranding data, observer program data, fisher self-
reports, and other information that may not be included in the SARs.
    The final LOF for 2008 was based, among other things, 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), the final 
SARs for 2002 (68 FR 17920, April 14, 2003), the final SARs for 2003 
(69 FR 54262, September 8, 2004), the final SARs for 2004 (70 FR 35397, 
June 20, 2005), the final SARs for 2005 (71 FR 26340, May 4, 2006), the 
final SARs for 2006 (72 FR 12774, March 19, 2007), and the draft SARs 
for 2007 (72 FR 35428, June 28, 2007). All the SARs are available at: 
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/.

Fishery Descriptions

    Below, NMFS briefly describes each Category I and II fishery in the 
final LOF for 2008. While detailed information describing each fishery 
in the LOF is included in the SARs, within a Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) or Take Reduction Plan (TRP), or by state agencies, general 
descriptive information is important to include in the LOF for improved 
clarity. Fisheries are defined based on the gear and fishing methods, 
target species, temporal and spatial distribution, and management and 
regulatory schemes. NMFS refers readers to the SARs for more additional 
information on Category I and II fisheries. Abbreviations used in the 
following descriptions include: AK (Alaska), AL (Alabama), CA 
(California), DE (Deleware), FL (Florida), GA (Georgia), HI (Hawaii), 
LA (Louisiana), MA (Massachusetts), ME (Maine), MS (Mississippi), NC 
(North Carolina), NJ (New Jersey), NY (New York), OR (Oregon), RI 
(Rhode Island), SC (South Carolina), TX (Texas), VA (Virginia), and WA 
(Washington).

Category I and II Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean

HI Swordfish, Tuna, Billfish, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Oceanic Sharks 
Longline/Set Line Fishery
    The Category I HI longline fishery targets swordfish, tuna, 
billfish, mahi mahi, wahoo, and oceanic sharks. The basic unit of gear 
is a 30-40 mi (48-64 km) long mainline made of 0.13-0.16 in (3.2-4.0 
mm) diameter monofilament line, with 800-1,000 hooks attached to the 
mainline. Deployment and retrieval of gear must occur at night. Shallow 
swordfish sets are required to use size 18/0 circle hooks with a 10-
degree offset and mackerel bait. Using squid bait is prohibited. For 
deep sets, all float lines must be at least 20 m (65.6 ft) long with a 
minimum of 15 branch lines attached to the mainline between any 2 
floats, except for basket-style longline gear that may have as few as 
10 branch lines. The use of any light emitting device is prohibited and 
vessels may not land or possess more than 10 swordfish at any time. The 
fishery operates over a huge geographic range extending north-south 
from 40[deg] N. lat. to the equator and east-west from Kure Atoll to as 
far as 135[deg] W. long. Fishing for swordfish generally occurs north 
of Hawaii (as much as 2,000 mi (3,219 km) from Honolulu), whereas 
fishing for tunas occurs primarily around the main Hawaiian Islands and 
south of the Hawaiian Islands. The fishery operates year-round, with 
effort generally lower in the third quarter of the year.
    The HI longline fishery is managed in part under the FMP for 
Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region. The shallow-set 
swordfish component has annual fleetwide limits on interactions with 
leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, an annual fleetwide limit of 
2,120 shallow sets north of the equator per year, and a requirement for 
operators to annually participate in a protected species workshop and 
get a valid protected species certification. Also, regulations mandate 
100 percent observer coverage in the shallow-set component of the 
fishery and at least 20 percent observer coverage in the deep-set 
component.
CA/OR Thresher Shark/Swordfish Drift Gillnet Fishery ([gteqt]14 in 
mesh)
    The Category I CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet fishery 
primarily targets common thresher sharks and swordfish using a 1000-
fathom (6,000 ft; 1,829 m) gillnet with stretched mesh size from 18-22 
in (46-56 cm) with a 14-in (35.6 cm) minimum. Other species caught 
include: pelagic thresher, bigeye thresher, shortfin mako, blue shark, 
albacore, other tunas, and dorado. One end of the net is typically 
attached to the vessel and is set at dusk and allowed to drift during 
the night, typically for 12-14 hours. Fishing effort extends from the 
U.S.-Mexico border north to waters off of OR, with the majority of 
effort occurring from October to December. OR restricts landings to 
swordfish only.
    This fishery is a limited entry fishery managed under the Pacific 
Highly Migratory Species (HMS) FMP and by regulations under the Pacific 
Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan (POCTRP), including multiple 
area-season closures and gear restrictions, a requirement for pingers 
on drift gillnets, a requirement that extenders (buoy lines) be at 
least 36 ft (11 m) long, and a requirement for vessel captains to 
attend skipper education workshops, when notified by NMFS.
CA Angel Shark/Halibut and Other Species Set Gillnet Fishery (>3.5 in 
mesh)
    The Category I CA angel shark/halibut and other species set gillnet 
fishery targets angel shark and halibut from the

[[Page 66052]]

U.S.-Mexico border north to Monterey Bay using 200 fathom (1,200 ft; 
366 m) gillnet with a stretch mesh size of 8.5 in (31.6 cm). Net soak 
duration is typically 8-10, 19-24, or 44-49 hours at a depth ranging 
from 15-50 fathoms (90-300 ft; 27-91 m) with most sets from 15-35 
fathoms (90-210 ft; 27-64 m). No more than 1500 fathoms (9,000 ft; 
2,743 m) of gill or trammel net may be fished in combination for CA 
halibut and angel shark. Fishing occurs year-round, with effort 
generally increasing during summer months and declining during last the 
3 months of the year. The central CA portion of the fishery from Point 
Arguello to Point Reyes has been closed since September, 2002, 
following a ban on gillnets inshore of 60 fathoms (360 ft; 110 m). Set 
gill nets have been prohibited in state waters south of Point Arguello 
and within 70 fathoms (420 ft; 128 m) or one mile (1.6 km), whichever 
is less, around the Channel Islands since 1990. The CA Department of 
Fish and Game (CDFG) manages the fishery as a limited entry fishery 
with gear restrictions and area closures.
CA Yellowtail, Barracuda, and White Seabass Drift Gillnet (mesh size 
[gteqt]3.5 in and <14 in) Fishery
    The Category II CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift 
gillnet fishery targets primarily yellowtail and white seabass, and 
secondarily barracuda, with target species typically determined by 
market demand on a short-term basis. Drift gillnets are up to 6,000 ft 
(1,829 m) long and are set at the surface. The mesh size depends on 
target species and is typically 6.0-6.5 in (15-16.5 cm). When targeting 
yellowtail and barracuda, the mesh size must be [gteqt]3.5 in (9 cm); 
when targeting white seabass, the mesh size must be [gteqt]6 in (15.2 
cm). From June 16 to March 14 not more than 20 percent, by number, of a 
load of fish may be white seabass with a total length of 28 in (71 cm). 
A maximum of ten white seabass per load may be taken, if taken in 
gillnet or trammel nets with meshes from 3.5-6.0 in (9-15 cm) in 
length. The fishery operates year-round, primarily south of Point 
Conception with some effort around San Clemente Island and San Nicolas 
Island. This fishery is a limited entry fishery with various gear 
restrictions and area closures managed by the CDFG. Targeting tuna with 
this type of gear was effectively prohibited in April, 2004, under the 
Pacific HMS FMP.
CA Anchovy, Mackerel, Sardine Purse Seine Fishery
    The Category II CA anchovy, mackerel, sardine purse seine fishery 
targets wetfish (anchovy, mackerel, and sardine), with the target 
species primarily driven by availability and market demand. The fishery 
uses purse seines, drum seines, and lampara nets using standard seining 
techniques. A typical purse seine net is 185 fathoms (1,110 ft; 338 m) 
long, 22 fathoms (132 ft; 40 m) deep, and 1,600 meshes deep with each 
mesh measuring 1.25 in (3 cm). The fishery operates year-round 
predominantly in southern CA (including the Channel Islands) from San 
Diego, Oceanside, Dana Point, and San Pedro then north to San 
Francisco. This fishery is a limited entry fishery, and the mackerel 
and sardine fisheries are quota fisheries. The fishery is managed in 
accordance with the Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) FMP.
CA Tuna Purse Seine Fishery
    The Category II CA tuna purse seine fishery targets yellowfin, 
skipjack, and bluefin tuna using purse seine nets similar to those used 
to target Coastal Pelagic Species (see the description under ``CA 
anchovy, mackerel, sardine purse seine fishery''). The fishery operates 
from May to October south of Point Conception to the U.S.-Mexico border 
and in the Southern California Bight. The fishery is managed under the 
Pacific HMS FMP. This fishery is considered an opportunistic fishery, 
meaning that fishers only target tuna when certain oceanographic and 
market conditions exist to make the fishery viable. Effort in the 
fishery is highly variable, ranging from zero to ten participants 
annually over the past several years.
CA Squid Purse Seine Fishery
    The Category II CA squid purse seine fishery targets market squid 
using several gear types. From 1997-2001, 98 percent of fishermen used 
purse (77 percent) or drum (21 percent) seine nets. Other types used 
were lampara, dip, and brail nets. The fishery uses lights (shielded 
and oriented downward, with a maximum of 30,000 watts) to aggregate 
spawning squid. The fishery operates year-round with the effort 
focusing north of Point Conception from April to September and south of 
Point Conception from October to March. El Nino events cause northern 
landings to increase, while La Nina events cause southern landings to 
increase.
    The fishery is managed by the CDFG and is monitored under the CPS 
FMP and the Market Squid FMP. Commercial squid purse seine fishing is 
prohibited year-round from noon on Friday until noon on Sunday to allow 
a 2-day consecutive uninterrupted period of spawning. All vessels must 
be permitted and comply with a mandatory logbook program for fishing 
and lighting. Since 2001, a seasonal harvest guideline is set to limit 
further expansion of the fishery.
CA Pelagic Longline Fishery
    The Category II CA pelagic longline fishery includes both shallow-
set and deep-set gear targeting swordfish and bigeye, albacore, and 
yellowfin tuna. The fishery operates in waters outside of the U.S. 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) because the Pacific HMS FMP prohibits 
targeting swordfish with longlines within 200 nmi of shore. In 2004, 
the CA-based shallow-set longline fishery was closed due to anticipated 
levels of sea turtle interactions. The following is a general 
description of the shallow-set fishery as it operated prior to 2004 and 
the current deep-set longline fishery.
    Prior to 2004, shallow-set longlines operated year-round primarily 
targeting swordfish with 15-45 mi (24-72 km) of mainline rigged with 
72-ft (22-m) gangions at approximately 197 ft (60 m) intervals. A 
shallow-set typically has 800-1,300 hooks with large squid or mackerel 
for bait. Most shallow-set fishing takes place at night when swordfish 
are at the surface, using various colored lightsticks. A shallow-set 
mainline is deployed for 4-7 hours and left to drift unattached for 7-
10 hours. At this time there is no CA-based shallow-set longline 
fishing due to anticipated levels of sea turtle interactions.
    Deep-set longlines operate year-round primarily targeting tuna with 
4-46.6 mi (7-75 km) mainline rigged with 25.6-36 ft (7.8-10.9 m) 
gangions with 15-16 branchlines set between floats. Deep-set longlines 
are set at dawn with an average 12 hour soak time. The deep-set sag of 
the mainline is between 328-1,050 ft (100-320 m) below the water's 
surface. A deep-set typically contains 270-1,900 hooks with double 
weighted leaders and sardine for bait. Deep-sets use a variety of hooks 
including size 38 tuna hooks, size 9 J-hooks, and size 16/0 circle 
hooks. A small scale deep-set longline fishery began in January 2005 
and continues currently. One hundred percent observer coverage is 
required in the deep-set longline fishery.
WA Puget Sound Regional Salmon Drift Gillnet
    The Category II WA Puget Sound regional salmon drift gillnet 
fishery targets coho, pink, sockeye, chinook, and chum salmon in inland 
marine waters (state waters) south of the U.S.-Canada border and east 
of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de 
Fuca. Drift gillnet gear consists of single web construction, not

[[Page 66053]]

exceeding 300 fathoms (1,800; 549 m) in length, attached at one end of 
the vessel. The minimum mesh size varies from 5-7 in (13-18 cm) 
depending on the target species. While the depths fished vary, 
fishermen strive to keep the net off of the bottom. The drift times 
vary depending on the fishing area, tidal condition, and catch. This 
fishery is a limited entry fishery with seasonal openings, area 
closures, and gear restrictions. Regulations governing incidental take 
of marine mammals do not apply to tribal members exercising fishing 
treaty rights within this fishery .
AK Prince William Sound Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Prince William Sound salmon drift gillnet 
fishery targets salmon using drift gillnet gear with soak times of 15 
minutes to 3 hours. The gear is set both during the day and night, with 
10-14 sets per day. The fishery operates from mid-May to the end of 
September in the Prince William Sound Fisheries Management Area, the 
Copper River, and the Bering Sea. The Prince William Sound Fisheries 
Management Area consists of 11 districts with six hatcheries 
contributing to the salmon fisheries. This drift gillnet fishery is 
managed by the AK Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) as a limited entry 
fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and area closures.
AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon drift gillnet 
fishery targets salmon using drift gillnet gear with soak times of 2-5 
hours. The gear is set during the day and night, with 3-8 sets per day. 
The fishery operates from mid-June to mid-September in two districts 
north of the AK Peninsula (Northern and Northwestern), and four 
districts south of the AK Peninsula (Unimake, Southwestern, 
Southcentral, and Southeastern). This drift gillnet fishery is managed 
by ADFG as a limited entry fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net 
size) and area closures.
AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands Salmon Set Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon set gillnet 
fishery targets salmon using set gillnet with the gear set every 2 
hours during the day and night. The gear is set with continuous soak 
times during the opener. Salmon may only be fished commercially during 
periods known as openers established by ADFG in-season. During some 
periods of the season fishing may be continuous with openers lasting 
days or even many weeks at a time. The ADFG posts weekly notices of 
fishing openers and announces the openers on regular radio channels a 
few days or a few hours before each opener. Fishing periods are often 
extended by Emergency Order during the last 24 hours of the opener.
    This fishery generally operates from June 18 to mid-August in two 
districts north of the AK Peninsula (Northern and Northwestern), and 
four districts south of the AK Peninsula (Unimake, Southwestern, 
Southcentral, and Southeastern). Set gillnet fishing effort also occurs 
off Atka and Amelia Islands. This set gillnet fishery is managed by 
ADFG as a limited entry fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net 
size) and area closures.
AK Southeast Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Southeast salmon drift gillnet fishery targets 
salmon using drift gillnet gear with soak times of 20 minutes to 3 
hours. The gear is set during the day and night, with 6-20 sets set per 
day. This fishery generally operates from June 18 to early October in 
five main fishing areas off Southeast AK, as well as at Annette Island, 
in Terminal Harvest Areas (THA) adjacent to hatchery facilities, and 
for hatchery cost recovery. The majority of salmon are caught by drift 
gillnets in the five main fishing areas (81 percent in 2003) and the 
THAs (13 percent in 2003), with small contributions from Annette Island 
(4 percent in 2003), and for hatchery cost recovery (1.8 percent in 
2003). This drift gillnet fishery is managed by ADFG as a limited entry 
fishery, with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and area closures.
AK Cook Inlet Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Cook Inlet salmon drift gillnet fishery targets 
salmon using drift gillnet gear with soak times of 15 minutes to 3 
hours, or continuously. The gear is set during the day, with 6-18 sets 
per day. This fishery generally operates from June 25 to end of August 
in the Central District of the Upper Cook Inlet. Drift gillnet fishing 
effort for sockeye salmon peaks in mid to late July. Currently, drift 
gillnet fishing for salmon in the Cook Inlet occurs in the Central 
District area only for the two regular 12-hour openers on Mondays and 
Thursdays. This drift gillnet fishery is managed by ADFG as a limited 
entry fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and area 
closures.
AK Cook Inlet Salmon Set Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Cook Inlet salmon set gillnet fishery targets 
salmon using set gillnet gear with continuous soak times during the 
opener. Fishing effort occurs during the day and night in the Upper 
Cook Inlet; while fishing effort occurs only during the day in the 
Lower Cook Inlet, except during fishery extensions. In the Upper Cook 
Inlet, the catch is picked from the net (i.e., the net is tended) each 
day during a slack tide; while the catch is picked from the net every 
2-6 hours in the Lower Cook Inlet. The net becomes dry with low tide. 
The fishery generally operates from June 2 to mid-September in Cook 
Inlet. This set gillnet fishery is managed by ADFG as a limited entry 
fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and area closures.
AK Yakutat Salmon Set Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Yakutat salmon set gillnet fishery targets 
salmon using set gillnet gear with continuous soak times during the 
opener, during the day and night. The catch is picked from the net 
every 2-4 hours each day or continuously during peak fishing times. The 
fishery generally operates from June 4 to the end of August. The 
Yakutat salmon set gillnet fishery consists of multiple set gillnet 
fisheries occurring in two fishing districts, the Yakutat District and 
the Yakataga District. As many as 25 different areas in the Yakutat and 
Yakataga Districts are open to commercial fishing each year. The 
Yakutat District fisheries primarily target sockeye and coho salmon, 
although all species of salmon are harvested. The Yakataga District 
fisheries target coho salmon. With a few exceptions, set gillnetting is 
confined to the intertidal area inside the mouths of rivers and 
streams, and to the ocean waters immediately adjacent to each. Due to 
the terminal nature of these fisheries, ADFG has been able to develop 
salmon escapement goals for most of the major, and several of the 
minor, fisheries. This set gillnet fishery is managed by ADFG as a 
limited entry fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and 
area closures.
AK Kodiak Salmon Set Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Kodiak salmon set gillnet fishery targets salmon 
using set gillnet gear with continuous soak times during the opener. 
Fishing effort occurs during the day, with the catch picked from the 
net 2 or more times each day. The majority of set gillnets are attached 
to a shore lead up to 80 fathoms (480 ft; 146 m) long in a straight 
line to a king

[[Page 66054]]

buoy offshore, with numerous anchor lines and buoys holding the net in 
place. The last 25 fathoms (150 ft; 46 m) of the gillnet is usually 
formed into a fish trap, also called a hook. The fishery generally 
operates from June 9 to the end of September or early October. Many 
areas are open until early October, but most fishermen remove the nets 
by early September. As the runs progress in late July and change from 
sockeye to pink salmon, the ADFG often reduces the length of openers if 
escapement goals have not been met. Fishing effort begins to reduce in 
mid to late August as salmon runs begin to decline.
    This fishery consists of 2 Districts, the Northwest District from 
Spruce Island to the south side of Uyak Bay, and the Alitak Bay 
District located on the southwestern corner of Kodiak Island. In most 
years, the Northwest District is fished by approximately 100 permit 
holders and constitutes approximately 70 percent of the annual fishing 
effort, while the Alitak Bay District is fished by approximately 70 
permit holders and constitutes approximately 30 percent of the annual 
fishing effort. Traditionally, the Northwest District is open for the 
majority of June and July, while effort in the Alitak Bay District 
typically occurs 5 to 7 days out of every 10 days during the fishing 
season. This set gillnet fishery is managed by ADFG as a limited entry 
fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and area closures.
AK Bristol Bay Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Bristol Bay salmon drift gillnet fishery targets 
salmon using drift gillnet gear with continuous soak times for part of 
the net, while other parts of the net are tended. Fishing effort occurs 
during the day and night, with a continuous number of sets per day. 
This fishery generally operates from June 17 to the end of August in 
Bristol Bay. Approximately 80 percent of the salmon catch in Bristol 
Bay is caught with drift gillnets. The Bristol Bay management area 
consists of five management districts including all coastal and inland 
waters from Cape Newenham to Cape Menshikof. There are eight major 
river systems in the area, and these form the largest commercial 
sockeye salmon fishery in the world. Although sockeye salmon is the 
most abundant salmon species that returns to Bristol Bay each year, 
chinook, chum, coho, and pink salmon returns are also important to the 
fishery. This drift gillnet fishery is managed by ADFG as a limited 
entry fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and area 
closures.
AK Bristol Bay Salmon Set Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Bristol Bay salmon set gillnet fishery targets 
salmon using set gillnet gear with continuous soak times during the 
opener, but the net is dry during low tide. Fishing effort occurs 
during the day and night, with 2 or more continuous sets per day. This 
fishery generally operates from June 17 to the end of August or mid-
September in the same areas in Bristol Bay as the AK Bristol Bay salmon 
drift gillnet fishery discussed above. Approximately 20 percent of the 
salmon catch in Bristol Bay is caught with set gillnets. This set 
gillnet fishery is managed by ADFG as a limited entry fishery with gear 
restrictions (mesh and net size) and area closures.
AK Metlakatla/Annette Island Salmon Drift Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II AK Metlakatla/Annette Island salmon drift gillnet 
fishery targets salmon using drift gillnet gear off Annette Island in 
Southeast AK. This drift gillnet fishery is an exclusively tribal 
fishery. The fishery is a limited entry fishery with gear restrictions 
(mesh and net size) and area closures. This fishery, as a tribal 
fishery, is separate from the AK Southeast drift gillnet fishery only 
for regulation purposes. The fisheries are considered the same for LOF 
categorization purposes.
AK Southeast Salmon Purse Seine Fishery
    The Category II AK Southeast salmon purse seine fishery targets 
salmon using purse seine gear with soak times of 20-45 minutes. Fishing 
effort occurs mostly in daylight hours, except at the peak of the 
season, with 6-20 sets per day. The fishery generally operates from the 
end of June to September. In 2003, purse seine fishing ran through 
November 12 in THAs. Regulations allow purse seine fishing to occur in 
certain fishing districts, and also in certain THAs, hatchery cost 
recovery areas, and the Annette Island Fishery Reserve. This purse 
seine fishery accounts for approximately 80 percent of the total salmon 
harvest in Southeast AK, and approximately 87 percent of the fish 
caught are pink salmon. This purse seine fishery is managed by ADFG as 
a limited entry fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and 
area closures.
AK Cook Inlet Salmon Purse Seine Fishery
    The Category II AK Cook Inlet salmon purse seine fishery targets 
salmon using purse seine gear in Cook Inlet from June 1 to October 31. 
Purse seines must be between 90 fathoms (540 ft; 165 m) and 250 fathoms 
(1,500 ft; 457 m) long, and 100 meshes and 325 meshes deep. Detachable 
or loose leads are not permitted. In Cook Inlet, purse seines may be 
used in the Southern District, Kamishak Bay District, Outer District, 
Eastern District, and Chinitna Bay Subdistrict east of a line from the 
crane on the south shore to the largest boulder on the landward end of 
Glacier Spit. This purse seine fishery is managed by ADFG as a limited 
entry fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and area 
closures.
AK Kodiak Salmon Purse Seine Fishery
    The Category II AK Kodiak salmon purse seine fishery targets salmon 
using purse seine gear from June 1 to October 31, with fishing periods 
open by regulation and emergency orders. Purse seine gear must have a 
mesh size of less than 7 in (18 cm). Purse seine gear must be between 
100 fathoms (600 ft; 183 m) and 200 fathoms (1,200 ft; 366 m) long, and 
between 100 meshes and 325 meshes deep. At least 50 fathoms (300 ft; 91 
m) of a purse seine must be 150 meshes in depth. One lead, no more than 
100 fathoms (600 ft; 183 m) in length, may be used with each purse 
seine. The aggregate length of a seine and lead may not exceed 250 
fathoms (1,500 ft; 457 m). Leads must be removed from the water within 
two hours after a season or fishing period closure. Overlapping panels 
of net web may not be used in seine leads.
    This fishery occurs in the Kodiak Area, including all waters of AK 
south of Cape Douglas (58[deg] 51.10' N. lat.), west of 150[deg] W. 
long., north of 55[deg] 30' N. lat., and north and east of the southern 
entrance of Imuya Bay. This purse seine fishery is managed by ADFG as a 
limited entry fishery with gear restrictions (mesh and net size) and 
area closures.
AK Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Flatfish Trawl Fishery
    The Category II AK BSAI flatfish trawl fishery targets flatfish 
using trawl gear in the U.S. EEZ of the eastern Bering Sea and the 
portion of the North Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Aleutian Islands, 
which is west of 170[deg] W. long. up to the U.S.-Russian Convention 
Line of 1867. Management measures for the BSAI groundfish fisheries 
constrain fishing both temporally and spatially. This fishery is 
federally managed under the BSAI FMP. The authorized gear, fishing 
season, criteria for determining fishing seasons, and area restrictions 
by gear type are defined in the regulations

[[Page 66055]]

implementing the BSAI FMP (50 CFR part 679).
AK Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Pollock Trawl Fishery
    The Category II AK BSAI pollock trawl fishery targets flatfish 
using trawl gear in the same location as the AK BSAI flatfish trawl 
fishery described above. The use of non-pelagic trawl gear in the 
directed fishery for pollock is prohibited. This fishery is federally 
managed under the BSAI FMP. Management measures for the BSAI groundfish 
fisheries constrain fishing both temporally and spatially. The gear 
authorized, fishing year, criteria for determining fishing seasons, and 
area restrictions by gear type are defined in the regulations 
implementing the BSAI FMP (50 CFR part 679).
AK Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Pacific Cod Longline Fishery
    The Category II AK BSAI Pacific cod longline fishery targets 
Pacific cod using longline gear in the same location as the AK BSAI 
flatfish trawl fishery described above. This fishery is federally 
managed under the BSAI FMP. Management measures for the BSAI groundfish 
fisheries constrain fishing both temporally and spatially. The gear 
authorized, fishing year, criteria for determining fishing seasons, and 
area restrictions by gear type are defined in the regulations 
implementing the BSAI FMP (50 CFR part 679).
AK Bering Sea Sablefish Pot Fishery
    The Category II AK Bering Sea sablefish pot fishery targets 
sablefish using pot gear in the same location as the AK BSAI flatfish 
trawl fishery described above. This fishery is Federally managed under 
the BSAI FMP and is operated under Individual Fishing Quotas. 
Management measures for the BSAI groundfish fisheries constrain fishing 
both temporally and spatially. The gear authorized, fishing year, 
criteria for determining fishing seasons, and area restrictions by gear 
type are defined in the regulations implementing the BSAI FMP (50 CFR 
part 679).

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

Northeast Sink Gillnet Fishery
    The Category I Northeast sink gillnet fishery targets Atlantic cod, 
haddock, pollock, yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, witch flounder, 
American plaice, windowpane flounder, spiny dogfish, monkfish, silver 
hake, red hake, white hake, ocean pout, skate spp, mackerel, redfish, 
and shad. This fishery uses sink gillnet gear, which is anchored 
gillnet (bottom-tending net) fished in the lower one-third of the water 
column. The dominant material is monofilament twine with stretched mesh 
sizes from 6-12 in (15-30.5 cm) and string lengths from 600-10,500 ft 
(183-3,200 m), depending on the target species. The fishery operates 
from the U.S.-Canada border to Long Island, NY, at 72[deg] 30' W. long. 
south to 36[deg] 33.03' N. lat. (corresponding with the VA/NC border) 
and east to the eastern edge of the EEZ, including the Gulf of Maine, 
Georges Bank, and Southern New England, and excluding Long Island Sound 
or other waters where gillnet fisheries are listed as Category III. At 
this time, these Category II and II fisheries include: the Northeast 
anchored float gillnet; Northeast drift gillnet; Long Island Sound 
inshore gillnet; and RI, southern MA (to Monomoy Island), and NY Bight 
(Raritan and Lower NY Bays) inshore gillnet. Fishing effort occurs 
year-round, peaking from May to July primarily on continental shelf 
regions in depths from 30-750 ft (9-228.6 m), with some nets deeper 
than 800 ft (244 m).
    This fishery is managed by the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) 
FMP and the Monkfish FMP. This fishery is also managed by the Atlantic 
Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) and the Harbor Porpoise Take 
Reduction Plan (HPTRP) to reduce the risk of entanglement of right, 
humpback, and fin whales, and harbor porpoises, respectively. The 
fishery is primarily managed by Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits; 
individual trip limits (quotas); effort caps (limited number of days at 
sea per vessel); time and area closures; and gear restrictions.
Mid-Atlantic Gillnet Fishery
    The Category I Mid-Atlantic gillnet fishery targets monkfish, spiny 
dogfish, smooth dogfish, bluefish, weakfish, menhaden, spot, croaker, 
striped bass, large and small coastal sharks, Spanish mackerel, king 
mackerel, American shad, black drum, skate spp., yellow perch, white 
perch, herring, scup, kingfish, spotted seatrout, and butterfish. The 
fishery uses drift and sink gillnets, including nets set in a sink, 
stab, set, strike, or drift fashion, with some unanchored drift or sink 
nets used to target specific species. The dominant material is 
monofilament twine with stretched mesh sizes from 2.5-12 in (6.4-30.5 
cm), and string lengths from 150-8,400 ft. (46-2,560 m). This fishery 
operates year-round west of a line drawn at 72[deg] 30' W. long. south 
to 36[deg] 33.03' N. lat. and east to the eastern edge of the EEZ and 
north of the NC/SC border, not including waters where Category II and 
Category III inshore gillnet fisheries operate in bays, estuaries, and 
rivers. At this time, these Category II and Category III fisheries 
include: the Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet; NC inshore gillnet; DE 
River inshore gillnet; Long Island Sound inshore gillnet; and RI, 
southern MA (to Monomy Island), and NY Bight (Raritan and Lower NY 
Bays) inshore gillnet. This fishery includes any residual large pelagic 
driftnet effort in the mid-Atlantic and any shark and dogfish gillnet 
effort in the mid-Atlantic zone described. The fishing effort is 
prosecuted right off the beach (6 ft [1.8 m]) or in nearshore coastal 
waters to offshore waters (250 ft [76 m]).
    Gear in this fishery is managed by several Federal FMPs and Inter-
State FMPs managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission 
(ASMFC), the ALWTRP, the HPTRP, and the Bottlenose Dolphin Take 
Reduction Plan (BDTRP). Fisheries are primarily managed by TACs; 
individual trip limits (quotas); effort caps (limited number of days at 
sea per vessel); time and area closures; and gear restrictions and 
modifications.
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico Large Pelagics Longline 
Fishery
    The Category I Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large 
pelagics longline fishery targets swordfish, yellowfin tuna, bigeye 
tuna, bluefin tuna, albacore tuna, dolphin fish, wahoo, shortfin mako 
shark, and a variety of other shark species. The fishery uses a 
mainline of >700 lb (317.5 kg) test monofilament typically ranging from 
10-45 mi (16-72 km) long. Bullet-shaped floats are suspended at regular 
intervals along the mainline and long sections of gear are marked by 
radio beacons. Long gangion lines of 200-400 lb (91-181 kg) test 
monofilament of typically 100-200 ft (30.5-61 m) are suspended from the 
mainline. Only certain sized hooks and baits are allowed based on 
fishing location. Hooks are typically fished at depths between 40-120 
ft (12-36.6 m). Longlines targeting tuna are typically set at dawn are 
hauled near dusk, while longlines targeting swordfish are typically set 
at night and hauled in the morning. Gear remains in the water typically 
for 10-14 hours. Fishermen generally modify only select sections of 
longline gear to target dolphin or wahoo, with the remaining gear 
configured to target swordfish, tuna, and/or sharks.
    This fishery operates year-round and occurs within and outside the 
U.S. EEZ throughout Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf

[[Page 66056]]

of Mexico waters. The fishery has historically been composed of five 
relatively distinct segments with different fishing practices and 
strategies, including: Gulf of Mexico yellowfin tuna fishery; South 
Atlantic-Florida east coast to Cape Hatteras swordfish fishery; Mid-
Atlantic and New England swordfish and bigeye tuna fishery; U.S. 
distant water swordfish fishery; and Caribbean Islands tuna and 
swordfish fishery. In addition to geographical area, these segments 
have historically differed by percentage of various target and non-
target species, gear characteristics, and deployment techniques.
    This fishery is managed under the Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP. 
The dolphin and wahoo portions of the fishery are managed under the 
South Atlantic FMP for Dolphin and Wahoo. Regulations under the MSA 
address the target fish species, as well as bycatch species protected 
under the ESA and/or the MMPA. A portion of this fishery is the subject 
of the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team (PLTRT), convened in 2005. 
NMFS is currently developing regulations to implement the Take 
Reduction Plan.
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American Lobster Trap/Pot Fishery
    The Category I Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot 
fishery targets American lobster primarily with traps, while 2-3 
percent of the target species is taken by mobile gear (trawls and 
dredges). The fishery operates in inshore and offshore waters from ME 
to NJ and may extend as far south as Cape Hatteras. Approximately 80 
percent of American lobster are harvested from state waters; therefore, 
the ASMFC has a primary regulatory role. The EEZ portion of the fishery 
operates under regulations from the Federal American Lobster FMP. Both 
the EEZ and state fishery are operating under Federal regulations from 
the ALWTRP.
Northeast Anchored Float Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II Northeast anchored float gillnet fishery targets 
mackerel, herring (particularly for bait), shad, and menhaden using 
gillnet gear of any size anchored and fished in the upper two-thirds of 
the water column. The fishery operates from the U.S.-Canada border to 
Long Island, NY, at 72[deg] 30' W. long south to 36[deg] 33.03' N. lat. 
and east to the eastern edge of the EEZ, not including Long Island 
Sound or other waters where gillnet fisheries are listed as Category 
III. The fishery is managed under the Interstate FMPs for Atlantic 
Menhaden and Shad and is subject to ALWTRP implementing regulations. A 
total closure of the American shad ocean intercept fishery was fully 
implemented in January, 2005.
Northeast Drift Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II Northeast drift gillnet fishery targets species 
other than large pelagics, including shad, herring, mackerel, and 
menhaden. This fishery uses drift gillnet gear, which is gillnet gear 
not anchored to the bottom and is free-floating on both ends or free-
flowing at one end and attached to the vessel at the other end. Mesh 
sizes are likely less than those used to target large pelagics. The 
fishery includes any residual large pelagic driftnet effort in New 
England and occurs at any depth in the water column from the U.S.-
Canada border to Long Island, NY, at 72[deg] 30' W. long. south to 
36[deg] 33.03' N. lat. and east to the eastern edge of the EEZ. The 
fishery is managed under the Interstate FMPs for Atlantic Menhaden and 
Shad and is subject to ALWTRP implementing regulations. A total closure 
of the American shad ocean intercept fishery was fully implemented in 
January, 2005.
Chesapeake Bay Inshore Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet fishery targets 
menhaden and croaker using gillnet gear with mesh sizes ranging from 
2.75-5 in (7-12.7 cm), depending on the target species. The fishery 
operates between the Chesapeake Bay/Bridge Tunnel and the mainland. The 
fishery is managed under the Interstate FMPs for Atlantic Menhaden and 
Atlantic Croaker.
Northeast Mid-Water Trawl (Including Pair Trawl) Fishery
    The Category II Northeast mid-water trawl fishery targets Atlantic 
herring with bycatch of several finfish species, predominantly 
mackerel, spiny dogfish, and silver hake. This fishery uses primarily 
mid-water (pelagic) trawls (single and paired), which is trawl gear 
designed, capable, or used to fish for pelagic species with no portion 
designed to be operated in contact with the bottom. The fishery occurs 
primarily in ME State waters, Jeffrey's Ledge, southern New England, 
and Georges Bank during the winter months when the target species 
continues its southerly migration from the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank, 
into mid-Atlantic waters. The fishery is managed jointly by the Mid-
Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the ASMFC as a migratory stock 
complex.
Mid-Atlantic Flynet Fishery
    The Category II Mid-Atlantic flynet fishery is a multispecies 
fishery composed of nearshore and offshore components that operate 
along the eastern coast of the Mid-Atlantic United States. Flynets are 
high profile trawls similar to bottom otter trawls. These nets 
typically range from 80-120 ft (24-36.6 m) in headrope length, with 
wing mesh sizes of 16-64 in (41-163 cm), following a slow 3:1 taper to 
smaller mesh sizes in the body, extension, and codend sections of the 
net. The nearshore fishery operates from October to April inside of 30 
fathoms (180 ft; 55 m) from NC to NJ. This nearshore fishery targets 
Atlantic croaker, weakfish, butterfish, harvestfish, bluefish, 
menhaden, striped bass, kingfishes, and other finfish species. Flynet 
fishing is no longer permitted south of Cape Hatteras in order to 
protect weakfish stocks. The offshore component operates from November 
to April outside of 30 fathoms (180 ft; 55 m) from the Hudson Canyon 
off NY, south to Hatteras Canyon off NC. These deeper water fisheries 
target bluefish, Atlantic mackerel, Loligo squid, black sea bass, and 
scup (72 FR 7382, February 15, 2007). Illex Squid are also targeted 
offshore (70-200 fathoms [420-1,200 ft; 128-366 m]) during summer 
months from May to September.
Northeast Bottom Trawl Fishery
    The Category II Northeast bottom trawl fishery uses bottom trawl 
gear to target species included in the NE Multispecies FMP, Summer 
Flounder FMP, and Scup and Seabass FMP, including, but not limited to: 
Atlantic cod, haddock, pollock, yellowtail flounder, winter flounder, 
witch flounder, American plaice, Atlantic halibut, redfish, windowpane 
flounder, summer flounder, spiny dogfish, monkfish, silver hake, red 
hake, white hake, ocean pout, and skate spp. The fishery operates year-
round, with a peak from May to July, from the U.S.-Canada border 
through waters east of 72[deg] 30' W. long., primarily on the 
continental shelf and throughout the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and 
Southern New England. The fishery is primarily managed by TACs, 
individual trip limits (quotas), effort caps (limited number of days at 
sea per vessel), time and area closures, and gear restrictions.
VA Pound Net Fishery
    The Category II VA pound net fishery targets weakfish, spot, and 
croaker using stationary gear in nearshore coastal and estuarine waters 
off VA. Pound net gear includes a large mesh lead posted

[[Page 66057]]

perpendicular to the shoreline and extending outward to the corral, or 
``heart,'' where the catch accumulates. This fishery includes all pound 
net effort in VA State waters, including waters inside the Chesapeake 
Bay. The fishery is managed under Interstate FMPs for Atlantic Croaker 
and Spot, and is an affected fishery under the BDTRP.
Atlantic Mixed Species Trap/Pot Fishery
    The Category II Atlantic mixed species trap/pot fishery's target 
species include, but are not limited to, hagfish, shrimp, conch/whelk, 
red crab, Jonah crab, rock crab, black sea bass, scup, tautog, cod, 
haddock, Pollock, redfish (ocean perch) white hake, spot, skate, 
catfish, stone crab, American eel, and cunner. The fishery includes all 
trap/pot operations from the U.S.-Canada border south through the 
waters east of the fishery management demarcation line between the 
Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (50 CFR 600.105), but does not 
include the following Category I, II, and III trap/pot fisheries: 
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot; Atlantic blue crab 
trap/pot; Florida spiny lobster trap/ pot; Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, 
Gulf of Mexico stone crab trap/pot; U.S. Mid-Atlantic eel trap/pot 
fisheries; and the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico golden 
crab fishery (68 FR 1421, January 10, 2003). The fishery is managed 
under various Interstate FMPs and is subject to ALWTRP implementing 
regulations.
Atlantic Blue Crab Trap/Pot Fishery
    The Category II Atlantic blue crab trap/pot fishery targets blue 
crab using pots baited with fish or poultry typically set in rows in 
shallow water. The pot position is marked by either a floating or 
sinking buoy line attached to a surface buoy. The fishery occurs year-
round from the south shore of Long Island at 72[deg] 30' W. long. in 
the Atlantic and east of the fishery management demarcation line 
between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico (50 CFR 600.105), 
including state waters. The fishery is managed under state FMPs, and is 
subject to ALWTRP implementing regulations. It is also an affected 
fishery under the BDTRP.
Mid-Atlantic Bottom Trawl Fishery
    The Category II Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl fishery uses bottom trawl 
gear to target species including, but not limited to, bluefish, 
croaker, monkfish, summer flounder (fluke), winter flounder, silver 
hake (whiting), spiny dogfish, smooth dogfish, scup, and black sea 
bass. The fishery occurs year-round from Cape Cod, MA, to Cape 
Hatteras, NC, in waters west of 72[deg] 30' W. long. and north of a 
line extending due east from the NC/SC border. The gear is managed by 
several state and Federal FMPs that range from MA to NC.
Mid-Atlantic Mid-Water Trawl (Including Pair Trawl) Fishery
    The Category II Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl fishery targets 
Atlantic mackerel, Loligo squid, Illex squid, and Atlantic butterfish 
using mainly mid-trawl gear, with some bottom trawls. The fishery is 
dominated by small-mesh otter trawls, but Loligo squid are also taken 
by inshore pound nets and fish traps in spring and summer. The fishery 
for Illex occurs offshore, mainly in continental shelf and slope waters 
during summer months (June to September), from southern New England to 
Cape Hatteras, NC. The fishery for Loligo occurs mostly offshore near 
the edge of the continental shelf during fall and winter months 
(October to March), and inshore during spring and summer (April to 
September) in southern New England and mid-Atlantic waters. The fishery 
for Atlantic mackerel occurs primarily in southern New England and the 
mid-Atlantic from January to March, and in the Gulf of Maine during 
summer and fall (May to December). Atlantic butterfish are mainly 
caught as bycatch in the directed squid and mackerel fisheries due to 
their northerly inshore migration in summer months and southerly 
offshore migration in winter months. The fishery is managed by the 
Federal Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish FMP. The Illex and Loligo fisheries 
are managed by moratorium permits, gear and area restrictions, quotas, 
and trip limits. The Atlantic mackerel and Atlantic butterfish 
fisheries are managed by an annual quota system.
Mid-Atlantic Haul/Beach Seine Fishery
    Due to pending rulemakings by the NC Division of Marine Fisheries 
(NCDMF), particularly pertaining to NC beach gear, NMFS is basing its 
description of the Category II Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine fishery on 
the proposed 2001 LOF (66 FR 6545, January 22, 2001) and components of 
the proposed 2008 LOF (72 FR 35393, June 28, 2007). NMFS is including 
components of both definitions that more accurately reflect the current 
fishery. This includes the following description: The Category II Mid-
Atlantic haul/beach seine fishery targets striped bass, mullet, spot, 
weakfish, sea trout, bluefish, kingfish, and harvestfish using seines 
with one end secured (e.g., swipe nets and long seines) and seines 
secured at both ends or those anchored to the beach and hauled up on 
the beach. The beach seine system also uses a bunt and a wash net that 
are attached to the beach and extend into the surf. The fishery occurs 
in waters west of 72[deg] 30' W. long. and north of a line extending 
due east from the NC/SC border. The fishery is managed under several 
state and Interstate FMPs and is an affected fishery under the BDTRP.
    Further revision to the description of this fishery will appear in 
a future LOF pending the NCDMF rulemakings.
Mid-Atlantic Menhaden Purse Seine Fishery
    The Category II Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine fishery targets 
menhaden and thread herring using purse seine gear. Most sets occur 
within 3 mi (4.8 km) of shore with the majority of the effort occurring 
off NC from November to January, and moving northward during warmer 
months to southern New England. The fishery is managed under the 
Interstate FMP for Atlantic Menhaden.
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Shark Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet fishery 
targets large and small coastal sharks (blacktip, blacknose, finetooth, 
bonnethead, and sharpnose) using gillnets set in a sink, stab, set, 
strike, or drift fashion. Mesh size is typically greater than 5 in (13 
cm), but may be as small as 2.87 in (7.3 cm) when targeting small 
coastal sharks. Drift gillnets most commonly use a mesh size of 5 in 
(13 cm) and average 10.2 hours from setting the gear through completion 
of haulback; sink gillnets most frequently use a mesh size of 7 in (18 
cm) soaking for approximately 2.7 hours; and strike gillnets use the 
largest mesh size of 9 in (23 cm) soaking for approximately 0.8 hours. 
This fishery has traditionally operated in coastal waters off FL and 
GA.
     This fishery is managed under the Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP, 
the ALWTRP, and the BDTRP, and is subject to ESA biological opinion 
requirements. Regulations implemented under the MSA address managed 
target species, as well as bycatch species, including some protected 
under the ESA and MMPA (e.g., sea turtles, smalltooth sawfish, and 
right whales).
Southeast Atlantic Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II Southeast Atlantic gillnet fishery targets finfish 
including, but not limited to, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, 
whiting, bluefish, pompano, spot, croaker, little tunny, bonita, jack 
crevalle, cobia, and striped mullet. This fishery does not include

[[Page 66058]]

gillnet effort targeting sharks as part of the ``Southeastern U.S. 
Atlantic shark gillnet'' fishery. This fishery uses gillnets set in 
sink, stab, set, or strike fashion. The fishery operates in waters 
south of a line extending due east from the NC/SC border and south and 
east of the fishery management council demarcation line between the 
Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The majority of fishing effort 
occurs in Federal waters since SC, GA, and FL prohibit the use of 
gillnets, with limited exceptions, in state waters.
    Fishing for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, cero, and 
little tunny in Federal waters is managed under the Coastal Migratory 
Pelagic Resources (CMPR) FMP. None of the other target species are 
Federally managed under the MSA. In state waters, state and ASMFC 
Interstate FMPs apply. The fishery is also subject to BDTRP and ALWTRP 
implementing regulations.
NC Inshore Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II NC inshore gillnet fishery targets species 
including, but not limited to, southern flounder, weakfish, bluefish, 
Atlantic croaker, striped mullet, spotted seatrout, Spanish mackerel, 
striped bass, spot, red drum, black drum, and shad. This fishery 
includes any fishing effort using any type of gillnet gear, including 
set (float and sink), drift, and runaround gillnet for any target 
species inshore of the COLREGS lines in NC. This fishery is managed 
under state and ASMFC interstate FMPs, applying net and mesh size 
regulations, and seasonal area closures in the Pamlico Sound Gillnet 
Restricted Area (PSGNRA). It is also an affected fishery under the 
BDTRP.
Gulf of Mexico Gillnet Fishery
    The Category II Gulf of Mexico gillnet fishery targets a wide 
variety of target species, including, but not limited to: black drum, 
sheepshead, weakfish, mullet, spot, croaker, king mackerel, Spanish 
mackerel, Florida pompano, flounder shark, menhaden, bluefish, blue 
runner, ladyfish, spotted seatrout, croaker, kingfish, and red drum. 
This fishery operates year-round using any type of gillnet, including 
strike and straight gillnets, in waters north of the U.S.-Mexico border 
and west of the fishery management council demarcation line between the 
Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Gillnet gear is prohibited in TX 
and FL State waters, but fixed and runaround gillnets are currently 
used in LA, MS, and AL with highly variable fishing effort.
    Fishing for king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, cobia, cero, little 
tunny, dolphin, and bluefish are managed under the CMPR FMP. In the 
Gulf of Mexico, CMPR FMP species are the only Federally managed species 
for which gillnet gear is authorized, and only run-around gillnetting 
for these species is allowed. In state waters, state and Gulf States 
Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC) Interstate FMPs apply.
NC Long Haul Seine Fishery
    The Category II NC long haul seine fishery targets species 
including, but not limited to, weakfish, spot, croaker, menhaden, 
bluefish, spotted seatrout, and hogfish using multi-filament seines 
consisting of a 3,000-6,000 ft (914-1,829 m) net pulled by two boats 
for 1-2 nmi (2-4 km). Fish are encircled and concentrated by pulling 
the net around a fixed stake. The fishery includes fishing with long 
haul seine gear to target any species in waters off NC, including 
estuarine waters in Pamlico and Core Sounds and their tributaries. The 
fishery occurs from February to November, with peak effort occurring 
from June to October. The fishery is managed under ASMFC interstate 
FMPs, and is an affected fishery under the BDTRP.
NC Roe Mullet Stop Net Fishery
    The Category II NC roe mullet stop net fishery targets striped 
mullet from October to November using a stationary, multi-filament 
anchored net extended perpendicular to the beach. Once the catch 
accumulates near the end of the stop net, a beach haul seine is used to 
capture fish and bring them ashore. The stop net is traditionally left 
in the water for 1-5 days, but can be left as long as 15 days. This 
fishery is unique to Bogue Banks, NC. This fishery is managed under the 
NC Striped Mullet FMP, and is an affected fishery under the BDTRP.
Gulf of Mexico Menhaden Purse Seine Fishery
    The Category II Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine fishery targets 
menhaden and thread herring using purse seine gear in bays, sounds, and 
nearshore coastal waters along the Gulf of Mexico coast. The majority 
of the fishing effort is concentrated off LS and MS, with lesser effort 
in AL and TX State waters. FL prohibits the use of purse seines in 
state waters. The fishery is managed under the GSMFC Interstate Gulf 
Menhaden FMP.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received 10 comment letters and 1 comment via phone on the 
proposed 2008 LOF (72 FR 35393, June 28, 2007) from the Marine Mammal 
Commission, Hawaii Longline Association, Western Pacific Regional 
Fishery Management Council, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, 
Pacific Fishery Management Council's Groundfish Management Team, Gulf 
States Marine Fisheries Commission, Center for Biological Diversity, 2 
representatives of the commercial fishing industry, and 2 
representatives of Federal agencies. Comments on issues outside the 
scope of the LOF were noted, but are not responded to in this final 
rule.

General Comments

    Comment 1: Two commenters commended NMFS for describing all 
Category I and II fisheries within the proposed 2008 LOF. While 
additional description materials are available elsewhere, one commenter 
believes these descriptions provide important context for readers 
attempting to evaluate the LOF. One commenter recommended NMFS describe 
all Category III fisheries in future LOFs.
    Response: NMFS will consider describing Category III fisheries in 
future LOFs.
    Comment 2: Two commenters commended NMFS for publishing the 
proposed 2008 LOF early enough to allow for ample time to review and 
comment on the rule, as well as to publish a final 2008 LOF before the 
beginning of the 2008 calendar year.
    Response: NMFS will make every effort to publish future proposed 
LOFs by July of each year, to allow sufficient time for review and 
comment by organizations and individuals. This will also allow NMFS to 
publish the final LOF in time for the rule to become effective by 
January 1 of the respective calendar year.
    Comment 3: One commenter commended NMFS for its support of 
depredation studies, as outlined in response to comments in the final 
2007 LOF (72 FR 14466, March 28, 2007). The commenter encourages NMFS 
to continue and enhance its efforts to evaluate and address this 
developing issue.
    Response: NMFS will continue to develop, conduct, and support 
research efforts on depredation-related interactions between marine 
mammals and fisheries as funding is available. See the response to 
Comment 1 in the final 2007 LOF (72 FR 14466, March 28, 2007) for 
details on research conducted in the past and research currently being 
conducted.
    Comment 4: One commenter reiterated previous letters on the 2005, 
2006, and 2007 LOFs calling for the inclusion of observer coverage on 
the LOF. The Service indicated in its response to comments on the final 
2007

[[Page 66059]]

LOF that it would ``present information associated with the level of 
observer coverage or lack of observer coverage, if available, as part 
of the justification for proposing changes in future [lists].'' 
However, information on observer coverage is not provided in the 
justification for reclassifying the ``CA yellowtail, barracuda, and 
white seabass drift gillnet'' fishery in the proposed 2008 LOF. 
Further, the commenter also believes observer information is important 
for justifying the status quo. Without such information, it is not 
possible to determine whether a given fishery was adequately observed 
and no marine mammals were taken or the fishery was not adequately 
observed and mortality and serious injury may have occurred, but were 
not documented.
    Response: Please see responses to Comment 6 in the final 2005 LOF 
(71 FR 250, January 4, 2006), Comment 4 in the final 2006 LOF (71 FR 
48802, August 22, 2006), and Comment 8 in the final 2007 LOF (72 FR 
14466, March 28, 2007). NMFS still feels that it will be of limited use 
to include observer coverage data or percentages in the LOF without 
also including the confidence associated with mortality/serious injury 
estimates generated from observer data. Presenting the level of 
observer coverage in the LOF without the associated confidence 
information will likely lead to misinterpretation of the information 
provided. Information including details of the interaction data and the 
Coefficient of Variance (CV) for stock-specific information is reported 
in the SARs. NMFS continues to refer readers to the SARs for the most 
current, peer-reviewed information on observer coverage. The SARs can 
be accessed through the NMFS Office of Protected Resource's web site 
at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr.sars/. Additional information can also 
be found on the National Observer Program web site at: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st4/nop/.
    NMFS acknowledges the lack of inclusion of observer information in 
the explanation for the proposed elevation of the ``CA yellowtail, 
barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet'' fishery in the proposed 
2008 LOF. This was an unintentional oversight. NMFS will ensure that 
information on observer coverage, if available, is included as part of 
the justification for proposing classification changes in future LOFs. 
NMFS has corrected this oversight here: In the draft 2007 Pacific 
Marine Mammal Stock Assessments, the level of observer coverage in the 
CA small mesh drift gillnet fishery for white seabass, yellowtail, and 
barracuda observer coverage was listed as 11 percent in 2002 and 2003. 
During the public comment of the draft 2007 SARs, errors were found in 
the listed levels of observer coverage in the CA small mesh drift 
gillnet for white seabass, yellowtail, and barracuda. The correct 
levels of observer coverage for 2002, 2003, and 2004, are 11.5 percent, 
10.4 percent and 17.6 percent, respectively. There has been no observer 
coverage in this fishery since 2004. NMFS is seeking funding to observe 
this fishery in 2008.
    Comment 5: One commenter reiterated previous comments made on the 
2004 and 2007 LOFs for inclusion of high seas fisheries on the LOF. 
Multiple high sea fisheries, in which U.S.-flagged vessels operate, are 
known to interact or are likely to interact with marine mammals. 
Section 118 of the MMPA applies to ''commercial fishing operations by 
persons using vessels of the United States.'' Therefore, NMFS failure 
to include these high seas fisheries is unlawful. The commenter notes 
that NMFS responded in 2004 stating, ``NMFS will consider this comment 
and whether the LOF applies to high seas fisheries during the 
development of future proposed LOFs (69 FR 48407, August 10, 2004). The 
commenter recognized that the proposed 2008 LOF provides a longer 
explanation of the issue of high seas fisheries, but NMFS has continued 
to fail to analyze these fisheries and include them on the LOF. 
Specific fisheries suggested as additions to the LOF are the Cobb 
Seamount fishery, Pacific pelagic squid jig fishery, South Pacific tuna 
purse seine fishery, and fisheries in the area of the Convention on the 
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) including 
the Patagonian toothfish longline fishery and a trawl fishery for 
krill.
    Response: NMFS is continuing to consider the inclusion of U.S.-
authorized high seas fisheries in future LOFs. Also, NMFS is gathering 
available information on the fishing effort, gear used, and marine 
mammal interaction levels specific to U.S. vessels operating in high 
seas fisheries. NMFS faces significant challenges in accurately 
categorizing high seas fisheries in the LOF. As discussed under in the 
preamble of this rule, fisheries are categorized in the LOF based on 
the level of mortality and serious injury of marine mammal stocks 
relevant to the stock's PBR level. PBR levels are calculated based on 
the stock's abundance using data presented in the SARs, required under 
section 117 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1386). Section 117 requires NMFS to 
prepare SARs for marine mammal stocks occurring ``in waters under the 
jurisdiction of the United States.'' NMFS does not develop SARs, or 
therefore calculate PBR levels, for marine mammal stocks on the high 
seas. NMFS will continue to explore options for categorizing high seas 
fisheries in a future LOF in the absence of marine mammal stock 
abundance and PBR level information. Please see response to Comment 9 
in the final 2007 LOF (72 FR 14466, March 28, 2007) and the preamble of 
this rule for information on NMFS current efforts.
    NMFS provides high seas fishing permits under the High Seas Fishing 
Compliance Act (HSFCA). NMFS issues permits only for high seas 
fisheries analyzed in accordance with the NEPA and the ESA. There are 
currently 7 U.S.-authorized high seas fisheries: Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species Fisheries (50 CFR 635), Pacific Highly Migratory 
Species Fisheries (50 CFR 660, subpart K), Western Pacific Pelagic 
Fisheries (50 CFR 665, subpart C), South Pacific Albacore Troll 
Fishing, Pacific Tuna Fisheries (50 CFR 300, subpart C), South Pacific 
Tuna Fisheries (50 CFR 300, subpart D), and the Antarctic Marine Living 
Resources (50 CFR 300, subpart G). For more information please see the 
NMFS Office of International Affairs HSPCA information website: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/services/highseas.htm.
    The commenter suggested the addition of several specific high sea 
fisheries to the LOF, including the Cobb Seamount fishery, Pacific 
pelagic squid jig fishery, South Pacific tuna purse seine fishery, and 
fisheries in the CCAMLR area including the Patagonian toothfish 
longline fishery and a trawl fishery for krill. Currently, NMFS does 
not authorize U.S. vessels to participate in the Cobb Seamount fishery 
or the Pacific pelagic squid jig fishery. Therefore, these fisheries 
would not be considered for addition to the LOF. Also, the South 
Pacific tuna purse seine fishery is managed separately under section 
301 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1411); therefore, it would not be added to 
the LOF required under section 118 of the MMPA. Regarding the CCAMLR 
fisheries, in the past there has been a single U.S. vessel 
participating in the trawl fishery for krill. However, this vessel has 
not fished in the last 2 years. Also, in the past there have been 2 
U.S. vessels (under 1 owner) participating in the Patagonian toothfish 
longline fishery. NMFS has not received any permit applications for 
U.S. vessels to participate in either of the CCAMLR fisheries in the 
coming year.
    Comment 6: One commenter stated that all Category I and II 
fisheries not already subject to take reduction teams should promptly 
have such teams

[[Page 66060]]

convened for them. The Category I HI longline fishery should be the 
highest priority as takes continue to exceed PBR for false killer 
whales.
    Response: At this time, NMFS' resources for TRTs are fully utilized 
and new TRTs will be initiated when additional resources become 
available. When additional TRTs are convened, they will follow 
priorities set out in section 118(f)(3) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1387). 
When there is insufficient funding available to develop and implement a 
TRT for all stocks that interact with Category I and II fisheries, the 
highest priority for developing and implementing new TRTs will be given 
to species or stocks whose level of incidental mortality and serious 
injury exceeds PBR, those with a small population size, and those which 
are declining most rapidly.

Comments on Fishery Classification Methodology

    Comment 7: One commenter reiterated previous recommendations that 
NMFS revise the dividing PBR thresholds for Category I and II 
fisheries. The current range for a Category II fishery is an 
interaction rate between 1 percent and 50 percent of a stock's PBR, 
which is too broad and unnecessarily lumps fisheries with rare 
interactions alongside fisheries with numerous interactions. NMFS uses 
catch as a proxy for fishing effort, unreasonably large expansion 
factors, and double counting of interactions, resulting in one rare 
event in a fishery being expanded into an unrealistic overestimation of 
takes. Given the precautionary methodology in the PBR formula, the 
minimum threshold for Category II should be increased from 1 percent to 
10 percent of PBR. Interactions under 10 percent of PBR should be a 
Category III. In doing so, rare events (i.e., 1 take in 5 years) would 
result in a Category III instead of a Category II classification.
    Response: NMFS implemented the classification criteria in the final 
regulations to implement the 1994 amendments to the MMPA (60 FR 45086, 
August 30, 1995) after ample consideration of comments and suggestions 
from the public. NMFS refers the reader to the response to comments 5 
through 9 in that rule for a detailed explanation of the reasoning for 
setting the dividing thresholds between Category II and III as 1 
percent of PBR. NMFS also finalized an Environmental Assessment (EA) in 
August, 1995, to analyze the impacts of the regulations implementing 
the 1994 amendments on the environment and the public. NMFS also 
finalized a revised EA in December 2005 on the process of classifying 
U.S. commercial fisheries. A full copy of the updated 2005 EA can be 
found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/interactions/lof_ea.pdf.
    The fishery classification criteria consider the rate of incidental 
serious injury and mortality of marine mammals in commercial fisheries 
on a stock-specific basis. Therefore, the rate of interaction of a 
fishery with a marine mammal stock with a low PBR can be significant 
even if it appears to be a minimal problem based on the size of the 
fishery or frequency of the interactions. The chosen approach allows 
NMFS to focus management actions where fishery interactions have a 
significant negative effect on the population.
    In addition to the 1-percent threshold, the definitions of Category 
II and III fisheries include qualitative criteria that allow the 
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries to place a fishery into Category 
II or III in the absence of reliable information. This qualitative 
criteria will allow the Assistant Administrator to take into 
consideration cases where the PBR level for a particular stock is very 
low and/or where the level of incidental interaction with commercial 
fisheries is low and not likely to delay the population's attainment of 
its Optimum Sustainable Population. See the general description of the 
two-tiered scheme and qualitative criteria that may be used to classify 
a fishery in the preamble in this rule under Fishery Classification 
Criteria.
    Comment 8: One commenter questioned NMFS' inconsistent use of time 
periods in the LOF, instead of always including interaction data from 
the most recent 5-year period (e.g. 2002-2006 for the 2006 SAR). For 
some fisheries, including those with high levels of observer coverage, 
the time period used to calculate annual take rates to categorize 
fisheries is 2000-2004. For other fisheries the time period is 2001-
2005. Given that the most recent final SAR is 2006, why isn't the time 
period used to calculate annual interaction rates and classify 
fisheries for all fisheries 2002-2006? Or consistent for those 
fisheries with observer coverage every year?
    Response: Fishery classifications on the LOF are based on 
interaction data published in the most recent SARs, when available. 
SARs are revised on a rotating schedule, so not all SARs will include 
data from the same period of time. Section 117 of the MMPA requires 
NMFS to review SARs for strategic stocks and for stocks for which 
significant new information is available at least annually, and at 
least once every 3 years for all other stocks, and make changes if 
necessary. Therefore, while the SARs for strategic stocks are reviewed 
annually and updated if new information is available, SARs for non-
strategic stocks may be updated only once every 3 years.
    Also, it takes approximately a full year to develop new, final 
SARs. The annual interaction rates presented in the SARs are based on 
the most current observer data available. The draft SARs for 2006 were 
prepared in the fall of 2005; at which time, observer data for 2004 
were the most current data available. Observer data for 2005 became 
available in 2006 and were incorporated into the draft SARs for 2007, 
which was published in June, 2007.
    Comment 9: One commenter questioned NMFS' continued use of a 
recovery factor of 0.1 in the PBR formula for most whale stocks instead 
of updating the recovery factor based on new information. The commenter 
cited various sections of the GAMMS Workshop Report (Wade and Angliss, 
1996) discussing recovery factors, including text stating that recovery 
factors can be adjusted to accommodate additional information, when 
mortality estimates are known to be relatively unbiased based on high 
observer coverage, and to allow for management discretion as consistent 
with the goals of the ESA and MMPA. The commenter cites 3 examples in 
the report of recovery factors for ESA listed stocks being altered.
    Response: This comment is not specifically relevant to the LOF. 
While fisheries on the LOF are categorized based on the incidental 
mortality and serious injury relevant to a marine mammal stock's PBR, 
the calculation of PBR levels are completed and peer-reviewed during 
the annual SARs process. NMFS urges the commenter to present these 
comments during the public comment period for the draft 2008 SARs, as 
the comment period for the draft 2007 SARs has closed.
    Comment 10: One commenter stated that a take in which the marine 
mammal stock cannot be determined should not be counted as a take for 2 
separate stocks, but should be apportioned across the 2 stocks in 
question using a weighted probability.
    Response: See response to Comments 13 and 14 in the final 2005 LOF 
(71 FR 247, January 4, 2006) and Comment 10 in the final 2003 LOF (68 
FR 41725, July 15, 2003) for detailed responses to the same comment. 
Where there is considerable uncertainty regarding to

[[Page 66061]]

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 taken animal, or other 
conclusive information linking the serious injury or mortality to a 
specific stock, NMFS would use it to assign the take to a specific 
stock. Also, NMFS continues to conduct research and review data to 
determine to which stock an incidental mortality or serious injury can 
be assigned. For example, in this final rule NMFS is removing the Gulf 
of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea transient stock of killer 
whales from the list of species incidentally injured or killed in two 
AK fisheries based on genetic analyses of tissue samples collected by 
observers over the past few years, which revealed that the interaction 
occurred with the resident stock of killer whales (see below under 
Summary of Changes to the LOF for 2008).
    Comment 11: One commenter stated that if NMFS persists in using 
observed catch as a proxy of effort and expands observed takes, then 
takes that occur outside of the observed sample should not be counted. 
The apparent point of expansion is to make an estimate for the 
``unobserved'' takes; therefore, counting takes in the unobserved 
sample is double counting.
    Response: See response to Comments 19 and 20 in the final 2005 LOF 
(71 FR 247, January 4, 2006) for a very detailed response to the same 
comment. Also see response to and Comment 47 in the Notice of 
Availability for the 2005 SARs (71 FR 26430, May 4, 2006). The analysis 
of bycatch is stratified into many different strata, and estimates of 
bycatch are calculated for each individual stratum using data from 
monitored hauls. If an observer reported an injury or mortality 
incidental to a non-monitored haul, and there were no injuries or 
mortalities from monitored hauls in that strata, the report in the non-
monitored haul is used as the estimate of serious injury and mortality 
for that stratum. Data from non-monitored hauls are not extrapolated 
using the ratio estimation approach but are simply added to an 
extrapolation using observer data from monitored hauls.

Comments on Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean

    Comment 12: Two commenters questions the SAR for false killer 
whales in HI. One commenter stated that the proposed 2008 LOF 
perpetuates serious errors and uncertainties found in NMFS' SAR for 
false killer whales, errors which persist in the draft 2007 SAR. NMFS' 
SAR conflates false killer whale stocks, underestimates false killer 
whale abundance, and overestimates the seriousness of the deep-set 
longline fishery's (within the Category I HI longline fishery) 
interactions with false killer whales.
    The second commenter stated that there is no scientifically 
recognized HI stock of false killer whales that the proposed LOF lists 
as incidentally killed or injured in the Category I HI longline 
fishery. There are large uncertainties in the available science for a 
``HI'' stock, including the fact that NMFS' population assessment is 
based on a single sighting. Available information indicates that the 
HI-based tuna longline fishery interacts with a larger Eastern North 
Pacific stock of false killer whales. This information needs to be 
presented and objectively discussed by NMFS and outside peers.
    Response: This comment pertains to the SAR for false killer whales, 
HI stock, and has been recently addressed in the response to comments 
46-67 in the Notice of Availability of the final 2006 SARs (72 FR 
12774, March 19, 2007). NMFS stands by the analysis of the false killer 
whale stocks and recognizes that it is the best information currently 
available. NMFS will continue to work to reduce any uncertainties that 
may be associated with this stock assessment. Comment 13: Two 
commenters recommended that NMFS distinguish between the shallow-set 
and the deep-set fisheries in the Category I HI longline fishery. The 
HI longline fishery should be split into 2 fisheries based on the fact 
that the shallow-set and deep-set fisheries have different target 
species, operating patterns, management regimes, and interaction rates. 
Splitting the HI longline fishery into two fisheries would result in a 
Category I deep-set fishery and a Category III shallow-set fishery. The 
shallow-set fishery began commercial fishing in late 2004 and is 
distinct from the deep-set fishery in that it targets swordfish while 
the deep-set fishery targets tuna; uses different gear (including the 
number of hooks, gangions and float intervals); uses different bait; 
and fishes in different areas of the Pacific Ocean (generally does not 
operate within the HI EEZ) at different times of day. The shallow-set 
fishery, which has 100 percent observer coverage, has significantly 
different interaction and mortality rates involving protected species. 
An interaction with a false killer whale has never been observed in the 
shallow-set fishery. Also, the shallow-set and deep-set fisheries are 
managed differently by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management 
Council and NMFS and have entirely different regulatory requirements.
    Response: The commenters requested that the HI longline fisheries 
be split and subsequently listed in the LOF as two separately managed 
commercial fisheries: (1) the deep-set (tuna target) fishery; and (2) 
the shallow-set (swordfish target) fishery. This is the first request 
to split the fishery in this manner that NMFS has received to date.
    NMFS believes the request to split the HI longline fishery into two 
fisheries (the deep-set fishery and the shallow-set fishery) for 
purposes of the LOF has merit, and is therefore taking the commenters' 
request under consideration. Indeed, NMFS has split other fisheries in 
prior year's LOFs based upon factors such as different target species, 
operating patterns, regulations, marine mammal interaction rates, etc. 
However, if NMFS were to split the HI longline fishery into a deep-set 
and shallow-set fishery in the LOF, and then potentially re-categorize 
the shallow-set fishery as a Category III fishery, these changes would 
necessarily be presented in the 2009 Proposed LOF, and not in the 2008 
Final LOF, as making such considerable changes between a ``Proposed'' 
and ``Final'' draft of the LOF would negate the important public 
comment and response period required for agency rulemaking.
     Additionally, if NMFS were to make the changes articulated above, 
NMFS would need to consider whether the current system under which the 
HI longline fishery is permitted would also need to be changed. The HI 
longline fishery is managed, in part, under the Fishery Management Plan 
(FMP) for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (Pelagics 
FMP), as amended. The Pelagics FMP and its amendments are developed by 
the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council under the authority of 
the MSA, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. NMFS also promulgates regulations under 
the MSA to administer enforceable elements of the Pelagics FMP.
    Currently, participants in the HI longline fishery are required to 
obtain a single HI Longline Limited Entry Permit whether they intend to 
engage in deep-set longline fishing, shallow-set longline fishing, or 
both. Integrated with the single Limited Entry Permit requirement is 
the MMAP Certificate. Any vessel engaging in a Category I or II fishery 
must obtain a MMAP certificate from NMFS in order to lawfully 
incidentally take a marine mammal in a commercial fishery. Unless the 
current fishery permitting system under the FMP is

[[Page 66062]]

likewise amended, the single Limited Entry Permit would still require a 
MMAP certificate even if the longline fishery was subsequently split 
into Category I deep-set and Category III shallow-set fisheries. NMFS 
will be soliciting comments on these and other issues in the 2009 
Proposed LOF.
    Comment 14: One commenter reiterated a comment from the 2007 LOF 
recommending NMFS elevate the Category III ``CA lobster, prawn, shrimp, 
rock crab, fish pot'' and the ``WA/OR/CA crab pot'' fisheries to 
Category II based on interactions with humpback and gray whales. At 
least 14 large whales were documented entangled in this gear type from 
2000-2005.
    Response: As described in responses to comment 18 in the final 2007 
LOF (72 FR 38393, March 28, 2007), NMFS is aware of interactions 
between humpback and gray whales and pot and trap gear and is taking 
steps to address this issue. The NMFS Northwest Regional Office 
reviewed interactions between humpback and gray whales and all crab 
trap/pot gear in the waters off WA and OR and found that there have 
been no observed takes of humpback whales and that the level of take of 
gray whale was well below 10 percent of the stock's PBR. Therefore, the 
available information did not support elevating the WA and OR crab 
fisheries to Category I or II on the 2007 LOF. The NMFS Southwest 
Regional Office recently completed a draft characterization of the CA 
pot and trap fisheries as a first step in helping to determine which 
fisheries are most likely to be interacting with large whales and 
whether recategorization of the ``CA lobster, prawn, shrimp, rock crab, 
fish pot'' fishery or the CA component of the ``WA/OR/CA crab pot'' 
fishery is appropriate. Before NMFS can recategorize these fisheries, a 
better understanding of the fisheries is necessary, since reports of 
interactions between large whales and pot and trap gear come primarily 
from stranding reports (including sighting of free-swimming whales). 
These reports may not provide reliable identification of the fishing 
gear types associated with an interaction because it is difficult to 
distinguish between various pot and trap gears from surface 
observations of line and floats. Currently, NMFS is working with the 
State of CA to develop the characterization of the state and Federal 
fisheries that utilize these gear types in the waters off of CA. 
Furthermore, NMFS is reviewing observed marine mammal entanglements 
from stranding reports to assess the extent of injuries (i.e., whether 
or not the injuries were serious injuries) and whether specific 
fisheries can be identified from the available data.
    NMFS is also considering whether to change descriptions for the CA 
pot and trap fishery in the LOF. Currently, the CA lobster, prawn, 
shrimp, rock crab and fish pot fisheries are listed as one fishery on 
the LOF. NMFS is reviewing of the CA pot and trap fisheries to 
determine whether these fisheries should be listed separately on future 
LOFs to more accurately reflect spatial and temporal differences in the 
various fisheries, the regulatory authority for the fisheries, and the 
likelihood of interactions with marine mammals.
    Comment 15: One commenter commended NMFS for its support of efforts 
to address concerns regarding trap and pot fisheries, such as support 
for research efforts and outreach efforts to encourage voluntary 
reductions in the amount of potentially entangling gear. The commenter 
encouraged NMFS to continue its work with Regional Fishery Management 
Councils to improve monitoring and mitigation of serious injury and 
mortality.
    Response: NMFS acknowledges this comment. See the response to 
comment 14 above for more information related to these fisheries.
    Comment 16: One commenter noted that the number of vessels listed 
in Table 1 of the proposed 2008 LOF for the Category III ``WA/OR/CA 
groundfish trawl'' fishery is incorrect. Table 1 indicates an estimated 
585 vessels participating; however, the Pacific Fishery Management 
Council's Groundfish Management Team estimates that 160-180 vessels 
will participate in 2007. The estimated range is based on recent 
participants, which varies depending on the choice of some skippers to 
participate in trawl fisheries on the West Coast or in AK.
    Response: NMFS acknowledges this comment and will make the 
suggested change to the number of participants in the ``WA/OR/CA 
groundfish trawl'' fishery to 160-180.
    Comment 17: Two commenters supported the elevation of the ``CA 
yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet'' fishery to 
Category I because the estimated annual serious injury and mortality of 
long-beaked common dolphins incidental to the fishery exceeds 50 
percent of the stock's PBR. One commenter stated that a take reduction 
team must now be convened because this fishery interacts with strategic 
marine mammal stocks.
    Response: Since the publication of the proposed 2008 LOF, new 
information has become available on the level of serious injury and 
mortality of the CA stock of long-beaked common dolphin in the ``CA 
yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet'' fishery which 
indicates that elevating this fishery to Category I is not appropriate 
at this time. The proposed 2008 LOF states that, based on observer 
documented interactions in 2003 and 2004, reported in the draft 2007 
SAR for long-beaked common dolphin, the estimated annual serious injury 
and mortality of the CA stock of long-beaked common dolphins in the 
``CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet'' fishery 
is approximately 82 percent of the stock's PBR. However, during the 
public comment on the draft 2007 SARs, errors were found in the 
reported levels of observer coverage in this fishery. The correct 
levels of observer coverage for 2002, 2003, and 2004, are 11.5 percent, 
10.4 percent, and 17.6 percent, respectively. Based upon these observer 
coverage levels, NMFS recalculated the mean annual serious injury or 
mortality of the CA stock of long-beaked common dolphin. The revised 
mean annual serious injury or mortality in this fishery is 4.7 (0.98) 
(CV in parenthesis), which is 43 percent of the stock's PBR of 11. 
Based upon these revisions to the draft 2007 SAR, the ``CA yellowtail, 
barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet'' fishery will remain a 
Category II fishery, and will not be elevated to a Category I fishery 
as proposed in the proposed 2008 LOF. The strategic stock 
classification of the CA stock of long-beaked common dolphins remains 
supported by the updated information in the SAR. Please also see the 
response to Comment 4 in this rule for additional information.
    In April 2007, the Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Team 
(POCTRT) considered CA State gillnet fisheries at their team meeting, 
including the ``CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift 
gillnet'' fishery, and the possible impacts on marine mammals. The 
POCTRT made a number of recommendations to NMFS related to these 
fisheries, including expanding observer coverage, encouraging research 
and information sharing on methods to reduce marine mammal bycatch, and 
adding representatives from these fisheries and an additional CDFG 
advisor to the POCTRT to address marine mammal bycatch in state gillnet 
fisheries. NMFS and the POCTRT are considering expanding the scope of 
the POCTRT to include CA gillnet fisheries, including the ``CA 
yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet'' fishery. 
Please see response to

[[Page 66063]]

comment 6 in this rule for more information on Take Reduction Teams.
    Comment 18: One commenter recommended NMFS remove short-finned 
pilot whales from the list of species incidentally killed or injured in 
the Category II ``CA squid purse seine'' fishery for two reasons. 
First, the information presented in the draft 2007 SAR for the CA squid 
purse seine fishery does not reflect the best available science. The 
SAR states that the fishery is ``not currently monitored, and has 
expanded markedly since 1992.'' However, NMFS Southwest Region observer 
data from the CA Coastal Pelagic Purse Seine Observer Program indicates 
that 95 pilot whale interaction-free trips were observed from July 2004 
to March 2007. Second, the draft 2007 SAR assigns each of the 14 
incidents of ``undetermined'' strandings of short-finned pilot whales 
as ``probably'' the result of interactions with the ``CA squid purse 
seine'' fishery. However, the SAR does not provide clear evidence for 
this determination. Since NMFS does not typically assign fishery-
specific mortality from fishery interaction stranding events in the 
absence of clear evidence (for example, several East Coast species 
covered under TRPs including harbor porpoise, bottlenose dolphins, and 
large whales), then it should not be done in this case.
    Response: NMFS acknowledges the error in the draft 2007 SAR 
regarding the monitoring of the ``CA squid purse seine'' fishery and it 
will be corrected in the final 2007 SAR. NMFS has reviewed the report 
with records of the stranded short-finned pilot whales from 1975 
through 1990 and has concluded that the strandings were most likely 
caused by interactions with the purse seine fishery for squid. This is 
based upon the location and time of the strandings and the operation of 
the squid fishery in the same area and time and other details from the 
stranding. NMFS notes that there have been no observed takes of short-
finned pilot whales in this fishery since the observer program began in 
2004. However, observer coverage in this fishery is quite low at less 
than 2 percent annually. The recommendation to remove short-finned 
pilot whales from the list of marine mammals incidentally killed in the 
squid purse seine fishery will be further reviewed by NMFS when more 
observer information becomes available. NMFS will continue to monitor 
this fishery and consider the recommendation to remove short-finned 
pilot whales, CA/OR/WA stock, from the list of species incidentally 
killed or injured in the ``CA squid purse seine'' fishery for the 2009 
LOF.
    Comment 19: One commenter requested a review of the Category II 
``CA squid purse seine'' fishery interaction with a species listed as 
``common dolphin, unknown'' and removal of this species from the list 
of species incidentally killed or injured in this fishery if supported 
by the data. The CA Coastal Pelagic Purse Seine Observer Program data 
contains an observed ``1 dead unidentified common dolphin'' off Santa 
Barbara on January 3, 2005. The observer data also indicated that a 
group of seven unidentified common dolphins were sighted near the 
vessel during this particular haul. The commenter requests that NMFS 
re-examine this interaction and determine whether the animals' 
location, group size, and time of capture might better match the survey 
distribution and group observations for short-beaked common dolphins 
than for long-beaked common dolphins. Given the recent increased 
abundance reported for short-beaked common dolphins and virtual 
disappearance of long-beaked common dolphins in CA waters, the 
commenter believes the animal interaction was likely with a short-
beaked common dolphin.
    Response: There is insufficient information available to identify 
the species of common dolphin observed taken in the ``CA squid purse 
seine'' fishery. Both species, long-beaked common dolphins and short-
beaked common dolphins, utilize much of the same habitat and overlap in 
areas with this fishery. Therefore, it is possible that either species 
could have been taken.
    Comment 20: One commenter recommended that the ``strategic'' 
designation for the long-beaked common dolphin be viewed with extreme 
caution in the 2008 LOF. The draft 2007 SAR and proposed 2008 LOF do 
not adequately reflect the stock's high interannual variability. 
Despite a slight increase in human interactions from 11 to 17 animals, 
the observed population plummeted causing the PBR to drop from 242 
animals to 11 animals reported in the draft 2007 SAR. Clearly the 
reason for the strategic listing is not fishery interactions but likely 
environmental in nature, and the LOF should clearly reflect this.
    Response: It is the purpose of the LOF to categorize fisheries 
based on their level of mortality and serious injury of a marine mammal 
stock relative to the stock's PBR level. It is not the purpose or 
intent of the LOF to determine a stock's PBR or status as strategic. 
The factors leading to a stock's designation as ``strategic'' are 
irrelevant for the purposes of categorization fisheries on the LOF. 
NMFS urges the commenter to present these comments during the public 
comment period for the draft 2008 SARs, as the comment period for the 
2007 SARs has closed.
    One error was found in the draft 2007 SAR during public review 
related to long-beaked common dolphins and takes in the CA small mesh 
drift gillnet fishery for white seabass, yellowtail, and barracuda; the 
fishery was observed at 11.5 percent, 10.4 percent and 17.6 percent 
respectively in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and one serious injury or 
mortality was observed in 2003 and one in 2004, with none observed in 
2002. The draft SAR does not list the 2004 observer coverage and 
assigned the observed takes of long-beaked common dolphins to the years 
2002 and 2003. This error will be corrected in the final 2007 SARs and 
will lower the mean annual takes estimate for this stock to from 17 to 
12.5, but this adjustment does not change the strategic designation of 
this stock.
    Comment 21: One commenter stated that the Category II Bering Sea 
Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Pacific cod longline fishery has a high level 
of observer coverage and effort is known, yet catch is used as a proxy 
for estimating effort. A proxy is not needed in cases where observer 
coverage is high and effort is known. Also, the Science and Statistical 
Committee (SSC) of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council stated 
in minutes from its February 2005 meeting that NMFS should `` explore 
the use of direct measures of fishing effort (instead of using catch as 
a proxy for effort) in future analyses at least when and where 
possible.''
    Response: The response to Comment 15 in the final LOF for 2005 
states that catch is the only data that can be used to measure effort 
for all vessels, seasons, and areas, to measure relative levels of 
effort (71 FR 247, 4 January 2006). NMFS took note of the 
recommendation made by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's 
SSC to consider other measures of fishing effort, and discussed this 
with the analyst. At this time, catch remains the best method of 
quantifying observed and total fishing effort. Should another measure 
of effort become available that can be used for all vessels, seasons, 
and areas, NMFS will consider modifying the analytical approach.
    Comment 22: One commenter noted that, according to a study by Perez 
in 2004, 68 percent of longline hauls from 1998-2003 were sampled by 
observers. Also, NMFS stated in 2000 (in a Pacific cod paper) that 94 
percent of the BSAI Pacific cod longline harvest came from observed 
vessels.

[[Page 66064]]

    Response: The response to Comment 25 in the final LOF for 2005 (71 
FR 247, 4 January 2006) describes why there is a difference between the 
percent of hauls observed (or the percent of hooks observed, or the 
percent of sets observed) and the percent of boats observed. Also, NMFS 
notes that the commenter did not provide citations for the literature 
referenced in the comment.
    Comment 23: One commenter asked NMFS to explain certain observer 
percentages and associated expansions of takes in the 2006 SARs 
associated with the Category II BSAI Pacific cod longline fishery. The 
2006 SAR for ribbon seal lists one take in 2001 (although the most 
recent 5-year period of 2002-2006 should make this interaction drop 
out), which is expanded to 3.0 takes with observer coverage of 29.5 
percent; for Steller sea lion (Western stock) lists one take in 2002, 
expanded to 3.7 takes with observer coverage of 29.6 percent; and for 
killer whale (Eastern North Pacific Alaska resident) lists one take in 
2003, expanded to 4.2 takes with observer coverage of 29.9 percent. Why 
does one take, at the same stated level of observer coverage (29 
percent) expand to a range of 3 to 4.2 takes depending on the stock?
    Response: To provide as precise an estimate of marine mammal 
bycatch as possible, fishery effort and observed marine mammal serious 
injury/mortality levels are stratified by fishery, geographic area and 
by 2-week period. The percent observer coverage reflected in the SARs 
is an average percent observer coverage, not the percent for each 
strata. Thus, users of the SARs cannot use the reported percent 
observer coverage in the SARs to directly calculate an estimated marine 
mammal serious injury/mortality from the observed serious injury/
mortality level.
    Comment 24: One commenter questioned why the observer coverage in 
these SARs listed as 29 percent when 94 percent of the BSAI pacific cod 
longline catch comes from observed vessels (NMFS 2000 Pacific cod 
paper) and 68 percent of the catch comes from observed sets (Perez 
2004)?
    Response: Please see response to comment 22. Also, NMFS notes that 
the commenter did not provide citations for the literature referenced 
in the comment.
    Comment 25: One commenter stated that the formula used to estimate 
PBR for the strategic Central North Pacific stock of humpback whales 
uses a population estimate from 1993, which causes several fisheries 
that interact with this stock to be classified as Category II. However, 
all studies indicate that this stock is steadily increasing. A 2001 
study calculates an annual growth rate increase of 7 percent (now used 
as r max) and a 2004 study calculates an annual growth rate increase of 
10 percent. A 2002 study of the Southeast humpback stock reports that 
estimates are substantially higher and that the abundance has increased 
in recent years. The commenter cites the GAMMS workshop report (Wade 
and Angliss, 1996) which states, `` The SARs should be revised whenever 
new information becomes available on abundance, mortality, r max, or 
stock structure `` Why then is the 1993 estimate still used if growth 
population has been 7 percent-10 percent annually?
    Response: This is a comment that related to the Stock Assessment 
Reports, not the proposed List of Fisheries for 2008. In short, a 
change in the abundance estimate will be made when the results of a 
recent basin-wide study of North Pacific humpback whales is available 
in 2009 or 2010.
    Comment 26: One commenter questioned the use of 16-year old data to 
categorize the Prince William Sound salmon drift gillnet fishery as 
Category II. The categorization is partly due to estimated takes of 
Stellar sea lions (Western stock) observed in 1990-1991, when 0 and 2 
takes of Stellar sea lions were observed in 1990-1991, respectively. 
With 4-5 percent observer coverage the take expanded to 29, or 14.5 
takes per year, comprising 50 percent of all fishing mortality of 
Stellar sea lions (Western stock).
    Response: NMFS agrees that marine mammal interaction data used to 
classify commercial fisheries should be as current as is practicable to 
ensure that the estimated levels of serious injury and mortality 
reflect current fishing practices and conditions. In some cases, 
information on marine mammal serious injury and mortality is quite 
dated. Currently there are eleven Category II state-managed fisheries 
in Alaska on the LOF. Since 1990, seven Category II fisheries have been 
observed. Of those, two have been reclassified from Category II to 
Category III because the observer program documented very low levels of 
marine mammal serious injuries and mortalities that occurred incidental 
to these fisheries. Six state-managed Category II fisheries have never 
been observed. With currently available funds, only one fishery can be 
observed at a time due to the high cost of the observer programs. There 
have also been interim years with no Alaska state-managed fishery 
observed. Ideally, NMFS would observe each of these fisheries every 
five years to ensure data quality and timeliness. However, without the 
availability of newer information, NMFS must rely on the best available 
information.
    Comment 27: One commenter noted that the fishery description for 
the Category II AK Metlakatla/Annette Island salmon drift gillnet 
fishery is incorrect. The proposed 2008 LOF states that this fishery is 
managed by the ADFG with a tribal portion separate from the Category II 
``AK Southeast salmon drift gillnet'' fishery only for regulation 
purposes. The commenter states that this fishery is an exclusively 
tribal fishery managed exclusively by the tribe. There is no relation 
or connection with any state fishery or management by any other state 
or Federal agency.
    Response: NMFS agrees and the change has been made to the final 
2008 LOF.

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

    Comment 28: One commenter stated that all of the butterfish and 
Illex and Loligo squid fisheries on the East coast are bottom trawl 
fisheries, yet the proposed 2008 LOF defines them as Mid-Atlantic mid-
water trawl fisheries. The mackerel fishery consists primarily of mid-
water trawlers, but also includes bottom trawls. This information can 
be found in the most recent stock assessments for each fish and squid 
species at: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/publications/series/crdlist.htm. In addition, butterfish were deemed overfished in 2005 and 
there is no longer a directed fishery. Trip limits and a very low 
bycatch quota will be in place for 2008.
    Response: NMFS agrees that based on how some trawl gear is fished 
in the Illex and Loligo squid fisheries, the current ``Mid-Atlantic 
mid-water trawl'' designation for the Illex and Loligo squid fisheries 
may not be an appropriate description of the fishing gear used for 
these specific Mid-Atlantic fisheries. However, in the past NMFS has 
also received information that suggests that the Illex and Loligo squid 
fisheries utilize their trawl gear in a more traditional mid-water 
trawl fishing operation. Therefore, NMFS believes that it would be 
inappropriate to re-classify this fishery in this 2008 final LOF. NMFS 
will consult with the Atlantic Trawl Gear Take Reduction Team and the 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center to determine a more appropriate 
characterization. NMFS will then propose any necessary changes in the 
2009 proposed LOF, allowing adequate time for public comment. The

[[Page 66065]]

inclusion of the butterfish fishery within the ``Mid-Atlantic mid-water 
trawl'' fishery will also be addressed and examined at that time.
    Comment 29: One commenter reiterated their comment from the 2007 
LOF raising concern over NMFS' failure to adequately classify certain 
Gulf of Mexico fisheries as Category I or II based on known or 
estimated mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in those 
fisheries. The commenter specifically recommended NMFS elevate the Gulf 
of Mexico blue crab trap/pot fishery to at least a Category II and 
perhaps a Category I, and the Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine 
fishery to a Category I, based on known or likely impacts to bottlenose 
dolphin stocks.
    Response: NMFS does not believe elevation of the ``Gulf of Mexico 
blue crab trap/pot'' fishery or ``Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine'' 
fishery is warranted at this time. There is no observer program for 
either of these fisheries; therefore, NMFS relies on stranding data and 
fishermen self-reports to document fishery interactions with marine 
mammals. Available data from both of these sources do not justify a 
reclassification of either fishery at this time. However, NMFS will 
continue monitoring fishermen self-reports and stranding data, as well 
as enhance stranding response in the Gulf of Mexico, which has been 
low, particularly following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Observer 
coverage for both these fisheries also remains a priority when 
resources become available.
    Available data indicate interactions with marine mammals occurred 
in both fisheries between 2002-2006. In the Gulf of Mexico blue crab 
trap/pot fishery, stranding data indicate there were two confirmed 
bottlenose dolphin interactions with crab pot fishing gear between 
2002-2006, one alive and one dead. In the same period, four dead 
bottlenose dolphins stranded with rope or rope marks that may have been 
from trap/pot gear, but cause of death could not be determined. NMFS 
acknowledges these numbers may underestimate the number of interactions 
that are occurring. However, interpreting the data is difficult due to 
limitations of the stranding network to accurately document human 
interactions, and insufficient information on bottlenose dolphin 
abundance and stock structure in the Gulf of Mexico to calculate PBR or 
quantify the impacts of fishery interactions on bottlenose dolphin 
stocks.
    The ``Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine'' fishery was observed by 
researchers from Louisiana State University in 1992, 1994, and 1995. 
The observers documented nine bottlenose dolphin captures, three of 
which were mortalities. Using observed and total fishery effort data, 
the number of takes was linearly extrapolated to an estimate of 68 
animals. On the basis of this information, the fishery was elevated 
from Category III to Category II on the 1999 LOF (64 FR 9067, February 
24, 1999). Since that time, there has been no observer coverage in this 
fishery. Fishermen self-reports through the MMAP reveal five bottlenose 
dolphin mortalities from 2002-2006, with two mortalities in 2002, one 
in 2004, and two in 2005. One of these animals was believed to have 
been dead prior to capture. However, information gathered under the 
MMAP cannot be verified and it is not possible to extrapolate these 
numbers to obtain an estimate of total takes in this fishery.
    The current lack of information on bottlenose dolphin abundance and 
stock structure in the Gulf of Mexico combined with a low level of 
stranding response, particularly following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 
make it difficult to assess the population-level impacts of either of 
these fisheries. For example, the percentage of stranded animals that 
are necropsied is low (FL, TX, and AL necropsied over 50 percent of all 
stranded marine mammals from 2002-2006, but MS and LA had much lower 
necropsy rates, 16 percent and 3 percent, respectively), making 
documentation of human interactions difficult. NMFS is focused on 
building capacity in the Gulf and increasing the level and quality of 
stranding response. NMFS held workshops in LA and MS in September 2007 
to raise awareness of marine mammal management challenges in the Gulf 
of Mexico and to enhance marine mammal stranding response. NMFS staff 
met with representatives from state fishery and wildlife management 
agencies, marine mammal stranding networks, research institutions, 
universities, Sea Grant, and other Federal agencies to identify ways to 
better manage protected and endangered marine mammals in the Gulf of 
Mexico. Furthermore, NMFS intends to provide additional training 
workshops in 2008 to enhance the stranding network's capacity for 
identifying and documenting human interaction, and instruction on 
conducting necropsies. NMFS expects these efforts to increase the 
effectiveness of the stranding networks and better inform management 
decisions in the future.
    Comment 30: One commenter reiterated concerns raised in their 
letters on the 2003 through 2007 LOFs recommending that NMFS expedite 
its investigation of bottlenose dolphin stock structure and reevaluate 
the classification of Gulf of Mexico fisheries. The commenter further 
recommended that NMFS expand its efforts to collect reliable 
information on serious injury and mortality of marine mammals 
incidental to Gulf of Mexico fisheries, with priority given to 
instituting an observer program for the menhaden purse seine fishery 
and expanding efforts to evaluate bottlenose dolphin entanglement in 
the blue crab trap/pot fishery. NMFS has initiated efforts to address 
some of these issues and has indicated that it intends to reevaluate 
these fisheries as new information becomes available, particularly 
information regarding the stock structure of bottlenose dolphins in the 
Gulf of Mexico. Nonetheless, the commenter remains concerned about 
marine mammal interactions with Gulf of Mexico fisheries, believes that 
more active management is needed in this region, and therefore 
reiterates its previous recommendations.
    Response: NMFS agrees that collection of reliable information on 
serious injury and mortality of marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico is 
essential. NMFS is making efforts to more actively manage marine 
mammals and build capacity in this area to: (1) address significant 
data gaps regarding the distribution, abundance, stock structure, and 
health of marine mammals; (2) enhance stranding response capabilities 
to better understand threats to marine mammals in the Gulf of Mexico 
ecosystem, and (3) ensure constituents are informed regarding NMFS 
efforts, threats to the ecosystem, and mitigation strategies to further 
reduce impacts to marine mammals. See the response to Comment 29 
regarding efforts to enhance stranding network coverage and response in 
the Gulf of Mexico.
    Managing bottlenose dolphin stocks in the Gulf of Mexico is 
especially challenging due to lack of data, particularly regarding 
abundance and stock structure. There is currently no PBR calculated for 
coastal stocks or bay, sound, and estuarine stocks, so NMFS is unable 
to assess the population-level impacts of fishery-related serious 
injuries and mortalities. To address this, NMFS is working towards 
updating estimates of bottlenose dolphin abundance and refining our 
understanding of bottlenose dolphin stock structure in the Gulf of 
Mexico. Specifically, in July and August 2007, NMFS completed a ship-
based survey of the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf

[[Page 66066]]

from 20 m (65.6 ft) depth to 500 m (1640 ft) depth from Cedar Key, FL, 
to Brownsville, TX, which included line-transect abundance surveys and 
the collection of over 200 bottlenose dolphin biopsies for stock 
structure analysis. In 2007, NMFS also completed winter and summer 
aerial line-transect abundance surveys of coastal bottlenose dolphin 
stocks (shore to 20 m [65.6 ft] depth) from Key West to the MS River 
delta. NMFS has also worked on bay, sound, and estuarine stocks, 
conducting a photo-ID mark-recapture study and biopsy sampling in 
Choctawhatchee Bay, FL in July and August 2007 and biopsy sampling in 
Mississippi Sound in 2005 and 2006. Data collected during these surveys 
are currently being analyzed, and updated information on population 
abundance and stock structure should be available in the 2008 SARs. 
Once this information is available and PBR is calculated for each 
stock, NMFS will be better able to assess the impacts of mortality and 
serious injury of marine mammals associated with commercial fisheries 
in the Gulf. Observer coverage remains a priority for Gulf of Mexico 
fisheries, when resources become available.
    Comment 31: One commenter stated that the number of vessels listed 
in the proposed 2008 LOF for the Category II Gulf of Mexico menhaden 
purse seine fishery is incorrect. Table 2 lists 50 vessels as operating 
in this fishery; however, 1999 was the last year that the number of 
vessels in the fishery exceeded 50. Since 2000 there have been between 
40 and 42 vessels annually participating in the fishery, 2 of which are 
typically run boats from the fishing grounds back to the reduction 
plants and do not actively fish.
    Response: NMFS thanks the commenter for this information. The 
number of vessels in the Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine fishery 
has been updated from 50 to 40-42.

Summary of Changes to the LOF for 2008

    The following summarizes changes to the LOF for 2008 in fishery 
classification, fisheries listed in the LOF, the number of participants 
in a particular fishery, and the species and/or stocks that are 
incidentally killed or seriously injured in a particular fishery. The 
classifications and definitions of U.S. commercial fisheries for 2008 
are identical to those provided in the LOF for 2007 with the following 
exceptions.

Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean

Fishery Classification
    The ``CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet 
(mesh size [gteqt]3.5 inches and <14 inches)'' fishery is not elevated 
to a Category I fishery as proposed in the proposed 2008 LOF. The mean 
annual mortality and serious injury for the CA stock of long-beaked 
common dolphins was recalculated due to errors in the reporting of 
observer coverage for this fishery discovered during the public comment 
period for the draft 2007 SARs. Using the correct information, the data 
indicate that the annual mortality and serious injury of this stock in 
this fishery is 43 percent, not 82 percent, of the stock's PBR as had 
been reported in the proposed 2008 LOF. For this reason, the ``CA 
yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet (mesh size 
[gteqt]3.5 inches and <14 inches)'' fishery remains a Category II on 
the final 2008 LOF.
    The superscript ``2'' is removed from Table 1 following the ``CA 
yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet (mesh size 
[gteqt]3.5 inches and <14 inches)'' fishery because it is no longer 
classified by analogy to other gillnet fisheries. The current data 
shows that the mortality and serious injury of the CA stock of long-
beaked common dolphin is 43 percent; therefore, it is driving the 
classification of this fishery. A superscript ``1'' is placed next to 
this stock in Table 1 to indicate its role as a driving stock.
Removal of Fisheries from the LOF
    The Category II ``OR blue shark floating longline'' fishery is 
removed from the LOF.
    The Category II ``OR swordfish floating longline'' fishery is 
removed from the LOF.
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications
    The Category II ``CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift 
gillnet (mesh size >3.5 inches and <14 inches)'' fishery is renamed the 
``CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet (mesh size 
[gteqt]3.5 inches and <14 inches)'' fishery.
    The Category III ``CA set and drift gillnet fisheries that use a 
stretched mesh size of 3.5 in or less'' is renamed the ``CA set gillnet 
fishery (mesh size <3.5 inches).''
    NMFS reviewed the various West Coast pot and trap fisheries for 
information on the takes of humpback and gray whales in Category III 
trap/pot fisheries on the Pacific Coast. NMFS anticipates that 
incidental serious injury and mortality of gray and humpback whales in 
OR and WA crab fisheries is unlikely to increase; therefore, NMFS did 
not reclassify the crab pot fisheries at this time. NMFS will continue 
to analyze information from the remaining pot fisheries along the West 
Coast for potential recategorization of certain West Coast trap/pot 
fisheries in future LOFs.
    The fishery description for the Category II ``AK Metlakatla/Annette 
Island salmon drift gillnet'' fishery is changed to reflect that the 
fishery is an exclusively tribal fishery managed exclusively by the 
tribe. There is no management by any state or Federal agency.
Number of Vessels/Persons
    The estimated number of vessels or persons in the Category II ``CA 
anchovy, mackerel, and sardine purse seine'' fishery is updated to 63.
    The estimated number of vessels or persons in the Category II ``CA 
squid purse seine'' fishery is updated to 71.
    The estimated number of vessels or persons in the Category III ``HI 
inshore gillnet'' fishery is updated to 5.
    The estimated number of vessels or persons in the Category III 
``WA/OR/CA groundfish trawl'' fishery is updated to 160-180.
    The estimated number of vessels or persons in the Category III ``CA 
abalone'' fishery is updated to zero.
    The estimated number of vessels or persons in the Category III ``CA 
set gillnet (mesh size <3.5 inches)'' fishery (renamed from the ``CA 
set and drift gillnet fisheries that use a stretched mesh size of 3.5 
in or less'' fishery in this final rule) is updated to 304.
List of Species That are Incidentally Injured or Killed
    The Hawaiian stocks of striped dolphin and Bryde's whale are added 
to the list of marine mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or 
killed in the Category I ``HI swordfish, tuna, billfish, mahi mahi, 
wahoo, oceanic sharks longline/set line'' fishery.
    The Gulf of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, and Bering Sea transient 
stock of killer whales is removed from the list of marine mammal 
species and stocks incidentally injured or killed in the Category II 
``AK Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline'' fishery and 
the Category III ``AK Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot 
longline'' fishery.

[[Page 66067]]

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

Addition of Fisheries to the LOF
    The ``GA cannonball jellyfish trawl'' fishery is added to the LOF 
as a Category III fishery.
Removal of Fisheries from the LOF
    The Category III ``U.S. Mid-Atlantic hand seine'' fishery is 
removed from the LOF.
Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarifications
    The estimated number of vessels or persons in the Category II 
``Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine'' fishery is updated to 40-42.
    The list of target fish species associated with the Category II 
``Atlantic mixed species trap/pot'' fishery is expanded to include 
cunner.
     The list of target species associated with the Category II 
``Southeast Atlantic gillnet'' fishery is updated by removing shad.
    The description of the Category II ``Southeast Atlantic gillnet'' 
fishery is corrected by clarifying that the fishery is also managed 
under ALWTRP implementing regulations. Management under the ALWTRP was 
inadvertently left out of the description in the proposed rule.
    The boundaries and excluded fisheries associated with the Category 
I ``Mid-Atlantic gillnet'' fishery are updated through the addition of 
the following language, `` NC/SC border, but not including waters where 
gillnet fisheries are listed as Category II and Category III. At this 
time, these Category II and Category III fisheries include: the 
Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet; NC inshore gillnet; DE River inshore 
gillnet; Long Island Sound inshore gillnet; and RI, southern MA (to 
Monomy Island), and NY Bight (Raritan and Lower NY Bays) inshore 
gillnet.''
    The boundaries and excluded fisheries associated with the Category 
II ``Atlantic mixed species trap/pot'' fishery are updated through the 
addition of the following language, ``The Atlantic mixed species trap/
pot fishery (Category II) includes all trap/pot operations for species 
from the U.S.-Canada border down through the waters east of the fishery 
management demarcation line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of 
Mexico (50 CFR 600.105), but does not include the following Category I, 
II, and III trap/pot fisheries: Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster 
trap/pot; Atlantic blue crab trap/pot; FL spiny lobster trap/ pot; 
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico stone crab trap/pot; U.S. 
Mid-Atlantic eel trap/pot fisheries; and the Southeastern U.S. 
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico golden crab fishery (68 FR 1421, January 10, 
2003).''
    The definition of the Category II ``Mid-Atlantic flynet'' fishery, 
provided in the final 2007 LOF (71 FR 70345, December 4, 2006), is 
replaced with the following language: ``The flynet fishery is a 
multispecies fishery composed of nearshore and offshore components that 
operate along the eastern coast of the Mid-Atlantic United States. 
Flynets are high profile trawls similar to bottom otter trawls. These 
nets typically range from 80-120 ft (24-36.6 m) in headrope length, 
with wing mesh sizes of 16-64 in (41-163 cm), following a slow 3:1 
taper to smaller mesh sizes in the body, extension, and codend sections 
of the net. The nearshore fishery operates from October to April inside 
of 30 fathoms (180 ft-55 m) from NC to NJ. This nearshore fishery 
targets Atlantic croaker, weakfish, butterfish, harvestfish, bluefish, 
menhaden , striped bass, kingfishes, and other finfish species. Flynet 
fishing is no longer permitted south of Cape Hatteras in order to 
protect weakfish stocks. The offshore component operates from November 
to April outside of 30 fathoms (180 ft; 55 m) from the Hudson Canyon 
off NY, south to Hatteras Canyon off NC. These deeper water fisheries 
target bluefish, Atlantic mackerel, Loligo squid, black sea bass, and 
scup (72 FR 7382, February 15, 2007). Illex squid are also targeted 
offshore (70-200 fathoms [420-1,200 ft; 128-366 m]) during summer 
months from May to September.'' NMFS acknowledges that concerns have 
been raised over the possible colloquial nature of this fishery and 
will continue working to resolve these concerns.
    The descriptions of the Category II ``Northeast anchored float 
gillnet'', ``Northeast drift gillnet'', ``Atlantic blue crab trap/pot, 
and ``Atlantic mixed species trap/pot'' fisheries are updated to 
reflect that each is now also managed under ALWTRP implementing 
regulations under a recent rulemaking (72 FR 57104, October 5, 2007).
    The description of the Category II ``Mid-Atlantic haul/beach 
seine'' fishery is undergoing change, particularly pertaining to NC 
beach gear, due to pending rulemakings by NCDMF. An updated description 
of this fishery will be provided in a future LOF.
List of Species That are Incidentally Seriously Injured or Killed
    The Northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf and Eastern Gulf of 
Mexico coastal stocks of bottlenose dolphins are added to the list of 
marine mammal species and stocks incidentally injured or killed in the 
Category III ``Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, shark bottom 
longline/hook-and-line'' fishery.
    The name of the bottlenose dolphin stocks incidentally seriously 
injured or killed in the Category I ``Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf 
of Mexico large pelagics longline'' and Category III ``Gulf of Mexico 
butterfish trawl'' fisheries are changed from ``Bottlenose dolphin, 
Northern Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf'' to ``Bottlenose 
dolphin, Northern Gulf of Mexico oceanic'', and from ``Bottlenose 
dolphin, Northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf edge and slope'' to 
``Bottlenose dolphin, Northern Gulf of Mexico continental shelf.''
    The name the humpback whale stock incidentally killed/injured in 
the Category I ``Northeast sink gillnet'', Category I ``Northeast/Mid-
Atlantic American lobster trap/pot'', Category II ``Northeast anchored 
float gillnet'', and Category III ``Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic 
tuna, shark, swordfish hook-and-line/harpoon'' fisheries is changed 
from ``Western North Atlantic (WNA)'' to ``Gulf of Maine.''

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 most recent LOF is used.
    The tables also list the marine mammal species and stocks 
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 mortality or injury in a 
given fishery, but also includes species or stocks for which there are 
anecdotal records of interaction. Additionally, species identified by 
logbook entries may not be verified. Bycatch of species or stocks 
identified is not necessarily driving a fishery's classification in a 
given Category. NMFS has designated those stocks driving a fishery's 
classification (i.e., the fishery is classified based on serious 
injuries and mortalities of a marine mammal stock greater than 50 
percent [Category I], or greater than 1 percent and less

[[Page 66068]]

than 50 percent [Category II], of a stock's PBR) by a ``1'' after the 
stock's name.
    There are several fisheries classified in Category II that have no 
recently documented interactions with marine mammals, or interactions 
that did not result in a serious injury or mortality. Justification for 
classifying these fisheries as a Category II is 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 a ``Category II fishery'' in 50 CFR 229.2. NMFS has designated those 
fisheries originally listed by analogy in Tables 1 and 2 by a ``2'' 
after the fishery's name.
    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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Estimated
                                  of     Marine mammal species
      Fishery Description          vessels/      and stocks incidentally
                                    persons          killed/injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY I
-------------------------------                -------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:              ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA angel shark/halibut and      58              California sea lion,
 other species set gillnet                       U.S.
 (>3.5 in. mesh)                                Harbor seal, CA
                                                Harbor porpoise, Central
                                                 CA\1\
                                                Long-beaked common
                                                 dolphin, CA
                                                Northern elephant seal,
                                                 CA breeding
                                                Sea otter, CA
                                                Short-beaked common
                                                 dolphin, CA/OR/WA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA/OR thresher shark/swordfish  85              California sea lion,
 drift gillnet ([gteqt]14 in.                    U.S.
 mesh)                                          Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/
                                                 WA
                                                Fin whale, CA/OR/WA
                                                Gray whale, Eastern
                                                 North Pacific
                                                Humpback whale, Eastern
                                                 North Pacific
                                                Long-beaked common
                                                 dolphin, CA
                                                Northern elephant seal,
                                                 CA breeding
                                                Northern right-whale
                                                 dolphin, CA/OR/WA
                                                Pacific white-sided
                                                 dolphin, CA/OR/WA
                                                Risso's dolphin, CA/OR/
                                                 WA
                                                Short-beaked common
                                                 dolphin, CA/OR/WA
                                                Short-finned pilot
                                                 whale, CA/OR/WA\1\
                                                Sperm whale, CA/OR/WA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:    ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI swordfish, tuna, billfish,   140             Blainville's beaked
 mahi mahi, wahoo, oceanic                       whale, HI
 sharks longline/set line                       Bottlenose dolphin, HI
                                                Bryde's whale, HI
                                                False killer whale,
                                                 HI\1\
                                                Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific
                                                Pantropical spotted
                                                 dolphin, HI
                                                Risso's dolphin, HI
                                                Short-finned pilot
                                                 whale, HI
                                                Spinner dolphin, HI
                                                Sperm whale, HI
                                                Striped dolphin, HI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY II
-------------------------------                -------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:              ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bristol Bay salmon drift     1,903           Beluga whale, Bristol
 gillnet\2\                                      Bay
                                                Gray whale, Eastern
                                                 North Pacific
                                                Harbor seal, Bering Sea
                                                Northern fur seal,
                                                 Eastern Pacific
                                                Pacific white-sided
                                                 dolphin, North Pacific
                                                Spotted seal, AK
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bristol Bay salmon set       1,014           Beluga whale, Bristol
 gillnet\2\                                      Bay
                                                Gray whale, Eastern
                                                 North Pacific
                                                Harbor seal, Bering Sea
                                                Northern fur seal,
                                                 Eastern Pacific
                                                Spotted seal, AK
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66069]]

 
AK Cook Inlet salmon set        745             Beluga whale, Cook Inlet
 gillnet                                        Dall's porpoise, AK
                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA
                                                Harbor seal, GOA
                                                Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific\1\
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Cook Inlet salmon drift      576             Beluga whale, Cook Inlet
 gillnet                                        Dall's porpoise, AK
                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA\1\
                                                Harbor seal, GOA
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Kodiak salmon set gillnet    188             Harbor porpoise, GOA\1\
                                                Harbor seal, GOA
                                                Sea otter, Southwest AK
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Metlakatla/Annette Island    60              None documented
 salmon drift gillnet\2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands   164             Dall's porpoise, AK
 salmon drift gillnet\2\                        Harbor porpoise, GOA
                                                Harbor seal, GOA
                                                Northern fur seal,
                                                 Eastern Pacific
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands   116             Harbor porpoise, Bering
 salmon set gillnet\2\                           Sea
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Prince William Sound salmon  541             Dall's porpoise, AK
 drift gillnet                                  Harbor porpoise, GOA\1\
                                                Harbor seal, GOA
                                                Northern fur seal,
                                                 Eastern Pacific
                                                Pacific white-sided
                                                 dolphin, North Pacific
                                                Sea Otter, South Central
                                                 AK
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast salmon drift       481             Dall's porpoise, AK
 gillnet                                        Harbor porpoise,
                                                 Southeast AK
                                                Harbor seal, Southeast
                                                 AK
                                                Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific\1\
                                                Pacific white-sided
                                                 dolphin, North Pacific
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Eastern U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Yakutat salmon set           170             Gray whale, Eastern
 gillnet\2\                                      North Pacific
                                                Harbor seal, Southeast
                                                 AK
                                                Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific
                                                 (Southeast AK)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA yellowtail, barracuda, and   24              California sea lion,
 white seabass drift gillnet                     U.S.
 fishery (mesh size [gteqt]3.5                  Long-beaked common
 in and <14 in)                                  dolphin, CA\1\
                                                Short-beaked common
                                                 dolphin, CA/OR/WA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Puget Sound Region salmon    210             Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/
 drift gillnet (includes all                     WA
 inland waters south of US-                     Harbor porpoise, inland
 Canada border and eastward of                   WA\1\
 the Bonilla-Tatoosh line-                      Harbor seal, WA inland
 Treaty Indian fishing is
 excluded)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:          ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast salmon purse       416             Humpback whale, Central
 seine                                           North Pacific\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Cook Inlet salmon purse      82              Humpback whale, Central
 seine                                           North Pacific\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Kodiak salmon purse seine    370             Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA anchovy, mackerel, sardine   63              Bottlenose dolphin, CA/
 purse seine                                     OR/WA offshore\1\
                                                California sea lion,
                                                 U.S.
                                                Harbor seal, CA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA squid purse seine            71              Common dolphin, unknown
                                                Short-finned pilot
                                                 whale, CA/OR/WA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66070]]

 
CA tuna purse seine\2\          10              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:                ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         26              Bearded seal, AK
 Islands flatfish trawl                         Harbor porpoise, Bering
                                                 Sea
                                                Harbor seal, Bering Sea
                                                Killer whale, AK
                                                 resident\1\
                                                Northern fur seal,
                                                 Eastern North Pacific
                                                Spotted seal, AK
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.\1\
                                                Walrus, AK
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         120             Dall's porpoise, AK
 Islands pollock trawl                          Harbor seal, AK
                                                Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific\1\
                                                Humpback whale, Western
                                                 North Pacific\1\
                                                Killer whale, Eastern
                                                 North Pacific, GOA,
                                                 Aleutian Islands, and
                                                 Bering Sea transient\1\
                                                Minke whale, AK
                                                Ribbon seal, AK
                                                Spotted seal, AK
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:    ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         114             Killer whale, AK
 Islands Pacific cod longline                    resident\1\
                                                Ribbon seal, AK
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA pelagic longline\2\          6               California sea lion,
                                                 U.S.
                                                Risso's dolphin, CA/OR/
                                                 WA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP         ..............  ........................
 FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea sablefish pot     6               Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific\1\
                                                Humpback whale, Western
                                                 North Pacific\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY III
-------------------------------                -------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:              ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Kuskokwim, Yukon, Norton     1,922           Harbor porpoise, Bering
 Sound, Kotzebue salmon                          Sea
 gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish set    3               Steller sea lion,
 gillnet                                         Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Prince William Sound salmon  30              Harbor seal, GOA
 set gillnet                                    Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK roe herring and food/bait    2,034           None documented
 herring gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA set gillnet (mesh size <3.5  304             None documented
 inches)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI inshore gillnet              5               Bottlenose dolphin, HI
                                                Spinner dolphin, HI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Grays Harbor salmon drift    24              Harbor seal, OR/WA coast
 gillnet (excluding treaty
 Tribal fishing)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR herring, smelt, shad,     913             None documented
 sturgeon, bottom fish,
 mullet, perch, rockfish
 gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR lower Columbia River      110             California sea lion,
 (includes tributaries) drift                    U.S.
 gillnet                                        Harbor seal, OR/WA coast
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA Willapa Bay drift gillnet    82              Harbor seal, OR/WA coast
                                                Northern elephant seal,
                                                 CA breeding
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE, BEACH SEINE,       ..............  ........................
 ROUND HAUL AND THROW NET
 FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66071]]

 
AK Metlakatla salmon purse      10              None documented
 seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish beach  1               None documented
 seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish purse  3               None documented
 seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid purse seine    2               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK roe herring and food/bait    8               None documented
 herring beach seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK roe herring and food/bait    624             None documented
 herring purse seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 AK salmon beach seine          34              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK salmon purse seine (except   953             Harbor seal, GOA
 Southeast Alaska, which is in
 Category II)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR sardine purse seine       42              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI Kona crab loop net           42              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI opelu/akule net              12              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI inshore purse seine          23              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI throw net, cast net          14              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA (all species) beach seine    235             None documented
 or drag seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR herring, smelt, squid     130             None documented
 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 net    119             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES:   ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA marine shellfish             unknown         None documented
 aquaculture
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA salmon enhancement rearing   >1              None documented
 pen
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA white seabass enhancement    13              California sea lion,
 net pens                                        U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI offshore pen culture         2               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR salmon ranch                 1               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR salmon net pens           14              California sea lion,
                                                 U.S.
                                                Harbor seal, WA inland
                                                 waters
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TROLL FISHERIES:                ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK North Pacific halibut, AK    1,530 (330 AK)  None documented
 bottom fish, WA/OR/CA
 albacore, groundfish, bottom
 fish, CA halibut non-salmonid
 troll fisheries
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK salmon troll                 2,335           Steller sea lion,
                                                 Eastern U.S.
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa tuna troll       < 50            None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA/OR/WA salmon troll           4,300           None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commonwealth of the Northern    88              None documented
 Mariana Islands tuna troll
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66072]]

 
Guam tuna troll                 401             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI trolling, rod and reel       1,321           None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:    ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         12              Killer whale, AK
 Islands Greenland turbot                        resident
 longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         17              None documented
 Islands rockfish longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         63              None documented
 Islands sablefish longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska halibut       1,302           None documented
 longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod   440             None documented
 longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish      421             None documented
 longline
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish     412             Sperm whale, North
 longline                                        Pacific
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Eastern U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK halibut longline/set line    3,079           Steller sea lion,
 (State and Federal waters)                      Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid longline       7               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK state-managed waters         731             None documented
 groundfish longline/setline
 (including sablefish,
 rockfish, and miscellaneous
 finfish)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Samoa longline         60              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA groundfish,            367             None documented
 bottomfish longline/set line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR North Pacific halibut     350             None documented
 longline/set line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:                ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         8               Steller sea lion,
 Islands Atka mackerel trawl                     Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         87              Harbor seal, Bering Sea
 Islands Pacific cod trawl                      Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         9               None documented
 Islands rockfish trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska flatfish      52              None documented
 trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod   101             Steller sea lion,
 trawl                                           Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska pollock       83              Fin whale, Northeast
 trawl                                           Pacific
                                                Northern elephant seal,
                                                 North Pacific
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish      45              None documented
 trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK food/bait herring trawl      3               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK miscellaneous finfish otter  6               None documented
 or beam trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK shrimp otter trawl and beam  58              None documented
 trawl (statewide and Cook
 Inlet)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK state-managed waters of      2               None documented
 Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay,
 Prince William Sound,
 Southeast AK groundfish trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA halibut bottom trawl         53              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66073]]

 
WA/OR/CA groundfish trawl       160-180         California sea lion,
                                                 U.S.
                                                Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/
                                                 WA
                                                Harbor seal, OR/WA coast
                                                Northern fur seal,
                                                 Eastern Pacific
                                                Pacific white-sided
                                                 dolphin, CA/OR/WA
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Eastern U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA shrimp trawl           300             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP         ..............  ........................
 FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Aleutian Islands sablefish   8               None documented
 pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         76              None documented
 Islands Pacific cod pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Bering Sea, Aleutian         329             None documented
 Islands crab pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska crab pot      unknown         None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod   154             Harbor seal, GOA
 pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast Alaska crab pot    unknown         Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific
                                                 (Southeast AK)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast Alaska shrimp pot  unknown         Humpback whale, Central
                                                 North Pacific
                                                 (Southeast AK)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK octopus/squid pot            72              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK snail pot                    2               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA lobster, prawn, shrimp,      608             Gray whale, Eastern
 rock crab, fish pot                             North Pacific
                                                Harbor seal, CA
                                                Humpback whale, Eastern
                                                 North Pacific
                                                Sea otter, CA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OR/CA hagfish pot or trap       25              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA crab pot               1,478           Gray whale, Eastern
                                                 North Pacific
                                                Humpback whale, Eastern
                                                 North Pacific
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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                 0               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 Northern    <50             None documented
 Mariana Islands bottomfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guam bottomfish                 200             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI aku boat, pole and line      4               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI Main Hawaiian Islands,       300             Hawaiian monk seal
 Northwest Hawaiian Islands
 deep sea bottomfish
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66074]]

 
HI inshore handline             307             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI tuna handline                298             Hawaiian monk seal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA groundfish, bottomfish jig   679             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Pacific squid jig       6               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HARPOON FISHERIES:              ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA swordfish harpoon            30              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POUND NET/WEIR FISHERIES:       ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK herring spawn on kelp pound  452             None documented
 net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK Southeast herring roe/food/  3               None documented
 bait pound net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA herring brush weir           1               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAIT PENS:                      ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR/CA bait pens              13              California sea lion,
                                                 U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DREDGE FISHERIES:               ..............  ........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastwide scallop dredge        108 (12 AK)     None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL           ..............  ........................
 COLLECTION FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK abalone                      0               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                      0               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA sea urchin                   583             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI black coral diving           1               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI fish pond                    N/A             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI handpick                     37              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI lobster diving               19              None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HI squiding, spear               91             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/CA kelp                      4               None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA/OR sea urchin, other clam,   637             None documented
 octopus, oyster, sea
 cucumber, scallop, ghost
 shrimp hand, dive, or
 mechanical collection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WA shellfish aquaculture        684             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING    ..............  ........................
 VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT)
 FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK/WA/OR/CA commercial          >7,000 (1,107   Killer whale, stock
 passenger fishing vessel        AK)             unknown
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Eastern U.S.
                                                Steller sea lion,
                                                 Western U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66075]]

 
HI charter vessel               114             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIVE FINFISH/SHELLFISH          ..............  ........................
 FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA finfish and shellfish live   93              None documented
 trap/hook-and-line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 1: AK - Alaska; CA -
  California; GOA - Gulf of Alaska; HI - Hawaii; OR - Oregon; WA -
  Washington
\1\ Fishery classified based on serious injuries and mortalities of this
  stock, which are greater than 1 percent of the stock's PBR
\2\ Fishery classified by analogy.


 Table 2 - List of Fisheries Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean,
                      Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Estimated
                                  of  Marine mammal species and
      Fishery Description          vessels/       stocks incidentally
                                    persons          killed/injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY I
--------------------------------              --------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:               ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic gillnet             >670          Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal\1\
                                               Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                offshore
                                               Common dolphin, WNA
                                               Gray seal, WNA
                                               Harbor porpoise, GME/
                                                BF\1\
                                               Harbor seal, WNA
                                               Harp seal, WNA
                                               Humpback whale, Gulf of
                                                Maine\1\
                                               Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA
                                               Minke whale, Canadian
                                                east coast
                                               Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA
                                               White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast sink gillnet           341           Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                offshore
                                               Common dolphin, WNA
                                               Fin whale, WNA
                                               Gray seal, WNA
                                               Harbor porpoise, GME/
                                                BF\1\
                                               Harbor seal, WNA
                                               Harp seal, WNA
                                               Hooded seal, WNA
                                               Humpback whale, Gulf of
                                                Maine\1\
                                               Minke whale, Canadian
                                                east coast\1\
                                               North Atlantic right
                                                whale, WNA\1\
                                               Risso's dolphin, WNA
                                               White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE FISHERIES:              ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf  94            Atlantic spotted dolphin,
 of Mexico large pelagics                       Northern GMX
 longline                                      Atlantic spotted dolphin,
                                                WNA
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Northern GMX oceanic
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Northern GMX continental
                                                shelf
                                               Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                offshore
                                               Common dolphin, WNA
                                               Cuvier's beaked whale,
                                                WNA
                                               Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA\1\
                                               Mesoplodon beaked whale,
                                                WNA
                                               Northern bottlenose
                                                whale, WNA
                                               Pantropical spotted
                                                dolphin, Northern GMX
                                               Pantropical spotted
                                                dolphin, WNA
                                               Pygmy sperm whale, WNA\1\
                                               Risso's dolphin, Northern
                                                GMX
                                               Risso's dolphin, WNA
                                               Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                Northern GMX
                                               Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:              ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66076]]

 
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American  13,000        Fin whale, WNA
 lobster trap/pot                              Harbor seal, WNA
                                               Humpback whale, Gulf of
                                                Maine\1\
                                               Minke whale, Canadian
                                                east coast\1\
                                               North Atlantic right
                                                whale, WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY II
--------------------------------              --------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:               ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chesapeake Bay inshore           45            None documented
 gillnet\2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico gillnet\2\        724           Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Eastern GMX coastal
                                               Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
                                                bay, sound, and
                                                estuarine
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Northern GMX coastal
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Western GMX coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC inshore gillnet               94            Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast anchored float         133           Harbor seal, WNA
 gillnet\2\                                    Humpback whale, Gulf of
                                                Maine
                                               White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast drift gillnet\2\       unknown       None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeast Atlantic gillnet\2\    779           Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic       30            Atlantic spotted dolphin,
 shark gillnet                                  WNA
                                               Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal\1\
                                               North Atlantic right
                                                whale, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:                 ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl     620           Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
 (including pair trawl)                         offshore
                                               Common dolphin, WNA
                                               Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA
                                               Risso's dolphin, WNA
                                               Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA
                                               White-sided dolphin,
                                                WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl        >1,000        Common dolphin, WNA\1\
                                               Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA\1\
                                               Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic flynet\2\           21            None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast mid-water trawl        17            Harbor seal, WNA
 (including pair trawl)                        Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA\1\
                                               Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA\1\
                                               White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast bottom trawl           1,052         Common dolphin, WNA
                                               Harbor porpoise, GME/BF
                                               Harp seal, WNA
                                               Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA
                                               Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA
                                               White-sided dolphin,
                                                WNA\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:              ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic blue crab trap/pot      >16,000       Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal\1\
                                               West Indian manatee,
                                                FL\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic mixed species trap/     unknown       Fin whale, WNA
 pot\2\                                        Humpback whale, Gulf of
                                                Maine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:           ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66077]]

 
Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse    40-42         Bottlenose dolphin,
 seine                                          Eastern GMX coastal
                                               Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
                                                bay, sound, estuarine
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Northern GMX coastal\1\
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Western GMX coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse      22            Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
 seine\2\                                       coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:      ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine    25            Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC long haul seine               33            Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP NET FISHERIES:              ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC roe mullet stop net           13            Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
POUND NET FISHERIES:             ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA pound net                     187           Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CATEGORY III
--------------------------------              --------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:               ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean gillnet                >991          Dwarf sperm whale, WNA
                                               West Indian manatee,
                                                Antillean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE River inshore gillnet         60            None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Island Sound inshore        20            None documented
 gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
RI, southern MA (to Monomoy      32            None documented
 Island), and NY Bight (Raritan
 and Lower NY Bays) inshore
 gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeast Atlantic inshore       unknown       None documented
 gillnet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:                 ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic shellfish bottom trawl  972           None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico butterfish trawl  2             Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Northern GMX oceanic
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Northern GMX continental
                                                shelf
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico mixed species     20            None documented
 trawl
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA cannonball jellyfish trawl    1             None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,      >18,000       Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
 Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl                    coastal
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Eastern GMX coastal
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Western GMX coastal
                                               Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
                                                bay, sound, estuarine
                                               West Indian Manatee, FL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES:    ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finfish aquaculture              48            Harbor seal, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shellfish aquaculture            unknown       None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:           ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine Atlantic herring   30            Harbor seal, WNA
 purse seine                                   Gray seal, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine menhaden purse     50            None documented
 seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL west coast sardine purse      10            Bottlenose dolphin,
 seine                                          Eastern GMX coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66078]]

 
U.S. Atlantic tuna purse seine   5             Long-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA
                                               Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/HOOK-AND-LINE           ............  .........................
 FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic bottom    46            None documented
 longline/hook-and-line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-         26,223        Humpback whale, Gulf of
 Atlantic tuna, shark swordfish                 Maine
 hook-and-line/harpoon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,      >5,000        None documented
 Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
 snapper-grouper and other reef
 fish bottom longline/hook-and-
 line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,      <125          Bottlenose dolphin,
 Gulf of Mexico shark bottom                    Eastern GMX coastal
 longline/hook-and-line                        Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Northern GMX continental
                                                shelf
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,      1,446         None documented
 Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
 pelagic hook-and-line/harpoon
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:              ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean mixed species trap/    >501          None documented
 pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean spiny lobster trap/    >197          None documented
 pot
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL spiny lobster trap/pot        2,145         Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Eastern GMX coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/   4,113         Bottlenose dolphin,
 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 species     unknown       None documented
 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/pot   >700          None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STOP SEINE/WEIR/POUND NET        ............  .........................
 FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine herring and        50            Gray seal, Northwest
 Atlantic mackerel stop seine/                  North Atlantic
 weir                                          Harbor porpoise, GME/BF
                                               Harbor seal, WNA
                                               Minke whale, Canadian
                                                east coast
                                               White-sided dolphin, WNA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic crab stop      2,600         None documented
 seine/weir
------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Mid-Atlantic mixed species  751           None documented
 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 surf  100           None documented
 clam and quahog dredge
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:      ............  .........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 66079]]

 
Caribbean haul/beach seine       15            West Indian manatee,
                                                Antillean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico haul/beach seine  unknown       None documented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeastern U.S. Atlantic,      25            None documented
 haul/beach seine
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL            ............  .........................
 COLLECTION FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico,  20,000        None documented
 Caribbean shellfish dive, hand/
 mechanical collection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Maine urchin dive, hand/ >50           None documented
 mechanical collection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico, Southeast        unknown       None documented
 Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and
 Caribbean cast net
------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING     ............  .........................
 VESSEL (CHARTER BOAT)
 FISHERIES:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico,  4,000         Bottlenose dolphin,
 Caribbean commercial passenger                 Eastern GMX coastal
 fishing vessel                                Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Northern GMX coastal
                                               Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                Western GMX coastal
                                               Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                coastal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 2: DE - Delaware; FL -
  Florida; GA - Georgia; GME/BF - Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy; GMX - Gulf
  of Mexico; MA - Massachusetts; NC - North Carolina; VA - Virginia; WNA
  - Western North Atlantic
\1\ - Fishery classified based on serious injuries and mortalities of
  this stock, which are greater than 1 percent of the stock's PBR
\2\ - Fishery classified by analogy.

Classification

     During the proposed rulemaking stage for this rule, 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 would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. The factual basis leading to the 
certification is repeated below.
    Under existing regulations, all fishers participating in Category I 
or II fisheries must register under the MMPA, obtain an Authorization 
Certificate, and pay a fee of $25 (with the exception of those in 
regions with a registration process integrated with existing state and 
Federal permitting processes). Additionally, fishers may be subject to 
a Take Reduction Plan (TRP) and requested to carry an observer. The 
Authorization Certificate authorizes the taking of marine mammals 
incidental to commercial fishing operations. NMFS has estimated that 
approximately 42,000 fishing vessels, most of which are small entities, 
operate in Category I or II fisheries, and therefore, are required to 
register. However, registration has been integrated with existing state 
or Federal registration programs for the majority of these fisheries so 
these fishers do not need to register separately under the MMPA. 
Currently, approximately 350 fishers register directly with NMFS under 
the MMPA authorization program.
    Though this final rule will affect approximately 350 small 
entities, the $25 registration fee, with respect to anticipated 
revenues, is not considered a significant economic impact. If a vessel 
is requested to carry an observer, fishers will not incur any direct 
economic costs associated with carrying that observer. Potential 
indirect costs to individual fishers required to take observers may 
include: lost space on deck for catch, lost bunk space, and lost 
fishing time due to time needed to process bycatch data. However, 
effective monitoring will rotate observers among a limited number of 
vessels in a fishery at any given time and each vessel within an 
observed fishery has an equal probability of being requested to 
accommodate an observer. Therefore, the potential indirect costs to 
individual fishers are expected to be minimal since observer coverage 
would only be required for a small percentage of an individual's total 
annual fishing time. In addition, section 118 of the MMPA states that 
an observer will not be placed on a vessel if the facilities for 
quartering an observer or performing observer functions are inadequate 
or unsafe, thereby exempting vessels too small to accommodate an 
observer from this requirement. As a result of this certification, an 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not required and was not 
prepared. In the event that reclassification of a fishery to Category I 
or II results in a TRP, economic analyses of the effects of that plan 
will be summarized in subsequent rulemaking actions.
    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 (0.15 hours per report for new registrants and 0.09 hours per 
report for renewals). The requirement for reporting marine mammal 
injuries or mortalities 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 collections of information, 
including suggestions for reducing burden, to

[[Page 66080]]

NMFS and OMB (see ADDRESSES and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
    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 in June 1995. NMFS revised that EA relative to 
classifying U.S. commercial fisheries on the LOF in December 2005. Both 
the 1995 EA and the 2005 EA concluded that implementation of MMPA 
section 118 regulations would not have a significant impact on the 
human environment. This final rule does 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 2005 
EA. If NMFS takes a management action, for example, through the 
development of a 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 ESA section 7 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, stranding and 
sighting data, 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: November 19, 2007.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E7-23076 Filed 11-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S