[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73477-73497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29208]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 229

[Docket No. 131017871-3871-01]
RIN 0648-BD72


List of Fisheries for 2014

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

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its 
proposed List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2014, as required by the Marine 
Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The proposed LOF for 2014 reflects new 
information on interactions between commercial fisheries and marine 
mammals. NMFS must classify each commercial fishery on the LOF into one 
of three categories under the MMPA based upon the level of mortality 
and serious injury of marine mammals that occurs incidental to each 
fishery. The classification of a fishery on 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 
(TRP) requirements. The fishery classifications and list of marine 
mammal stocks incidentally injured or killed described on the Final LOF 
for 2013 remain in effect until the effective date of the Final LOF for 
2014.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 6, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the proposed rule, identified by 
``NOAA-NMFS-2013-0148'' by any of the following methods:
    (1) Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic comments through 
the Federal eRulemaking portal: http://www.regulations.gov (follow 
instructions for submitting comments).
    (2) Mail: Submit written comments to Chief, Marine Mammal and Sea 
Turtle Conservation Division, Attn: List of Fisheries, Office of 
Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    Comments regarding the burden-hour estimates, or any other aspect 
of the collection of information requirements contained in this 
proposed 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, and email the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at [email protected].
    Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record 
and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without 
change. All Personal Identifying Information (e.g., name, address, 
etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly 
accessible. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or 
otherwise sensitive or protected information. NMFS will accept 
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields, if you wish 
to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be 
accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file 
formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa White, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-427-8494; Allison Rosner, Northeast Region, 978-281-
9328; Jessica Powell, Southeast Region, 727-824-5312; Elizabeth Petras, 
West Coast Region (CA), 562-980-3238; Brent Norberg, West Coast Region 
(WA/OR), 206-526-6550; Kim Rivera, Alaska Region, 907-586-7424; Nancy 
Young, Pacific Islands Region, 808-944-2282. 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: 

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 
mortality and serious injury of marine mammals occurring in each 
fishery (16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(1)). The classification of a fishery on the 
LOF determines

[[Page 73478]]

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 (SARs) and other relevant 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 will 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 (i.e., frequent incidental mortalities and serious injuries of 
marine mammals).
    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 (i.e., occasional incidental mortalities and serious 
injuries of marine mammals).
    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 (i.e., a remote likelihood or no known incidental mortalities and 
serious injuries of marine mammals).
    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 final rule implementing section 118 of the MMPA (60 FR 
45086, August 30, 1995).
    Because fisheries are classified 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 
classified 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

    There are several fisheries on the LOF classified as Category II 
that have no recent documented mortalities or injuries of marine 
mammals, or fisheries that did not result in a mortality and serious 
injury rate greater than 1 percent of a stock's PBR level based on 
known interactions. NMFS has classified these fisheries by analogy to 
other Category I or II fisheries that use similar fishing techniques or 
gear that are known to cause mortality or serious injury of marine 
mammals, or according to factors discussed in the final LOF for 1996 
(60 FR 67063, December 28, 1995) and listed in the regulatory 
definition of a Category II fishery: ``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 incidental mortality or serious injury is 
``frequent,'' ``occasional,'' or ``remote'' 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).
    Further, eligible commercial fisheries not specifically identified 
on the LOF are deemed to be Category II fisheries until the next LOF is 
published (50 CFR 229.2).

How does NMFS determine which species or stocks are included as 
incidentally killed or injured in a fishery?

    The LOF includes a list of marine mammal species or stocks 
incidentally killed or injured in each commercial fishery. The list of 
species or stocks incidentally killed or injured includes ``serious'' 
and ``non-serious'' documented injuries as described later in the List 
of Species or Stocks Incidentally Killed or Injured in the Pacific 
Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean sections. 
To determine which species or stocks are included as incidentally 
killed or 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 
interaction with commercial fishing operations. The best available 
scientific information used in the SARs reviewed for the 2014 LOF 
summarize data from 2007-2011. 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 
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 TRP or a fishery management plan 
(FMP)). In these instances, NMFS will provide case-specific 
justification in the LOF for changes to the list of species or stocks 
incidentally killed or injured.

Where does NMFS obtain information on the level of observer coverage in 
a fishery on the LOF?

    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. Data obtained from the observer 
program and observer coverage levels are important tools in estimating 
the level of marine mammal

[[Page 73479]]

mortality and serious injury in commercial fishing operations. Starting 
with the 2005 SARs, each SAR includes an appendix with detailed 
descriptions of each Category I and II fishery on the LOF, including 
the observer coverage in those fisheries. 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. Fishery 
information presented in the SARs' appendices and other resources 
referenced during the tier analysis may include: level of observer 
coverage, target species, levels of fishing effort, spatial and 
temporal distribution of fishing effort, characteristics of fishing 
gear and operations, management and regulations, and interactions with 
marine mammals. Copies of the SARs are available on the NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources Web site at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. 
Information on observer coverage levels in Category I and II fisheries 
can also be found in the Category I and II fishery fact sheets on the 
NMFS Office of Protected Resources Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/lof/ lof/. Additional information on observer programs in 
commercial fisheries can be found on the NMFS National Observer 
Program's Web site: http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st4/nop/.

How do I find out if a specific fishery is in Category I, II, or III?

    This proposed rule includes three tables that list all U.S. 
commercial fisheries by LOF Category. Table 1 lists all of the 
commercial fisheries in the Pacific Ocean (including Alaska); Table 2 
lists all of the commercial fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, and Caribbean; and Table 3 lists all U.S.-authorized commercial 
fisheries on the high seas. A fourth table, Table 4, lists all 
commercial fisheries managed under applicable TRPs or take reduction 
teams (TRTs).

Are high seas fisheries included on the LOF?

    Beginning with the 2009 LOF, NMFS includes high seas fisheries in 
Table 3 of the LOF, along with the number of valid High Seas Fishing 
Compliance Act (HSFCA) permits in each fishery. As of 2004, NMFS issues 
HSFCA permits only for high seas fisheries analyzed in accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species 
Act (ESA). The authorized high seas fisheries are broad in scope and 
encompass multiple specific fisheries identified by gear type. For the 
purposes of the LOF, the high seas fisheries are subdivided based on 
gear type (e.g., trawl, longline, purse seine, gillnet, troll, etc.) to 
provide more detail on composition of effort within these fisheries. 
Many fisheries operate in both U.S. waters and on the high seas, 
creating some overlap between the fisheries listed in Tables 1 and 2 
and those in Table 3. In these cases, the high seas component of the 
fishery is not considered a separate fishery, but an extension of a 
fishery operating within U.S. waters (listed in Table 1 or 2). NMFS 
designates those fisheries in Tables 1, 2, and 3 by a ``*'' after the 
fishery's name. The number of HSFCA permits listed in Table 3 for the 
high seas components of these fisheries operating in U.S. waters does 
not necessarily represent additional effort that is not accounted for 
in Tables 1 and 2. Many vessels/participants holding HSFCA permits also 
fish within U.S. waters and are included in the number of vessels and 
participants operating within those fisheries in Tables 1 and 2.
    HSFCA permits are valid for five years, during which time FMPs can 
change. Therefore, some vessels/participants may possess valid HSFCA 
permits without the ability to fish under the permit because it was 
issued for a gear type that is no longer authorized under the most 
current FMP. For this reason, the number of HSFCA permits displayed in 
Table 3 is likely higher than the actual U.S. fishing effort on the 
high seas. For more information on how NMFS classifies high seas 
fisheries on the LOF, see the preamble text in the final 2009 LOF (73 
FR 73032; December 1, 2008).

Where can I find specific information on fisheries listed on the LOF?

    Starting with the 2010 LOF, NMFS developed summary documents, or 
fishery fact sheets, for each Category I and II fishery on the LOF. 
These fishery fact sheets provide the full history of each Category I 
and II fishery, including: when the fishery was added to the LOF, the 
basis for the fishery's initial classification, classification changes 
to the fishery, changes to the list of species or stocks incidentally 
killed or injured in the fishery, fishery gear and methods used, 
observer coverage levels, fishery management and regulation, and 
applicable TRPs or TRTs, if any. These fishery fact sheets are updated 
after each final LOF and can be found under ``How Do I Find Out if a 
Specific Fishery is in Category I, II, or III?'' on the NMFS Office of 
Protected Resources' Web site: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/lof/ interactions/lof/, linked to the ``List of Fisheries by Year'' table. 
NMFS plans to develop similar fishery fact sheets for each Category III 
fishery on the LOF. However, due to the large number of Category III 
fisheries on the LOF and the lack of accessible and detailed 
information on many of these fisheries, the development of these 
fishery fact sheets will take significant time to complete. NMFS 
anticipates posting Category III fishery fact sheets along with the 
final 2015 LOF, although this timeline may be revised as this effort 
progresses.

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 to lawfully take non-endangered and non-threatened marine 
mammals incidental to commercial fishing operations. 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 and receive my authorization certificate and 
mortality/injury reporting forms?

    NMFS has integrated the MMPA registration process, implemented 
through the Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP), with existing 
state and Federal fishery license, registration, or permit systems for 
Category I and II fisheries on the LOF. Participants in these fisheries 
are automatically registered under the MMAP and are not required to 
submit registration or renewal materials directly under the MMAP. In 
the Pacific Islands, West Coast, and Alaska regions, NMFS will issue 
vessel or gear owners an authorization certificate and/or mortality/
injury reporting forms via U.S. mail or with their state or Federal 
license at the time of renewal. In the Northeast region, NMFS will 
issue vessel or gear owners an authorization certificate via U.S. mail 
automatically at the beginning of each calendar year; but vessel or 
gear owners must request or print mortality/injury reporting forms by 
contacting the NMFS Northeast Regional Office at 978-281-9328 or by 
visiting the Northeast Regional Office Web site (http://www.nero.noaa.gov/mmap). In the Southeast region, NMFS will issue 
vessel or gear owners notification of registry and vessel or gear 
owners may receive their authorization certificate and/or mortality/
injury reporting form by contacting the

[[Page 73480]]

Southeast Regional Office at 727-209-5952 or by visiting the Southeast 
Regional Office Web site (http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/mm/mmap.htm) and 
following the instructions for printing the necessary documents. 
Mortality/injury forms are also available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/interactions/mmap_reporting_form.pdf.
    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)). 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).

How do I renew my registration under the MMAP?

    In Alaska and Northeast regional fisheries, registrations of vessel 
or gear owners are automatically renewed and participants should 
receive an authorization certificate by January 1 of each new year. In 
Pacific Islands regional fisheries, vessel or gear owners receive an 
authorization certificate by January 1 for state fisheries and with 
their permit renewal for federal fisheries. In West Coast regional 
fisheries, vessel or gear owners receive authorization with each 
renewed state fishing license, the timing of which varies based on 
target species. Vessel or gear owners who participate in these regions 
and have not received authorization certificates by January 1 or with 
renewed fishing licenses must contact the appropriate NMFS Regional 
Office (see ADDRESSES).
    In Southeast regional fisheries, vessel or gear owners' 
registrations are automatically renewed and participants will receive a 
letter in the mail by January 1 instructing them to contact the 
Southeast Regional Office to have an authorization certificate mailed 
to them or to visit the Southeast Regional Office Web site (http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/mm/mmap.htm) to print their own certificate.

Am I required to submit reports when I kill or injure 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 fishery listed on the LOF 
must report to NMFS all incidental mortalities and injuries of marine 
mammals that occur during commercial fishing operations, regardless of 
the category in which the fishery is placed (I, II, or III) within 48 
hours of the end of the fishing trip. ``Injury'' is defined in 50 CFR 
229.2 as a wound or other physical harm. In addition, any animal that 
ingests fishing gear or any animal that is released with fishing gear 
entangling, trailing, or perforating any part of the body is considered 
injured, regardless of the presence of any wound or other evidence of 
injury, and must be reported. Mortality/injury 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 
or by contacting the appropriate Regional office (see ADDRESSES). Forms 
may be faxed directly to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources at 301-
713-4060 or 301-713-0376. Reporting requirements and procedures can be 
found in 50 CFR 229.6.

Am I required to take an observer aboard my vessel?

    Individuals participating in a Category I or II fishery are 
required to accommodate an observer aboard their vessel(s) upon request 
from NMFS. MMPA section 118 states that an observer may not be required 
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. However, 
observer requirements will not be exempted, regardless of vessel size, 
for U.S. Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics 
longline vessels operating in special areas designated by the Pelagic 
Longline Take Reduction Plan implementing regulations (50 CFR 
229.36(d)). Observer requirements can be found in 50 CFR 229.7.

Am I required to comply with any marine mammal take reduction plan 
regulations?

    Table 4 in this proposed rule provides a list of fisheries affected 
by TRPs and TRTs. TRP regulations can be found at 50 CFR 229.30 through 
229.37. A description of each TRT and copies of each TRP can be found 
at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/trt/. It is the 
responsibility of fishery participants to comply with applicable take 
reduction regulations.

Where can I find more information about the LOF and the MMAP?

    Information regarding the LOF and the Marine Mammal Authorization 
Program, including registration procedures and forms, current and past 
LOFs, information on each Category I and II fishery, observer 
requirements, and marine mammal mortality/injury reporting forms and 
submittal procedures, may be obtained at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/lof/ lof/, or from any NMFS Regional Office at the addresses 
listed below:
NMFS, Northeast Region, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-
2298, Attn: Allison Rosner;
NMFS, Southeast Region, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 
33701, Attn: Jessica Powell;
NMFS, West Coast Region, California, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213, Attn: Elizabeth Petras;
NMFS, West Coast Region, Washington and Oregon, 7600 Sand Point Way 
NE., Seattle, WA 98115, Attn: Brent Norberg, Protected Resources 
Division;
NMFS, Alaska Region, Protected Resources, P.O. Box 22668, 709 West 9th 
Street, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Kim Rivera; or
NMFS, Pacific Islands Region, Protected Resources, 1601 Kapiolani 
Boulevard, Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814, Attn: Nancy Young.

Sources of Information Reviewed for the Proposed 2014 LOF

    NMFS reviewed the marine mammal incidental mortality and serious 
injury information presented in the SARs for all fisheries to determine 
whether changes in fishery classification are warranted. The 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 fishery operations 
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

[[Page 73481]]

on marine mammal population status, trends, and 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 through the Marine Mammal Authorization Program, reports to the 
SRGs, conference papers, FMPs, and ESA documents.
    The proposed LOF for 2014 was based on, among other things, 
information provided in the NEPA and ESA documents analyzing authorized 
high seas fisheries; stranding data; fishermen self-reports through the 
MMAP; and SARs, primarily the draft 2013 SARs, which are generally 
based on data from 2007-2011. The final SARs referenced in this LOF 
include: 2007 (73 FR 21111, April 18, 2008), 2008 (74 FR 19530, April 
29, 2009), 2009 (75 FR 12498, March 16, 2010), 2010 (76 FR 34054, June 
10, 2011), 2011 (77 FR 29969, May 21, 2012); and 2012 (78 FR 19446, 
April, 1 2013) and the draft SAR for 2013 (78 FR 66681, November 6, 
2013). The SARs are available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/.

Summary of Changes to the LOF for 2014

    The following summarizes proposed changes to the LOF for 2014 in 
the estimated number of vessels/persons in a particular fishery and the 
species or stocks that are incidentally killed or injured in a 
particular fishery. The proposed LOF for 2014 has no changes to fishery 
classifications or to fisheries that are subject to a take reduction 
plan. The classifications and definitions of U.S. commercial fisheries 
for 2014 are identical to those provided in the LOF for 2013 with the 
proposed changes discussed below. State and regional abbreviations used 
in the following paragraphs include: AK (Alaska), CA (California), DE 
(Delaware), FL (Florida), GMX (Gulf of Mexico), HI (Hawaii), MA 
(Massachusetts), ME (Maine), NC (North Carolina), NY (New York), OR 
(Oregon), RI (Rhode Island), SC (South Carolina), VA (Virginia), WA 
(Washington), and WNA (Western North Atlantic).

Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean

Number of Vessels/Persons

    NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels/persons in 
the commercial fisheries in the Pacific Ocean (Table 1). Updates are 
based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number 
of vessels/persons participating in fisheries operating within U.S. 
waters 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, vessels, or persons licensed in a fishery, then 
the number from the most recent LOF is used for the estimated number of 
vessels/persons in the fishery. NMFS acknowledges that, in some cases, 
these estimations may be inflations of actual effort. However, in these 
cases, the numbers represent the potential effort for each fishery, 
given the multiple gear types for which several state permits may 
allow.
    NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels/persons in 
the ``CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (>=14 in mesh)'' 
fishery from 25 to 19.
    NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels/persons in 
the ``CA spot prawn pot'' fishery from 27 to 28.
    NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels/persons in 
the ``CA Dungeness crab pot'' fishery from 534 to 570.
    NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels/persons in 
the ``CA pelagic longline'' fishery from 6 to 1.
    NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of vessels/persons in 
the ``CA coonstripe shrimp, rock crab, tanner crab pot/trap'' fishery 
from 305 to 203.
    NMFS proposes to update the estimated number vessels/persons in the 
``CA spiny lobster trap'' fishery from 225 to 198.

List of Species or Stocks Incidentally Killed or Injured in the Pacific 
Ocean

    NMFS proposes to update the list of species or stocks incidentally 
killed or injured by fisheries in the Pacific Ocean (Table 1). The 
agency notes here that while only mortalities and ``serious injuries'' 
are used to categorize fisheries as Category I, II, or III, the list of 
species or stocks incidentally killed or injured includes stocks that 
have any documented mortalities and injuries, including ``non-serious'' 
injuries. For information on how NMFS determines whether a particular 
injury is serious or non-serious, please see NMFS Instruction 02-038-
01, ``Process for Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injury of 
Marine Mammals'' (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/policies.htm). 
NMFS proposes the following updates:
    NMFS proposes to add minke whale (CA/OR/WA stock) to the list of 
species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the ``CA thresher 
shark and swordfish drift gillnet'' fishery. A minke whale interaction 
was observed in this fishery in 2011 (Carretta and Enriquez, 2012).
    NMFS proposes to add grey whale (Eastern North Pacific) to the list 
of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the ``Bering Sea, 
Aleutian Islands crab pot'' fishery. One grey whale was observed 
entangled in Bering Sea red king crab pot gear in 2008 (AKR Standing 
Database 2007117). NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center staff 
determined that the animal was seriously injured based on the poor body 
condition and the gear remaining on the animal based on the recent 
criteria for assessing serious injury in marine mammals (NMFS 2012).
    NMFS proposes to change the false killer whale stock name from ``HI 
Insular'' to ``MHI Insular'' in the ``HI deep-set (tuna target) 
longline'' fishery, to reflect the revised stock name (Carretta et al., 
2013a). NMFS also proposes to remove the superscript ``1'' to indicate 
the stock is no longer driving the fishery's Category I classification, 
as described below. The fishery remains a Category I fishery because of 
mortality and serious injuries (M/SI) of the HI pelagic stock of false 
killer whales. The fishery has approximately 20% observer coverage.
    NMFS finds that the MHI insular stock does not drive the Category I 
classification because of the following Tier 1 and Tier 2 analyses. The 
total average annual mortalities and serious injuries of the MHI 
Insular stock of false killer whale across all fisheries within the 
U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Hawaii from 2007-2011 is 0.1 
(Carretta et al., 2013b). That M/SI rate is 33.33% of PBR, which 
exceeds 10% of PBR (Tier 1) (PBR = 0.3 (Carretta et al., 2013b)). The 
M/SI rate (0.1) is the same when evaluating the deep-set longline 
fishery alone. The percent of PBR (33.33%) is between 1% and 50% of PBR 
(Tier 2), which would classify the fishery as Category II. Therefore, 
the stock no longer drives the fishery's Category I classification and 
NMFS proposes to remove the superscript ``\1\''.
    For the HI pelagic stock of false killer whales, the total average 
annual M/SI across all fisheries within the U.S. EEZ around Hawaii from 
2007-2011 is 12.6 (Carretta et al., 2013b). PBR for this stock from 
most recent SAR is 9.1 (Carretta et al., 2013b). The M/SI rate is 
138.46% of PBR, which exceeds 10% of PBR (Tier 1). The average annual 
M/SI within the U.S. EEZ around Hawaii, for the deep-set longline 
fishery, is 12.4

[[Page 73482]]

(Carretta et al., 2013b). The percent of PBR for the deep-set fishery 
alone is 136.26%, which is greater than 50% of PBR (Tier 2) (Category 
I). The HI pelagic stock continues to drive the fishery's Category I 
classification.
    NMFS proposes to add sperm whale (HI stock) to the list of species 
or stocks incidentally injured or killed in the ``HI deep-set (tuna 
target) longline'' fishery. In 2011, one sperm whale interaction was 
observed in the fishery within the U.S. EEZ around Hawaii (Bradford and 
Forney, 2013). This sperm whale was prorated as 75% probability of 
serious injury (Bradford and Forney, 2013), based on an evaluation of 
the observer's description of the interaction and following the most 
recently developed criteria for assessing serious injury in marine 
mammals (NMFS 2012). The 5-year average (2007-2011) estimate of 0.7 
sperm whale M/SI per year is 6.86% of the stock's PBR of 10.2 (Carretta 
et al., 2013b). The fishery has approximately 20% observer coverage.
    NMFS proposes to add Blainville's beaked whale (HI stock) to the 
list of species or stocks incidentally injured or killed in the ``HI 
shallow-set (swordfish target) longline'' fishery. One non-serious 
injury was observed on the high seas in 2011 (Bradford and Forney, 
2013). There is no PBR calculated for Blainville's beaked whales on the 
high seas. This fishery has 100% observer coverage. Although the 
species was only observed taken by the fishery on the high seas, we are 
proposing to include it on the list of species/stocks incidentally 
injured or killed in the U.S. waters portion of the fishery (i.e., on 
Table 1) because the fishery, and, thus, its risk to marine mammals, is 
considered the same on either side of the EEZ boundary and beaked 
whales occur throughout the U.S. EEZ.
    NMFS proposes to add Cuvier's beaked whale (unknown stock) to the 
list of species or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the 
``American Samoa longline'' fishery. In 2011, one Cuvier's beaked whale 
was observed to be incidentally killed in the fishery within the U.S. 
EEZ around American Samoa. Total M/SI of marine mammals in the American 
Samoa longline fishery for 2007-2011 have not yet been estimated. 
Observer coverage in the fishery in 2011 was 33%, though coverage has 
ranged from 6.4% to 33% from 2007-2011. There is currently no stock 
assessment report for Cuvier's beaked whales in American Samoa, so the 
stock identity is considered unknown.
    NMFS proposes to add short-finned pilot whale (unknown stock) and 
bottlenose dolphin (unknown stock) to the list of species or stocks 
incidentally killed or injured in the ``American Samoa longline'' 
fishery. An MMAP report was submitted in 2009 that described a hooked 
bottlenose dolphin that was not associated with an observed take 
(Bradford and Forney 2013). Another MMAP report was submitted in 2010 
that described two hooked short-finned pilot whales, which were not 
associated with observed takes (Bradford and Forney 2013). MMAP reports 
are not used for bycatch estimation because they are not obtained using 
a quantifiable sampling scheme, but they could potentially provide 
minimum counts of mortality and serious injuries for species not 
observed interacting with the fishery. Insufficient detail was provided 
to allow verification of species identifications, but short-finned 
pilot whales and common bottlenose dolphins are not accounted for by 
observed interactions in this fishery. Total M/SI of marine mammals in 
the American Samoa longline fishery for 2007-2011 have not yet been 
estimated. Observer coverage in the fishery in 2011 was 33%, though 
coverage has ranged from 6.4% to 33% from 2007-2011. There are 
currently no stock assessment reports for short-finned pilot whales or 
common bottlenose dolphins in American Samoa, so the stock identities 
are considered unknown.

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

List of Species or Stocks Incidentally Killed or Injured

    NMFS proposes the following additions and deletions from the list 
of marine mammal species and stocks incidentally killed or injured in 
commercial fisheries in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean 
(Table 2). These additions and deletions are based on information 
contained in the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Stock 
Assessments, strandings data, and/or observer data. The agency notes 
here that while only mortalities and ``serious injuries'' are used to 
categorize fisheries as Category I, II, or III, the list of species or 
stocks incidentally killed or injured includes stocks that have any 
documented mortalities and injuries, including ``non-serious'' 
injuries. For information on how NMFS determines whether a particular 
injury is serious or non-serious, please see NMFS Instruction 02-038-
01, ``Process for Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injury of 
Marine Mammals'' (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/policies.htm). 
NMFS proposes the following updates:
    NMFS proposes to add several stocks to the list of species and 
stocks incidentally killed or injured in the ``Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, Caribbean passenger vessel'' fishery. NMFS proposes to add the 
following bottlenose dolphin stocks based on stranding data from 2007-
2011: (1) Northern migratory coastal stock, (2) Southern migratory 
coastal stock, (3) Southern South Carolina/Georgia coastal stock, (4) 
Northern Florida coastal stock, (5) Central Florida coastal stock, (6) 
Northern North Carolina estuarine stock, (7) Northern Georgia/Southern 
South Carolina estuarine stock, (8) Jacksonville estuarine system 
stock. The number of documented possible interactions ranges from 1 to 
4 for a given stock, but cannot be confirmed because the gear from a 
recreational fishery cannot be discerned from a passenger vessel 
fishery.
    NMFS proposes to add bottlenose dolphin (Western North Atlantic 
offshore stock) to the list of species and stocks incidentally killed 
or injured in the ``Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic tuna, shark, 
swordfish hook-and-line/harpoon'' fishery. The addition is based on an 
MMAP report.
    NMFS proposes to remove bottlenose dolphin (Western North Atlantic 
offshore stock) from the list of species and stocks incidentally killed 
or injured in the ``Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl'' fishery. There have 
been no observed takes of bottlenose dolphins from this fishery in over 
five years. Observer coverage of this fishery was 25% in 2010.

Commercial Fisheries on the High Seas

Removal of Fisheries From the LOF

    NMFS proposes to remove: (1) Category II Western Pacific pelagic 
``pot vessel,'' ``factory mothership,'' and ``multipurpose vessels not 
elsewhere identified (NEI);'' (2) Category II Pacific highly migratory 
species ``pot vessel'' and ``multipurpose vessels (NEI);'' (3) Category 
II South Pacific albacore troll ``pot vessel'' and ``multipurpose 
vessels (NEI);'' and (4) Category II Atlantic highly migratory species 
``multipurpose vessels (NEI)'' fisheries from the LOF. These fisheries 
categories are no longer valid under the HSFCA permits database.
    NMFS corrects a typographical mistake and removes the Category III 
``Atlantic highly migratory species purse seine'' fisheries from the 
LOF. The HSFCA permit expired in 2011, but the fishery was never 
removed from Table 3.

[[Page 73483]]

Number of Vessels/Persons

    NMFS proposes to update the estimated number of HSFCA permits in 
multiple high seas fisheries for multiple gear types (Table 3). The 
proposed updated numbers of HSFCA permits reflect the current number of 
permits in the NMFS National Permit System database.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Number of       Number of
                                                                                  HSFCA  permits  HSFCA  permits
                  Category                            High seas fishery             (Final 2013      (Proposed
                                                                                       LOF)          2014 LOF)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I..........................................  Atlantic highly migratory species                79              84
                                              longline.
II.........................................  Atlantic highly migratory species                 2               1
                                              drift gillnet.
II.........................................  Atlantic highly migratory species                 5               1
                                              trawl.
II.........................................  South Pacific tuna fisheries purse               38              40
                                              seine.
II.........................................  South Pacific albacore troll                     11              13
                                              longline.
II.........................................  South Pacific tuna fisheries                     10               8
                                              longline.
II.........................................  Pacific highly migratory species                 40              46
                                              handline/pole and line.
II.........................................  South Pacific albacore troll                      7               9
                                              handline/pole and line.
II.........................................  Western Pacific pelagic handline/                 6               5
                                              pole and line.
II.........................................  Atlantic highly migratory species                 5               4
                                              troll.
II.........................................  South Pacific albacore troll.......              36              33
II.........................................  South Pacific tuna fisheries troll.               3               2
II.........................................  Western Pacific pelagic troll......              22              19
II.........................................  Pacific highly migratory species                  1               3
                                              liners nei.
III........................................  Pacific highly migratory species                 96             101
                                              longline.
III........................................  Pacific highly migratory species                  6               8
                                              purse seine.
III........................................  Pacific highly migratory species                263             262
                                              troll.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

List of Species or Stocks Incidentally Killed or Injured in High Seas 
Fisheries

    NMFS proposes to update the list of species or stocks incidentally 
killed or injured by fisheries in High Seas Fisheries (Table 3). The 
agency notes here that while only mortalities and ``serious injuries'' 
are used to categorize fisheries as Category I, II, or III, the list of 
species or stocks incidentally killed or injured includes stocks that 
have any documented mortalities and injuries, including ``non-serious'' 
injuries. For information on how NMFS determines whether a particular 
injury is serious or non-serious, please see NMFS Instruction 02-038-
01, ``Process for Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injury of 
Marine Mammals'' (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/mmpa/policies.htm). 
The lists of species or stocks injured or killed in fisheries that 
operate both within U.S. waters and on the high seas are identical to 
their Table 1 or 2 counterparts, except for those with distributions 
known to occur on only one side of the EEZ boundary. Stock structure on 
the high seas is unclear or unknown for most species, which leads to 
uncertainty in stock identification for animals injured or killed on 
the high seas. Therefore, for Table 3, we report the stock names as 
identified in the SARs. NMFS proposes the following updates:
    NMFS proposes to remove all ``unknown'' stocks from the Category I 
``Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Deep-set component)'' fishery for 
consistency in how marine mammal stocks are identified on Table 3. In 
previous LOFs, NMFS included ``unknown'' stocks of species that had 
been observed taken in the fishery on the high seas to acknowledge that 
the fishery may be interacting with unknown, unidentified stocks beyond 
the range of the HI pelagic stocks. NMFS believes that this information 
is unnecessary and may create confusion about what interactions have 
been documented. Therefore, rather than including ``unknown'' stocks 
for this fishery, we have added language to the introductory paragraph 
of this section to acknowledge the uncertainty in stock identification. 
Accordingly, NMFS proposes to remove the following unknown stocks from 
the ``Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Deep-set component)'' fishery: 
bottlenose dolphin, false killer whale, Pantropical spotted dolphin, 
Risso's dolphin, short-finned pilot whale, and striped dolphin. NMFS is 
retaining the HI and HI pelagic stocks of these species to acknowledge 
and account for mortality and injury of these transboundary stocks on 
the high seas (Carretta et al., 2013b).
    NMFS proposes to remove the following ``unknown'' stocks from the 
Category II ``Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Shallow-set component)'' 
fishery for the same reason as the HI deep-set component: bottlenose 
dolphin, Kogia sp. whale (pygmy or dwarf sperm whale), Risso's dolphin, 
short-finned pilot whale, and striped dolphin. NMFS is retaining the HI 
and HI pelagic stocks of these species to acknowledge and account for 
mortality and injury of these transboundary stocks on the high seas 
(Carretta et al., 2013b).
    NMFS proposes to add sperm whale (HI stock) to the list of species 
and stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I ``Western 
Pacific Pelagic (HI Deep-set component)'' fishery, to be consistent 
with the Table 1 recommendation above.
    NMFS proposes to add false killer whale (HI Pelagic stock) to the 
list of species and stocks incidentally killed or injured in the 
Category II ``Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Shallow-set component)'' 
fishery. Although false killer whales have been included in the list of 
species killed or injured in the U.S. EEZ component of the fishery in 
Table 1 since the 2011 LOF (75 FR 68468, November 8, 2010), they were 
inadvertently left off of the list for the high seas component of the 
fishery. We are now proposing to add the species to the list in Table 3 
to be consistent with Table 1. Additionally, although false killer 
whales have not been observed to be taken in the fishery on the high 
seas from 2007-2011, two blackfish (i.e., either false killer whale or 
short-finned pilot whale) were observed seriously injured in the 
fishery on the high seas during that time. Blackfish interactions are 
prorated to each stock based on distance from shore (see McCracken 2010 
for details), resulting in a 5-year average estimate of 0.3 false 
killer whale M/SI per year in the fishery on the high seas (Carretta et 
al., 2013b). The fishery has 100% observer coverage.
    NMFS proposes to add short-beaked common dolphin (CA/OR/WA) to the 
list of species and stocks incidentally killed or injured in the 
Category II

[[Page 73484]]

``Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Shallow-set component)'' fishery. One 
serious injury was observed on the high seas in 2011 (Bradford and 
Forney, 2013). There is no PBR calculated for short-beaked common 
dolphins on the high seas. There is no stock defined within the U.S. 
EEZ around the Hawaiian Islands, so the stock identity is considered 
CA/OR/WA. This fishery has 100% observer coverage.
    NMFS proposes to add Blainville's beaked whale (HI stock) and to 
the list of species and stocks incidentally killed or injured in the 
Category II ``Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Shallow-set component)'' 
fishery, to be consistent with the Table 1 recommendation above.
    NMFS corrects a typographical error and removes pygmy sperm whale 
(WNA stock) from the list of species and stocks incidentally killed or 
injured in the ``Atlantic Highly Migratory Species'' to reflect the 
list change made to the ``Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico 
large pelagics longline'' fishery on the LOF for 2010 (74 FR 27739, 
June 11, 2009).

List of Fisheries

    The following tables set forth the proposed list of U.S. commercial 
fisheries according to their classification under section 118 of the 
MMPA. 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 3 lists commercial 
fisheries on the high seas; and Table 4 lists fisheries affected by 
TRPs or TRTs.
    In Tables 1 and 2, the estimated number of vessels/persons 
participating in fisheries operating within U.S. waters 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, vessels, 
or persons licensed in a fishery, then the number from the most recent 
LOF is used for the estimated number of vessels/persons in the fishery. 
NMFS acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be 
inflations of actual effort, such as for many of the Mid-Atlantic and 
New England fisheries. However, in these cases, the numbers represent 
the potential effort for each fishery, given the multiple gear types 
several state permits may allow for. Changes made to Mid-Atlantic and 
New England fishery participants will not affect observer coverage or 
bycatch estimates as observer coverage and bycatch estimates are based 
on vessel trip reports and landings data. Table 1 and 2 serve to 
provide a description of the fishery's potential effort (state and 
Federal). If NMFS is able to extract more accurate information on the 
gear types used by state permit holders in the future, the numbers will 
be updated to reflect this change. For additional information on 
fishing effort in fisheries found on Table 1 or 2, NMFS refers the 
reader to contact the relevant regional office (contact information 
included above in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).
    For high seas fisheries, Table 3 lists the number of currently 
valid HSFCA permits held. Although this likely overestimates the number 
of active participants in many of these fisheries, the number of valid 
HSFCA permits is the most reliable data on the potential effort in high 
seas fisheries at this time. As noted previously in this proposed rule, 
the number of HSFCA permits listed in Table 3 for the high seas 
components of fisheries that also operate within U.S. waters does not 
necessarily represent additional effort that is not accounted for in 
Tables 1 and 2. Many vessels/persons holding HSFCA permits also fishing 
within U.S. waters and are included in the number of vessels and 
participants operating within those fisheries in Tables 1 and 2.
    Tables 1, 2, and 3 also list the marine mammal species or stocks 
incidentally killed or injured (seriously or non-seriously) in each 
fishery based on observer data, logbook data, stranding reports, 
disentanglement network data, and MMAP reports. The best available 
scientific information included in these reports is based on data 
through 2011. This list includes all species or stocks known to be 
injured or killed in a given fishery but also includes species or 
stocks for which there are anecdotal records of a mortality or injury. 
Additionally, species identified by logbook entries, stranding data, or 
fishermen self-reports (i.e., MMAP reports) may not be verified. In 
Tables 1 and 2, NMFS has designated those stocks driving a fishery's 
classification (i.e., the fishery is classified based on mortalities 
and serious injuries and of a marine mammal stock that are greater than 
or equal to 50 percent [Category I], or greater than 1 percent and less 
than 50 percent [Category II], of a stock's PBR) by a ``\1\'' after the 
stock's name.
    In Tables 1 and 2, there are several fisheries classified as 
Category II that have no recent documented mortalities and injuries of 
marine mammals, or fisheries that did not result in a mortality and 
serious injury rate greater than 1 percent of a stock's PBR level based 
on known interactions. NMFS has classified these fisheries by analogy 
to other Category I or II fisheries that use similar fishing techniques 
or gear 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 (i.e., 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). NMFS has designated those fisheries listed by analogy in 
Tables 1 and 2 by a ``\2\'' after the fishery's name.
    There are several fisheries in Tables 1, 2, and 3 in which a 
portion of the fishing vessels cross the EEZ boundary and therefore 
operate both within U.S. waters and on the high seas. These fisheries, 
though listed separately between Table 1 or 2 and Table 3, are 
considered the same fishery on either side of the EEZ boundary. NMFS 
has designated those fisheries in each table by a ``*'' after the 
fishery's name.

                      Table 1--List of Fisheries--Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Marine mammal species and stocks
           Fishery description             Estimated number of vessels/persons   incidentally  killed or injured
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   CATEGORY I
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:
    HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/   129.................................  Bottlenose dolphin, HI Pelagic.
     set line. * [caret].
                                                                                False killer whale, MHI Insular.
                                                                                False killer whale, HI Pelagic.
                                                                                 \1\
                                                                                False killer whale, Palmyra
                                                                                 Atoll.
                                                                                Pantropical spotted dolphin, HI.

[[Page 73485]]

 
                                                                                Risso's dolphin, HI.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale, HI.
                                                                                Sperm whale, HI.
                                                                                Striped dolphin, HI.
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    CA thresher shark/swordfish drift     19..................................  Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA
     gillnet (>=14 in mesh) *.                                                   offshore.
                                                                                California sea lion, U.S.
                                                                                Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA.
                                                                                Long-beaked common dolphin, CA.
                                                                                Minke whale, CA/OR/WA.
                                                                                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.
                                                                                Sperm Whale, CA/OR/WA. \1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   CATEGORY II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    CA halibut/white seabass and other    50..................................  California sea lion, U.S.
     species set gillnet (>3.5 in mesh).
                                                                                Harbor seal, CA.
                                                                                Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA. \1\
                                                                                Long-beaked common dolphin, CA.
                                                                                Northern elephant seal, CA
                                                                                 breeding.
                                                                                Sea otter, CA.
                                                                                Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/
                                                                                 OR/WA.
    CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white   30..................................  California sea lion, U.S.
     seabass drift gillnet (mesh size
     >=3.5 in and <=14 in) \2\.
                                                                                Long-beaked common dolphin, CA.
                                                                                Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/
                                                                                 OR/WA.
    AK Bristol Bay salmon drift gillnet   1,863...............................  Beluga whale, Bristol Bay.
     \2\.
                                                                                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.
    AK Bristol Bay salmon set             982.................................  Beluga whale, Bristol Bay.
     gillnet.\2\.
                                                                                Gray whale, Eastern North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Harbor seal, Bering Sea.
                                                                                Northern fur seal, Eastern
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Spotted seal, AK.
    AK Kodiak salmon set gillnet........  188.................................  Harbor porpoise, GOA. \1\
                                                                                Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                                                Sea otter, Southwest AK.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    AK Cook Inlet salmon set gillnet....  738.................................  Beluga whale, Cook Inlet.
                                                                                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 gillnet..  569.................................  Beluga whale, Cook Inlet.
                                                                                Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA. \1\
                                                                                Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon  162.................................  Dall's porpoise, AK.
     drift gillnet \2\.
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA.
                                                                                Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                                                Northern fur seal, Eastern
                                                                                 Pacific.
    AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon  114.................................  Harbor porpoise, Bering Sea.
     set gillnet \2\.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    AK Prince William Sound salmon drift  537.................................  Dall's porpoise, AK.
     gillnet.
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, GOA. \1\
                                                                                Harbor seal, GOA.
                                                                                Northern fur seal, Eastern
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Pacific white-sided dolphin,
                                                                                 North Pacific.
                                                                                Sea otter, South Central AK.

[[Page 73486]]

 
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
                                                                                 \1\
    AK Southeast salmon drift gillnet...  474.................................  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                                                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 gillnet \2\...  167.................................  Gray whale, Eastern North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, Southeastern
                                                                                 AK.
                                                                                Harbor seal, Southeast AK.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Central North
                                                                                 Pacific (Southeast AK).
    WA Puget Sound Region salmon drift    210.................................  Dall's porpoise, CA/OR/WA.
     gillnet (includes all inland waters
     south of US-Canada border and
     eastward of the Bonilla-Tatoosh
     line--Treaty Indian fishing is
     excluded).
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, inland WA. \1\
                                                                                Harbor seal, WA inland.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
    AK Cook Inlet salmon purse seine....  82..................................  Humpback whale, Central North
                                                                                 Pacific. \1\
    AK Kodiak salmon purse seine........  379.................................  Humpback whale, Central North
                                                                                 Pacific. \1\
TRAWL FISHERIES:
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       34..................................  Bearded seal, AK.
     flatfish trawl.
                                                                                Gray whale, Eastern North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, Bering Sea.
                                                                                Harbor seal, Bering Sea.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Western North
                                                                                 Pacific. \1\
                                                                                Killer whale, AK resident. \1\
                                                                                Killer whale, GOA, AI, BS
                                                                                 transient. \1\
                                                                                Northern fur seal, Eastern
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Ringed seal, AK.
                                                                                Ribbon seal, AK.
                                                                                Spotted seal, AK.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
                                                                                 \1\
                                                                                Walrus, AK.
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       95..................................  Bearded Seal, AK.
     pollock trawl.
                                                                                Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                                                Harbor seal, AK.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Central North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Western North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Northern fur seal, Eastern
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Ribbon seal, AK.
                                                                                Ringed seal, AK.
                                                                                Spotted seal, AK.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
                                                                                 \1\
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       10..................................  Killer whale, ENP AK resident.
     rockfish trawl.                                                             \1\
                                                                                Killer whale, GOA, AI, BS
                                                                                 transient. \1\
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP FISHERIES:
    CA spot prawn pot...................  28..................................  Gray whale, Eastern North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA. \1\
    CA Dungeness crab pot...............  570.................................  Gray whale, Eastern North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA. \1\
    OR Dungeness crab pot...............  433.................................  Gray whale, Eastern North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA. \1\
    WA/OR/CA sablefish pot..............  309.................................  Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA. \1\
    WA coastal Dungeness crab pot/trap..  228.................................  Gray whale, Eastern North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA. \1\
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:
    HI shallow-set (swordfish target)     20..................................  Blainville's beaked whale, HI.
     longline/set line * [caret].
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, HI Pelagic.
                                                                                False killer whale, HI Pelagic.
                                                                                 \1\
                                                                                Humpback whale, Central North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Kogia sp. whale (Pygmy or dwarf
                                                                                 sperm whale), HI.
                                                                                Risso's dolphin, HI.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale, HI.
                                                                                Striped dolphin, HI.
    American Samoa longline \2\.........  24..................................  Bottlenose dolphin, unknown.
                                                                                Cuvier's beaked whale, unknown.
                                                                                False killer whale, American
                                                                                 Samoa.
                                                                                Rough-toothed dolphin, American
                                                                                 Samoa.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                                                 unknown.
    HI shortline \2\....................  11..................................  None documented.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 73487]]

 
                                                  CATEGORY III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    AK Kuskokwim, Yukon, Norton Sound,    1702................................  Harbor porpoise, Bering Sea.
     Kotzebue salmon gillnet.
    AK miscellaneous finfish set gillnet  3...................................  Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    AK Prince William Sound salmon set    30..................................  Harbor seal, GOA.
     gillnet.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    AK roe herring and food/bait herring  990.................................  None documented.
     gillnet.
    CA set gillnet (mesh size <3.5 in)..  304.................................  None documented.
    HI inshore gillnet..................  36..................................  Bottlenose dolphin, HI.
                                                                                Spinner dolphin, HI.
    WA Grays Harbor salmon drift gillnet  24..................................  Harbor seal, OR/WA coast.
     (excluding treaty Tribal fishing).
    WA/OR herring, smelt, shad,           913.................................  None documented.
     sturgeon, bottom fish, mullet,
     perch, rockfish gillnet.
    WA/OR lower Columbia River (includes  110.................................  California sea lion, U.S.
     tributaries) drift 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,
 THROW NET AND TANGLE NET FISHERIES:
    AK Southeast salmon purse seine.....  415.................................  None documented in the most
                                                                                 recent 5 years of data.
    AK Metlakatla salmon purse seine....  10..................................  None documented.
    AK miscellaneous finfish beach seine  1...................................  None documented.
    AK miscellaneous finfish purse seine  2...................................  None documented.
    AK octopus/squid purse seine........  0...................................  None documented.
    AK roe herring and food/bait herring  6...................................  None documented.
     beach seine.
    AK roe herring and food/bait herring  367.................................  None documented.
     purse seine.
    AK salmon beach seine...............  31..................................  None documented.
    AK salmon purse seine (excluding      935.................................  Harbor seal, GOA.
     salmon purse seine fisheries listed
     as Category II).
    CA anchovy, mackerel, sardine purse   65..................................  California sea lion, U.S.
     seine.
                                                                                Harbor seal, CA.
    CA squid purse seine................  80..................................  Long-beaked common dolphin, CA.
                                                                                Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/
                                                                                 OR/WA.
    CA tuna purse seine *...............  10..................................  None documented.
    WA/OR sardine purse seine...........  42..................................  None documented.
    WA (all species) beach seine or drag  235.................................  None documented.
     seine.
    WA/OR herring, smelt, squid purse     130.................................  None documented.
     seine or lampara.
    WA salmon purse seine...............  440.................................  None documented.
    WA salmon reef net..................  53..................................  None documented.
    HI opelu/akule net..................  22..................................  None documented.
    HI inshore purse seine..............  <3..................................  None documented.
    HI throw net, cast net..............  29..................................  None documented.
    HI hukilau net......................  26..................................  None documented.
    HI lobster tangle net...............  0...................................  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 aquaculture.....  unknown.............................  None documented.
    CA salmon enhancement rearing pen...  >1..................................  None documented.
    CA white seabass enhancement net      13..................................  California sea lion, U.S.
     pens.
    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 bottom   1,320 (120 AK)......................  None documented.
     fish, WA/OR/CA albacore,
     groundfish, bottom fish, CA halibut
     non-salmonid troll fisheries *.
    AK salmon troll.....................  2,008...............................  Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    American Samoa tuna troll...........  7...................................  None documented.
    CA/OR/WA salmon troll...............  4,300...............................  None documented.
    HI trolling, rod and reel...........  1,560...............................  Pantropical spotted dolphin, HI.
    Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana  40..................................  None documented.
     Islands tuna troll.
    Guam tuna troll.....................  432.................................  None documented.

[[Page 73488]]

 
LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES:
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       154.................................  Dall's porpoise, AK.
     Pacific cod longline.
                                                                                Northern fur seal, Eastern
                                                                                 Pacific.
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       0...................................  None documented.
     rockfish longline.
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       36..................................  Killer whale, AK resident.
     Greenland turbot longline.
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       28..................................  None documented.
     sablefish longline.
    AK Gulf of Alaska halibut longline..  1,302...............................  None documented.
    AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod         107.................................  Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
     longline.
    AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish longline.  0...................................  None documented.
    AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline  291.................................  Sperm whale, North Pacific.
    AK halibut longline/set line (State   2,280...............................  None documented in the most
     and Federal waters).                                                        recent 5 years of data.
    AK octopus/squid longline...........  2...................................  None documented.
    AK State-managed waters longline/     1,323...............................  None documented.
     setline (including sablefish,
     rockfish, lingcod, and
     miscellaneous finfish).
    WA/OR/CA groundfish, bottomfish       367.................................  Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA
     longline/set line.                                                          offshore.
    WA/OR North Pacific halibut longline/ 350.................................  None documented.
     set line.
    CA pelagic longline.................  1...................................  None documented in the most
                                                                                 recent 5 years of data.
    HI kaka line........................  17..................................  None documented.
    HI vertical longline................  9...................................  None documented.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Atka  9...................................  Ribbon seal, AK.
     mackerel trawl.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       93..................................  Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
     Pacific cod trawl.
    AK Gulf of Alaska flatfish trawl....  41..................................  Northern elephant seal, North
                                                                                 Pacific.
    AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod trawl.  62..................................  Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    AK Gulf of Alaska pollock trawl.....  62..................................  Dall's porpoise, AK.
                                                                                Fin whale, Northeast Pacific.
                                                                                Northern elephant seal, North
                                                                                 Pacific.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish trawl....  34..................................  None documented.
    AK food/bait herring trawl..........  4...................................  None documented.
    AK miscellaneous finfish otter/beam   282.................................  None documented.
     trawl.
    AK shrimp otter trawl and beam trawl  33..................................  None documented.
     (statewide and Cook Inlet).
    AK State-managed waters of Cook       2...................................  None documented.
     Inlet, Kachemak Bay, Prince William
     Sound, Southeast AK groundfish
     trawl.
    CA halibut bottom trawl.............  53..................................  None documented.
    WA/OR/CA shrimp trawl...............  300.................................  None documented.
    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.
POT, RING NET, AND TRAP FISHERIES:
    AK statewide miscellaneous finfish    243.................................  None documented.
     pot.
    AK Aleutian Islands sablefish pot...  8...................................  None documented.
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands       68..................................  None documented.
     Pacific cod pot.
    AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands crab  296.................................  Grey whale, Eastern North
     pot.                                                                        Pacific.
    AK Bering Sea sablefish pot.........  6...................................  None documented.
    AK Gulf of Alaska crab pot..........  389.................................  None documented.
    AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod pot...  154.................................  Harbor seal, GOA.
    AK Southeast Alaska crab pot........  415.................................  Humpback whale, Central North
                                                                                 Pacific (Southeast AK).
    AK Southeast Alaska shrimp pot......  274.................................  Humpback whale, Central North
                                                                                 Pacific (Southeast AK).
    AK shrimp pot, except Southeast.....  210.................................  None documented.
    AK octopus/squid pot................  26..................................  None documented.
    AK snail pot........................  1...................................  None documented.
    CA coonstripe shrimp, rock crab,      203.................................  Gray whale, Eastern North
     tanner crab pot or trap.                                                    Pacific.
                                                                                Harbor seal, CA.
    CA spiny lobster....................  198.................................  Gray whale, Eastern North
                                                                                 Pacific.
    OR/CA hagfish pot or trap...........  54..................................  None documented.
    WA/OR shrimp pot/trap...............  254.................................  None documented.
    WA Puget Sound Dungeness crab pot/    249.................................  None documented.
     trap.
    HI crab trap........................  9...................................  None documented.
    HI fish trap........................  9...................................  None documented.
    HI lobster trap.....................  <3..................................  Hawaiian monk seal.
    HI shrimp trap......................  4...................................  None documented.
    HI crab net.........................  6...................................  None documented.
    HI Kona crab loop net...............  48..................................  None documented.

[[Page 73489]]

 
HANDLINE AND JIG FISHERIES:
    AK miscellaneous finfish handline/    456.................................  None documented.
     hand troll and mechanical jig.
    AK North Pacific halibut handline/    180.................................  None documented.
     hand troll and mechanical jig.
    AK octopus/squid handline...........  0...................................  None documented.
    American Samoa bottomfish...........  12..................................  None documented.
    Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana  28..................................  None documented.
     Islands bottomfish.
    Guam bottomfish.....................  >300................................  None documented.
    HI aku boat, pole, and line.........  3...................................  None documented.
    HI Main Hawaiian Islands deep-sea     567.................................  Hawaiian monk seal.
     bottomfish handline.
    HI inshore handline.................  378.................................  None documented.
    HI tuna handline....................  459.................................  None documented.
    WA groundfish, bottomfish jig.......  679.................................  None documented.
    Western Pacific squid jig...........  <3..................................  None documented.
HARPOON FISHERIES:
    CA swordfish harpoon................  30..................................  None documented.
POUND NET/WEIR FISHERIES:
    AK herring spawn on kelp pound net..  411.................................  None documented.
    AK Southeast herring roe/food/bait    4...................................  None documented.
     pound net.
    WA herring brush weir...............  1...................................  None documented.
    HI bullpen trap.....................  <3..................................  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...................  2...................................  None documented.
    AK herring spawn on kelp............  266.................................  None documented.
    AK urchin and other fish/shellfish..  521.................................  None documented.
    CA abalone..........................  0...................................  None documented.
    CA sea urchin.......................  583.................................  None documented.
    HI black coral diving...............  <3..................................  None documented.
    HI fish pond........................  16..................................  None documented.
    HI handpick.........................  57..................................  None documented.
    HI lobster diving...................  29..................................  None documented.
    HI spearfishing.....................  143.................................  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 passenger      >7,000 (2,702 AK)...................  Killer whale, unknown.
     fishing vessel.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S.
                                                                                Steller sea lion, Western U.S.
    HI charter vessel...................  114.................................  Pantropical spotted dolphin, HI.
LIVE FINFISH/SHELLFISH FISHERIES:
    CA nearshore finfish live trap/hook-  93..................................  None documented.
     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 mortalities and serious injuries of this stock, which are greater than or equal
  to 50 percent (Category I) or greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent (Category II) of the stock's
  PBR;
\2\ Fishery classified by analogy;
* Fishery has an associated high seas component listed in Table 3;
[caret] The list of marine mammal species or stocks killed or injured in this fishery is identical to the list
  of species or stocks killed or injured in high seas component of the fishery, minus species or stocks have
  geographic ranges exclusively on the high seas. The species or stocks are found, and the fishery remains the
  same, on both sides of the EEZ boundary. Therefore, the EEZ components of these fisheries pose the same risk
  to marine mammals as the components operating on the high seas.


[[Page 73490]]


      Table 2--List of Fisheries--Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Marine mammal species and stocks
           Fishery description             Estimated number of vessels/persons   incidentally killed or injured
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   CATEGORY I
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    Mid-Atlantic gillnet................  5,509...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, Northern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                                                 offshore.
                                                                                Common dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                Gray seal, WNA.
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/BF.
                                                                                Harbor seal, WNA.
                                                                                Harp seal, WNA.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine.
                                                                                Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.
                                                                                Minke whale, Canadian east
                                                                                 coast.
                                                                                Risso's dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale, WNA.
                                                                                White-sided dolphin, WNA.
    Northeast sink gillnet..............  4,375...............................  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.
                                                                                Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.
                                                                                Minke whale, Canadian east
                                                                                 coast.
                                                                                North Atlantic right whale, WNA.
                                                                                Risso's dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale, WNA.
                                                                                White-sided dolphin, WNA.
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:
    Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American       11,693..............................  Harbor seal, WNA.
     lobster trap/pot.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine.
                                                                                Minke whale, Canadian east
                                                                                 coast.
                                                                                North Atlantic right whale,
                                                                                 WNA.\1\
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of    420.................................  Atlantic spotted dolphin, GMX
     Mexico large pelagics longline*.                                            continental and oceanic.
                                                                                Atlantic spotted dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 oceanic.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                                                 offshore.
                                                                                Common dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                Cuvier's beaked whale, WNA.
                                                                                Killer whale, GMX oceanic.
                                                                                Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.\1\
                                                                                Mesoplodon beaked whale, WNA.
                                                                                Northern bottlenose whale, WNA.
                                                                                Pantropical spotted dolphin,
                                                                                 Northern GMX.
                                                                                Pantropical spotted dolphin,
                                                                                 WNA.
                                                                                Risso's dolphin, Northern GMX.
                                                                                Risso's dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                                                 Northern GMX.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                                                 WNA.\1\
                                                                                Sperm whale, GMX oceanic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   CATEGORY II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet \2\..  1,126...............................  None documented in the most
                                                                                 recent 5 years of data.
    Gulf of Mexico gillnet \2\..........  724.................................  Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay,
                                                                                 sound, and estuarine.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
    NC inshore gillnet..................  1,323...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
    Northeast anchored float gillnet\2\.  421.................................  Harbor seal, WNA.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine.
                                                                                White-sided dolphin, WNA.

[[Page 73491]]

 
    Northeast drift gillnet \2\.........  311.................................  None documented.
    Southeast Atlantic gillnet \2\......  357.................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Southern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, SC/GA
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern FL
                                                                                 coastal.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark      30..................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL
     gillnet.                                                                    coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern FL
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                North Atlantic right whale, WNA.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
    Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl          322.................................  Common dolphin, WNA.
     (including pair trawl).
                                                                                Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.
                                                                                Risso's dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale, WNA.
                                                                                White-sided dolphin, WNA.\1\
    Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl...........  631.................................  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                                                 offshore.
                                                                                Common dolphin, WNA.\1\
                                                                                Gray seal, WNA.
                                                                                Harbor seal, WNA.
                                                                                Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.\1\
                                                                                Risso's dolphin, WNA.\1\
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                                                 WNA.\1\
                                                                                White-sided dolphin, WNA.
    Northeast mid-water trawl (including  1,103...............................  Gray seal, WNA.
     pair trawl).
                                                                                Harbor seal, WNA.
                                                                                Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.\1\
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale,
                                                                                 WNA.\1\
                                                                                Common dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                White-sided dolphin, WNA.
    Northeast bottom trawl..............  2,987...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                                                 offshore.
                                                                                Common dolphin, WNA.
                                                                                Gray seal, WNA.
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/BF.
                                                                                Harbor seal, WNA.
                                                                                Harp seal, WNA.
                                                                                Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.
                                                                                Minke whale, Canadian East
                                                                                 Coast.
                                                                                Short-finned pilot whale, WNA.
                                                                                White-sided dolphin, WNA.\1\
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of   4,950...............................  Atlantic spotted dolphin, GMX
     Mexico shrimp trawl.                                                        continental and oceanic.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, SC/GA
                                                                                 coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
                                                                                 continental shelf.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX
                                                                                 coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay,
                                                                                 sound, estuarine.\1\
                                                                                West Indian manatee, FL.
    TRAP/POT FISHERIES:.................
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of   1,282...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, Biscayne Bay
     Mexico stone crab trap/pot \2\.                                             estuarine.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, FL Bay.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay,
                                                                                 sound, estuarine (FL west coast
                                                                                 portion).
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Indian River
                                                                                 Lagoon estuarine system.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Jacksonville
                                                                                 estuarine system.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
    Atlantic mixed species trap/pot \2\.  3,467...............................  Fin whale, WNA.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine.
    Atlantic blue crab trap/pot.........  8,557...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, Charleston
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Indian River
                                                                                 Lagoon estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Jacksonville
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, SC/GA
                                                                                 coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GA/
                                                                                 Southern SC estuarine
                                                                                 system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern GA
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL
                                                                                 coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern FL
                                                                                 coastal.\1\

[[Page 73492]]

 
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                West Indian manatee, FL.\1\
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
    Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine.  40-42...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay,
                                                                                 sound, estuarine.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX
                                                                                 coastal.\1\
    Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine     5...................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Northern
     \2\.                                                                        Migratory coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:
    Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine.......  565.................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.\1\
    NC long haul seine..................  372.................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
STOP NET FISHERIES:
    NC roe mullet stop net..............  13..................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.\1\
POUND NET FISHERIES:
    VA pound net........................  67..................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.\1\
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern
                                                                                 Migratory coastal.\1\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  CATEGORY III
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILLNET FISHERIES:
    Caribbean gillnet...................  >991................................  None documented in the most
                                                                                 recent 5 years of data.
    DE River inshore gillnet............  unknown.............................  None documented in the most
                                                                                 recent 5 years of data.
    Long Island Sound inshore gillnet...  unknown.............................  None documented in the most
                                                                                 recent 5 years of data.
    RI, southern MA (to Monomoy Island),  unknown.............................  None documented in the most
     and NY Bight (Raritan and Lower NY                                          recent 5 years of data.
     Bays) inshore gillnet.
    Southeast Atlantic inshore gillnet..  unknown.............................  None documented.
TRAWL FISHERIES:
    Atlantic shellfish bottom trawl.....  >58.................................  None documented.
    Gulf of Mexico butterfish trawl.....  2...................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 oceanic.
                                                                                 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern
                                                                                 GMX continental shelf.
    Gulf of Mexico mixed species trawl..  20..................................  None documented.
    GA cannonball jellyfish trawl.......  1...................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Southern
                                                                                 South Carolina/Georgia.
MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES:
    Finfish aquaculture.................  48..................................  Harbor seal, WNA.
    Shellfish aquaculture...............  unknown.............................  None documented.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
    Gulf of Maine Atlantic herring purse  >7..................................  Harbor seal, WNA.
     seine.
                                                                                Gray seal, WNA.
    Gulf of Maine menhaden purse seine..  >2..................................  None documented.
    FL West Coast sardine purse seine...  10..................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
    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         >1,207..............................  None documented.
     longline/hook-and-line.
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic      428.................................  Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
     tuna, shark swordfish hook-and-line/                                        offshore.
     harpoon.
                                                                                Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of   >5,000..............................  Bottlenose dolphin, GMX
     Mexico, and Caribbean snapper-                                              continental shelf.
     grouper and other reef fish bottom
     longline/hook-and-line.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of   <125................................  Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX
     Mexico shark bottom longline/hook-                                          coastal.
     and-line.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 continental shelf.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of   1,446...............................  None documented.
     Mexico, and Caribbean pelagic hook-
     and-line/harpoon.
    U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico         unknown.............................  None documented.
     trotline.
TRAP/POT FISHERIES:
    Caribbean mixed species trap/pot....  >501................................  None documented.
    Caribbean spiny lobster trap/pot....  >197................................  None documented.
    FL spiny lobster trap/pot...........  1,268...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, Biscayne Bay
                                                                                 estuarine.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, FL Bay
                                                                                 estuarine.
    Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/pot...  4,113...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.

[[Page 73493]]

 
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay,
                                                                                 sound, estuarine.
                                                                                West Indian manatee, FL.
    Gulf of Mexico mixed species trap/    unknown.............................  None documented.
     pot.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of   10..................................  None documented.
     Mexico golden crab trap/pot.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic eel trap/pot......  unknown.............................  None documented.
STOP SEINE/WEIR/POUND NET/FLOATING TRAP
 FISHERIES:
    Gulf of Maine herring and Atlantic    >1..................................  Gray seal, WNA.
     mackerel stop seine/weir.
                                                                                Harbor porpoise, GME/BF.
                                                                                Harbor seal, WNA.
                                                                                Minke whale, Canadian east
                                                                                 coast.
                                                                                Atlantic white-sided dolphin,
                                                                                 WNA.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic crab stop seine/    2,600...............................  None documented.
     weir.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic mixed species stop  unknown.............................  Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC
     seine/weir/pound net (except the NC                                         estuarine system.
     roe mullet stop net).
    RI floating trap....................  9...................................  None documented.
DREDGE FISHERIES:
    Gulf of Maine mussel dredge.........  unknown.............................  None documented.
    Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic sea  >403................................  None documented.
     scallop dredge.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico      7,000...............................  None documented.
     oyster dredge.
    U.S. Mid-Atlantic offshore surf clam  unknown.............................  None documented.
     and quahog dredge.
HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES:
    Caribbean haul/beach seine..........  15..................................  None documented in the most
                                                                                 recent 5 years of data.
    Gulf of Mexico haul/beach seine.....  unknown.............................  None documented.
    Southeastern U.S. Atlantic haul/      25..................................  None documented.
     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/      unknown.............................  None documented.
     mechanical collection.
    Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Atlantic,   unknown.............................  None documented.
     Mid-Atlantic, and Caribbean cast
     net.
COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING VESSEL
 (CHARTER BOAT) FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico,       4,000...............................  Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX
     Caribbean commercial passenger                                              coastal.
     fishing vessel.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern
                                                                                 migratory coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern
                                                                                 migratory coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern SC/
                                                                                 GA coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern FL
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL
                                                                                 coastal.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC
                                                                                 estuarine.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GA/
                                                                                 Southern SC estuarine.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Biscayne Bay
                                                                                 estuarine.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay,
                                                                                 sound, estuarine.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Indian River
                                                                                 Lagoon estuarine system.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC
                                                                                 estuarine system.
                                                                                Bottlenose dolphin, Jacksonville
                                                                                 estuarine system.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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; SC--South Carolina; VA--Virginia;
  WNA--Western North Atlantic; \1\ Fishery classified based on mortalities and serious injuries of this stock,
  which are greater than or equal to 50 percent (Category I) or greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent
  (Category II) of the stock's PBR; \2\ Fishery classified by analogy; * Fishery has an associated high seas
  component listed in Table 3.


    Table 3--List of Fisheries--Commercial Fisheries on the High Seas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Marine mammal species
      Fishery Description           Number of    and stocks incidentally
                                 HSFCA  permits     killed or injured
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Category I
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Highly Migratory                84  Atlantic spotted
     Species +.                                   dolphin, WNA.
                                                 Bottlenose dolphin,
                                                  Northern GMX oceanic.
                                                 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA
                                                  offshore.

[[Page 73494]]

 
                                                 Common dolphin, WNA.
                                                 Cuvier's beaked whale,
                                                  WNA.
                                                 Long-finned pilot
                                                  whale, WNA.
                                                 Mesoplodon beaked
                                                  whale, WNA.
                                                 Risso's dolphin, WNA.
                                                 Short-finned pilot
                                                  whale, WNA.
    Western Pacific Pelagic (HI             124  Bottlenose dolphin, HI
     Deep-set component)                          Pelagic.
     *[caret] +.
                                                 False killer whale, HI
                                                  Pelagic.
                                                 Pantropical spotted
                                                  dolphin, HI.
                                                 Risso's dolphin, HI.
                                                 Short-finned pilot
                                                  whale, HI.
                                                 Sperm whale, HI.
                                                 Striped dolphin, HI.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Category II
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DRIFT GILLNET FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Highly Migratory                 1  Undetermined.
     Species.
    Pacific Highly Migratory                  4  Long-beaked common
     Species * [caret].                           dolphin, CA.
                                                 Humpback whale, CA/OR/
                                                  WA.
                                                 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAWL FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Highly Migratory                 1  Undetermined.
     Species **.
    CCAMLR.....................               0  Antarctic fur seal.
    Western Pacific Pelagic....               0  Undetermined.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES:
    South Pacific Tuna                       40  Undetermined.
     Fisheries.
    Western Pacific Pelagic....               3  Undetermined.
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
    CCAMLR.....................               0  None documented.
    South Pacific Albacore                   13  Undetermined.
     Troll.
    South Pacific Tuna                        8  Undetermined.
     Fisheries **.
    Western Pacific Pelagic (HI              28  Blainville's beaked
     Shallow-set component)                       whale, HI.
     *[caret] +.
                                 ..............  Bottlenose dolphin, HI
                                                  Pelagic.
                                                 False killer whale, HI
                                                  Pelagic.
                                                 Humpback whale, Central
                                                  North Pacific.
                                                 Kogia sp. whale (Pygmy
                                                  or dwarf sperm whale),
                                                  HI.
                                                 Risso's dolphin, HI.
                                                 Short-beaked common
                                                  dolphin, CA/OR/WA.
                                                 Short-finned pilot
                                                  whale, HI.
                                                 Striped dolphin, HI.
HANDLINE/POLE AND LINE
 FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Highly Migratory                 3  Undetermined.
     Species.
    Pacific Highly Migratory                 46  Undetermined.
     Species.
    South Pacific Albacore                    9  Undetermined.
     Troll.
    Western Pacific Pelagic....               5  Undetermined.
TROLL FISHERIES:
    Atlantic Highly Migratory                 4  Undetermined.
     Species.
    South Pacific Albacore                   33  Undetermined.
     Troll.
    South Pacific Tuna                        2  Undetermined.
     Fisheries **.
    Western Pacific Pelagic....              19  Undetermined.
LINERS NEI FISHERIES:
    Pacific Highly Migratory                  3  Undetermined.
     Species **.
    South Pacific Albacore                    1  Undetermined.
     Troll.
    Western Pacific Pelagic....               1  Undetermined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Category III
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LONGLINE FISHERIES:
    Pacific Highly Migratory                101  None documented in the
     Species *.                                   most recent 5 years of
                                                  data.
PURSE SEINE FISHERIES
    Pacific Highly Migratory                  8  None documented.
     Species * [caret].
TROLL FISHERIES:
    Pacific Highly Migratory                262  None documented.
     Species *.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Terms, Abbreviations, and Symbols Used in Table 3: GMX-Gulf of
  Mexico; NEI--Not Elsewhere Identified; WNA--Western North Atlantic.

[[Page 73495]]

 
* Fishery is an extension/component of an existing fishery operating
  within U.S. waters listed in Table 1 or 2. The number of permits
  listed in Table 3 represents only the number of permits for the high
  seas component of the fishery.
** These gear types are not authorized under the Pacific HMS FMP (2004),
  the Atlantic HMS FMP (2006), or without a South Pacific Tuna Treaty
  license (in the case of the South Pacific Tuna fisheries). Because
  HSFCA permits are valid for five years, permits obtained in past years
  exist in the HSFCA permit database for gear types that are now
  unauthorized. Therefore, while HSFCA permits exist for these gear
  types, it does not represent effort. In order to land fish species,
  fishers must be using an authorized gear type. Once these permits for
  unauthorized gear types expire, the permit-holder will be required to
  obtain a permit for an authorized gear type.
+ The marine mammal species or stocks listed as killed or injured in
  this fishery has been observed taken by this fishery on the high seas.
[caret] The list of marine mammal species or stocks killed or injured in
  this fishery is identical to the list of marine mammal species or
  stocks killed or injured in U.S. waters component of the fishery,
  minus species or stocks that have geographic ranges exclusively in
  coastal waters, because the marine mammal species or stocks are also
  found on the high seas and the fishery remains the same on both sides
  of the EEZ boundary. Therefore, the high seas components of these
  fisheries pose the same risk to marine mammals as the components of
  these fisheries operating in U.S. waters.


      Table 4--Fisheries Affected by Take Reduction Teams and Plans
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Take reduction plans                  Affected fisheries
Atlantic Large Whale Take            Category I
 Reduction Plan (ALWTRP)--50 CFR
 229.32.
                                      Mid-Atlantic gillnet.
                                      Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American
                                       lobster trap/pot.
                                      Northeast sink gillnet.
                                     Category II
                                      Atlantic blue crab trap/pot.
                                      Atlantic mixed species trap/pot.
                                      Northeast anchored float gillnet.
                                      Northeast drift gillnet.
                                      Southeast Atlantic gillnet.
                                      Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark
                                       gillnet.*
                                      Southeastern, U.S. Atlantic, Gulf
                                       of Mexico stone crab trap/
                                       pot.[caret]
Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction    Category I
 Plan (BDTRP)--50 CFR 229.35.
                                      Mid-Atlantic gillnet.
                                     Category II
                                      Atlantic blue crab trap/pot.
                                      Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet
                                       fishery.
                                      Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine.
                                      Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine.
                                      NC inshore gillnet.
                                      NC long haul seine.
                                      NC roe mullet stop net.
                                      Southeast Atlantic gillnet.
                                      Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark
                                       gillnet.
                                      Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf
                                       of Mexico shrimp trawl.[caret]
                                      Southeastern, U.S. Atlantic, Gulf
                                       of Mexico stone crab trap/
                                       pot.[caret]
                                      VA pound net.
False Killer Whale Take Reduction    Category I
 Plan (FKWTRP)--50 CFR 229.37.
                                      HI deep-set (tuna target) longline/
                                       set line.
                                     Category II
                                      HI shallow-set (swordfish target)
                                       longline/set line.
Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction       Category I
 Plan (HPTRP)--50 CFR 229.33 (New
 England) and 229.34 (Mid-
 Atlantic).
                                      Mid-Atlantic gillnet.
                                      Northeast sink gillnet.
Pelagic Longline Take Reduction      Category I
 Plan (PLTRP)--50 CFR 229.36.
                                      Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of
                                       Mexico large pelagics longline.
Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take       Category I
 Reduction Plan (POCTRP)--50 CFR
 229.31.
                                      CA thresher shark/swordfish drift
                                       gillnet (>=14 in mesh).
------------------------------------------------------------------------


       Take reduction teams                  Affected fisheries
Atlantic Trawl Gear Take             Category II
 Reduction Team (ATGTRT).
                                      Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl
                                      Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl
                                       (including pair trawl)
                                      Northeast bottom trawl
                                      Northeast mid-water trawl
                                       (including pair trawl)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Only applicable to the portion of the fishery operating in U.S.
  waters; [caret] Only applicable to the portion of the fishery
  operating in the Atlantic Ocean.

Classification

    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) that this rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The SBA has 
established size criteria for all major industry sectors in the US, 
including fish harvesting and fish processing businesses (78 FR 37397). 
The factual basis leading to the certification is set forth below.
    Under existing regulations, all individuals participating in 
Category I or II fisheries must register under the MMPA and obtain an 
Authorization

[[Page 73496]]

Certificate. The Authorization Certificate authorizes the taking of 
non-endangered and non-threatened marine mammals incidental to 
commercial fishing operations. Additionally, individuals may be subject 
to a TRP and requested to carry an observer. NMFS has estimated that up 
to approximately 58,500 fishing vessels, most have annual revenues 
below the SBA's small entity thresholds, may operate in Category I or 
II fisheries. As Category I or II fisheries they are required to 
register with NMFS. No fishing vessels are new to a Category I or II 
fishery as a result of this proposed rule. The MMPA registration 
process is integrated with existing state and Federal licensing, 
permitting, and registration programs. Therefore, individuals who have 
a state or Federal fishing permit or landing license, or who are 
authorized through another related state or Federal fishery 
registration program, are currently not required to register separately 
under the MMPA or pay the $25 registration fee. Therefore, this 
proposed rule would not impose any direct costs on small entities.
    If a vessel is requested to carry an observer, individuals will not 
incur any direct economic costs associated with carrying that observer. 
Potential indirect costs to individuals required to take observers may 
include: lost space on deck for catch, lost bunk space, and lost 
fishing time due to time needed by the observer to process bycatch 
data. For effective monitoring, however, observers will rotate 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 individuals are expected to be minimal, because 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 is not required to 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 TRP would be summarized in subsequent rulemaking 
actions.
    This proposed rule contains collection-of-information requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of information 
for the registration of individuals 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 
mortalities or injuries 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 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 proposed 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 proposed rule would not make any significant 
change in the management of reclassified fisheries; therefore, this 
proposed rule is not expected to change the analysis or conclusion of 
the 2005 EA. The Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) recommends 
agencies review EAs every five years. NMFS reviewed the 2005 EA in 2009 
and concluded that no update was needed at that time. NMFS is currently 
undertaking the next five year review and is updating the 2005 EA. If 
NMFS takes a management action, for example, through the development of 
a TRP, NMFS would first prepare an environmental document, as required 
under NEPA, specific to that action.
    This proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 consult under ESA section 7 on that action.
    This proposed rule would 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 proposed rule would 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.

References

    Bradford, A.L. and K.A. Forney. 2013. Injury determinations for 
cetaceans observed interacting with Hawaii and American Samoa 
longline fisheries during 2007-2011. PIFSC Working Paper WP-13-002. 
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries 
Service. 24 p.
    Carretta, J.V. and L. Enriquez. 2012. Marine mammal and seabird 
bycatch in California gillnet fisheries in 2010. NOAA SWFSC and SWR 
Administrative Report LJ-12-01. 15 p.
    Carretta, J.V., E. Oleson, D.W. Weller, A.R. Lang, K.A. Forney, 
J. Baker, B. Hanson, K Martien, M.M. Muto, M.S. Lowry, J. Barlow, D. 
Lynch, L. Carswell, R.L. Brownell Jr., D.K. Mattila, and M.C. Hill. 
2013a. U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessments: 2012. NOAA 
Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-504. 378 p.
    Carretta, J.V., E. Oleson, D.W. Weller, A.R. Lang, K.A. Forney, 
J. Baker, B. Hanson, K Martien, M.M. Muto, M.S. Lowry, J. Barlow, D. 
Lynch, L. Carswell, R.L. Brownell Jr., D.K. Mattila, and M.C. Hill. 
2013b. U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessments: 2013 (Draft). 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA-TM-NMFS-SWFSC-xxx. 306 p.
    McCracken, M.L. 2010. Adjustments to false killer whale and 
short-finned pilot whale bycatch estimates. PIFSC Working Paper WP-
10-007. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine 
Fisheries Service. 23 p.
    NMFS. 2012. NOAA Fisheries Policy Directive 02-038-01 Process 
for Injury Determinations (01/27/12). Available at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/serious_injury_policy.pdf.



[[Page 73497]]


    Dated: December 2, 2013.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, performing the functions and 
duties of the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-29208 Filed 12-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P