[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 119 (Thursday, June 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28526-28528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13060]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R7-ES-2016-N155; FF07CAMM00-FXES111607MPB00]


Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Reports

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft revised marine mammal stock 
assessment reports for two stocks of polar bears; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended and its implementing regulations, we, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, have developed draft revised marine mammal stock 
assessment reports for each of the two polar bear (Ursus maritimus) 
stocks in Alaska: The Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear stock and the 
Chukchi/Bering Seas polar bear stock. These two draft stock assessment 
reports are available for public review and comment.

DATES: We must receive comments by September 20, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To obtain the draft Stock Assessment Report for either polar 
bear stock, and to submit comments, see Document Availability and 
Public Comment, respectively, under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Lemons, Marine Mammals 
Management Office, (800) 362-5148 or via email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., 
MMPA) and its implementing regulations in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 18, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) regulates the taking; import; and under certain conditions, 
possession; transportation; purchasing; selling; and offering for sale, 
purchase, or export of marine mammals. One of the MMPA's goals is to 
ensure that stocks of marine mammals occurring in waters under U.S. 
jurisdiction do not experience a level of human-caused mortality and 
serious injury that is likely to cause the stock to be reduced below 
its optimum sustainable population level (OSP). The OSP is defined 
under the MMPA as ``the number of animals which will result in the 
maximum productivity of the population or the species, keeping in mind 
the carrying capacity of the habitat and the health of the ecosystem of 
which they form a constituent element'' (16 U.S.C. 1362(9)).
    To help accomplish the goal of maintaining marine mammal stocks at 
their OSPs, section 117 of the MMPA requires us and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service (NMFS) to prepare a Stock Assessment Report (SAR) for 
each marine mammal stock that occurs in waters under U.S. jurisdiction. 
A SAR must be based on the best scientific information available; 
therefore, we prepare it in consultation with regional scientific 
review groups (SRG) established under section 117(d) of the MMPA. Each 
SAR must include:
    1. A description of the stock and its geographic range;
    2. A minimum population estimate, current and maximum net 
productivity rates, and current population trend;
    3. An estimate of the annual human-caused mortality and serious 
injury by source and, for a strategic stock, other factors that may be 
causing a decline or impeding recovery;
    4. A description of commercial fishery interactions;
    5. A categorization of the status of the stock; and
    6. An estimate of the potential biological removal (PBR) level.
    The MMPA defines the PBR 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 OSP'' (16 
U.S.C. 1362(20)). The PBR is the product of the minimum population 
estimate of the stock (Nmin); one-half the maximum 
theoretical or estimated net productivity

[[Page 28527]]

rate of the stock at a small population size (Rmax); and a 
recovery factor (Fr) of between 0.1 and 1.0, which is 
intended to compensate for uncertainty and unknown estimation errors. 
This can be written as:

PBR = (Nmin)(\1/2\ of the Rmax)(Fr).

    Section 117 of the MMPA also requires the Service and NMFS to 
review the SARs (a) at least annually for stocks that are specified as 
strategic stocks, (b) at least annually for stocks for which 
significant new information is available, and (c) at least once every 3 
years for all other stocks. If our review of the status of a stock 
indicates that it has changed or may be more accurately determined, 
then the SAR must be revised accordingly.
    A strategic stock is defined in the MMPA as a marine mammal stock 
(a) for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the 
PBR level; (b) which, based on the best available scientific 
information, is declining and is likely to be listed as a threatened 
species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.; ESA), within the foreseeable future; or (c) which is 
listed as a threatened or endangered species under the ESA, or is 
designated as depleted under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1362(19).

Stock Assessment Report History for the Two Polar Bear Stocks

    Both polar bears SARs were last revised in January 2010. Because 
the polar bear is listed as a threatened species under the ESA, both 
the Southern Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi/Bering Seas polar bear stocks 
are considered strategic. Therefore, the Service considered all 
available new information on these stocks in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and 
determined that no new information was available that indicated the 
status of the stocks had changed or could be more accurately 
determined. However, as new information became available in 2014, the 
Service initiated revision of the SARs and obtained advice from the 
Alaska SRG. Therefore, these draft SARs incorporate the comments and 
suggestions provided to the Service by the Alaska SRG as appropriate.

Summary of Draft Revised Stock Assessment Reports for the Two Polar 
Bear Stocks in Alaska

    The following table summarizes some of the information contained in 
the draft revised SARs for the Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear and the 
Chukchi/Bering Seas polar bear stocks, which includes each stock's 
Nmin, Rmax, Fr, PBR, annual estimated 
human-caused mortality and serious injury, and status. After 
consideration of any public comments we receive, we will revise and 
finalize these SARs, as appropriate. We will publish a notice of 
availability and summary of the final SARs, including responses to 
comments we received.

       Table 1--Summary: Draft Revised Stock Assessment Reports for the Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bear and Chukchi/Bering Seas Polar Bear Stocks
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                                                                                                       Annual estimated human-
                                                                                                         caused mortality and
           Polar bear stock                 Nmin            Rmax             Fr              PBR        serious injury, 2006-         Stock status
                                                                                                                 2015
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Southern Beaufort Sea................             782           0.075             0.5              14  Annual estimated         Strategic.
                                                                                                        removals for each
                                                                                                        stock are provided in
                                                                                                        the SARs.
Chukchi/Bering Seas..................           2,000          0.0603             0.5              30                           Strategic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Document Availability

Draft Revised SARs for Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bear and Chukchi/
Bering Seas Polar Bear Stocks

    You may obtain copies by any one of the following methods:
     Internet: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/polarbear/reports.htm (for both polar bear stocks).
     Write to or call (during normal business hours from 8 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) Patrick Lemons, Chief, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, 1011 East Tudor 
Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503; telephone: (800) 362-3800.

Public Comment

Draft Revised SARs for Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bear and Chukchi/
Bering Seas Polar Bear Stocks

    You may submit a written comment by any one of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail or hand-delivery: Chief, Marine Mammals Management 
Office (see address above).
     Fax: (907) 786-3816.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

References

    In accordance with section 117(b)(1) of the MMPA, we include in 
this notice a list of the sources of information or published reports 
upon which we based the draft revised SARs. The Service consulted 
technical reports, conference proceedings, refereed journal 
publications, and scientific studies prepared or issued by federal 
agencies, non-governmental organizations, and individuals with 
expertise in the fields of marine mammal biology and ecology, 
population dynamics, Alaska Native subsistence use of marine mammals, 
modeling, and commercial fishing technology and practices.
    These agencies and organizations include: The Service, the U.S. 
Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the National Park Service, the Arctic Institute, the North American 
Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference, the Marine Mammals of the 
Holarctic V Conference, and the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental 
Assessment Program. In addition, the Service consulted publications 
such as the Journal of Wildlife Management, Conservation Biology, 
Marine Mammal Science, Ecological Applications, Biological 
Conservation, Aquatic Mammals, Journal of Zoology, Marine Mammal 
Science and other refereed journal literature, technical reports, and 
data sources in the development of these SARs.
    A complete list of citations to the scientific literature relied on 
for each of the two revised SARs is available from the Service by 
visiting the Service's Marine Mammal Management office's species 
information page at: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/

[[Page 28528]]

reports.htm. These citations are likewise part of each draft SAR and 
may be reviewed with the documents (see Document Availability).

    Authority: The authority for this action is the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et al.).

    Dated: April 27, 2017.
James W. Kurth,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-13060 Filed 6-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P