[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 6, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27028-27083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07933]



[[Page 27027]]

Vol. 85

Wednesday,

No. 88

May 6, 2020

Part II





Department of Commerce





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration





-----------------------------------------------------------------------





50 CFR Part 219





Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental 
to Southeast Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Research; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 88 / Wednesday, May 6, 2020 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 27028]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 219

[Docket No. 200409-0108]
RIN 0648-BG44


Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 
Incidental to Southeast Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Research

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

ACTION: Final rule, notification of issuance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS's Office of Protected Resources (OPR), upon request from 
NMFS's Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC), hereby issues 
regulations to govern the unintentional taking of marine mammals 
incidental to fisheries research conducted in the Atlantic Ocean along 
the southeastern U.S. coast and select estuaries, the Gulf of Mexico 
and select estuaries, and the Caribbean Sea over the course of 5 years. 
These regulations, which allow for the issuance of Letters of 
Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during 
the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the 
permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least 
practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their 
habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and 
reporting of such taking.

DATES: Effective from June 5, 2020, through June 5, 2025.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the SEFSC's application and supporting documents, 
as well as a list of the references cited in this document, may be 
obtained online at: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/incidental-take-authorization-noaa-fisheries-afsc-fisheries-and-ecosystem-research. In 
case of problems accessing these documents, please call the contact 
listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jaclyn Daly, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Regulatory Action

    These regulations, issued under the authority of the MMPA (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), establishes a framework for authorizing the take 
of marine mammals incidental to fisheries-independent research 
conducted by the SEFSC (in the Atlantic Ocean and associated estuaries, 
Gulf of Mexico and associated estuaries, and Caribbean Sea). SEFSC 
fisheries research has the potential to take marine mammals due to 
possible physical interaction with fishing gear (e.g., trawls, 
gillnets, hook-and-line gear) and exposure to noise generated by SEFSC 
sonar devices (e.g., echosounders, side-scan sonar). The SEFSC 
submitted an application to NMFS requesting 5-year regulations and a 
letter of authorization (LOA) to take multiple species and stocks of 
marine mammals in the three specified research areas (Atlantic, Gulf of 
Mexico, and Caribbean). The SEFSC requested, and NMFS has authorized, 
take, by mortality, serious injury, and Level A harassment, incidental 
to the use of various types of fisheries research gear and Level B 
harassment incidental to the use of active acoustic survey sources. The 
regulations are valid from June 5, 2020, through June 5, 2025.

Legal Authority for the Action

    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)(A)) directs 
the Secretary of Commerce to allow, upon request, the incidental, but 
not intentional taking of small numbers of marine mammals by U.S. 
citizens who engage in a specified activity (other than commercial 
fishing) within a specified geographical region for up to 5 years if, 
after notice and public comment, the agency makes certain findings and 
issues regulations that set forth permissible methods of taking 
pursuant to that activity, as well as monitoring and reporting 
requirements.
    Section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA and the implementing regulations 
at 50 CFR part 216, subpart I provide the legal basis for issuing these 
final rules containing 5-year regulations and subsequent Letters of 
Authorization. As directed by this legal authority, these final rules 
contain mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements.

Summary of Major Provisions Within the Regulations

    Following is a summary of the major provisions for the SEFSC within 
the final rulemaking. The SEFSC is required to:
     Delay setting or haul in gear if marine mammal interaction 
may occur.
     Monitor prior to and during sets for signs of potential 
marine mammal interaction.
     Implement the ``move-on rule'' mitigation strategy during 
select surveys (note: this measure does not apply to bottlenose 
dolphins).
     Limit gear set times (varies based on gear type).
     Haul gear immediately if marine mammals may interact with 
gear.
     Utilize dedicated marine mammal observations during select 
surveys.
     Prohibit chumming.
     Continue investigation on the effectiveness of modifying 
lazy lines to reduce bottlenose dolphin entanglement risk.
     Establish and convene the South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources (SCDNR) Working Group to better understand bottlenose 
dolphin entanglement events and apply effective mitigation strategies.
    We note that in the proposed rule (84 FR 6576, February 27, 2019), 
we proposed regulations that would have applied separately both to the 
SEFSC and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Since that time, 
new information has emerged regarding TPWD's activity that NMFS is 
considering before making final decisions regarding the take of marine 
mammals incidental to TPWD's gillnet fishing. Here, we announce 
issuance of regulations for SEFSC only.

Background

    Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) 
direct the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated to NMFS) to allow, upon 
request, the incidental, but not intentional, taking of small numbers 
of marine mammals by U.S. citizens who engage in a specified activity 
(other than commercial fishing) within a specified geographical region 
if certain findings are made and either regulations are issued or, if 
the taking is limited to harassment, a notice of a proposed 
authorization is provided to the public for review.
    An authorization for incidental takings shall be granted if NMFS 
finds that the taking will have a negligible impact on the species or 
stock(s), will not have an unmitigable adverse impact on the 
availability of the species or stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 
relevant), and if the permissible methods of taking and requirements 
pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring and reporting of such takings 
are set forth.
    NMFS has defined ``negligible impact'' in 50 CFR 216.103 as an 
impact resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably 
expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the 
species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival. The MMPA states that the term ``take'' means to harass, hunt, 
capture, kill or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine 
mammal.

[[Page 27029]]

    Except with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the 
MMPA defines ``harassment'' as any act of pursuit, torment, or 
annoyance which (i) has the potential to injure a marine mammal or 
marine mammal stock in the wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has the 
potential to disturb a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild 
by causing disruption of behavioral patterns, including, but not 
limited to, migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or 
sheltering (Level B harassment).

Summary of Request

    On May 4, 2015, NMFS OPR received an application from the SEFSC for 
a rulemaking and associated 5-year Letter of Authorization (LOA) to 
take marine mammals incidental to fisheries research activities 
conducted by the SEFSC and 18 cooperating research partners in the 
Atlantic Ocean Research Area (ARA), Gulf of Mexico Research Area 
(GOMRA), and Caribbean Research Area (CRA). The SEFSC submitted a 
revised draft in October 2015, followed by another revision on April 6, 
2016, which we deemed adequate and complete. On April 22, 2016 (81 FR 
23677), we published a notice of receipt of the SEFSC's application 
and, subsequently, on February 27, 2019, a notice of proposed 
rulemaking in the Federal Register (84 FR 6576) that requested comments 
and information related to the SEFSC's request for 30 days. The SEFSC 
request is for the take of 15 species of marine mammals by mortality, 
serious injury, and Level A harassment (hereafter referred to as ``M/
SI'') and 34 species of marine mammals by Level B harassment.

Description of the Specified Activity

Overview

    The SEFSC is the research arm of NMFS in the Southeast Region. The 
SEFSC plans, develops, and manages a multidisciplinary program of basic 
and applied research to generate the information necessary for the 
conservation and management of the region's living marine resources, 
including the region's marine and anadromous fish and invertebrate 
populations to ensure they remain at sustainable and healthy levels. 
The SEFSC collects a wide array of information necessary to evaluate 
the status of exploited fishery resources and the marine environment 
from fishery independent (i.e., non-commercial or recreational fishing) 
platforms. Surveys are conducted from NOAA-owned and operated vessels, 
NOAA chartered vessels, or research partner-owned or chartered vessels 
in the state and Federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean south of 
Virginia, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. All work will occur within 
the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), except for two surveys which may 
occur outside the EEZ.
    The SEFSC plans to administer, fund, or conduct 74 fishery-
independent survey programs over the 5-year period the regulations are 
effective (see Table 1-1 in the SEFSC's application). The SEFSC works 
with 18 Federal, state, or academic partners to conduct these surveys 
(see Table 1-1 in SEFSC's application for a list of cooperating 
research partners). Of the 74 surveys, only 38 involve gear and 
equipment with the potential to take marine mammals. Gear types include 
towed trawl nets fished at various levels in the water column, seine 
nets, traps, longline and other hook and line gear. Surveys using any 
type of seine net (e.g., gillnets), trawl net, or hook and line (e.g., 
longlines) have the potential for marine mammal interaction (e.g., 
entanglement, hooking) resulting in M/SI harassment. In addition, the 
SEFSC conducts hydrographic, oceanographic, and meteorological sampling 
concurrent with many of these surveys which requires the use of active 
acoustic devices (e.g., side-scan sonar, echosounders). These active 
sonars result in elevated sound levels in the water column, resulting 
in the potential to behaviorally disturb marine mammals resulting in 
Level B harassment.
    Many SEFSC surveys only occur at certain times of the year to align 
with the target species and age class being researched (see Table 1-1 
in SEFSC's application). However, in general, the SEFSC conducts some 
type of sampling year round in various locations. Specific dates and 
duration of individual surveys are inherently uncertain because they 
are based on congressional funding levels, weather conditions, and ship 
contingencies. For example, some surveys are only conducted every 2 or 
3 years or when funding is available. Timing of the surveys is a key 
element of their design. Oceanic and atmospheric conditions, as well as 
ship contingencies, often dictate survey schedules even for routinely-
conducted surveys. In addition, cooperative research is designed to 
provide flexibility on a yearly basis in order to address issues as 
they arise. Some cooperative research projects last multiple years or 
may continue with modifications. Other projects only last one year and 
are not continued. Most cooperative research projects go through an 
annual competitive selection process to determine which projects should 
be funded based on proposals developed by many independent researchers 
and fishing industry participants. The exact location of survey effort 
also varies year to year (albeit in the same general area) because they 
are often based on randomized sampling designs. Year-round, in all 
research areas, one or more of the surveys planned has the potential to 
take marine mammals.

Specified Geographic Region

    The SEFSC conducts research in three research areas: The Atlantic 
Ocean from North Carolina to Florida and associated estuaries (ARA), 
the Gulf of Mexico and associated estuaries (GOMRA), and the Caribbean 
around Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (CRA). Research surveys 
occur both inside and outside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 
and sometimes span across multiple ecological, physical, and political 
boundaries (see Figure1-2 in the SEFSC's application for map). With 
respect to gear, Appendix B in the NMFS PEA includes a table and 
figures showing the spatial and temporal distribution of fishing gear 
used during SEFSC research.
    The three research areas fully or partially encompass four Large 
Marine Ecosystems (LMEs): The Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf LME (NE 
LME), the Southeast U.S. Continental Shelf LME (SE LME), the Gulf of 
Mexico LME, (GOM LME), and the Caribbean Sea LME (CS LME). LMEs are 
large areas of coastal ocean space, generally include greater than 
200,000 square kilometers (km\2\) of ocean surface area and are located 
in coastal waters where primary productivity is typically higher than 
in open ocean areas. LME physical boundaries are based on four 
ecological criteria: Bathymetry, hydrography, productivity, and trophic 
relationships. NOAA has implemented a management approach designed to 
improve the long-term sustainability of LMEs and their resources by 
using practices that focus on ensuring the sustainability of the 
productive potential for ecosystem goods and services. Figure 2-1 in 
the SEFSC's application shows the location and boundaries of the three 
research areas with respect to LME boundaries. We note here that, while 
the SEFSC specified geographical region extends outside of the U.S. 
EEZ, into the Mexican EEZ (not including Mexican territorial waters), 
the MMPA's authority does not extend into foreign territorial waters. A 
complete description of the SEFSC's three research areas is provided in 
the proposed rule (84 FR 6576, February 27, 2019) and Chapter 3 of the 
Final PEA.

[[Page 27030]]

Detailed Description of Activities

    To carry out this research, the SEFSC proposes to administer or 
conduct 74 survey programs during the 5-year period the proposed 
regulations would be effective. However, only 44 surveys have the 
potential to take marine mammals from gear interaction or acoustic 
harassment. Surveys would be carried out by SEFSC scientists alone or 
in combination with Federal, state, or academic partners while some 
surveys would be carried out solely by cooperating research partners. 
Surveys not conducted by SEFSC staff are included here because they are 
funded or have received other support (e.g., gear) by the SEFSC. SEFSC 
scientists conduct fishery-independent research onboard NOAA-owned and 
operated vessels or chartered vessels while partners conduct research 
aboard NOAA, their own or chartered vessels. Table 1 provides a summary 
of annual projects including survey name, entity conducting the survey, 
location, gear type, and effort. The information presented here 
augments the more detailed table included in the SEFSC's application. 
In the subsequent section, we describe relevant active acoustic 
devices, which are commonly used in SEFSC survey activities. Appendix A 
of the SEFSC's application contains detailed descriptions, pictures, 
and diagrams of all research gear and vessels used by the SEFSC and 
partners under this rulemaking. We provided a detailed description of 
the SEFSC planned research activities, gear types, fishing methods, and 
active acoustic sound sources used in the notice of rulemaking (84 FR 
6576; February 27, 2019) and do not repeat that information here. There 
are no changes to the specified activities, gear types, fishing 
methods, or active acoustic sound sources described in that document.

         Table 1--Summary Description of Fisheries and Ecosystem Research Activities Conducted or Funded by the SEFSC in the GOMRA, ARA, and CRA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Season, frequency,
   Survey name (research agency)         General area of       yearly days at sea         Vessel used             Gear used          Number of stations
                                            operation                 (DAS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Gulf of Mexico Research Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HMS-GOM Shark Pupping & Nursery      SEFSC--FL Panhandle in  Annual Apr-Oct, 30      USCG Class I: R/V      Set gillnet..........  SEFSC--16-20 sets/
 Survey (GULFSPAN), (SEFSC, USM/      St. Andrew Bay and      DAS, (approximately 4   Mokarran, R/V                                 month, up to 120
 GCRL, UWF, FSU/CML) \1\* UWF is      St. Joseph Bay, 1-10    days/month), daytime    Pristis.                                      sets total.
 inactive.                            m depths.               operations only.
                                     Mississippi Sound, 1-9  Annual Apr-Oct, 8 DAS   USCG Class I: Small    Set gillnet..........  3 sets/month 21 sets
                                      m depths.               (1/month), daytime      vessel.                                       total.
                                                              operations only.
                                     Perdido Bay, Pensacola  Annual May-Sep, 10 DAS  USCG Class I: State    Set gillnet..........  10 sets/month 50 sets
                                      Bay, Choctawhatchee     (2/month), daytime      vessel.                                       total.
                                      Bay, and Santa Rosa     operations only.
                                      Sound, 1.5-6 m depths.
                                     Northwest FL state      Annual................  USCG Class I: R/V      Set gillnet..........  74 sets/yr total.
                                      waters, 0.7-7 m        ......................   Naucrates.                                   (A) 24 sets.
                                      depths.                ......................                                                (B) 50 sets.
                                     (A) Apalachee Bay.....  (A) Jan-Dec, 12 DAS (1/                        Bottom longline......  74 sets/yr total.
                                                              month).                                                              (A) 24 total.
                                     (B) Alligator Pt.--     (B) June & July, 20                                                   (B) 50 total.
                                      Anclote Keys.           DAS, daytime
                                                              operations only.
                                     State waters of         Annual May-Sep, 15      USCG Class I: State    Set gillnet..........  16 sets/month (within
                                      southwest FL within     DAS, daytime            vessel.                                       two designated 10
                                      Pine Island Sound in    operations only.                                                      km\2\ grids), 80
                                      the Charlotte Harbor                                                                          sets total.
                                      estuary. Depth ranges
                                      0.6-4.6 m depth.
IJA Coastal Finfish Gillnet Survey,  Mississippi Sound and   Annual, Jan-Dec, 24     USCG Class I: Small    Sinking gillnet,       8 sets/month, 96 sets
 (MDMR) \1\.                          estuaries; 0.2-2 m      DAS, daytime            vessel.                shallow deployment.    total.
                                      depths.                 operations only.
Smalltooth Sawfish Abundance         Ten Thousand Islands,   Annual, Mar-Nov, 56     USCG Class I: R/V      Set gillnet, shallow   ~20 sets/month, 180-
 Survey, (SEFSC) \1\.                 FL backcountry          DAS (6-7 DAS/trip),     Pristis.               deployment.            200 sets total.
                                      region, including       daytime operations
                                      areas in Everglades     only.
                                      National Park and Ten
                                      Thousand Island
                                      National Wildlife
                                      Refuge in 0.2-1.0 m
                                      depths.
Pelagic Longline Survey-GOM,         U.S. GOM..............  Intermittent, Feb-May,  USCG R/V: R/V Oregon   Pelagic longline.....  100-125 sets.
 (SEFSC) \1\.                                                 30 DAS, 24 hour         II.                   CTD profiler.........  100-125 casts.
                                                              operations (set/haul
                                                              anytime day or night).
Shark and Red Snapper Bottom         Randomly selected       Annually, July-Sep, 60  USCG R/V: R/V Oregon   Bottom longline......  175 sets.
 Longline Survey-GOM, (SEFSC) \1\.    sites from FL to        DAS, 24 hour            II, R/V Gordon        CTD profiler and       175 casts.
                                      Brownsville, TX         operations (set/haul    Gunter;.               rosette water
                                      between bottom depths   anytime day or night). USCG Small R/V: R/V     sampler.
                                      9-366 m.                                        Caretta, R/V Gandy.
SEAMAP--GOM Bottom Longline Survey   AL--MS Sound, Mobile    Annually, Apr-May,      USCG Class III: R/V    Bottom longline......  AL--32 sets.
 (ADCNR, USM-GCRL, LDWF, TPWD) \1\.   Bay, and near Dauphin   June-July, Aug-Sep;.    E.O. Wilson, R/V      CTD Profiler.........  MS--40.
                                      Island.                AL--8 DAS, day           Alabama Discovery, R/                        LA--98.
                                     MS--MS Sound, south of   operations only.        V Defender I, R/V                            TX--20.
                                      the MS Barrier         MS--16 DAS, day          Tom McIlwain, RV Jim                         AL--32 casts.
                                      Islands, Chandeleur,    operations only.        Franks, R/V Nueces,                          LA--40.
                                      and Breton Sound, and                           R/V SanJacinto; USCG
                                      the area east of the                            R/V: R/V Blazing
                                      Chandeleur Islands.                             Seven (2011-2014).

[[Page 27031]]

 
                                     LA--LA waters west of   LA--30 DAS, day         .....................  Water quality and      MS--40 casts.
                                      the MS River.           operations only.                               chemistry (YSI        TX--20.
                                     TX--near Aransas Pass   TX--10 DAS, day                                 instruments, Niskin
                                      and Bolivar Roads       operations only.                               bottles, turbidity
                                      Ship Channel.                                                          meter).
IJA Biloxi Bay Beam Trawl Survey     MS state waters in      Annually, Jan-Dec, 25   USCG Class I: R/V      Modified beam trawl..  11 trawls/month, 132
 (MDMR) \1\.                          Biloxi Bay, 1-2 m       DAS, day operations     Grav I, R/V Grav II,                          trawls total.
                                      depths.                 only.                   R/V Grav IV.
IJA Inshore Finfish Trawl Survey     MS state waters from    Annually, Jan-Dec, 12   USCG Class I: Small    Otter trawl..........  72 trawls.
 (MDMR)\1\.                           Bay St. Louis, to       DAS, day operations     vessel R/V Geoship.
                                      approximately 2 miles   only.
                                      south Cat Island, 1-8
                                      m depths.
IJA Open Bay Shellfish Trawl Survey  TX state waters in      Annually, Jan-Dec, 120  USCG Class I: Small    Otter trawl..........  90 trawls/month, 1080
 (TPWD) \1\.                          Galveston, Matagorda,   DAS, day operations     vessel.               Water quality and       trawls total.
                                      Aransas, and Corpus     only.                  USCG Class II: R/V      chemistry (YSI
                                      Christi Bays and the                            Trinity Bay, R/V       instruments, Niskin
                                      lower Laguna Madre, 1-                          Copano Bay, R/V RJ     bottles, turbidity
                                      10 m depths.                                    Kemp.                  meter).
Oceanic Deep-water Trawl--GOM,       U.S. GOM waters >500 m  Intermittent due to     USCG R/V: R/V Gunter,  High Speed Midwater    60 trawls (2-3 per
 (SEFSC) \1\.                         deep.                   funding, 20 DAS, 24     R/V Pisces.            Trawl, Aleutian Wing   day).
                                                              hour operations, *                             Trawl.                60 casts.
                                                              conducted in 2009 &                           CTD profiler and       Tow speed: 0.
                                                              2010 and in the                                rosette water         Duration: 60-90 min.
                                                              future as funding                              sampler.
                                                              allows.
St. Andrew Bay Juvenile Reef Fish    St. Andrew Bay, FL, up  Annually, May-Nov, 28   USCG Class I: Boston   Benthic Trawl........  13 trawls per week,
 Trawl Survey, (SEFSC) \1\.           to 2 m depths.          DAS, day operations     Whaler.                                       24 weeks, 312 trawls
                                                              only, (one day/week).                                                 total.
Small Pelagics Trawl Survey,         U.S. GOM in depths of   Annually, Oct-Nov, 40   USCG R/V: R/V Gordon   High-opening bottom    150-200 trawls.
 (SEFSC) \1\.                         50-500 m.               DAS, 24 hour            Gunter, R/V Pisces.    trawl.                Continuous.
                                                              operations (set/haul                          Simrad ME70 Multi-
                                                              anytime day or night).                         Beam echosounder.
                                                                                                            EK60 Multi-frequency   Continuous.
                                                                                                             single-beam active
                                                                                                             acoustics.
                                                                                                            ADCP.................  Continuous.
                                                                                                            CTD profiler and       250 casts.
                                                                                                             rosette water
                                                                                                             sampler.
SEAMAP-GOM Shrimp/Groundfish Trawl   U.S. GOM from FL to     Annually, summer (June  USCG Class II: R/V     Otter trawl..........  Effort evenly divided
 Survey (SEFSC, FFWCC, ADCNR, USM/    Mexico in depths of 9-  & July) and fall (Oct-  Trinity Bay, R/V      CTD profiler and        between seasons
 GCRL, LDWF) \1\.                     110-360 m.              Nov), effort evenly     Copano Bay, R/V RJ     rosette water          unless noted.
                                                              divided between         Kemp.                  sampler\uses YSI      SEFSC--345 trawls
                                                              seasons unless noted;  USCG Class III: R/V     Datasonde 6600 v2-4.   (summer), 325
                                                              all surveys have 24     A.E. Verrill, R/V                             (fall).
                                                              hour operations-set/    Alabama Discovery, R/                        FL--160 (summer
                                                              haul anytime day or     V Sabine Lake, R/V                            only).
                                                              night;.                 Nueces, R/V San                              AL--16-24.
                                                             SEFSC--80 DAS.........   Jacinto, R/V San                             MS--60.
                                                             FL--20 DAS (summer       Antonio, R/V                                 LA--32.
                                                              only).                  Matagorda Bay.                               SEFSC--395 casts
                                                             AL--6 DAS.............  USCG R/V: R/V Oregon                           (summer), 305
                                                             MS--6 DAS.............   II, R/V Tommy Munro,                          (fall).
                                                             LA--5 DAS.............   R/V Weatherbird II,                          FL--200 (summer
                                                                                      R/V Pelican, R/V                              only).
                                                                                      Blazing Seven (2011-                         AL--20.
                                                                                      2014), R/V Point Sur.                        MS--81.
                                                                                                                                   LA--39.
SEFSC BRD Evaluations (SEFSC) \1\..  State and Federal       Annually, May & Aug     USCG Class III: R/V    Western jib shrimp     20 paired trawls each
                                      nearshore and           (one week/month), 14    Caretta.               trawls.                season, 40 paired
                                      offshore waters off     DAS, night operations                                                 trawls total.
                                      FL, AL, MS, and LA at   only.
                                      depths of 10-35 m.
                                      Also Mississippi
                                      Sound at depths of 3-
                                      6 m.
SEFSC-GOM TED Evaluations, (SEFSC)   State and Federal       Annually, May, Aug, &   USCG Class I & II:     Western jib shrimp     30 paired trawls per
 \1\.                                 nearshore and           Sep (one week/month),   NOAA small boats.      trawls.                season, 90 paired
                                      offshore waters off     21 DAS, day            USCG Class III: R/V                            trawls total.
                                      FL, AL, MS, and LA at   operations only.        Caretta.
                                      depths of 10-35 m.
                                      Also Mississippi
                                      Sound at depths of 3-
                                      6 m.
SEFSC Skimmer Trawl TED Testing      Conducted in            Annually until 2016     USCG Class III: R/V    Skimmer trawls.......  600 paired trawls.
 (SEFSC) \1\.                         Mississippi Sound,      (tentative depending    Caretta.
                                      Chandeleur Sound, and   on funding and need)
                                      Breton Sound at         May-Dec, 5-15 DAS/
                                      depths of 2-6 m.        month, 60 DAS total,
                                                              24 hour operations-
                                                              set/haul anytime day
                                                              or night.

[[Page 27032]]

 
SEFSC Small Turtle TED Testing and   State waters in St.     Annually, 21 DAS, day   USCG Class III: R/V    Western jib shrimp     100 paired trawls.
 Gear Evaluations (SEFSC) \1\.        Andrews Bay, FL and     operations only.        Caretta.               trawls are utilized
                                      off Shell Island and/                                                  during TED
                                      or Panama City Beach,                                                  evaluations.
                                      FL at depths of 7-10
                                      m.
IJA Biloxi Bay Seine Survey,         MS state waters in      Annually, Jan-Dec, 25   USCG Class I & II: R/  Bag seine............  11 sets/month, 132
 (MDMR)\1\.                           Biloxi Bay, 1-2 m       DAS, day operations     V Grav I, R/V Grav                            sets total.
                                      depths.                 only.                   II, R/V Grav IV,
                                                                                      small vessel.
IJA Oyster Dredge Monitoring         MS state waters, at     Annually, Jan-Dec, 12   USCG Class I: R/V      Oyster dredge........  38 tows.
 Survey, (MDMR).                      commercially            DAS, day operations     Rookie USCG Class
                                      important oyster        only.                   II: R/V Silvership.
                                      reefs: Pass Christian
                                      Complex, Pass
                                      Marianne Reef,
                                      Telegraph Reef and
                                      St. Joe Reef, in 5-15
                                      ft depths.
IJA Shoreline Shellfish Bag Seine    TX state waters in      Annually, Jan-Dec, 120  N/A..................  Bag seine............  100 sets/month, 1200
 Survey, (TPWD) \1\.                  Galveston, Matagorda,   DAS, day operations                                                   total.
                                      Aransas, and Corpus     only.
                                      Christi Bays and the
                                      lower Laguna Madre, 0-
                                      6 ft depths.
Marine Mammal and Ecosystem          Northern GOM..........  Every three years,      USCG R/V: R/V Gordon   CTD profiler and       60 casts.
 Assessment Survey-GOM, (SEFSC) \1\.                          June-Sep, 60 DAS, 24    Gunter.                rosette water         .....................
                                                              hour operations (set/                          sampler.              300 units.
                                                              haul anytime day or                           Expendable bathy-
                                                              night).                                        thermographs.
                                                                                                            ADCP.................  Continuous.
                                                                                                            Simrad ME70 Multi-     Continuous.
                                                                                                             Beam echosounder.
                                                                                                            EK60 Multi-frequency   Continuous.
                                                                                                             single-beam active
                                                                                                             acoustics.
                                                                                                            Passive acoustic       Continuous.
                                                                                                             arrays.
Northeast GOM MPA Survey, (SEFSC) *  Madison-Swanson,        Annually, Feb-Mar, 60   USCG Class III: R/V    4-camera array.......  100-200 deployments.
 Currently Inactive.                  Steamboat Lumps, and    DAS, day operations     Caretta.              CTD Profiler.........  100-200 casts.
                                      The Edges marine        only.
                                      reserves on the West
                                      Florida Shelf.
Panama City Laboratory Reef Fish     Penscecola, FL to       Annually, May-Sep, 40   USCG Class II: R/V     4-camera array.......  200 deployments.
 (Trap/Video) Survey, (SEFSC).        Cedar Key, FL.          DAS, day operations     Harold B, USCG Class  Chevron fish trap      100 sets.
                                                              only.                   III: R/V Caretta , R/  outfitted with one
                                                                                      V Defender, R/V        GoPro video camera.
                                                                                      Apalachee.
                                                                                                            CTD profiler.........  200 casts.
SEAMAP-GOM Finfish Vertical Line     State and Federal       AL: Annually, two       USCG Class III: R/V    Bandit gear..........  AL: 120 sets per
 Survey, (ADCNR, LDWF, USM/GCRL).     waters off Alabama at   intervals: Spring       Escape, R/V Lady                              season, 240 sets
                                      sampling depths from    (Apr/May) and summer    Ann, R/V Defender I                           total.
                                      60 to 500 ft and LA     (July-Sep), 9 DAS,      USCG R/V: R/V                                LA: 100 sets total.
                                      waters west of the      day operations only     Blazing Seven (2011-                         TX: 165 sets total.
                                      Mississippi River       LA and TX: Annually,    2014), Poseidon,
                                      across three depth      April-Oct.              Trident R/V Sabine,
                                      strata (60-120 ft,                              San Jacinto, San
                                      120-180 ft, and 180-                            Antonio, Nueces,
                                      360 ft) and selected                            Laguna.
                                      areas of Texas at
                                      three depth strata
                                      (33-66 ft, 66-132 ft,
                                      and 132-495 ft).
                                      Stations are sampled
                                      during daylight hours.
                                     State and Federal       Annually, Mar-Oct, 16   USCG Class III: R/V    Bandit gear..........  15 stations/season--
                                      waters off MS.          DAS (4 days/month),     Jim Franks.                                   45 stations total, 3
                                      Sampling depths 5-55    day operations only.                                                  sets per station,
                                      fathoms. Stations are                                                                         135 sets total.
                                      sampled during
                                      daylight hours.
SEAMAP-GOM Plankton Survey, (ADCNR,  State and Federal       AL: Annually, Aug-Sep,  USCG Class III: R/V    Bongo net............  AL: 6 tows.
 LDWF, USM/GCRL).                     waters off the coast    2 DAS, day operations   A.E. Verrill, R/V                            LA: 9 tows.
                                      of AL, MS, LA, and FL.  only.                   Alabama Discovery, R/                        MS: 20 tows.
                                                                                      V Acadiana.
                                     LA: Annually, June,     USCG R/V: R/V Blazing   Neuston net..........  AL: 6 tows...........
                                      Sep, 2 DAS, day         Seven (2011-2014), R/                         LA: 9 tows...........
                                      operations only.        V Point Sur; R/V                              MS/FL: 20 tows.......
                                                              Defender.
                                                                                     MS: Annually, May and  CTD Profiler.........  AL: 6 casts.
                                                                                      Sep, 4 DAS, 24 hour                          LA: 9 casts.
                                                                                      operations.                                  MS/FL: 20 casts.

[[Page 27033]]

 
SEAMAP-GOM Plankton Survey, (SEFSC)  Coastal, shelf and      Annually, Feb-Mar       USCG R/V: R/V Oregon   Bongo net............  650 tows.
                                      open ocean waters of    (winter), 30 DAS;.      II, R/V Gordon        Neuston net..........  650 tows.
                                      the GOM.               Apr-May (spring), 60     Gunter, R/V Pisces.   MOCNESS..............  378 tows.
                                                              DAS.                                          Methot juvenile fish   126 tows.
                                                                                                             net.
                                                             Aug-Sep (fall), 36 DAS                         CTD profiler and       756 casts.
                                                             24 hour operations                              rosette water
                                                              (set/haul anytime day                          sampler.
                                                              or night).
SEAMAP-GOM Reef Fish Monitoring,     West FL shelf from      Annual, July-Sep, 50    USCG Class I & II: R/  2-camera array.......  150 deployments.
 (FFWCC).                             26[deg]N to Dry         DAS, daylight hours.    V No Frills, R/V
                                      Tortugas, FL.                                   Gulf Mariner, R/V
                                                                                      Sonic, R/V Johnson,
                                                                                      chartered fishing
                                                                                      vessels.
                                                                                     USCG Small R/V: R/V    Chevron fish trap....  300-450 sets.
                                                                                      Bellows, R/V
                                                                                      Apalachee USCG R/V:.
                                                                                     R/V Weatherbird......  CTD profiler.........  300 casts.
SEAMAP-GOM Reef Fish Survey,         Gulf-wide survey from   Annual, Apr-July, 60    USCG Class III: R/V    4-camera array.......  400-600 deployments.
 (SEFSC).                             Brownsville, TX to      DAS, 24 hour            Caretta, R/V Gandy.   Chevron trap           50-100 sets.
                                      Key West, FL, in        operations on large    USCG R/V: R/V Pisces,   (discontinued use in  400-600 casts.
                                      depths of 15-500 ft.    vessels (cameras,       R/V Oregon II.         2013).                120 sets.
                                      Approximately 7.0% of   traps, bandit--        USCG R/V: Southern     CTD Profiler.........  .....................
                                      this survey effort      daytime only), 12       Journey.              Bandit Reels.........  Continuous.
                                      (458 stations) occurs   hour operations on     NOAA Ship: Gordon      Acoustic Doppler       .....................
                                      within the Florida      small vessels           Hunter.                Current Profiler.     Continuous.
                                      Garden Banks NMS.       (daytime only).                               Simrad ME70 Multi-
                                                                                                             beam echosounder.
                                                                                                            EK60 Multi-frequency   Continuous.
                                                                                                             single-beam active
                                                                                                             acoustics.
IJA Oyster Visual Monitoring         MS state waters, 5-15   Annually, Sep/Oct to    USCG Class I & II: R/  SCUBA divers.........  ~20 dives.
 Survey, (MDMR).                      ft depths.              Apr/May of following    V Silvership, R/V
                                                              year, 12 DAS, day       Rookie.
                                                              operations only.
Reef Fish Visual Census Survey--Dry  Dry Tortugas area in    Biannually, May-Sept,   USCG Class II & III:   SCUBA divers with      300 stations (4dives
 Tortugas, Flower Gardens (SEFSC).    the GOM, <33m deep.     25 DAS, day             Chartered dive         meter sticks, 30 cm    per station).
                                                              operations only.        vessel.                rule and digital
                                                                                                             camera.
Tortugas Ecological Reserve Survey,  Tortugas South          Biannually, summer      USCG Class II & III:   SCUBA divers,          16 stations, each
 (SEFSC) *.                           Ecological Reserve,     (June or July), 6       Chartered vessel.      transect tape,         station done 2-3
* Currently inactive since 2015....   Florida Keys National   days, day and night                            clipboards/pencils.    times.
                                      Marine Sanctuary.       12 hour operations.
                                                             * Survey has been
                                                              discontinued since
                                                              2015.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Atlantic Research Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACFCMA American Eel Fyke Net         Goose Creek Reservoir   Annually, Feb-Apr, 32   USCG Class A: John     Fyke net.............  1 station per day, 40
 Survey, (SCDNR).                     or the Cooper River,    DAS, day operations     Boat--no motor, walk/                         collections total.
                                      near Charleston, SC,    only.                   wade to work net.
                                      1-7 ft depths.
                                                                                                            Thermometer..........  32 casts.
ACFCMA American Shad Drift Gillnet   Santee, Edisto,         Annual, Jan-Apr, (2-3   USCG Class I: R/V      Drift gillnet........  4-5 sets/trip, 120
 Survey, (SCDNR) \1\.                 Waccamaw, Combahee      trips/week), 40 DAS,    Bateau, R/V McKee                             sets total.
                                      Rivers, SC.             day operations only.    Craft.
RecFIN Red Drum Trammel Net Survey,  Coastal estuaries and   Annually, Jan-Dec, 120- USCG Class I: Florida  Trammel net..........  1000 sets/yr covering
 (SCDNR).                             rivers of SC in         144 DAS (14-18 days/    Mullet Skiffs.                                225 stations/yr.
                                      depths of 6 ft or       month), day                                                           Operates in 7-9
                                      less along shoreline.   operations only.                                                      strata/month.
HMS Chesapeake Bay and Coastal       Chesapeake Bay and      Annually, May-Oct (5    USCG Class III: R/V    Bottom longline......  50 sets.
 Virginia Bottom Longline Shark       state and Federal       days/month), 30 DAS,    Bay Eagle.
 Survey, (VIMS) \1\.                  waters off Virginia.    day operations only.
                                                                                                            Hydrolab MS5 Sonde...  50 casts.
MARMAP Reef Fish Long Bottom         South Atlantic Bight    Annually 1996-2012 *,   USCG Small R/V: R/V    Bottom longline......  60 sets.
 Longline Survey, (SCDNR) \1\.        (between 27[deg] N      Aug-Oct, 10-20 DAS,     Lady Lisa.            CTD profiler.........  60 casts.
                                      and 34[deg] N, but      day operations only.
                                      mostly off GA and      *Halted in 2012 but
                                      SC). Sampling occurs    will resume annually
                                      in Federal waters.      if funding obtained.
                                      Depths from ~500 to
                                      860 ft.
MARMAP/SEAMAP-SA Reef Fish Survey,   South Atlantic Bight    Annually, year-round    USCG R/V: R/V          Chevron fish trap      600 sets.
 (SCDNR) \1\ * Inactive 2012-2014.    (between 27[deg] N      but primarily Apr-      Palmetto.              outfitted with two    60 sets.
                                      and 34[deg] N).         Oct, 70-120 DAS, day                           cameras.              400 sets.
                                                              operations only.                              Bottom longline......  300 casts.
                                                                                                            Bandit reels.........
                                                                                                            CTD profiler.........

[[Page 27034]]

 
Pelagic Longline Survey-SA, (SEFSC)  Cape Hatteras, NC to    Intermittent, Feb-May,  USCG R/V: R/V Oregon   Pelagic Longline.....  100-125 sets.
 \1\.                                 Cape Canaveral, FL.     30 DAS, 24 hour         II.                   CTD profiler.........  100-125 casts.
(See also effort conducted in the                             operations (set/haul
 GOMRA).                                                      anytime day or night).
Shark and Red Snapper Bottom         Cape Hatteras, NC to    Annually, July-Sep, 60  USCG Class III: R/V    Bottom longline......  70 sets.
 Longline Survey-SA, (SEFSC) \1\.     Cape Canaveral, FL      DAS, 24 hour            Caretta.              CTD profiler and       70 casts.
(See also effort conducted in the     between bottom depths   operations (set/haul   USCG R/V: R/V Oregon    rosette water         0-20 tows.
 GOMRA).                              9-183 m.                anytime day or night).  II, R/V Gordon         sampler.
                                                                                      Gunter.               Neuston and bongo
                                                                                                             effort if needed to
                                                                                                             augment SEAMAP
                                                                                                             plankton objectives.
SEAMAP-SA Red Drum Bottom Longline   NC: Pamlico Sound or    Annually..............  USCG Class II: 26 ft   Bottom longline......  NC: 75-100 sets
 Survey, (NCDEQ, SCDNR, GDNR) \1\.    in the nearshore       NC: mid-July to mid-     outboard.             YSI (Dissolved          total.
                                      waters of Ocracoke      Oct (2 days/week for   USCG Class III: R/V     oxygen, salinity,     SC: 360 sets.
                                      Inlet.                  12 weeks), 24 DAS, 12   Marguerite,R/V         temperature).         GA: 200-275 sets.
                                     SC: Estuaries out to     hour operations,        Silver Crescent.                             NC: 75-100 casts.
                                      10 miles in Winyah      beginning at dusk.                                                   SC: 360 casts.
                                      Bay, Charleston                                                                              GA: 200-275 casts.
                                      Harbor, St. Helena
                                      Sound, and Port Royal
                                      Sound.
                                     GA: State and Federal   SC: Aug-Dec, day
                                      waters off the coast    operations only.
                                      of GA and NE FL,       36 DAS................
                                      (~32[deg]05' N         GA: Apr-Dec (6 days/
                                      latitude to the         month), 54 DAS, day
                                      north, 29[deg]20' N     operations only.
                                      latitude to the
                                      south, 80[deg]30' W
                                      longitude to the
                                      east, and the
                                      coastline to the
                                      west).
ACFCMA Ecological Monitoring Trawl   Georgia state waters    Annually, Jan-Dec (7    USCG Class III: R/V    Otter trawl..........  42 trawls/month, 504
 Survey, (GDNR) \1\.                  out to 3 nm, 10-35 ft   days/month), 84 DAS,    Anna.                 YSI 85 (Dissolved       trawls total.
                                      depths.                 day operations only.                           oxygen, salinity,     504 casts total.
                                                                                                             temperature).
ACFCMA Juvenile Stage Trawl Survey,  Creeks and rivers of    Annually, Dec-Jan (3    USCG Class I: 19 ft    Otter trawl..........  18 trawls/month, 216
 (GDNR) \1\.                          three Georgia sound     days/month), 36 DAS,    Cape Horn; 25 ft      YSI 85 (Dissolved       trawls total.
                                      systems (Ossabaw,       day operations only.    Parker.                oxygen, salinity,     216 casts total.
                                      Altamaha, and St.                                                      temperature).
                                      Andrew).
Atlantic Striped Bass Tagging        North of Cape           Annually, Jan-Feb, 14   USCG R/V: R/V Oregon   65 ft high-opening     200-350 trawls.
 Bottom Trawl Survey, (USFWS) \1\.    Hatteras, NC, in        DAS, 24 hour            II, R/V Cape           bottom trawls.
                                      state and Federal       operations (set/haul    Hatteras, R/V
                                      waters, 30-120 ft       anytime day or night).  Savannah.
                                      depths.
Juvenile Sport Fish Trawl            Florida Bay, FL.......  Annually, May-Nov, 35   USCG Class I: R/V      Otter trawl..........  ~500 trawls.
 Monitoring in Florida Bay, (SEFSC)                           DAS, day operations     Batou.
 \1\.                                                         only.
Oceanic Deep-water Trawl Survey      Southeastern U.S.       Intermittent due to     USCG R/V: NOAA ships.  High Speed Midwater    60 trawls (2-3 per
 (SEFSC) \1\ * Currently Inactive.    Atlantic waters >500    funding, 20 DAS, 24                            Trawl, Aleutian Wing   day).
                                      m deep.                 hour operations                                Trawl.                60 casts.
                                                              (trawls may be set                            CTD profiler and
                                                              and retrieved day or                           rosette water
                                                              night).                                        sampler.
                                                             * conducted as funding
                                                              allows.
SEAMAP-SA NC Pamlico Sound Trawl     Pamlico Sound and the   Annually, June & Sep,   USCG Class III: R/V    Otter trawl: Paired    54 trawls each month,
 Survey, (NCDENR) \1\.                Pamlico, Pungo, and     20 DAS (10 days/        Carolina Coast.        mongoose-type Falcon   108 trawls total.
                                      Neuse rivers in         month), day                                    bottom trawls.        54 casts each month,
                                      waters >=6 ft deep.     operations only.                              Ponar grab...........   108 total.
                                                                                                            YSI 556 (Dissolved     54 casts each month,
                                                                                                             oxygen, salinity,      108 total.
                                                                                                             temperature).
                                                                                                            Secchi disk..........  54 casts each month,
                                                                                                                                    108 total.
SEAMAP-SA Coastal Trawl Survey,      Cape Hatteras, NC to    Annually, Apr-May       USCG Small R/V: R/V    Otter trawl: Paired    300-350 trawls total,
 (SCDNR) \1\.                         Cape Canaveral, FL in   (spring), July-Aug      Lady Lisa.             mongoose-type Falcon   evenly divided
                                      nearshore oceanic       (summer), and Oct-Nov                          bottom trawls.         between seasons.
                                      waters of 15-30 ft      (fall), 60-65 DAS,
                                      depth.                  day operations only.
                                                                                                            SEABIRD electronic     300-350 casts.
                                                                                                             CTD.
SEFSC-SA TED Evaluations, (SEFSC)    State and Federal       Annually, Nov-Apr, 10   USCG Class III: R/V    Otter trawl: Mongoose  50 paired trawls.
 \1\.                                 waters off Georgia      DAS, 24 hour            Georgia Bulldog.       shrimp trawls.
                                      and eastern FL.         operations--set/haul
                                                              anytime day or night.
In-Water Sea Turtle Research         Winyah Bay, SC to St.   Annually, mid-May       USCG Class III: R/V    Paired flat net        400-450 trawls.
 (SCDNR) \1\.                         Augustine, FL in        through late Jul to     Georgia Bulldog.       bottom trawls (NMFS
                                      water depths of 15-45   early Aug, 24-30 DAS,  USCG Small R/V: R/V     Turtle Nets per
                                      ft.                     day operations only.    Lady Lisa.             Dickerson et al.
                                                                                                             1995) with tickler
                                                                                                             chains.

[[Page 27035]]

 
ACFCMA American Eel Pot Survey for   Georgia state waters    Annually. Sampling      USCG Class I: 19 ft    Eel traps/pots with    30 stations (180 sets/
 Yellow-phase Eels, (GADNR).          in the Altamaha River   monthly Nov-Apr.        Cape Horn, 18 ft       float.                 month; 30 traps set
                                      System. Sampling is     based on water temp.    skiff.                                        each of 6 days).
                                      conducted during        36 DAS (6 days/
                                      daylight hours. Depth   month), day
                                      ranges from 2 to 20     operations only.
                                      ft.
Beaufort Bridgenet Plankton Survey,  Pivers Island Bridge,   Annually, Nov-May       None.................  Plankton net.........  125 tows.
 (SEFSC).                             NOAA Beaufort           (some years monthly
                                      facility, Beaufort,     Jan-Dec), night
                                      NC.                     operations only
                                                              sampling occurs once
                                                              per week, n+4 tows
                                                              per night.
Integrated Biscayne Bay Ecological   Western shoreline of    Twice annually, May-    USCG Class II & III    Human divers.........  100 dives.
 Assessment and Monitoring Project    Biscayne Bay, FL.       Oct (wet season) and    vessels.              Throw trap...........  372 casts.
 (IBBEAM) Project, (SEFSC).                                   Nov-Apr (dry season),
                                                              14 DAS, day
                                                              operations only.
Intraspecific Diversity in Pink      Florida Bay,            Annually, June-Aug, 16  USCG Class I: R/V      Miniature roller-      40 trawls.
 Shrimp Survey, (SEFSC) * Currently   Whitewater Bay,         DAS, day operations     Privateer.             frame trawl.          40 samples.
 inactive.                            Fakahatchee Bay,        only.                                         Dip net..............  40 sets.
                                      Biscayne Bay, Sanibel                                                 Bag seine............
                                      shrimp fishery,
                                      Tortugas shrimp
                                      fishery.
Marine Mammal and Ecosystem          Southeastern U.S.       Every three years,      USCG R/V: R/V Gordon   CTD profiler and       60 casts.
 Assessment Survey-SA (SEFSC) \1\.    Atlantic.               June-Sep, 60 DAS, 24    Gunter.                rosette water         300 units.
                                                              hour operations.                               sampler.
                                                                                                            Expendable bathy-
                                                                                                             thermographs.
                                                                                                            Acoustic Doppler       Continuous.
                                                                                                             Current Profiler.
                                                                                                            Simrad ME70 Multi-     Continuous.
                                                                                                             Beam echosounder.
                                                                                                            EK60 Multi-frequency   Continuous.
                                                                                                             single-beam active
                                                                                                             acoustics.
                                                                                                            Passive acoustic       Continuous.
                                                                                                             arrays.
RecFIN Red Drum Electrofishing       Coastal estuaries and   Annually, Jan-Dec, 60-  USCG Class I: Small    18 ft elecrofishing    360 stations per year
 Survey, (SCDNR).                     rivers of SC in         72 DAS (5-6 days/       vessels.               boat.                  (30 sites/month).
                                      depths of 6 ft or       month), day
                                      less in low salinity    operations only.
                                      waters (0-12 ppt).
St. Lucie Rod-and-Reel Fish Health   Nearshore reef, inlet,  Annually, Jan-Dec,      USCG Class I: Small    Rod and reel gear....  468 stations per
 Study, (SEFSC) \1\ * Currently       and estuary of St.      weekly, 156 DAS, day    vessels.                                      year: 3/day x 3 day/
 inactive.                            Lucie River, FL inlet   operations only.                                                      wk.
                                      system (Jupiter or
                                      Ft. Pierce, FL).
SEAMAP-SA Gag Ingress Study,         In the vicinity of      Annually, Mar-June,     USCG Class I: Small    Witham collectors....  15 sets (4 collectors
 (SCDNR) * Inactive since 2016.       Swansboro, NC;          100 DAS, day            vessels.                                      at each set), 60
                                      Wilmington, NC;         operations only.                                                      sets total.
                                      Georgetown, SC;
                                      Charleston, SC;
                                      Beaufort, SC;
                                      Savannah, GA; and
                                      Brunswick, GA.
Southeast Fishery Independent        Cape Hatteras, NC, to   Annually, Apr-Oct, 30-  USCG R/V: R/V Nancy    Chevron fish trap      1,000 deployments.
 Survey (SEFIS) (SEFSC) \1\.          St. Lucie Inlet, FL.    80 DAS, 24 hour         Foster, R/V Pisces,    outfitted with 2      .....................
                                     Fifteen survey           operations (cameras &   R/V Savannah.          high-definition       .....................
                                      stations occur within   traps--daytime                                 video cameras..       100-200 casts.
                                      Gray's Reef NMS.        operations,                                   CTD profiler.........  Continuous.
                                                              acoustics--anytime                            Simrad ME70 Multi-
                                                              day or night).                                 Beam echosounder.
                                                                                                            Multi-frequency        Continuous.
                                                                                                             single-beam active
                                                                                                             acoustics.
U.S. South Atlantic MPA Survey,      Jacksonville, FL to     Annually, May-Aug, 14   USCG R/V: R/V Pisces,  ROV Phantom S2         10-40 deployments.
 (SEFSC) \1\.                         Cape Fear, NC on or     DAS, 24 hour            R/V Nancy Foster, R/   vehicle with tether   .....................
                                      near the continental    operations (ROV         V Spree.               attached to CTD       .....................
                                      shelf edge at depths    daytime operations,                            cable.                28 casts.
                                      between 80 and 600 m.   acoustics--anytime                            CTD profiler.........  Every other night for
                                                              day or night).                                Simrad ME70 Multi-      6-12 hrs.
                                                                                                             Beam echosounder.
                                                                                                            EK60 Multi-frequency   Every other night for
                                                                                                             single-beam active     6-12 hrs.
                                                                                                             acoustics.
FL/Dry Tortugas Coral Reef Benthic   Survey area             Quarterly-annually,     USCG Class I & II:     SCUBA divers with      300 dives.
 Survey, (SEFSC).                     encompasses Federal     May-Oct, 100 DAS.       Small vessels.         measuring devices,
                                      and territorial                                                        cameras, and hand
                                      waters from Dry                                                        tools.
                                      Tortugas to Martin
                                      County, FL. Surveys
                                      occur within the
                                      Florida Keys NMS (150
                                      stations).

[[Page 27036]]

 
Demographic Monitoring of Acropora   Florida Keys National   3 x per year, ~35 DAS.  USCG Class I.........  SCUBA divers.........  30 fixed plots.
 Species, (SEFSC).                    Marine Sanctuary.
Reef Fish Visual Census Survey--     Florida Keys NMS and    Annually, May-Sep, 25   USCG Class I: R/V      SCUBA divers with      300 dives.
 Florida Keys/SE Florida Shelf,       SE Florida Shelf, <33   DAS, day operations     Aldo Leopold.          meter sticks, 30 cm
 (SEFSC).                             m deep.                 only.                                          rule and digital
                                                                                                             camera.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Caribbean Research Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Caribbean Plankton Recruitment       Caribbean and Mexican   Bi-annually, Feb or     USCG R/V: R/V Gordon   Bongo net............  75 tows.
 Experiment, (SEFSC).                 waters.                 June, 15 DAS, 24 hour   Gunter, R/V Nancy     MOCNESS..............  75 tows.
                                                              operations, anytime     Foster.               CTD profiler and       75 casts.
                                                              day or night.                                  rosette water
                                                                                                             sampler.
Caribbean Reef Fish Survey, (SEFSC)  PR and USVI,            Every two years, Mar-   USCG R/V: R/V Pisces,  Bandit Reels.........  300 sets.
 \1\.                                 continental shelf       June, 40 DAS, 24 hour   R/V Oregon II.        4-camera array.......  150 deployments.
                                      waters.                 operations.                                   Chevron traps........  100 sets.
                                                                                                            CTD profiler.........  300 casts.
                                                                                                            Simrad ME70 Multi-     Continuous.
                                                                                                             Beam echosounder.
                                                                                                            Acoustic Doppler       Continuous.
                                                                                                             Current Profiler.
                                                                                                            EK60 Multi-frequency   Continuous.
                                                                                                             single-beam active
                                                                                                             acoustics.
Marine Mammal and Ecosystem          U.S. Caribbean Sea....  Every three years,      USCG R/V: R/V Gordon   CTD profiler and       60 casts.
 Assessment Survey-C, (SEFSC) \1\.                            June-Sep, 60 DAS, 24    Gunter.                rosette water         .....................
                                                              hour operations-                               sampler.              .....................
                                                              acoustics-anytime day                         Expendable bathy-      300 units.
                                                              or night.                                      thermographs.         Continuous.
                                                                                                            Acoustic Doppler
                                                                                                             Current Profiler.
                                                                                                            Simrad ME70 Multi-     Continuous.
                                                                                                             Beam echosounder.
                                                                                                            EK60 Multi-frequency   Continuous.
                                                                                                             single-beam active
                                                                                                             acoustics.
                                                                                                            Passive acoustic       Continuous.
                                                                                                             arrays.
SEAMAP-C Reef Fish Survey (PR-DNER,  USVI and PR             Annually, Jan-Dec,      USCG Class I & III:    Camera array--two      PR: 120 per coast
 USVI-DFW).                           territorial and         (Day operations only).  Three chartered        GoPro cameras and      total of 240.
* Began 2017.......................   Federal waters at 15-  PR: 70 DAS for each      vessels.               four lasers set on    USVI: 72 per island,
                                      300 ft depths.          coast.                                         an aluminum frame.     144 total.
                                                             USVI: ~30 DAS.........
SEAMAP-C Lane Snapper Bottom         East, west, and south   Annually beginning      USCG Class III: Two    Bottom longline......  45 sets/season, 180
 Longline Survey, (PR-DNER) \1\.      coasts of PR in         July 2015, (summer,     chartered vessels.                            sets total.
                                      territorial and         winter, fall,
                                      Federal waters at       spring), 120 DAS (30
                                      depths ranging from     days/season), night
                                      15-300 ft.              operations only.
SEAMAP-C Yellowtail Snapper Rod-and- East, west, and south   Annually beginning      USCG Class I & III:    Rod-and-reel gear....  120 stations (360
 Reel Survey, (PR-DNER) \1\.          coasts of PR in         2014, (4 sampling       Three chartered                               lines total).
                                      territorial and         seasons), 120 DAS,      vessels.
                                      Federal waters at       night operations only.
                                      depths ranging from
                                      15-300 ft.
Caribbean Coral Reef Benthic         Federal and             Annual to triennial,    USCG Class I & II:     SCUBA divers with      300 dives.
 Survey, (SEFSC).                     territorial waters      May-Oct, 30 DAS, day    Small vessel <28 ft.   measuring devices
                                      around PR, USVI, and    operations only.                               and hand tools.
                                      Navassa.
Reef Fish Visual Census Survey-U.S.  PR and USVI waters <    Annually, May-Sept, 25  USCG Class I & II:     SCUBA divers with      300 dives.
 Caribbean, (SEFSC).                  100 ft deep.            DAS, day operations     Small vessel <24 ft.   meter sticks, 30 cm
                                                              only.                                          rule and digital
                                                                                                             camera.
SEAMAP-C Queen Conch Visual Survey,  PR and USVI             Annually,.............  USCG Class I &         SCUBA divers, SCUBA    PR: 100 dives
 (PR-DNER, USVI-DFW).                 territorial waters in  PR: July-Nov, 35 DAS..   III:Three chartered    gear and underwater   USVI: 62 dives.
                                      10-90 ft depths, some  USVI: June-Oct, 62       vessels.               scooters.
                                      sampling occurs in      DAS, day operation
                                      Federal waters.         only.
SEAMAP-C Spiny Lobster Post Larvae   PR territorial waters   Every four years......  USCG Class I & III:    Fifty-six modified     6 stations along the
 Settlement Surveys, (PR-DNER).       in 6-90 ft depths.     West cost of PR: Jan-    Three chartered        Witham pueruli         west coast platform
                                                              Dec, 84 DAS.            vessels.               collectors.            per depth and
                                                                                     R/V Erdman...........                          distance from the
                                                                                                                                    shoreline.
SEAMAP-C Spiny Lobster Artificial    PR and USVI             Annually,.............  USCG Class I &         Juvenile lobster       10 shelters,
 Habitat Survey, (PR-DNER, USVI-      territorial waters in  PR: Jan-Dec, 84 DAS...   III:Three chartered    artificial shelters.   continuous
 DFW).                                6-90 ft depths.        USVI: Jan-Dec, 20 DAS,   vessels.              SCUBA divers, SCUBA     deployment.
                                                              day operations only.                           gear and underwater   PR: 60 dives
                                                                                                             scooters.             USVI: 20 dives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These surveys have the potential to take marine mammals through M/SI and/or Level B harassment.
* Inactive projects are currently not conducted but could resume if funds became available.


[[Page 27037]]

    Description of Fishing Gear--A complete description of fishery-
independent survey gear and vessels used by the SEFSC is provided in 
the proposed rule (84 FR 6576, February 27, 2019) and Appendix A of the 
PEA. We refer the reader to those documents for a detailed description 
of gear and fishing methods.
    Description of Active Acoustic Sound Sources--A wide range of 
active acoustic devices are used in SEFSC fisheries surveys for 
remotely sensing bathymetric, oceanographic, and biological features of 
the environment. A complete description of acoustic sources used by the 
SEFSC is provided in the proposed rule (84 FR 6576, February 27, 2019) 
and the PEA. We refer the reader to those documents for a detailed 
description of gear, fishing methods, and acoustic source 
characteristics. A summary table of source operational parameters is 
below (Table 2).

                       Table 2--Operating Characteristics of SEFSC Active Acoustic Sources
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Effective
                                              Maximum source                         Effective    exposure area:
                                 Operating     level (dB re:                      exposure area:  Sea surface to
   Active acoustic system       frequencies    1[micro]Pa @1   Nominal beamwidth  Sea surface to      160 dB
                                   (kHz)            m)                              200 m depth      threshold
                                                                                      (km\2\)      depth (km\2\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simrad EK60 narrow beam          18, 38, 70,             224  11[deg] @18 kHz...          0.0142          0.1411
 echosounder.                  120, * 200, *                  7[deg] @38 kHz....
                                         333
Simrad ME70 multibeam                 70-120             205  140[deg]..........          0.0201          0.0201
 echosounder.
Teledyne RD Instruments                   75           223.6  N/A...............          0.0086          0.0187
 ADCP, Ocean Surveyor.
Simrad EQ50.................       50, * 200             210  16 @50kHz.........          0.0075           0.008
                                                              7 @200kHz.........
Simrad ITI Trawl Monitoring            27-33            <200  40[deg] x 100[deg]          0.0032          0.0032
 System.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Devices working at this frequency is outside of known marine mammal hearing range and is not considered to
  have the potential to result in marine mammal harassment.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal 
Register on February 27, 2019 (84 FR 6576) and requested comments and 
information from the public. During the 30-day public comment period, 
we received letters from the Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) and 
comments from four public citizens. We provide a summary of the 
comments and our full responses here and have posted the public 
comments on our website: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act and 
on the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov (enter 0648-
BG44 in the ``Search'' box and scroll down to the Comments section).
    Comment 1: The Commission recommends that NMFS revise Table 3a in 
the Federal Register notice to include fin, sei, and Bryde's whales as 
marine mammals that potentially occur in the CRA and revise its 
analyses and take estimates as necessary.
    NMFS Response: Fin, sei and Bryde's whales are extralimital or 
rarely sighted in the CRA. While Bryde's whales routinely occur in the 
southern Caribbean off (e.g., off the coast of Venezuela), they are 
rare in the SEFSC's CRA in the northern Caribbean. There is one record 
from Puerto Rico (Mignucci-Giannoni et al. 1998) and one from Cuba 
(Whitt et al. 2011). The Commission cited Erdman et al., 1973 and Ward 
et al., 2001 when claiming Bryde's whales also have been observed in 
waters off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and generally occur 
in nearshore and shelf edge waters. However, both NMFS and the SEFSC 
reviewed the referenced documents and cannot find this information. 
Whitt et al. (2011) confirmed one (likely extralimital) northeastern 
Caribbean stranding record from the Dominican Republic in July 1974 
(Mead, 1977). Sightings designated as sei whales in the northeastern 
Caribbean (Erdman, 1970; Erdman et al., 1973; Mignucci-Giannoni, 1989) 
are not confirmed records. Neither photos nor clear diagnostic features 
were provided for these unconfirmed records; the species identification 
was based on behavioral characteristics. Likewise, there are no 
confirmed records of sei whales in Cuban waters. There is also no 
indication that fin whales are not rare in the CRA. Based on this 
review, NMFS determined the Commission's recommendation was not 
supported and we did not include take of fin, sei, and Bryde's whales 
in the final rule.
    Comment 2: The Commission provides general recommendations--not 
specific to the proposed SEFSC rulemaking--that NMFS provide interim 
guidance based on various criteria (e.g., source level, peak frequency, 
bandwidth, signal duration and duty cycle, affected species or stocks) 
for determining when prospective applicants should request taking by 
Level B harassment resulting from the use of echosounders, other 
sonars, and subbottom profilers.
    NMFS Response: NMFS is currently in the process of developing 
guidance to assist potential applicants in assessing whether a take is 
likely to result from particular activities. In the meanwhile, we 
provide assistance and guidance as requested to interested parties on a 
case-by-case basis.
    Comment 3: The Commission recommends that NMFS require SEFSC to 
estimate the numbers of marine mammals taken by Level B harassment 
incidental to the use of active acoustic sources (e.g., echosounders) 
based on the 120-decibel (dB) rather than the 160-dB root mean square 
(rms) sound pressure level (SPL) threshold. They alternatively suggest 
that NMFS require the SEFSC to estimate take based on acoustic 
thresholds developed by the U.S. Navy, including the Navy's unweighted 
120 dB re 1 [mu]Pa threshold for harbor porpoises and the various 
biphasic dose response functions for the other marine mammal species.
    Response: The Commission repeats a recommendation made in prior 
letters concerning the proposed authorization of take incidental to use 
of scientific sonars (such as echosounders). As we have described in 
responding to those prior comments (e.g., 83 FR 36370), our evaluation 
of the available information leads us to disagree with this 
recommendation. We provide a full

[[Page 27038]]

response to this comment in our notice of issuance of an IHA to Alaska 
Fisheries Science Center Final Rule (84 FR 46788, September 5, 2019) 
with a summary here. First, the Commission misinterprets how NMFS 
characterizes scientific sonars and claims that we are using an 
incorrect threshold because scientific sonars do not produce impulse 
noise. Sound sources can be divided into broad categories based on 
various criteria or for various purposes. As discussed by Richardson et 
al. (1995), source characteristics include strength of signal 
amplitude, distribution of sound frequency and, importantly in context 
of these thresholds, variability over time. With regard to temporal 
properties, sounds are generally considered to be either continuous or 
transient (i.e., intermittent). Continuous sounds, which are produced 
by the industrial noise sources for which the 120-dB behavioral 
harassment threshold was selected, are simply those whose sound 
pressure level remains above ambient sound during the observation 
period (ANSI, 2005). Intermittent sounds are defined as sounds with 
interrupted levels of low or no sound (NIOSH, 1998). Simply put, a 
continuous noise source produces a signal that continues over time, 
while an intermittent source produces signals of relatively short 
duration having an obvious start and end with predictable patterns of 
bursts of sound and silent periods (i.e., duty cycle) (Richardson and 
Malme, 1993). It is this fundamental temporal distinction that is most 
important for categorizing sound types in terms of their potential to 
cause a behavioral response.
    The Commission relies heavily on the use of examples pertaining to 
the most sensitive species, which does not support an argument that the 
120-dB threshold should be applied to all species. NMFS has 
acknowledged that the scientific evidence indicates that certain 
species are, in general, more acoustically sensitive than others. In 
particular, harbor porpoise and beaked whales are considered to be 
behaviorally sensitive, and it may be appropriate to consider use of 
lower behavioral harassment thresholds for these species. NMFS is 
considering this issue in its current work of developing new guidelines 
for assessing behavioral harassment. However, until this work is 
completed and new guidelines are identified (if appropriate), the 
existing generic thresholds are retained. Moreover, as is discussed 
above for other reasons, the majority of examples cited by the 
Commission are of limited relevance in terms of comparison of sound 
sources. In support of their statement that numerous researchers have 
observed marine mammals responding to sound from sources claimed to be 
similar to those considered herein, the Commission indeed cites 
numerous studies. However, the vast majority of these address responses 
of harbor porpoise or beaked whales to various types of acoustic alarms 
or deterrent devices.
    With respect to the Commission's recommendation that the SEFSC 
adopt the Navy's dose-response models to estimate take, we find several 
reasons why this suggestion should not be implemented. First, the data 
on which the Navy's dose-response curves are based are primarily from 
marine mammal exposure to military tactical sonar, a source not 
relevant to the SEFSC. Second, for reasons referenced above, we do not 
agree that a 120 dB threshold is appropriate, especially the step-
function created for harbor porpoise considering that this species is 
non-existent in the GOMRI and CRA and limited in the ARA. Lastly, NMFS 
does not require applicants to adopt another applicant's model, 
especially complex biphastic models, when the proposed take estimate 
approach is appropriate, which it was in this case. Therefore, NMFS did 
not adopt the Navy's dose-response model to estimate take.
    Finally, we acknowledge that the Commission presents legitimate 
points in support of defining a threshold specific to non-impulsive, 
intermittent sources and that, among the large number of cited studies, 
there are a few that show relevant results of individual animals 
responding to exposure at lower received levels in ways that could be 
considered harassment. As noted in a previous comment response, NMFS is 
currently engaged in an ongoing effort towards developing updated 
guidance regarding the effects of anthropogenic sound on marine mammal 
behavior. However, prior to conclusion of this effort, NMFS will 
continue using the historical Level B harassment thresholds (or 
derivations thereof) and will appropriately evaluate behavioral 
harassment due to intermittent sound sources relative to the 160-dB 
threshold.
    Comment 4: The Commission notes that NMFS has delineated two 
categories of acoustic sources, largely based on frequency, with those 
sources operating at frequencies greater than the known hearing ranges 
of any marine mammal (i.e., >180 kilohertz (kHz)) lacking the potential 
to disturb marine mammals by causing disruption of behavioral patterns. 
The Commission describes the recent scientific literature on acoustic 
sources with frequencies above 180 kHz (i.e., Deng et al., 2014; Hastie 
et al., 2014) and recommends that we estimate numbers of takes 
associated with those acoustic sources (or similar acoustic sources) 
with frequencies above 180 kHz that have been shown to elicit 
behavioral responses above the 120-dB threshold.
    Response: As the Commission acknowledges, we considered the cited 
information in our Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. NMFS' response 
regarding the appropriateness of the 120-dB versus 160-dB rms 
thresholds was provided above in the response to Comment #3. In 
general, the referenced literature indicates only that sub-harmonics 
could be detectable by certain species at distances up to several 
hundred meters. As we have noted in previous responses, behavioral 
response to a stimulus does not necessarily indicate that Level B 
harassment, as defined by the MMPA, has occurred. Source levels of the 
secondary peaks considered in these studies--those within the hearing 
range of some marine mammals--mean that these sub-harmonics would 
either be below the threshold for Level B harassment or would attenuate 
to such a level within a few meters. Beyond these important study 
details, these high-frequency (i.e., Category 1) sources and any energy 
they may produce below the primary frequency that could be audible to 
marine mammals would be dominated by a few primary sources (e.g., EK60) 
that are operated near-continuously--much like other Category 2 sources 
considered in our assessment of potential incidental take from SEFSC's 
use of active acoustic sources--and the potential range above threshold 
would be so small as to essentially discount them. Further, recent 
sound source verification testing of these and other similar systems 
did not observe any sub-harmonics in any of the systems tested under 
controlled conditions (Crocker and Fratantonio, 2016). While this can 
occur during actual operations, the phenomenon may be the result of 
issues with the system or its installation on a vessel rather than an 
issue that is inherent to the output of the system. There is no 
evidence to suggest that Level B harassment of marine mammals should be 
expected in relation to use of active acoustic sources at frequencies 
exceeding 180 kHz.
    Comment 5: The Commission recommended that, in the preamble to the 
final rule, NMFS (1) specify in Table 11 which species were lacking 
density data and clarify whether densities were available for blue, 
sei, and killer whales in ARA and humpback and minke

[[Page 27039]]

whales in the GOMRA and (2) ensure Tables 13 and 18 include all species 
and stocks proposed to be taken by SEFSC's proposed activities. The 
Commission understands that NMFS did not intentionally omit this 
information.
    NMFS Response: Species for which density data are not available 
were included in a footnote in Table 11 in the proposed rule. However, 
NMFS has updated that footnote to include blue whales, sei whales, and 
killer whales in the ARA and humpback whales and minke whales in the 
GOMRA. NMFS also updated the relevant tables in this final rule to 
ensure all species for which take is authorized are included in both 
tables. While these changes provide clarity, NMFS did not change 
species taken or amount of take from the proposed rule. Therefore, 
there is no modification to our analysis or determinations.
    Comment 6: The Commission recommends that NMFS ensure that the 
final rule includes details similar to those specified in the preamble 
for the various mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures.
    NMFS Response: NMFS has included all the mitigation, monitoring and 
reporting measures in the regulatory text as discussed in the preamble 
in this final rule.
    Comment 7: The Commission recommends that NMFS authorize taking by 
M/SI only for those stocks for which a negligible impact determination 
can be made when looking at overall removals from each stock as a 
whole. The Commission is concerned that it appears that removal of an 
animal from some bottlenose dolphin stocks meet or exceed PBR and that 
any additional mortalities from those stocks should not be considered 
as having negligible impact. Specifically, the Commission indicates the 
proposed number of takes that could result in M/SI for SEFSC would not 
equal or exceed PBR for most stocks. However, the proposed takes by M/
SI for SEFSC would equal PBR for the Northern South Carolina Estuarine 
(NSCE) stock of bottlenose dolphins and would exceed PBR for the Mobile 
Bay, Bonsecour Bay (Mobile Bay) stock and the MS Sound stock. Although 
NMFS proposed to authorize the taking by M/SI of only one bottlenose 
dolphin during the proposed 5-year period (or 0.2 dolphins per year) 
from each of the three stocks, when considered in light of other known 
causes of mortality, PBR would either be met or exceeded.
    NMFS Response: The Commission appears to assert that NMFS cannot 
make a negligible impact determination when the proposed or authorized 
M/SI take from a marine mammal stock, when considered in light of other 
known causes of mortality, meets or exceeds PBR. As described in more 
detail in the Negligible Impact Analysis and Determination section 
later in this document, consistent with the interpretation of PBR 
across the rest of the agency, NMFS' Permits and Conservation Division 
has been using PBR as a tool to inform the negligible impact analysis 
under section 101(a)(5)(A), recognizing that it is not a dispositive 
threshold that automatically determines whether a given amount of M/SI 
either does or does not exceed a negligible impact on the affected 
species or stock. In 1999, NMFS published criteria for making a 
negligible impact determination pursuant to section 101(a)(5)(E) of the 
MMPA in a notice of proposed permits for certain fisheries (64 FR 
28800; May 27, 1999). Criterion 2 stated ``If total human-related 
serious injuries and mortalities are greater than PBR, and fisheries-
related mortality is less than 0.1 PBR, individual fisheries may be 
permitted if management measures are being taken to address non-
fisheries-related serious injuries and mortalities. When fisheries-
related serious injury and mortality is less than 10 percent of the 
total, the appropriate management action is to address components that 
account for the major portion of the total.'' This criterion addresses 
when total human-caused mortality is exceeding PBR, but the activity 
being assessed is responsible for only a small portion of the 
mortality. Accordingly, we applied a similar criterion in our 
negligible impact analysis under section 101(a)(5)(A) to evaluate the 
relative role of an applicant's incidental take when other sources of 
take are causing PBR to be exceeded, but the take of the specified 
activity is comparatively small. Where this occurs, we may find that 
the impacts of the taking from the specified activity may (those 
impacts alone, before we have considered the combined effects from any 
harassment take) be negligible even when total human-caused mortality 
from all activities exceeds PBR if (in the context of a particular 
species or stock) the authorized mortality or serious injury would be 
less than or equal to 10 percent of PBR and management measures are 
being taken to address serious injuries and mortalities from the other 
activities (i.e., other than the specified activities covered by the 
incidental take authorization under consideration). Here, pursuant to 
the criteria, the authorized mortality or serious injury would be less 
than or equal to 10 percent of PBR, and management measures are being 
taken to address serious injuries and mortalities from the other 
activities (i.e., other than the specified activities covered by the 
incidental take authorization under consideration). We must also 
determine, though, that impacts on the species or stock from other 
types of take (i.e., harassment) caused by the applicant do not combine 
with the impacts from mortality or serious injury to result in adverse 
effects on the species or stock through effects on annual rates of 
recruitment or survival. Wade et al. (1998), authors of the paper from 
which the current PBR equation is derived, note that ``Estimating 
incidental mortality in one year to be greater than the PBR calculated 
from a single abundance survey does not prove the mortality will lead 
to depletion; it identifies a population worthy of careful future 
monitoring and possibly indicates that mortality-mitigation efforts 
should be initiated.''
    In addition to a quantitative approach comparing the issued M/SI 
against PBR, a number of other factors influence our negligible impact 
determination. These are described in detail in our Negligible Impact 
Analysis and Determination section below, but we also summarize them 
here. First, the amount of M/SI take authorized for estuarine 
bottlenose dolphins stocks is the lowest amount possible (one over 5 
years). Therefore, in 4 of those 5 years, no effect to rates of 
recruitment or survival would occur. Second, literature suggests the 
interaction with fishing gear (including trawls which account for the 
majority of SEFSC fisheries research) is biased towards males. The loss 
of a male from the population is less likely, if at all, to have an 
effect on population rates of recruitment or survival. Third, there are 
a number of ongoing management actions, including development and 
implementation of a Gulf-wide strategic framework to restore for 
injuries associated with the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill under a 
Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA). This framework is designed 
to reduce human-induced causes of mortality and serious injury other 
than SEFSC fisheries research over the 5 years the LOA would be 
effective.
    Comment 8: One commenter noted the SEFSC has taken substantial 
measures to minimize the impacts on marine mammals. However, the 
commenter recommended prohibiting long-lining, trawling, or gill 
netting due to the associated high bycatch rates and the impacts of 
these fishing methods on cetacean populations. The commenter 
recommended strict monitoring

[[Page 27040]]

protocols and that the SEFSC use active acoustics (i.e., sonar) and 
other detection methods to ensure the avoidance of taking marine 
mammals.
    NMFS Response: Issuance of an incidental take authorization allows 
for the taking of marine mammals incidental to a specified activity, it 
does not authorize or permit the activity itself. Therefore NMFS cannot 
require an applicant to not conduct an activity. To issue an 
authorization, NMFS must prescribe, among other things, mitigation and 
monitoring measures effecting the least practicable adverse impact on a 
species or stock. In this case, the commenter agrees NMFS has taken 
substantial measures to minimize impacts on marine mammals. However, to 
restrict fishing using the proposed methods would be impracticable and 
outside of NMFS' authority under the MMPA.
    Regarding impacts to cetacean populations, the commenter appears to 
be associating bycatch rates of commercial fisheries to those from 
research surveys. As described in the proposed rule, the taking of 
marine mammals incidental to SEFSC fisheries research is very low and 
NMFS has authorized only one marine mammal mortality per stock over the 
course of 5 years (with the exception of coastal bottlenose dolphins 
wherein we are authorizing the take, by serious injury or mortality, of 
three animals over 5 years) in its final rule. The rule also has a 
suite of mitigation and monitoring measures designed to further reduce 
risk of netting or hooking an animal. The rule does not require SEFSC 
use active acoustics to detect and deter marine mammals, as use of 
those sources in that manner would be a source of harassment in itself.
    Comment 9: One commenter suggested the lack of acknowledgement 
towards the plankton populations is capricious and recommended an 
environmental assessment be completed.
    NMFS Response: All impacts from the SEFSC's fishery-independent 
research activities, including those on plankton, have been analyzed in 
a PEA which was made available to the public for comment on April 20, 
2016 and finalized prior to issuing this rule. See ADDRESSES section. 
As described in those documents, the SEFSC's primary survey methods use 
fishing gear to capture fish and invertebrates for stock assessment or 
other research purposes. However, some collection of plankton and 
oceanographic and acoustic data to characterize the marine environment 
does occur. As described in the SEFSC's application, proposed rule, and 
LOA, plankton is sampled in very small quantities, is minor relative to 
that taken through commercial fisheries, and is an even smaller 
percentage of total biomass available as marine mammal prey.
    Comment 10: One commenter was concerned the proposed rule would 
result in fish catch limits.
    NMFS Response: This rule, issued pursuant to the MMPA, has no 
connection to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management Act process by 
which fish limits are determined.
    Comment 11: One commenter believed the major provisions in the 
proposed regulation seem adequate and that the regulations can be 
implemented well and with no complications.
    NMFS Response: NMFS agrees that all practicable mitigation measures 
have been incorporated into the proposed rule and will continue to work 
with the SEFSC to ensure the SEFSC and all partners are aware of and 
understand the monitoring, mitigation, and reporting measures.

Changes From Proposed to Final Rule

    The most substantive change from the proposed to final rule is the 
baseline evaluation of the Mobile Bay stock of bottlenose dolphins. In 
the proposed rule, NMFS used outdated (1992) survey data which 
indicated the Mobile Bay stock abundance was approximately 122 
dolphins. However, we determined a more accurate representative 
abundance estimate is 1,393 based on more recent DWH oil spill injury 
assessments (DHW MMIQT, 2015). We also updated the final regulations to 
reflect the entirety of the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 
measures described in the preamble of the proposed rule as some were 
inadvertently not replicated in the regulatory text. We also updated a 
discussion regarding the consideration of PBR in our negligible impact 
determination to more fully reflect how the metric is appropriately 
considered in the negligible impacts determination for a specified 
activity. We also updated a previous dolphin gear interaction table and 
related discussion to reflect the entanglement of a single bottlenose 
dolphin on October 13, 2019, by the South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources (SCDNR). None of these modifications affect our 
negligible impact or small numbers determinations.

Description of Marine Mammals in the Area of the Specified Activity

    We presented a detailed discussion of marine mammals, their 
occurrence, and important habitat (e.g., Biologically Important Areas) 
in the planned action area detailed in the Federal Register notice of 
proposed rulemaking (84 FR 6576; February 27, 2019). Please see that 
notice of proposed rulemaking or the SEFSC's application for more 
information (see ADDRESSES). We provide a summary of marine mammal 
occurrence in the study areas in Table 3.
    Species that could occur in a given research area but are not 
expected to have the potential for interaction with SEFSC research gear 
or that are not likely to be harassed by SEFSC's use of active acoustic 
devices are listed here but omitted from further analysis. These 
include extralimital species, which are species that do not normally 
occur in a given area but for which there are one or more occurrence 
records that are considered beyond the normal range of the species. 
Extralimital or rarely sighted species within the SEFSC's ARA include 
the North Atlantic bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus), Bryde's 
whale (B. edeni), Atlantic white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus 
acutus), white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), Sowerby's 
beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens), harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), 
and hooded seal (Cystophora cristata). Extralimital or rarely sighted 
species in the GOMRA include the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena 
glacialis), blue whale, fin whale (B. physalus), sei whale, minke whale 
(B. acutorostrata), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), and 
Sowerby's beaked whale. In the CRA, extralimital or rarely sighted 
species include blue whale, fin whale, sei whale, Bryde's whale, minke 
whale, harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), gray seal (Halichoerus grypus), 
harp seal, and hooded seal. In addition, Caribbean manatees (Trichechus 
manatus) may be found in all three research areas. However, manatees 
are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are not 
considered further in this document.

[[Page 27041]]



                               Table 3a--Marine Mammals Potentially Present in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Research Areas During Fishery Research
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                        Research area             ESA status (L/
                                                                            ------------------------------------     NL), MMPA       Stock abundance
           Common name               Scientific name         MMPA stock                                           Strategic (Y/N)      (CV, Nmin) 2           PBR 3            Annual M/SI 4
                                                                                 ARA         GOM         CRA             1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Suborder Mysticeti (baleen whales)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family Balaenopteridae
 (rorquals):
    North Atlantic right whale...  Eubalaena glacialis  Western North                X   ..........  ..........  L, Y              451 (0, 445).......  0.9.............  5.56.
                                                         Atlantic.
    Humpback whale...............  Megaptera            Gulf of Maine 5....          X           X           X   NL, Y             896 (0, 896 )......  14.6............  9.8.
                                    novaeangliae.
    Blue whale...................  Balaenoptera         Western North                X   ..........  ..........  L, Y              unk (unk, 440,       0.9.............  unk.
                                    musculus.            Atlantic.                                                                  2010).
    Fin whale....................  Balaenoptera         Western North                X   ..........  ..........  L, Y              1,618 (0.33, 1,234)  2.5.............  2.65.
                                    physalis.            Atlantic.
    Minke whale..................  Balaenoptera         Canadian East Coast          X           X           X   NL, N             2,591 (0.81, 1,425)  14..............  7.5.
                                    acutorostrata.
    Bryde's whale................  Balaenoptera edeni.  Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  L, Y              33 (1.07, 16)......  0.03............  0.7.
                                                         Mexico.
    Sei whale....................  Balaenoptera         Nova Scotia........          X   ..........  ..........  L, Y              357 (0.52, 236)....  0.5.............  0.6.
                                    borealis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Order Cetartiodactyla--Cetacea--Suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family Physeteridae:
    Sperm whale..................  Physeter             North Atlantic.....          X   ..........  ..........  L, Y              2,288 (0.28,1,815).  3.6.............  0.8.
                                    macrocephalus.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  L, Y              763 (0.38, 560)....  1.1.............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
                                                        Puerto Rico and      ..........  ..........          X   L, Y              unk................  unk.............  unk.
                                                         U.S. Virgin
                                                         Islands.
Family Kogiidae:
    Pygmy sperm whale............  Kogia breviceps....  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             3,785 (0.47, 2,598)  21..............  3.5.
                                                         Atlantic.                                                                  6.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             186 (1.04, 90) 7...  0.9.............  0.3.
                                                         Mexico.
    Dwarf sperm whale............  K. sima............  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             3,785 (0.47, 2,598)  21..............  3.5.
                                                         Atlantic.                                                                  6.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             186 (1.04, 90) 8...  0.9.............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
Family Ziphiidae (beaked whales):
    Cuvier's beaked whale........  Ziphius cavirostris  Western North                X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             6,532 (0.32, 5,021)  50..............  0.4.
                                                         Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             74 (1.04, 36)......  0.4.............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
                                                        Puerto Rico and      ..........  ..........          X   NL, N             Unk................  unk.............  unk.
                                                         U.S. Virgin
                                                         Islands.
    Blainville's beaked whale....  Mesoplodon           Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             7,092 (0.54, 4,632)  46..............  0.2.
                                    densirostris.        Atlantic.                                                                  8.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             149 (0.91, 77).....  0.8.............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
    Gervais' beaked whale........  Mesoplodon           Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             7,092 (0.54, 4,632)  46..............  0.
                                    europaeus.           Atlantic.                                                                  8.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             149 (0.91, 77).....  0.8.............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
    Sowerby's beaked whale.......  Mesoplodon bidens..  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             7,092 (0.54, 4,632)  46..............  0.
                                                         Atlantic.                                                                  8.
    True's beaked whale..........  Mesoplodon mirus...  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             7,092 (0.54, 4,632)  46..............  0.
                                                         Atlantic.                                                                  8.
Family Delphinidae (dolphins):
    Melon-headed whales..........  Peponocephala        Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             Unk................  unk.............  0.
                                    electra.             Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             2,235 (0.75, 1,274)  13..............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
    Risso's dolphin..............  Grampus griseus....  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             18,250 (0.46,        126.............  49.9.
                                                         Atlantic.                                                                  12,619).

[[Page 27042]]

 
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             2,442 (0.57, 1,563)  16..............  7.9.
                                                         Mexico.
    Short-finned pilot whales....  Globicephala         Western North                X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             28,924 (0.24,        236.............  168.
                                    macrorhynchus.       Atlantic.                                                                  23,637).
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             2,415 (0.66, 1,456)  15..............  0.5.
                                                         Mexico.
                                                        Puerto Rico and      ..........  ..........          X   NL, N             unk................  unk.............  unk.
                                                         U.S. Virgin
                                                         Islands.
    Long-finned pilot whales.....  Globicephala melas.  Western North                X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             5,636 (0.63, 3,464)  35..............  27.
                                                         Atlantic.
                                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Bottlenose dolphin...........  Tursiops truncatus.                                                                See table 3b.
                                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Common dolphin...............  Delphinus delphis..  Western North                X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             70,184 (0.28,        557.............  406.
                                                         Atlantic.                                                                  55,690).
    Atlantic spotted dolphin.....  Stenella frontalis.  Western North                X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             44,715 (0.43,        316.............  0.
                                                         Atlantic.                                                                  31,610).
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             unk................  unk.............  42.
                                                         Mexico.
                                                        Puerto Rico and      ..........  ..........          X   NL, N             unk................  unk.............  unk.
                                                         U.S. Virgin
                                                         Islands.
    Pantropical spotted dolphin..  Stenella attenuata.  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             3,333 (0.91, 1,733)  17..............  0.
                                                         Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  ................  50,880 (0.27,        407.............  4.4.
                                                         Mexico.                                                                    40,699).
    Striped dolphin..............  Stenella             Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             54,807 (0.3,         428.............  0.
                                    coeruleoalba.        Atlantic.                                                                  42,804).
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             1,849 (0.77, 1,041)  10..............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
    Fraser's dolphin.............  Lagenodelphis hosei  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             unk................  unk.............  0.
                                                         Atlantic.
                                                        Gulf of Mexico.....  ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             unk................  undet...........  0.
    Rough-toothed dolphin........  Steno bredanensis..  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             136 (1.0, 67)......  0.7.............  0.
                                                         Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             624 (0.99, 311)....  2.5.............  0.8.
                                                         Mexico.
    Clymene dolphin..............  Stenella clymene...  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             unk................  undet...........  0.
                                                         Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             129 (1.0, 64)......  0.6.............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
    Spinner dolphin..............  Stenella             Western North                X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             unk................  unk.............  0.
                                    longirostris.        Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             11,441 (0.83,        62..............  0.
                                                         Mexico.                                                                    6,221).
                                                        Puerto Rico and      ..........  ..........          X   NL, N             unk................  unk.............  unk.
                                                         U.S. Virgin
                                                         Islands.
    Killer whale.................  Orcinus orca.......  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             unk................  unk.............  0.
                                                         Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             28 (1.02, 14)......  0.1.............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
    Pygmy killer whale...........  Feresa attenuata...  Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             unk................  unk.............  0.
                                                         Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             152 (1.02, 75).....  0.8.............  0.
                                                         Mexico.
    False killer whale...........  Pseudorca            Western North                X   ..........          X   NL, N             442 (1.06, 212)....  2.1.............  unk.
                                    crassidens.          Atlantic.
                                                        Northern Gulf of     ..........          X   ..........  NL, N             unk................  undet...........  0.
                                                         Mexico.
Family Phocoenidae (porpoises):
    Harbor porpoise..............  Phocoena phocoena    Gulf of Maine/Bay            X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             79,833 (0.32,        706.............  255.
                                    vomerina.            of Fundy.                                                                  61,415).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Order Carnivora--Superfamily Pinnipedia
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family Phocidae (earless seals):
    Harbor seal..................  Phoca vitulina       Western North                X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             75,834 (0.15,        2,006...........  345.
                                    richardii.           Atlantic.                                                                  66,884).

[[Page 27043]]

 
    Gray seal....................  Halichoerus grypus.  Western North                X   ..........  ..........  NL, N             27,131 (0.19,        1,389...........  5,688.
                                                         Atlantic.                                                                  23,158).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Endangered Species Act (ESA) status: Endangered (E), Threatened (T)/MMPA status: Depleted (D). NL indicates that the species is not listed under the ESA and is not designated as depleted
  under the MMPA. Under the MMPA, a strategic stock is one for which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds PBR or which is determined to be declining and likely to be listed under
  the ESA within the foreseeable future. Any species or stock listed under the ESA is automatically designated under the MMPA as depleted and as a strategic stock.
2 NMFS marine mammal stock assessment reports at: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. CV is coefficient of variation; Nmin is the minimum estimate of stock abundance.
3 PBR indicates Potential Biological Removal as referenced from the SARs. PBR is defined by the MMPA 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. It is the product of minimum population size, one-half the maximum net
  productivity rate and a recovery factor for endangered, depleted, threatened stocks, or stocks of un known status relative to OSP.
4 These values, found in NMFS' SARs, represent annual levels of human-caused mortality plus serious injury from all sources combined (e.g., commercial fisheries, subsistence hunting, ship
  strike). Annual M/SI often cannot be determined precisely and is in some cases presented as a minimum value. All M/SI values are as presented in the draft 2019 SARs.
5 Humpback whales present off the southeastern U.S. are thought to be predominantly from the Gulf of Maine stock. However, these could include animals from Canadian stocks (e.g., Nova Scotia)
  (NMFS, 2017). Here we provide estimates for the Gulf of Maine stock only as a conservative value.
6 This estimate includes both dwarf and pygmy sperm whales in the N. Atlantic stock.
7 This estimate includes both dwarf and pygmy sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico stock.
8 This estimate includes all species of Mesoplodon in the N. Atlantic stock.


 Table 3b--Bottlenose Dolphin Stocks Potentially Present in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Research
                                     Areas and Texas During Fishery Research
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Stock abundance
            Stock                     MMPA status           (CV, Nmin) 1           PBR            Annual M/SI
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Atlantic Research Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western North Atlantic,        Not Strategic............  77,532 (0.40,     561..............  39.4.
 Offshore.                                                 56,053).
Northern Migratory Coastal...  Depleted.................  6,639 (0.41,      48...............  6.1-13.2.
                                                           4,759).
Southern Migratory Coastal...  Depleted.................  3,751 (0.06,      23...............  0-14.3.
                                                           2,353).
South Carolina & Georgia       Depleted.................  6,027 (0.34,      46...............  1.4-1.6.
 Coastal.                                                  4,569).
Northern Florida Coastal.....  Depleted.................  877 (0.0.49,      6................  0.6.
                                                           595).
Central Florida Coastal......  Depleted.................  1,218 (0.71,      9.1..............  0.4.
                                                           2,851).
Northern North Carolina        Strategic................  823 (0.06, 782).  7.8..............  0.8-18.2.
 Estuarine System.
Southern North Carolina        Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.4-0.6.
 Estuarine System.
Northern South Carolina        Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.2.
 Estuarine System.
Charleston Estuarine System..  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  unk.
Northern Georgia/Southern      Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  1.4.
 South Carolina Estuarine
 System.
Central Georgia Estuarine      Strategic................  192 (0.04, 185).  1.9..............  unk.
 System.
Southern Georgia Estuarine     Strategic................  194 (0.05, 185).  1.9..............  unk.
 System.
Jacksonville Estuarine System  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  1.2.
Indian River Lagoon..........  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  4.4.
Biscayne Bay.................  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  unk.
Florida Bay..................  Not Strategic............  unk.............  undet............  unk.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Gulf of Mexico Research Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oceanic......................  Not Strategic............  5,806 (0.39,      42...............  6.5.
                                                           4,230).
Continental Shelf............  Not Strategic............  51,192 (0.1,      469..............  0.8.
                                                           46,926).
Western Coastal..............  Not Strategic............  20,161 (0.17,     175..............  0.6.
                                                           17,491).
Northern Coastal.............  Not Strategic............  7,185 (0.21,      60...............  0.4.
                                                           6,004).
Eastern Coastal..............  Not Strategic............  12,388 (0.13,     111..............  1.6.
                                                           11,110).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Northern Gulf of Mexico Bay, Sound, and Estuary 2 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laguna Madre.................  Strategic................  80 (1.57, unk)..  undet............  0.4.
Nueces Bay, Corpus Christi     Strategic................  58 (0.61, unk)..  undet............  0.
 Bay.
Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San   Strategic................  55 (0.82, unk)..  undet............  0.2.
 Antonio Bay, Redfish Bay,
 Espirtu Santo Bay.
Matagorda Bay, Tres Palacios   Strategic................  61 (0.45, unk)..  undet............  0.4.
 Bay, Lavaca Bay.
West Bay.....................  Strategic................  48 (0.03, 46)...  0.5..............  0.2.
Galveston Bay, East Bay,       Strategic................  152 (0.43, unk).  undet............  0.4.
 Trinity Bay.
Sabine Lake..................  Strategic................  0 (-,-).........  undet............  0.2.
Calcasieu Lake...............  Strategic................  0 (-,-).........  undet............  0.2.
Vermillion Bay, West Cote      Strategic................  0 (-,-).........  undet............  0.
 Blanche Bay, Atchafalaya Bay.
Terrebonne Bay, Timbalier Bay  Strategic................  3,870 (0.15,      27...............  0.2.
                                                           3,426).
Barataria Bay................  Strategic................  2306 (0.09,       17...............  160.
                                                           2,138).
Mississippi River Delta......  Strategic................  332 (0.93, 170).  1.4..............  0.2.

[[Page 27044]]

 
Mississippi Sound, Lake        Strategic................  3,046 (0.06,      23...............  310.
 Borgne, Bay Boudreau.                                     2,896).
Mobile Bay, Bonsecour Bay....  Strategic................  1,393 (unk, unk)  undet............  1.
Perdido Bay..................  Strategic................  0 (-,-).........  undet............  0.6.
Pensacola Bay, East Bay......  Strategic................  33 (............  undet............  unk.
Choctawhatchee Bay...........  Strategic................  179 (0.04, unk).  undet............  0.4.
St. Andrews Bay..............  Strategic................  124 (0.57, unk).  undet............  0.2.
St. Joseph Bay...............  Strategic................  152 (0.08, unk).  undet............  unk.
St. Vincent Sound,             Strategic................  439 (0.14,-)....  undet............  0.
 Apalachicola Bay, St.
 Georges Sound.
Apalachee Bay................  Strategic................  491 (0.39, unk).  undet............  0.
Waccasassa Bay, Withlacoochee  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.
 Bay, Crystal Bay.
St. Joseph Sound, Clearwater   Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.4.
 Harbor.
Tampa Bay....................  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.6.
Sarasota Bay, Little Sarasota  Strategic................  158 (0.27, 126).  1.3..............  0.6.
 Bay.
Pine Island Sound, Charlotte   Strategic................  826 (0.09, -)...  undet............  1.6.
 Harbor, Gasparilla Sound,
 Lemon Bay.
Caloosahatchee River.........  Strategic................  0 (-,-).........  undet............  0.4.
Estero Bay...................  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.2.
Chokoloskee Bay, Ten Thousand  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.
 Islands, Gullivan Bay.
Whitewater Bay...............  Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.
Florida Keys (Bahia Honda to   Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  0.
 Key West).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Carribean Research Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin    Strategic................  unk.............  undet............  unk.
 Islands.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 CV is coefficient of variation; Nmin is the minimum estimate of stock abundance).
2 Details for these 25 stocks are included in the report: Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus
  truncatus), Northern Gulf of Mexico Bay, Sound, and Estuary Stocks.
3 The total annual human-caused mortality and serious injury for these stocks of common bottlenose dolphins is
  unknown because these stocks may interact with unobserved fisheries. Also, for Gulf of Mexico BSE stocks,
  mortality estimates for the shrimp trawl fishery are calculated at the state level and have not been included
  within mortality estimates for individual BSE stocks. Therefore, minimum counts of human-caused mortality and
  serious injury for these stocks are presented.

Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine Mammals and Their 
Habitat

    We provided a summary and discussion of the potential effects of 
the specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat in our 
Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking (84 FR 6576; February 
27, 2019). In the Potential Effects of Specified Activities on Marine 
Mammals and Their Habitat section of the proposed rule, NMFS provided a 
description of the ways marine mammals may be affected by these 
activities in the form of serious injury or mortality, physical trauma, 
sensory impairment (permanent and temporary threshold shifts and 
acoustic masking), physiological responses (particular stress 
responses), behavioral disturbance, or habitat effects. We also 
describe historical taking by the SEFSC and the circumstances 
surrounding those takes. We do not reprint the information here but 
refer the reader to that document. For additional summary and 
discussion of recent scientific studies not included in the proposed 
rulemaking, we direct the reader to the NMFS PEA.
    Since 2002, NMFS Science Centers have been documenting and 
recording all fishery research related incidental takes of marine 
mammals in PSIT database. There is also a documented take on record 
from 2001. We present all takes documented by the SEFSC in Table 4.

                                        Table 4--SEFSC Research Gear Interactions With Marine Mammals Since 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                              Number
       Survey name  (lead          Species taken        Gear type                  Date taken             Number  killed     released       Total taken
         organization)                (stock)                                                                   \1\          alive \2\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Atlantic research area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEAMAP-SA Coastal Trawl          Bottlenose         Bottom trawl.....  13 Oct 2019......................               0               1               1
 Survey_Fall (SCDNR).             dolphin (South
                                  Carolina/Georgia
                                  coastal).
SEFSC In-Water Sea Turtle        Bottlenose         Bottom trawl.....  20 July 2016.....................               1               0               1
 Research (SCDNR \3\).            dolphin (South
                                  Carolina/Georgia
                                  coastal).
SEAMAP-SA Coastal Trawl          Bottlenose         Bottom trawl.....  11 April 2014....................               1               0               1
 Survey_Spring (SCDNR).           dolphin
                                  (Northern
                                  Florida coastal).

[[Page 27045]]

 
SEAMAP-SA Coastal Trawl          Bottlenose         Bottom trawl.....  2 Aug 2012.......................               1               0               1
 Survey_Summer (SCDNR).           dolphin (South
                                  Carolina/Georgia
                                  coastal).
In-Water Sea Turtle Trawl        Bottlenose         Bottom trawl.....  11 July 2012.....................               0               1               1
 Survey (SCDNR).                  dolphin (South
                                  Carolina/Georgia
                                  coastal).
SEAMAP-SA Coastal Trawl          Bottlenose         Bottom trawl.....  5 October 2006...................               1               0               1
 Survey_Fall (SCDNR).             dolphin
                                  (southern
                                  migratory).
SEAMAP-SA Coastal Trawl          Bottlenose         Bottom trawl.....  28 July 2006.....................               1               0               1
 Survey_Summer (SCDNR).           dolphin (South
                                  Carolina/Georgia
                                  coastal).
RecFIN Red Drum Trammel Net      Bottlenose         Trammel net......  22 August 2002...................               2               0               2
 Survey (SCDNR).                  dolphin
                                  (Charleston
                                  Estuarine
                                  System).
In-Water Sea Turtle Trawl        Bottlenose         Bottom Trawl.....  2001 \3\.........................               0               1               1
 Survey (SCDNR).                  dolphin (unk).
                                                                      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    ARA Total..................  .................  .................  .................................               7               3              10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Gulf of Mexico Research Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gulf of Mexico Shark Pupping     Bottlenose         Gillnet..........  3 July 2018......................               0               1               1
 and Nursery GULFSPAN (SEFSC).    dolphin
                                  (Sarasota Bay).
Gulf of Mexico Shark Pupping     Bottlenose         Gillnet..........  15 July 2016.....................               1               0               1
 and Nursery GULFSPAN (USA/       dolphin
 DISL\2\).                        (northern Gulf
                                  of Mexico).
Skimmer Trawl TED Testing        Bottlenose         Skimmer trawl....  1 October 2014...................               1               0               1
 (SEFSC).                         dolphin (MS
                                  Sound, Lake
                                  Borgne, Bay
                                  Boudreau).
Skimmer Trawl TED Testing        Bottlenose         Skimmer..........  23 October 2013..................               0               1               1
 (SEFSC).                         dolphin (MS       trawl............
                                  Sound, Lake
                                  Borgne, Bay
                                  Boudreau).
SEAMAP-GOM Bottom Longline       Bottlenose         Bottom longline..  6 August 2013....................               0          1 (SI)               1
 Survey (ADCNR).                  dolphin (Mobile
                                  Bay, Bonsecour
                                  Bay).
Gulf of Mexico Shark Pupping     Bottlenose         Gillnet..........  18 April 2011....................               1               0               1
 and Nursery GULFSPAN (USA/       dolphin (MS
 DISL).                           Sound, Lake
                                  Borgne, Bay
                                  Boudreau).
                                                                                                         -----------------------------------------------
    GOMRA Total................                                                                                        3               3               6
                                                                                                         -----------------------------------------------
        Total all areas \3\....                                                                                       10               6              16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ If there was question over an animal's fate after it was released (e.g., it was struggling to breath/swim), it was considered ``killed''. Serious
  injury determinations were not previously made for animals released alive, but they are now part of standard protocols for released animals and will
  be reported in stock assessment reports.
\2\ Animals released alive but considered seriously injured aew marked as SI.
\3\ This take occurred prior to development of the PSIT database, but we include it here because it is documented.
\4\ There have been no SEFSC fishery research-related takes of marine mammals in the CRA.

Estimated Take

    This section provides an estimate of the number of incidental takes 
proposed for authorization through this IHA, which will inform both 
NMFS' consideration of whether the number of takes is ``small'' and the 
negligible impact determination. When discussing take, we consider 
three manners of take: Mortality, serious injury, and harassment. 
Serious injury is defined as an injury that could lead to mortality, 
while injury refers to injury that does not lead to mortality. Except 
with respect to certain activities not pertinent here, the MMPA defines 
``harassment'' as any act of pursuit, torment, or annoyance which (i) 
has the potential to injure a marine mammal or marine mammal stock in 
the wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has the potential to disturb a 
marine mammal or marine mammal stock in the wild by causing disruption 
of behavioral patterns, including, but not limited to, migration, 
breathing, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering (Level B 
harassment).
    As previously described, the SEFSC has a history of take of marine 
mammals incidental to fisheries research. The degree of take resulting 
from gear interaction can range from mortality, serious injury, Level A 
harassment (injury), or released unharmed with no observable injury. 
However, given that we cannot predict the degree of take, we

[[Page 27046]]

conservatively assume that any interaction may result in mortality or 
serious injury and have issued take as such. In the case of the 
Mississippi Sound stock, we have also authorized a single take from 
Level A harassment (injury) only. The amount of research conducted in 
Mississippi Sound using gear with the potential for marine mammal 
interaction increases the potential for interaction above other 
estuarine systems. However, there is evidence that, even without the 
proposed prescribed mitigation and monitoring measures, take may not 
result in mortality or serious injury (e.g., the October 13, 2013 
skimmer trawl take which did not result in serious injury or 
mortality). The proposed mitigation and monitoring measures described 
in this proposed rulemaking are designed to further reduce risk of take 
and degree of take.

Estimated Take Due to Gear Interaction

    Given the complex stock structure of bottlenose dolphins throughout 
the ARA and GOMRA, as well as the vulnerability of this species to be 
taken incidental to fishery research, we have partitioned this section 
into two categories to present requested and proposed take in an 
organized manner. Below we present our analysis informing the proposed 
take of estuarine and coastal bottlenose dolphins followed by pelagic 
marine mammals which includes all relevant non-bottlenose dolphin 
species and open ocean stocks of bottlenose dolphins.

Estuarine and Coastal Bottlenose Dolphin Take--SEFSC

    In order to estimate the number of potential bottlenose dolphin 
takes in estuarine and coastal waters, we considered the SEFSC's record 
of such past incidents and other sources of take (e.g., commercial 
fisheries and non-SEFSC affiliated research). We consulted the SARs, 
marine mammal experts at the SEFSC, and information emerging from the 
BDTRT to identify these other sources of mortality. We then assessed 
the similarities and differences between fishery research and 
commercial fisheries gear and fishing practices. Finally, we evaluated 
means of affecting the least practicable adverse impact on bottlenose 
dolphins through the proposed mitigation and additional mitigation 
developed during the proposed rulemaking process.
    In total, since 2001 and over the course of thousands of hours of 
research effort, 16 marine mammals (all bottlenose dolphins) have been 
entangled in SEFSC-affiliated research gear. All takes occurred between 
April through October. However, this is likely a result of research 
effort concentrated during this time period and there does not appear 
to be any trend in increased vulnerability throughout the year.
    In the ARA, the SEFSC has 10 documented takes of bottlenose 
dolphins (in 9 instances) from fishing gear (Table 5) and 1 take of an 
Atlantic spotted dolphin since 2001. The Atlantic spotted dolphin take 
was a calf struck by a propeller during a marine mammal research 
cruise. Given the anomalous nature of the incident and proposed 
mitigation measures, NMFS is not proposing to authorize take by ship 
strike. Therefore, this take is not discussed further. Of the 10 gear-
related takes, two animals were taken at once in a trammel net by the 
SCDNR in 2002. However, the SCDNR has since changed fishing methods and 
implemented monitoring and mitigation measures essentially eliminating 
the potential for take during this survey. No other trammel net-related 
takes have occurred since these changes were implemented. Therefore, we 
believe the potential for a take in SCDNR trammel nets is discountable. 
The remaining eight gear-related takes have been a result of 
interaction with bottom trawl gear during SEAMAP and TED research 
surveys, resulting in an average 0.42 takes per year (8 takes/19 
years).
    To further assess the potential for take in any given year, we 
considered where takes have occurred and the possible stock origin from 
which an animal was taken. The July 2006 take occurred offshore of 
Fripp Island, SC; the October 2006 take occurred Oak Island, NC; the 
July 2012 take occurred off Little Tybee Island, GA; the August 2012 
take occurred off Pawley's Island, SC; the April 2014 take occurred 
just off the coast of Florida between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach; 
the July 2016, take occurred off Sea Island, Georgia which is nestled 
between Little St. Simon's Island and St. Simon's Island; and the 
October 2019 take occurred approximately 10 km off Dewey's Island, 
South Carolina. Therefore, the dolphins taken could have originated 
from any of the five coastal stocks (the Northern Migratory and 
Southern Migratory stock, South Carolina/Georgia Coastal stock, 
Northern Florida Coastal stock and a Central Florida stock), although 
they were assigned to the stock based on the location where the take 
occurred. Taking the average rate of 0.42 animals per year across five 
stocks equates to an average taking of 0.08 animals per stock per year. 
This average would be even less if one considers an estuarine stock may 
be the stock of origin (although unlikely).
    According to the SEFSC's application, three trawl surveys and two 
bottom longline surveys conducted by the SEFSC or research partner 
overlap spatially with the NNCES stock (Table 1). These are the 
Atlantic Striped Bass Tagging Bottom Trawl Survey (USFWS), SEAMAP-SA 
Coastal Trawl Survey (SCDNR), SEAMAP-SA North Carolina Pamlico Sound 
Trawl Survey (NCDENR), Shark and Red Snapper Bottom Longline Survey 
(SEFSC), and the SEAMAP-SA Red Drum Bottom Longline Survey (NCDNR). No 
gillnet surveys would take place in waters overlapping with this stock. 
Based on data in the PSIT database, no dolphins from the NNCES stock 
have been taken from SEFSC or partner fishery research surveys, 
including those described above which have taken place for many years.
    Despite the lack of historical take, we further investigated the 
potential for future interaction. Based on commercial fishery and SEFSC 
fishery survey bycatch rates of marine mammals, we would expect the 
trawl surveys to be more likely to take a dolphin than the bottom 
longline surveys. An evaluation of each occurring survey type is 
provided below to more thoroughly evaluate the potential for taking a 
bottlenose dolphin belonging to the NNCES stock.
    The Atlantic Striped Bass Bottom Trawl Survey (conducted by the 
USFWS) is limited to 2 weeks (200-350 trawls) during January and 
February in coastal waters north of Cape Hatteras ranging from 30 to 
120 ft (9-37 m) in depth. The USFWS uses dual 65-ft trawl nets with 
3.75 in. stretch nylon multifilament mesh codend. Tow speed is 3 kts 
and tow time does not exceed 30 minutes at depth. Trawl operations are 
conducted day and night from the R/V Oregon II, R/V Oregon, or R/V 
Savannah (please refer to the PEA for detailed vessel descriptions). 
The winter operations of this survey overlaps in time with when some 
animals move out of Pamlico Sound and into coastal waters. However, 
photo-ID studies, available tag data and stable isotope data indicate 
that the portion of the stock that moves out of Pamlico Sound into 
coastal waters remain south of Cape Hatteras during cold water months 
(Waring et al. 2016). The USFWS has historically conducted surveys 
north of Cape Hatteras. However, the survey is currently inactive due 
to funding constraints. If funding becomes available, they may 
undertake this survey. However, the spatial and temporal specifications 
described above greatly reduce the likelihood of a take from the NNCES 
stock. In addition,

[[Page 27047]]

given the short duration of the survey (2 weeks) and short tow time 
durations (up to 30 minutes), the chance of marine mammal interaction 
is limited. This logic is supported by the lack of take from this 
survey. At this time, for the reasons described above, we believe the 
likelihood of an animal from the NNCES stock being taken during 
Atlantic Striped Bass Bottom Trawl Survey is unlikely.
    The SEAMAP-SA Pamlico Sound Trawl Survey (NCDENR) is conducted to 
support stock assessments and management of finfish, shrimp, and crab 
species in Pamlico Sound and its bays and rivers. The otter trawl 
survey takes place for 10 days in June and 10 days in September during 
daylight hours. Up to 54 trawls are completed each month (total = 108 
trawls) aboard the R/V Carolina Coast. The general area of operation is 
Pamlico Sound and the Pamlico, Pungo, and Neuse rivers in waters 
greater than or equal to 6 ft. Despite spatial and temporal overlap 
with the NNCES stock, this survey has no record of interacting with a 
marine mammal. Given the lack of historical interaction, limited number 
of tows, and implementation of the proposed monitoring and mitigation 
measures, we do not believe there is reasonable likelihood that of take 
from this survey.
    The SEAMAP-SA Coastal Trawl Survey (SCDNR) operates 300-350 trawls 
annually from Cape Hatteras, NC to Cape Canaveral, FL in nearshore 
oceanic waters of 15-30 ft (4-10 m) depth. Its goal is to collect long-
term fishery independent data on ecologically, commercially, and 
recreationally important fish and invertebrates, including shrimp and 
blue crab. Tow time is approximately 20 minutes. This survey is not 
associated with sea turtle research surveys, which have longer tow 
times. SCDNR uses the R/V Lady Lisa outfitted with an otter trawl 
comprised of paired mongoose-type Falcon bottom trawls. All takes of 
dolphins have occurred in coastal waters (none from estuarine waters), 
and all assigned takes have been from coastal stocks. However, because 
estuarine stocks may venture into coastal waters, there is a small 
possibility that takes from this survey could have been from the SNCES 
(n = 1), Northern South Carolina Estuarine System (n = 1), Northern 
Georgia/Southern South Carolina Estuarine System (n = 2), and Southern 
Georgia Estuarine System (n = 1) (Table 5). This is the only survey 
which may potentially overlap with the NNCES and SNCES stock, but it 
does so in coastal waters where coastal stocks overlap in time and 
space. It is most likely that a take from this survey would be from a 
coastal stock. Therefore, we are not proposing to authorize take from 
the NNCES or SNCES stock.

                     Table 5--Possible Stock Origin of Bottlenose Dolphins Taken in the ARA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Possible stocks
                 Date                       Location taken     -------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Coastal                 Estuarine
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001.................................  Unknown................  Unknown................  unknown
July 2006............................  Off Fripp Island, GA...  W.N. Atlantic South      Northern Georgia/
                                                                 Carolina-Georgia         Southern South
                                                                 Coastal.                 Carolina Estuarine
                                                                                          System.
October 2006.........................  Off Oak Island, NC.....  Southern Migratory.....  Southern North Carolina
                                                                                          Estuarine System.
July 2012............................  Off Little Tybee         W.N. Atlantic South      Northern Georgia/
                                        Island, GA.              Carolina-Georgia         Southern South
                                                                 Coastal.                 Carolina Estuarine
                                                                                          System.
August 2012..........................  Off Pawley's Island, SC  W.N. Atlantic South      Northern South Carolina
                                                                 Carolina-Georgia         Estuarine System:
                                                                 Coastal.
April 2014...........................  off the coast of         W.N. Atlantic Northern   W.N. Atlantic Central
                                        Florida between St.      Florida Coastal.         Florida Coastal.
                                        Augustine and Daytona
                                        Beach.
July 2016............................  off Sea Island, Georgia  W.N. Atlantic South      Southern Georgia
                                                                 Carolina-Georgia         Estuarine System.
                                                                 Coastal.
October 2019.........................  10 kms off Dewey's       W.N. Atlantic South      N/A--too far offshore.
                                        Island, SC.              Carolina-Georgia
                                                                 Coastal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The only survey overlapping with the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) 
stock is the St. Lucie Rod-and-Reel Fish Health Study. There are no 
documented instances of the SEFSC taking a dolphin from this survey. 
Therefore, we believe the likelihood of take is low and mitigation 
measures (e.g. quickly reeling in line if dolphins are likely to 
interact with gear) would be effective at further reducing take 
potential to discountable. In consideration of this, we are not 
proposing to issue take of the IRL stock.
    In summary, we are not proposing to authorize requested take in the 
ARA for the NNCES, SNCES, and Indian River Lagoon stocks due to low to 
discountable potential for take. For all other estuarine stocks for 
which take was requested (n = 7), we are proposing to authorize the 
requested one take over 5 years by M/SI (Table 7). We are proposing to 
issue the requested three M/SI takes per stock of each of the coastal 
stocks and the offshore stock in the ARA over 5 years (Table 7).
    In the GOMRA, the SEFSC is requesting to take one dolphin from each 
of the 21 estuarine stocks, three dolphins from the Mississippi Sound 
stock, and three dolphins per year from the coastal stocks (Table 7). 
Similar to the ARA, NMFS examined the SEFSC's request and assessed 
authorizing take based on fishing effort and stock spatial and temporal 
parameters, the potential for take based on fishing practices (e.g., 
gear description, tow/soak times). In addition, the SEFSC has provided 
supplemental information indicating some surveys are discontinued or 
currently inactive and are not likely to take place during the proposed 
5-year regulations. For example, at time of the application, only one 
survey conducted by TPWD was planned to occur in Sabine Lake. However, 
that specific survey has been discontinued. Therefore, no fisheries 
research by SEFSC or its partners would occur in Sabine Lake. 
Therefore, no take is expected to occur, and we did not include take of 
dolphins in Sabine Lake in the rule.
    When examining the survey gear used and fishing methods, we 
determined that the IJA Open Bay Shellfish Trawl Survey (conducted by 
TPWD) has a very low potential to take dolphins. This survey has no 
documented dolphin/gear interactions despite high fishing effort (90 
trawls for month/1080 trawls per year). This is likely because TPWD 
uses

[[Page 27048]]

a very small (20 ft (6 m) wide) otter shrimp trawl which is towed for 
only 10 minutes in 3-30 ft (1-10 m) of water. The nets can be retrieved 
within 1 to 2 minutes. The IJA Open Bay Shellfish Trawl Survey is the 
only survey conducted by the SEFSC that overlaps with the following BSE 
bottlenose dolphin stocks: Laguna Madre; Nueces Bay, Corpus Christi 
Bay; Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Redfish Bay, Espirtu 
Santo Bay; Matagorda Bay, Tres Palacios Bay, Lavaca Bay; West Bay, and 
Galveston Bay, East Bay, Trinity Bay. TPWD has no documented take of 
dolphins from the IJA Open Bay Shellfish Trawl Survey despite years of 
research effort. Due to the discountable potential for take from the 
IJA Open Bay Shellfish Trawl Survey, we are not proposing to authorize 
take of these Texas bottlenose dolphin stocks to the SEFSC.
    Another stock with a discountable potential for take is the 
Barataria Bay stock. This stock's habitat includes Caminada Bay, 
Barataria Bay east to Bastian Bay, Bay Coquette, and Gulf coastal 
waters extending 1 km from the shoreline. The SEFSC has committed to 
avoiding conducting fisheries independent monitoring in these waters. 
Hence, we find the potential for take from the Barataria Bay stock is 
discountable and we are not proposing to authorize the requested take.
    On December 22, 2017, the SEFSC indicated the Gulfspan shark survey 
conducted by University of West Florida (UWF) is considered inactive as 
of 2017 and would not likely take place over the course of the 
regulations due to staffing changes. This is the only survey 
overlapping with the Perdido Bay, Pensacola Bay, Choctawhatchee Bay 
stocks. Therefore, we find the potential for take from these stocks is 
discountable, and we are not proposing to authorize the requested take.
    There are nine surveys in the GOMRA overlapping with the 
Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau stock (MS Sound stock): 
four trawl, three gillnet, and two hook and line. While there are three 
documented takes from this stock since 2011 (from gillnet and trawl 
surveys), there are none none prior to that year. The SEFSC requested 
three M/SI takes from the MS Sound stock due to the amount of fishing 
effort in this waterbody. However, we find two takes are warranted over 
the life of the 5-year regulations given the lack of take prior to 2011 
and implementation of the mitigation and monitoring measures. Further, 
previous takes indicate there is potential that a marine mammal may not 
die or be seriously injured in fishing gear but be injured. Therefore, 
we are proposing to authorize one take by M/SI and one take by Level A 
harassment for the Mississippi Sound stock over the 5-year regulations 
(Table 6). No takes of bottlenose dolphins by the SEFSC have been 
documented in the CRA. However, we authorize one take over 5 years at 
the request of the SEFSC.

 Table 6--SEFSC Total Requested and Authorized Take of Bottlenose Dolphins in ARA, GOMRA, and CRA Over the Life
                                       of the Proposed 5-Year Regulations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Total
                                               requested take
                    Stock                      (M/SI or level       Total authorized take (M/SI or level A)
                                                     A )
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern North Carolina Estuarine System                    1  0 \1\
 Stock.
Southern North Carolina Estuarine System                    1  0 \1\
 Stock.
Northern South Carolina Estuarine Stock......               1  1
Charleston Estuarine System Stock............               1  1
Northern Georgia/Southern South Carolina                    1  1
 Estuarine System Stock.
Central Georgia Estuarine System.............               1  1
Southern Georgia Estuarine System Stock......               1  1
Jacksonville Estuarine System Stock..........               1  1
Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System Stock...               1  0 \1\
Biscayne Bay Stock...........................               0  0
Florida Bay Stock............................               1  1
Western North Atlantic South Carolina/Georgia               3  3
 Coastal Stock.
Western North Atlantic Northern Florida                     3  3
 Coastal Stock.
Western North Atlantic Central Florida                      3  3
 Coastal Stock.
Western North Atlantic Northern Migratory                   3  3
 Coastal Stock.
Western North Atlantic Southern Migratory                   3  3
 Coastal Stock.
Western North Atlantic Offshore Stock........               3  3
Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands Stock......               1  1
Laguna Madre.................................               1  0 \1\
Nueces Bay, Corpus Christi Bay...............               1  0 \1\
Copano Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay,                   1  0 \1\
 Redfish Bay, Espirtu Santo Bay.
Matagorda Bay, Tres Palacios Bay, Lavaca Bay.               1  0 \1\
West Bay.....................................               1  0 \1\
Galveston Bay, East Bay, Trinity Bay.........               1  0 \1\
Sabine Lake..................................               1  0 \1\
Calcasieu Lake...............................               0  0
Atchalfalaya Bay, Vermilion Bay, West Cote                  0  0
 Blanche Bay.
Terrabonne Bay, Timbalier Bay................               1  1
Barataria Bay Estuarine System...............               1  0 \2\
Mississippi River Delta......................               1  1
Mississippi Sound, Lake Bornge, Bay Boudreau.               3  1 M/SI, 1 Level A \3\
Mobile Bay, Bonsecour Bay....................               1  1
Perdido Bay..................................               1  0 \2\
Pensacola Bay, East Bay......................               1  0 \2\
Choctwhatchee Bay............................               1  0 \2\
St. Andrew Bay...............................               1  1
St. Joseph Bay...............................               1  1
St. Vincent Sound, Apalachiola Bay, St.                     1  1
 George Sound.
Apalachee Bay................................               1  1

[[Page 27049]]

 
Waccasassa Bay, Withlacoochee Bay, Crystal                  1  1
 Bay.
St. Joseph Sound, Clearwater Harbor..........               0  0
Tampa Bay....................................               0  0
Sarasota Bay, Little Sarasota Bay............               0  0
Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor,                        1  1
 Gasparilla Sound, Lemon Bay.
Caloosahatchee River.........................               0  0
Estero Bay...................................               0  0
Chokoloskee Bay, Ten Thousand Islands,                      1  1
 Gullivan Bay.
Whitewater Bay...............................               0  0
Florida Keys-Bahia Honda to Key West.........               0  0
Northern Gulf of Mexico Western Coastal Stock               3  3
Northern Gulf of Mexico Northern Coastal                    3  3
 Stock.
Northern Gulf of Mexico Eastern Coastal Stock               3  3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Surveys overlapping these stocks have a low to discountable potential to take marine mammals due to temporal
  and spatial overlap with stock, fishing methods, and/or gear types. The SEFSC has no history of taking
  individuals from these stocks.
\2\ No surveys are proposed that overlap with these stocks.
\3\ The SEFSC has the potential to take one marine mammal by M/SI or Level A harassment and one marine mammal by
  Level A harassment (injury) only for the Mississippi Sound stock.

Pelagic Marine Mammals Take--SEFSC

    Since systematic record keep began in 2002, the SEFSC and 
affiliated research partners have taken no marine mammals species other 
than bottlenose dolphins by gear interaction. However, NMFS has 
assessed other sources of M/SI for these species (e.g., commercial 
fishing) to inform the potential for incidental takes of marine mammals 
in the ARA, GOMRA, and CRA under this rule. These species have not been 
taken historically by SEFSC research activities but inhabit the same 
areas and show similar types of behaviors and vulnerabilities to such 
gear used in other contexts. To more comprehensively identify where 
vulnerability and potential exists for take between SEFSC research and 
other species of marine mammals, we compared with similar commercial 
fisheries by way of the 2017 List of Fisheries (LOF) and the record of 
interactions from non-SEFSC affiliated research.
    NMFS LOF classifies U.S. commercial fisheries into one of three 
categories according to the level of incidental marine mammal M/SI that 
is known to have occurred on an annual basis over the most recent 5-
year period (generally) for which data has been analyzed: Category I, 
frequent incidental M/SI; Category II, occasional incidental M/SI; and 
Category III, remote likelihood of or no known incidental M/SI. 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. The LOF for 2016 was based 
on, among other things, stranding data; fisher self-reports; and SARs, 
primarily the 2014 SARs, which are generally based on data from 2008-
2012. Table 7 indicates which species (other than bottlenose dolphins) 
have been known to interact with commercial fishing gear in the three 
research areas based on the 2016 LOF (81 FR 20550; April 8, 2016). More 
information on the 2016 LOF can be found at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/fisheries/lof.html.

  Table 7--Gear Types Implicated for Interaction With Marine Mammals in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
                                         Caribbean Commercial Fisheries
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Fishery by gear type \1\
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Species                        Gillnet
                                                 fisheries     Trawl fisheries      Trap/pot         Longline
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N. Atlantic right whale.....................               Y   ...............               Y   ...............
Humpback whale..............................               Y   ...............               Y   ...............
Fin whale...................................               Y   ...............               Y   ...............
Minke whale.................................               Y                Y                Y                Y
Risso's dolphin.............................               Y                Y   ...............               Y
Cuvier's beaked whale.......................  ...............  ...............  ...............               Y
Gervais beaked whale........................  ...............  ...............  ...............               Y
Beaked whale (Mesoplodon spp)...............  ...............  ...............  ...............               Y
False killer whale..........................  ...............  ...............  ...............               Y
Killer whale................................  ...............  ...............  ...............               Y
Pygmy sperm whale...........................  ...............  ...............  ...............               Y
Sperm Whale.................................  ...............  ...............  ...............               Y
Long-finned pilot whale.....................               Y                Y   ...............               Y
Short-finned pilot whale....................  ...............  ...............  ...............               Y
White-sided dolphin.........................               Y                Y   ...............  ...............

[[Page 27050]]

 
Atlantic spotted dolphin....................  ...............               Y   ...............               Y
Pantropical spotted dolphin.................               Y   ...............  ...............               Y
Common dolphin..............................               Y                Y   ...............               Y
Harbor porpoise.............................               Y                Y   ...............  ...............
Harbor seal.................................               Y                Y                Y   ...............
Gray seal...................................  ...............               Y   ...............  ...............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Only fisheries with gear types used by the SEFSC during the course of the regulations are included here. For
  example, purse seine and aquaculture fisheries are also known to interact with marine mammals in the specified
  geographic region. However, the SEFSC would not use those gears during their research.

    In addition to examining known interaction, we also considered a 
number of activity-related factors (e.g., gear size, set duration, 
etc.) and species-specific factors (e.g., species-specific knowledge 
regarding animal behavior, overall abundance in the geographic region, 
density relative to SEFSC survey effort, feeding ecology, propensity to 
travel in groups commonly associated with other species historically 
taken) to determine whether a species may have a similar vulnerability 
to certain types of gear as historically taken species. For example, 
despite known take in commercial trap/pot fisheries, here we rule out 
the potential for traps/pots to take marine mammals incidental to SEFSC 
research for a number of reasons. Commercial fisheries often involve 
hundreds of unattended traps that are located on a semi-permanent 
basis, usually with long, loose float lines, in shallow waters close to 
shore. In contrast, SEFSC research gear is fished in deeper waters, and 
typically only one pot is fished at a time and monitored continuously 
for short soak times (e.g., one hour). These differences in fishing 
practices, along with the fact no marine mammals have been taken in a 
SEFSC trap/pot, negate the potential for take to a level NMFS does not 
believe warrants authorization of take, and there is no historical 
documentation of take from this gear incidental to SEFSC surveys. 
Therefore, we do not expect take incidental to SEFSC research 
activities using trap/pot gear.
    It is well documented that multiple marine mammal species are taken 
in commercial longline fisheries (Table 8). We used this information to 
help make an informed decision on the probability of specific cetacean 
and large whale interactions with longline gear and other hook-and-line 
gear while taking into account many other factors affecting the 
vulnerability of a species to be taken in SEFSC research surveys (e.g., 
relative survey effort, survey location, similarity in gear type, 
animal behavior, prior history of SEFSC interactions with longline gear 
etc.). First we examined species known to be taken in longline 
fisheries but for which the SEFSC has not requested take. For example, 
the SEFSC is not requesting take of large whales in longline gear. 
Although large whale species could become entangled in longline gear, 
the probability of interaction with SEFSC longline gear is extremely 
low considering a far lower level of survey effort relative to that of 
commercial fisheries, as well as much shorter set durations, shorter 
line lengths, and monitoring and mitigation measures implemented by the 
SEFSC (e.g., the move-on rule). Although data on commercial fishing 
efforts comparable to the known SEFSC research protocols (net size, tow 
duration and speed, and total number of tows) are not publically 
available, based on the amount of fish caught by commercial fisheries 
versus SEFSC fisheries research, the ``footprint'' of research effort 
compared to commercial fisheries is very small (see Section 9 in the 
SEFSC's application). As such, the SEFSC has not requested, nor is NMFS 
proposing, to authorize take of large whales (i.e., mysticetes) 
incidental to longline research. There are situations with hook-and-
line (e.g., longline) fisheries research gear when a caught animal 
cannot be identified to species with certainty. This might occur when a 
hooked or entangled dolphin frees itself before being identified or 
when concerns over crew safety, weather, or sea state conditions 
necessitate quickly releasing the animal before identification is 
possible. The top priority for live animals is to release them as 
quickly and safely as possible. The SEFSC ship's crew and research 
personnel make concerted efforts to identify animals incidentally 
caught in research gear whenever crew and vessel safety are not 
jeopardized.
    With respect to trawling, both commercial fisheries and non-SEFSC 
affiliated research trawls in the Gulf of Mexico have taken pelagic 
marine mammals. For example, a mid-water research trawl conducted to 
monitor the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of 
Mexico took three pantropical spotted dolphins in one trawl in 2012. 
Additionally, an Atlantic spotted dolphin was taken in non-SEFSC 
research bottom trawl in 2014. Known takes in commercial trawl 
fisheries in the ARA and GOMRA include a range of marine mammal species 
(Table 8). NMFS examined the similarities between species known to be 
taken in commercial and non-SEFSC research trawls with those species 
that overlap in time and space with SEFSC research trawls in the open 
ocean. Because some species exhibit similar behavior, distribution, 
abundance, and vulnerability to research trawl gear to these species, 
NMFS proposes to authorize take of eight species of pelagic cetaceans 
and two pinniped species in the ARA and nine species of cetaceans in 
the GOMRA (Table 9). In addition, NMFS provides allowance of one take 
of an unidentified species in the ARA, GOMRA, and CRA over the life of 
these regulations to account for any animal that cannot be identified 
to a species level. Takes would occur incidental to trawl and hook and 
line (including longline) research in the ARA and GOMRA. However, 
because the SEFSC does not use trawl gear in the CRA, take is 
incidental to hook and line gear in the Caribbean (see Tables 6.4-6.6 
in SEFSC's application for more detail). We are proposing to authorize 
the amount of take requested by the SEFSC's for these stocks listed in 
Table 8.

[[Page 27051]]



 Table 8--Total Take, by Species and Stock, of Pelagic Marine Mammals in
the ARA and GOMRA Incidental to Trawl and Hook and Line Research and, in
the CRA, Incidental to Hook and Line Research Activities Over the 5 Year
                               Regulations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Total M&SI
            Species                       Stock                take
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risso's dolphin................  Western North Atlantic.               1
                                 N. Gulf of Mexico......               1
Melon headed whale.............  N. Gulf of Mexico......               3
Short-finned pilot whale.......  Western North Atlantic.               1
                                 N. Gulf of Mexico......               1
Long-finned pilot whale........  Western North Atlantic.               1
Short-beaked common dolphin....  Western North Atlantic.               4
Atlantic spotted dolphin.......  Western North Atlantic.               4
                                 N. Gulf of Mexico......               4
Pantropical spotted dolphin....  Western North Atlantic.               1
                                 N. Gulf of Mexico......               4
Striped dolphin................  Western North Atlantic.               3
                                 N. Gulf of Mexico......               3
Spinner dolphin................  N. Gulf of Mexico......               3
Rough-toothed dolphin..........  N. Gulf of Mexico......               1
Bottlenose dolphin.............  Western North Atlantic                4
                                  Oceanic.
                                 N. Gulf of Mexico                     4
                                  Oceanic.
                                 N. Gulf of Mexico                     4
                                  Continental Shelf.
                                 Puerto Rico/USVI.......               1
Harbor porpoise................  Gulf of Maine/Bay of                  1
                                  Fundy.
Undetermined delphinid.........  Western North Atlantic.               1
                                 N. Gulf of Mexico......               1
Harbor seal....................  Western North Atlantic.               1
Gray seal......................  Western North Atlantic.               1
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated Take Due to Acoustic Harassment

    As described previously (Potential Effects of Specified Activities 
on Marine Mammals and their Habitat), we believe that SEFSC use of 
active acoustic sources has, at most, the potential to cause Level B 
harassment of marine mammals. In order to attempt to quantify the 
potential for Level B harassment to occur, NMFS (including the SEFSC 
and acoustics experts from other parts of NMFS) developed an analytical 
framework considering characteristics of the active acoustic systems 
described previously under Description of Active Acoustic Sound 
Sources, their expected patterns of use, and characteristics of the 
marine mammal species that may interact with them. This quantitative 
assessment benefits from its simplicity and consistency with current 
NMFS acoustic guidance regarding Level B harassment but we caution 
that, based on a number of deliberately precautionary assumptions, the 
resulting take estimates may be seen as an overestimate of the 
potential for Level B harassment to occur as a result of the operation 
of these systems. Additional details on the approach used and the 
assumptions made that result in these estimates are described below.

Acoustic Thresholds

    Using the best available science, NMFS has developed acoustic 
thresholds that identify the received level of underwater sound above 
which exposed marine mammals would be reasonably expected to be 
behaviorally harassed (equated to Level B harassment) or to incur PTS 
of some degree (Level A harassment). We note NMFS has begun efforts to 
update its behavioral thresholds, considering all available data, and 
is formulating a strategy for updating those thresholds for all types 
of sound sources considered in incidental take authorizations. It is 
NMFS intention to conduct both internal and external review of any new 
thresholds prior to finalizing. In the interim, we apply the 
traditional thresholds.
    Level B Harassment for non-explosive sources--Though significantly 
driven by received level, the onset of behavioral disturbance from 
anthropogenic noise exposure is also informed to varying degrees by 
other factors related to the source (e.g., frequency, predictability, 
duty cycle), the environment (e.g., bathymetry), and the receiving 
animals (hearing, motivation, experience, demography, behavioral 
context) and can be difficult to predict (Southall et al., 2007, 
Ellison et al., 2011). Based on what the best available science 
indicates and the practical need to use a threshold based on a factor 
that is both predictable and measurable for most activities, NMFS uses 
a generalized acoustic threshold based on received level to estimate 
the onset of Level B harassment. NMFS predicts that marine mammals are 
likely to be behaviorally harassed in a manner we consider Level B 
harassment when exposed to underwater anthropogenic noise above 
received levels of 120 dB re 1 [mu]Pa (rms) for continuous (e.g., 
vibratory pile-driving, drilling) and above 160 dB re 1 [mu]Pa (rms) 
for non-explosive impulsive (e.g., seismic airguns) or intermittent 
(e.g., scientific sonar) sources. Neither threshold is used for 
military sonar due to the unique source characteristics.
    The Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) has previously suggested 
NMFS apply the 120 dB continuous threshold to scientific sonar such as 
the ones proposed by the SEFSC. NMFS has responded to this comment in 
multiple Federal Register notices of issuance for other NMFS science 
centers. However, we provide more clarification here on why the 160 dB 
threshold is appropriate when estimating take from acoustic sources 
used during SEFSC research activities. NMFS has historically referred 
to the 160 dB threshold as the impulsive threshold, and the 120 dB 
threshold as the continuous threshold, which in and of itself is 
conflicting as one is referring to pulse characteristics and the other 
is referring to the temporal component. A more accurate term for

[[Page 27052]]

the impulsive threshold is the intermittent threshold. This distinction 
is important because, when assessing the potential for hearing loss 
(PTS or TTS) or non-auditory injury (e.g., lung injury), the spectral 
characteristics of source (impulsive vs. non-impulsive) is critical to 
assessing the potential for such impacts. However, for behavior, the 
temporal component is more appropriate to consider. Gomez et al. (2016) 
conducted a systematic literature review (370 papers) and analysis (79 
studies, 195 data cases) to better assess probability and severity of 
behavioral responses in marine mammals exposed to anthropogenic sound. 
They found a significant relationship between source type and 
behavioral response when sources were split into broad categories that 
reflected whether sources were continuous, sonar, or seismic (the 
latter two of which are intermittent sources). Moreover, while Gomez et 
al. (2017) acknowledges acoustically sensitive species (beaked whales 
and harbor porpoise), the authors do not recommend an alternative 
method for categorizing sound sources for these species when assessing 
behavioral impacts from noise exposure.
    To apply the continuous 120 dB threshold to all species based on 
data from known acoustically sensitive species (one species of which is 
the harbor porpoise which is likely to be rarely encountered in the ARA 
and do not inhabit the GOMRA or CRA) is not warranted as it would be 
unnecessarily conservative for non-sensitive species. Qualitatively 
considered in our effects analysis below is that beaked whales and 
harbor porpoise are more acoustically sensitive than other cetacean 
species, and thus are more likely to demonstrate overt changes in 
behavior when exposed to such sources. Further, in absence of very 
sophisticated acoustic modeling, our propagation rates are also 
conservative. Therefore, the distance to the 160 dB threshold is likely 
much closer to the source than calculated. In summary, the SEFSC's 
proposed activity includes the use of intermittent sources (scientific 
sonar). Therefore, the 160 dB re 1 [mu]Pa (rms) threshold is applicable 
when quantitatively estimating take by Level B harassment incidental to 
SEFSC scientific sonar for all marine mammal species.
    Level A harassment for non-explosive sources--NMFS' Technical 
Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine 
Mammal Hearing (Technical Guidance, 2018) identifies dual criteria to 
assess auditory injury (Level A harassment) to five different marine 
mammal groups (based on hearing sensitivity) as a result of exposure to 
noise from two different types of sources (impulsive or non-impulsive). 
However, as described in greater detail in the Potential Effects of 
Specified Activities on Marine Mammals and their Habitat section, given 
the highly directional beam, NMFS does not anticipate animals would be 
exposed to noise levels resulting in PTS. Therefore, the Level A 
criteria do not apply here and are not discussed further; NMFS is 
proposing take by Level B harassment only.
    The operating frequencies of active acoustic systems used by the 
SEFSC sources range from 18-333 kHz (see Table 2). These frequencies 
are within the very upper hearing range limits of baleen whales (7 Hz 
to 35 kHz). The Simrad EK60 may operate at frequency of 18 kHz which is 
the only frequency that might be detectable by baleen whales. However, 
the beam pattern is extremely narrow (11 degrees) at that frequency. 
The Simrad ME70 echosounder, EQ50, and Teledyne RD ADCP operate at 50-
200 kHz which are all outside of baleen whale hearing capabilities. 
Therefore, we would not expect any exposures to these signals to result 
in Level B harassment. The Simrad EK60 lowest operating frequency (18 
kHz) is within baleen whale hearing capabilities.
    The assessment paradigm for active acoustic sources used in SEFSC 
fisheries research mirrors approaches by other NMFS Science Centers 
applying for regulations. It is relatively straightforward and has a 
number of key simple and conservative assumptions. NMFS' current 
acoustic guidance requires in most cases that we assume Level B 
harassment occurs when a marine mammal receives an acoustic signal at 
or above a simple step-function threshold. For use of these active 
acoustic systems used during SEFSC research, NMFS uses the threshold is 
160 dB re 1 [mu]Pa (rms) as the best available science indicates the 
temporal characteristics of a source are most influential in 
determining behavioral impacts (Gomez et al., 2016), and it is NMFS' 
long standing practice to apply the 160 dB threshold to intermittent 
sources. Estimating the number of exposures at the specified received 
level requires several determinations, each of which is described 
sequentially below:
    (1) A detailed characterization of the acoustic characteristics of 
the effective sound source or sources in operation;
    (2) The operational areas exposed to levels at or above those 
associated with Level B harassment when these sources are in operation;
    (3) A method for quantifying the resulting sound fields around 
these sources; and
    (4) An estimate of the average density for marine mammal species in 
each area of operation.
    Quantifying the spatial and temporal dimension of the sound 
exposure footprint (or ``swath width'') of the active acoustic devices 
in operation on moving vessels and their relationship to the average 
density of marine mammals enables a quantitative estimate of the number 
of individuals for which sound levels exceed the relevant threshold for 
each area. The number of potential incidents of Level B harassment is 
ultimately estimated as the product of the volume of water ensonified 
at 160 dB rms or higher and the volumetric density of animals 
determined from simple assumptions about their vertical stratification 
in the water column. Specifically, reasonable assumptions based on what 
is known about diving behavior across different marine mammal species 
were made to segregate those that predominately remain in the upper 200 
m of the water column, versus those that regularly dive deeper during 
foraging and transit. Methods for estimating each of these calculations 
are described in greater detail in the following sections, along with 
the simplifying assumptions made, and followed by the take estimates.
    Sound source characteristics--An initial characterization of the 
general source parameters for the primary active acoustic sources 
operated by the SEFSC was conducted, enabling a full assessment of all 
sound sources used by the SEFSC and delineation of Category 1 and 
Category 2 sources, the latter of which were carried forward for 
analysis here. This auditing of the active acoustic sources also 
enabled a determination of the predominant sources that, when operated, 
would have sound footprints exceeding those from any other 
simultaneously used sources. These sources were effectively those used 
directly in acoustic propagation modeling to estimate the zones within 
which the 160 dB rms received level would occur.
    Many of these sources can be operated in different modes and with 
different output parameters. In modeling their potential impact areas, 
those features among those given previously in Table 2 (e.g., lowest 
operating frequency) that would lead to the most precautionary estimate 
of maximum received level ranges (i.e., largest ensonified area) were 
used. The effective beam patterns took into account the normal modes in 
which these sources are typically operated. While these signals are 
brief and

[[Page 27053]]

intermittent, a conservative assumption was taken in ignoring the 
temporal pattern of transmitted pulses in calculating Level B 
harassment events. Operating characteristics of each of the predominant 
sound sources were used in the calculation of effective line-kilometers 
and area of exposure for each source in each survey (Table 9).

   Table 9--Effective Exposure Areas for Predominant Acoustic Sources
                         Across Two Depth Strata
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Effective
                                                          exposure area:
                                             Effective    Sea surface to
                                          exposure area:  depth at which
         Active acoustic system           Sea surface to      160-dB
                                            200 m depth    threshold is
                                              (km\2\)         reached
                                                              (km\2\)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simrad EK60 narrow beam echosounder.....          0.0142          0.1411
Simrad ME70 multibeam echosounder.......          0.0201          0.0201
Teledyne RD Instruments ADCP, Ocean               0.0086          0.0187
 Surveyor...............................
Simrad ITI trawl monitoring system......          0.0032          0.0032
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Calculating effective line-kilometers--As described below, based on 
the operating parameters for each source type, an estimated volume of 
water ensonified at or above the 160 dB rms threshold was calculated. 
In all cases where multiple sources are operated simultaneously, the 
one with the largest estimated acoustic footprint was considered to be 
the effective source. Two depth zones were defined for each research 
area: a Continental Shelf Region defined by having bathymetry 0-200 m 
and an Offshore Region with bathymetry >200 m. Effective line distance 
and volume insonified was calculated for each depth stratum (0-200 m 
and > 200 m), where appropriate (i.e. in the Continental Shelf region, 
where depth is <200 m, only the exposure area for the 0-200 m depth 
stratum was calculated). In some cases, this resulted in different 
sources being predominant in each depth stratum for all line km when 
multiple sources were in operation. This was accounted for in 
estimating overall exposures for species that utilize both depth strata 
(deep divers). For each ecosystem area, the total number of line km 
that would be surveyed was determined, as was the relative percentage 
of surveyed linear km associated with each source. The total line km 
for each vessel, the effective portions associated with each of the 
dominant sound types, and the effective total km for operation for each 
sound type is given in Tables 6-8a and 6-8b in SEFSC's application. In 
summary, line transect kms range from 1149 to 3352 in the ARA and 
16,797 to 30,146 km with sources operating 20-100 percent of the time 
depending on the source.
    Calculating volume of water ensonified--The cross-sectional area of 
water ensonified to a 160 dB rms received level was calculated using a 
simple spherical spreading model of sound propagation loss (20 log R) 
such that there would be 60 dB of attenuation over 1000 m. The 
spherical spreading model accounted for the frequency dependent 
absorption coefficient and the highly directional beam pattern of most 
of these sound sources. For absorption coefficients, the most commonly 
used formulas given by Francois and Garrison (1982) were used. The 
lowest frequency was used for systems that are operated over a range of 
frequencies. The vertical extent of this area is calculated for two 
depth strata (surface to 200 m, and for deep water operations >200 m, 
surface to range at which the on-axis received level reaches 160 dB 
RMS). This was applied differentially based on the typical vertical 
stratification of marine mammals (see Tables 6-9 and 6-10 in SEFSC's 
application).
    For each of the three predominant sound sources, the volume of 
water ensonified is estimated as the cross-sectional area (in square 
kilometers) of sound at or above 160 dB rms multiplied by the total 
distance traveled by the ship (see Table 6a and 6b in SEFSC's 
application). Where different sources operating simultaneously would be 
predominant in each different depth strata (e.g., ME70 and EK60 
operating simultaneously may be predominant in the shallow stratum and 
deep stratum, respectively), the resulting cross-sectional area 
calculated took this into account. Specifically, for shallow-diving 
species this cross-sectional area was determined for whichever was 
predominant in the shallow stratum, whereas for deeper-diving species, 
this area was calculated from the combined effects of the predominant 
source in the shallow stratum and the (sometimes different) source 
predominating in the deep stratum. This creates an effective total 
volume characterizing the area ensonified when each predominant source 
is operated and accounts for the fact that deeper-diving species may 
encounter a complex sound field in different portions of the water 
column.
    Marine mammal densities--One of the primary limitations to 
traditional estimates of Level B harassment from acoustic exposure is 
the assumption that animals are uniformly distributed in time and space 
across very large geographical areas, such as those being considered 
here. There is ample evidence that this is in fact not the case, and 
marine species are highly heterogeneous in terms of their spatial 
distribution, largely as a result of species-typical utilization of 
heterogeneous ecosystem features. Some more sophisticated modeling 
efforts have attempted to include species-typical behavioral patterns 
and diving parameters in movement models that more adequately assess 
the spatial and temporal aspects of distribution and thus exposure to 
sound (e.g., Navy, 2013). While simulated movement models were not used 
to mimic individual diving or aggregation parameters in the 
determination of animal density in this estimation, the vertical 
stratification of marine mammals based on known or reasonably assumed 
diving behavior was integrated into the density estimates used.
    The marine mammal abundance estimates used for the ARA and GOM were 
obtained from Stock Assessment Reports for the Atlantic and the Gulf of 
Mexico ecosystem areas (Waring et al. 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015), and 
the best scientific information available to SEFSC staff. We note 
abundances for cetacean stocks in western North Atlantic U.S. waters 
are the combined estimates from surveys conducted by the NMFS Northeast 
Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) from central Virginia to

[[Page 27054]]

the lower Bay of Fundy and surveys conducted by the SEFSC from central 
Virginia to central Florida. The SEFSC primary area of research is 
south of central Virginia. Therefore, densities are based on abundance 
estimates from central Virginia to central Florida and are reported in 
the stock assessment report for each stock. For example, the fin whale 
abundance estimate for the stock is 1,618. However, most of those 
animals occur in the northeast with only about 23 individuals in the 
southeast where SEFSC would occur. Therefore, an abundance estimate of 
23 was used to estimate density. Density estimates in areas where a 
species is known to occur, but where published density data is absent, 
were calculated based on values published for the species in adjacent 
regions by analogy and SEFSC expertise. For example, in the CRA there 
are records of marine mammal species occurrence (e.g., Mignucci-
Giannoni 1998, Roden and Mullin 2000). However, area specific abundance 
estimates are unavailable so the density estimates for the GOMRA were 
used as proxies where appropriate to estimate acoustic take in the CRA. 
There are a number of caveats associated with these estimates:
    (1) They are often calculated using visual sighting data collected 
during one season rather than throughout the year. The time of year 
when data were collected and from which densities were estimated may 
not always overlap with the timing of SEFSC fisheries surveys (detailed 
previously in Detailed Description of Activities).
    (2) The densities used for purposes of estimating acoustic 
exposures do not take into account the patchy distributions of marine 
mammals in an ecosystem, at least on the moderate to fine scales over 
which they are known to occur. Instead, animals are considered evenly 
distributed throughout the assessed area, and seasonal movement 
patterns are not taken into account.
    In addition, and to account for at least some coarse differences in 
marine mammal diving behavior and the effect this has on their likely 
exposure to these kinds of often highly directional sound sources, a 
volumetric density of marine mammals of each species was determined. 
This value is estimated as the abundance averaged over the two-
dimensional geographic area of the surveys and the vertical range of 
typical habitat for the population. Habitat ranges were categorized in 
two generalized depth strata (0-200 m and 0 to greater than 200 m) 
based on gross differences between known generally surface-associated 
and typically deep-diving marine mammals (e.g., Reynolds and Rommel, 
1999; Perrin et al., 2009). Animals in the shallow-diving stratum were 
assumed, on the basis of empirical measurements of diving with 
monitoring tags and reasonable assumptions of behavior based on other 
indicators, to spend a large majority of their lives (i.e., greater 
than 75 percent) at depths shallower than 200 m. Their volumetric 
density and thus exposure to sound is therefore limited by this depth 
boundary. In contrast, species in the deeper-diving stratum were 
assumed to regularly dive deeper than 200 m and spend significant time 
at these greater depths. Their volumetric density, and thus potential 
exposure to sound at or above the 160 dB rms threshold, is extended 
from the surface to the depth at which this received level condition 
occurs (i.e., corresponding to the 0 to greater than 200 m depth 
stratum).
    The volumetric densities are estimates of the three-dimensional 
distribution of animals in their typical depth strata. For shallow-
diving species, the volumetric density is the area density divided by 
0.2 km (i.e., 200 m). For deeper diving species, the volumetric density 
is the area density divided by a nominal value of 0.5 km (i.e., 500 m). 
The two-dimensional and resulting three-dimensional (volumetric) 
densities for each species in each ecosystem area are provided in Table 
10.

                Table 10--Abundances and Volumetric Densities Calculated for Each Species in SEFSC Research Areas Used in Take Estimation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Typical dive depth                                            Continental
                                                            strata            Continental                           shelf area         Offshore area
          Species \1\                Abundance     ------------------------ shelf area \2\    Offshore area \3\     volumetric    volumetric density (#/
                                                                              density (#/     density (#/km\2\)     density (#/           km\3\)
                                                      0-200 m     >200 m        km\2\)                                km\3\)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Atlantic Research Area \4\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fin whale......................  23...............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00005.............  ..............  0.00025
Sperm whale....................  695..............  ..........          X   ..............  0.00148.............  ..............  0.00296
Pygmy/dwarf sperm whales \5\...  2,002............  ..........          X   ..............  0.00426.............  ..............  0.00852
False killer whale.............  442..............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00094.............  ..............  0.00470
Beaked whales \5\..............  3,163............  ..........          X   ..............  0.00673.............  ..............  0.01346
Risso's dolphin................  3,053............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00650.............  ..............  0.03248
Short-finned pilot whale.......  16,964...........  ..........          X   ..............  0.03610.............  ..............  0.07219
Short-beaked common dolphin....  2,993............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00637.............  ..............  0.03184
Atlantic spotted dolphin.......  17,917...........          X   ..........         0.39209  0.03812.............         1.96043  0.19062
Pantropical spotted dolphin....  3,333............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00709.............  ..............  0.03546
Striped dolphin................  7,925............          X   ..........  ..............  0.01686.............  ..............  0.08431
Rough-toothed dolphin..........  271..............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00058.............  ..............  0.00288
Bottlenose dolphin.............  50,766                     X   ..........         0.25006  0.10802.............         1.25028  0.54010
                                  (offshore);
                                  31,212 (cont.
                                  shelf).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Gulf of Mexico Research Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryde's whale..................  33...............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00011.............  ..............  0.00054
Sperm whale....................  763..............  ..........          X   ..............  0.00438.............  ..............  0.00876
Pygmy/dwarf sperm whales \5\...  184..............  ..........          X   ..............  0.01857.............  ..............  0.00101
Pygmy killer whale.............  152..............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00080.............  ..............  0.00400

[[Page 27055]]

 
False killer whale.............  Unk..............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00086.............  ..............  0.00432
Beaked whales \5\ \6\..........  149..............  ..........          X   ..............  0.00925.............  ..............  0.00081
Melon-headed whale.............  2,235............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00487.............  ..............  0.02434
Risso's dolphin................  2,442............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00523.............  ..............  0.02613
Short-finned pilot whale.......  2,415............  ..........          X   ..............  0.00463.............  ..............  0.00925
Atlantic spotted dolphin \7\...  37,611...........          X   ..........         0.09971  unk.................         0.49854  Unk
Pantropical spotted dolphin....  50,880...........          X   ..........  ..............  0.09412.............  ..............  0.47062
Striped dolphin................  1,849............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00735.............  ..............  0.03677
Rough-toothed dolphin..........  624..............          X   ..........         0.00401  0.00664.............         0.02006  0.03322
Clymene dolphin \8\............  129..............          X   ..........  ..............  0.00907.............  ..............  0.04537
Spinner dolphin................  11,441...........          X   ..........  ..............  0.01888.............  ..............  0.09439
Bottlenose dolphin.............  5,806 (oceanic);           X   ..........         0.29462  0.02347.............         1.47311  0.11735
                                  51,192 (cont.
                                  shelf).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Caribbean Research Area \9\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sperm whale....................  763..............  ..........          X               na  0.00438.............              na  0.008761
Pygmy/dwarf sperm whales \5\     186..............  ..........          X               na  0.01857.............              na  0.00101
 \6\.
Killer whale...................  184..............          X   ..........              na  0.00000.............              na  0
Pygmy killer whale.............  152..............          X   ..........              na  0.00080.............              na  0.003998
False killer whale.............  Unk..............          X   ..........              na  0.00086.............              na  0.004324
Beaked whales \5\ \6\..........  149..............  ..........          X               na  0.00925.............              na  0.00081
Melon-headed whale.............  2,235............          X   ..........              na  0.00487.............              na  0.024343
Risso's dolphin................  2,442............          X   ..........              na  0.00523.............              na  0.026132
Short-finned pilot whale.......  2,415............  ..........          X               na  0.00463.............              na  0.009255
Pantropical spotted dolphin....  50,880...........          X   ..........              na  0.09412.............              na  0.470615
Striped dolphin................  1,849............          X   ..........              na  0.00735.............              na  0.036771
Fraser's dolphin...............  .................          X   ..........              na  0.00000.............              na  0
Rough-toothed dolphin..........  624..............          X   ..........              na  0.00664.............              na  0.03322
Clymene dolphin................  129..............          X   ..........              na  0.00907.............              na  0.045365
Spinner dolphin................  11,441...........          X   ..........              Na  0.01888.............              na  0.094389
Bottlenose dolphin.............  5,806 (oceanic);           X   ..........              Na  0.02347.............              na  0.117349
                                  51,192 (cont.
                                  shelf).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Those species known to occur in the ARA and GOMRA with unknown volumetric densities have been omitted from this table. Those omitted include: For
  the ARA--North Atlantic right whale, blue whale, sei whale, minke whale, humpback whale, melon-headed whale, killer whale, pygmy killer whale, long-
  finned pilot whale, Fraser's dolphin, spinner dolphin, Clymene dolphin, harbor porpoise, gray seal, and harbor seal; for the GOMRA--killer whale,
  Fraser's dolphin, humpback whale and minke whale. This does not mean they were all omitted for take as proxy species provided in this table were used
  to estimate take, where applicable.
\2\ Continental shelf area means 0-200 m bottom depth.
\3\ Offshore area means 200 m bottom depth.
\4\ Abundances for cetacean stocks in western North Atlantic U.S. waters are the combined estimates from surveys conducted by the NEFSC from central
  Virginia to the lower Bay of Fundy and surveys conducted by the SEFSC from central Virginia to central Florida. The SEFSC primary area of research is
  south of central Virginia. Therefore, acoustic take estimates are based on abundance estimates from central Virginia to central Florida and are
  reported in the stock assessment report for each stock. However, these acoustic takes are compared to the abundance for the entire stock.
\5\ Density estimates are based on the estimates of dwarf and pygmy sperm whale SAR abundances and the combined abundance estimates of all beaked whales
  (Mesoplodon spp. + Cuvier's beaked whale). These groups are cryptic and difficult to routinely identify to species in the field.
\6\ Data from acoustic moorings in the Gulf of Mexico suggest that both beaked whales and dwarf/pygmy sperm whales are much more abundant than visual
  surveys suggest. Therefore, acoustic take estimates for these groups were based on abundance estimates extrapolated from acoustic mooring data (DWH-
  NRDAT 2016).
\7\ The most reasonable estimate Atlantic spotted dolphin abundance is in the Gulf of Mexico is based on ship surveys of continental shelf waters
  conducted from 2000-2001. In the Gulf of Mexico, the continental shelf is the Atlantic spotted dolphin's primary habitat. Ship surveys have not been
  conducted in shelf waters since 2001.
\8\ Three previous abundance estimates for the Clymene dolphin in the Gulf of Mexico were based on surveys conducted over several years, and estimates
  ranged from 5,000 to over 17,000 dolphins. The current estimate is based on one survey in 2009 from the 200 m isobaths to the EEZ and is probably
  negatively biased.
\9\ Estimates for the CRA are based on proxy values taken from the GOMRA where available and appropriate. Species omitted due to lack of data were
  humpback whale, minke whale, Bryde's whale, and Atlantic spotted dolphin.

    Using area of ensonification and volumetric density to estimate 
exposures--Estimates of potential incidents of Level B harassment 
(i.e., potential exposure to levels of sound at or exceeding the 160 dB 
rms threshold) are then calculated by using (1) the combined results 
from output characteristics of each source and identification of the 
predominant sources in terms of acoustic output; (2) their relative 
annual usage patterns for

[[Page 27056]]

each operational area; (3) a source-specific determination made of the 
area of water associated with received sounds at either the extent of a 
depth boundary or the 160 dB rms received sound level; and (4) 
determination of a volumetric density of marine mammal species in each 
area. Estimates of Level B harassment by acoustic sources are the 
product of the volume of water ensonified at 160 dB rms or higher for 
the predominant sound source for each portion of the total line-
kilometers for which it is used and the volumetric density of animals 
for each species. However, in order to estimate the additional volume 
of ensonified water in the deep stratum, the SEFSC first subtracted the 
cross-sectional ensonified area of the shallow stratum (which is 
already accounted for) from that of the deep stratum. Source- and 
stratum-specific exposure estimates are the product of these ensonified 
volumes and the species-specific volumetric densities (Table 11). The 
general take estimate equation for each source in each depth statrum is 
density * (ensonified volume * linear kms). If there are multiple 
sources of take in both depth stata, individual take estimates were 
summed. To illustrate, we use the ME70 and the pantropical spotted 
dolphin, which are found only in the 0-200 m depth stratum, as an 
example:
    (1) ME70 ensonified volume (0-200 m) = 0.0201 km\2\.
    (2) Total Linear kms = 1794 km (no pantropical spotted dolphins are 
found on the shelf so those trackline distances are not included here).
    (3) Pantropical spotted dolphin density (0-200 m) = 0.47062 
dolphins/km\3\.
    (4) Estimated exposures to sound >= 160 dB rms = 0.47062 
pantropical spotted dolphin/km\3\ * (0.0201 km\2\ * 1794 km) = 16.9 
(rounded up) = 17 estimated pantropical spotted dolphin exposures to 
SPLs >= 160 dB rms resulting from use of the ME70.

                           Table 11--Estimated Source-, Stratum-, and Species-Specific Annual Estimates of Level B Harassment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Estimated level B harassment (#s of animals)    Estimated level B harassment
                                                                   in 0-200 m dive depth stratum           in >200 m dive depth stratum        Total
                       Species \1\                       --------------------------------------------------------------------------------   calculated
                                                               EK60            ME70            EQ50            EK60            EQ50            take
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Atlantic Continental Shelf
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottlenose dolphin......................................           67.00           21.43           21.43            0.00            0.00             110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Atlantic Offshore
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fin whale...............................................            0.02            0.00            0.00            0.00            0.00               1
Sperm whale.............................................            0.18            0.02            0.01            1.75            0.00               2
Pygmy/dwarf sperm whales................................            0.52            0.06            0.02            5.03            0.00               6
False killer whale......................................            0.29            0.03            0.01            0.00            0.00               1
Beaked whales...........................................            0.83            0.09            0.03            7.95            0.00               9
Risso's dolphin.........................................            2.00            0.21            0.08            0.00            0.00               3
Short-finned pilot whale................................            4.43            0.48            0.17           42.65            0.00              48
Short-beaked common dolphin.............................            1.96            0.21            0.07            0.00            0.00               3
Atlantic spotted dolphin................................           11.71            1.26            0.45            0.00            0.00              14
Pantropical spotted dolphin.............................            2.18            0.23            0.08            0.00            0.00               3
Striped dolphin.........................................            5.18            0.56            0.20            0.00            0.00               6
Rough-toothed dolphin...................................            0.18            0.02            0.01            0.00            0.00               1
Bottlenose dolphin......................................           33.18            3.57            1.27            0.00            0.00              39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Gulf of Mexico Continental Shelf
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantic spotted dolphin................................          161.80           12.95           22.75            0.00            0.00             198
Bottlenose dolphin......................................          269.16           21.55           37.84            0.00            0.88             329
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Gulf of Mexico Offshore
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bryde's whale...........................................            0.23            0.02            0.01            0.00            0.00               1
Sperm whale.............................................            1.58           00.15            0.06           15.04            0.06              17
Pygmy/dwarf sperm whales................................            0.38            0.04            0.01            3.66            0.01               5
Pygmy killer whale......................................            0.79            0.07            0.03            0.00            0.00               1
False killer whale......................................            1.63            0.15            0.06            0.00            0.00               2
Beaked whales...........................................            0.31            0.03            0.01            2.93            0.01               4
Melon-headed whale......................................           11.55            1.09            0.41            0.00            0.00              13
Risso's dolphin.........................................           15.78            1.49            0.55            0.00            0.00              18
Short-finned pilot whale................................            4.99            0.47            0.18            0.00            0.00               4
Pantropical spotted dolphin.............................          179.45           16.97            6.31            0.00            0.00             203
Striped dolphin.........................................           14.02            1.33            0.49            0.00            0.00              16
Rough-toothed dolphin...................................            3.23            0.30            0.11            0.00            0.00               4
Clymene dolphin.........................................            0.67            0.06            0.02            0.00            0.00               1
Spinner dolphin.........................................           59.13            5.59            2.08            0.00            0.00              67
Bottlenose dolphin......................................           44.75            4.23            1.57            0.00            0.00              51
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Caribbean Offshore
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sperm whale.............................................            0.18            0.01            0.00            1.66            0.00               2
Pygmy/dwarf sperm whales................................            0.38            0.04            0.01            3.66            0.01               5
Pygmy killer whale......................................            0.09            0.00            0.00            0.00            0.00               1
False killer whale......................................            0.19            0.00            0.00            0.00            0.00               1

[[Page 27057]]

 
Beaked whales...........................................            0.31            0.03            0.01            2.93            0.01               4
Melon-headed whale......................................            1.34            0.03            0.01            0.00            0.00               2
Risso's dolphin.........................................            1.83            0.04            0.02            0.00            0.00               2
Short-finned pilot whale................................            0.58            0.01            0.01            0.00            0.00               1
Pantropical spotted dolphin.............................           20.80            0.50            0.23            0.00            0.00              22
Striped dolphin.........................................            1.63            0.04            0.02            0.00            0.00               2
Rough-toothed dolphin...................................            1.47            0.04            0.02            0.00            0.00               1
Clymene dolphin.........................................            0.08            0.05            0.02            0.00            0.00               1
Spinner dolphin.........................................            6.85            0.16            0.07            0.00            0.00               8
Bottlenose dolphin......................................            5.19            0.12            0.06            0.00            0.00               6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Those species known to occur in the ARA and GOMRA with unknown volumetric densities have been omitted from this table. Those omitted include: For
  the ARA--North Atlantic right whale, blue whale, sei whale, minke whale, humpback whale, melon-headed whale, killer whale, pygmy killer whale, long-
  finned pilot whale, Fraser's dolphin, spinner dolphin, Clymene dolphin, harbor porpoise, gray seal, and harbor seal; for the GOMRA--killer whale,
  Fraser's dolphin, humpback whale and minke whale. This does not mean they were all omitted for take as proxy species provided in this table were used
  to estimate take, where applicable.

    In some cases, the calculated Level B take estimates resulted in 
low numbers of animals which are known to be gregarious or travel in 
group sizes larger than the calculated take estimate. In those cases, 
we have adjusted the requested take to reflect those groups sizes (see 
take column in Table 12).

                           Table 12--Calculated and Authorized Level B Take Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Avg. group size 1
          Common name               MMPA stock       Calculated take                           Authorized take
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fin whale.....................  Western North      1..................  2..................  4
                                 Atlantic.
Blue whale....................  Western North      N/A 2..............  2..................  4
                                 Atlantic.
N. Atlantic right whale.......  Western North      N/A 2..............  2..................  4
                                 Atlantic.
Sei whale.....................  Western North      N/A 1..............  2..................  4
                                 Atlantic.
Bryde's whale.................  Northern Gulf of   1..................  2..................  4
                                 Mexico.
Humpback whale................  Gulf of Maine....  ...................  2..................  4
Sperm whale...................  North Atlantic...  2..................  2.1................  4
                                Northern Gulf of   17.................  2.6................  17
                                 Mexico.
                                Puerto Rico and    4..................  unk................  4
                                 US Virgin
                                 Islands.
Pygmy/dwarf sperm whale 1.....  Western North      6..................  1.9................  10
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   5..................  2..................  6
                                 Mexico.
                                Northern Gulf of   5..................  2..................  6
                                 Mexico (CRA).
Beaked whale 2................  Western North      9..................  2.3................  9
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   4..................  2..................  4
                                 Mexico (GOMRA).
                                Northern Gulf of   4..................  2..................  4
                                 Mexico (CRA).
Melon-headed whales...........  Northern Gulf of   13.................  99.6...............  100
                                 Mexico.
Risso's dolphin...............  Western North      3..................  15.4...............  15
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   18.................  10.2...............  18
                                 Mexico.
                                Puerto Rico and    2..................  10.2...............  10
                                 U.S. Virgin
                                 Island.
Short-finned pilot whales.....  Western North      48.................  16.6...............  48
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   6..................  24.9...............  25
                                 Mexico.
                                Puerto Rico and    1..................  unk................  20
                                 U.S. Virgin
                                 Islands.
Common dolphin................  Western North      3..................  267.2..............  267
                                 Atlantic.
Atlantic spotted dolphin......  Western North      14.................  37.................  37
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   198................  22.................  198
                                 Mexico.
                                Puerto Rico and    unk................  unk................  50
                                 U.S. Virgin
                                 Islands.
Pantropical spotted dolphin...  Western North      4..................  77.5...............  78
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   203................  71.3...............  203
                                 Mexico.
Striped dolphin...............  Western North      6..................  74.6...............  75
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   16.................  46.1...............  46
                                 Mexico.
Bottlenose dolphin............  Western North      39.................  11.8...............  39
                                 Atlantic
                                 (offshore).
                                Western North      110................  10.................  110
                                 Atlantic
                                 (coastal/
                                 continental
                                 shelf).
                                Northern Gulf of   N/A 3..............  10.................  350 3
                                 Mexico (coastal).
                                Northern Gulf of   329................  10.................  350
                                 Mexico
                                 (continental
                                 shelf).
                                Northern Gulf of   51.................  20.6...............  100
                                 Mexico (oceanic).
                                Puerto Rico and    6..................  unk................  50
                                 U.S. Virgin
                                 Islands.
Rough-toothed dolphin.........  Western North      1..................  8..................  10
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   4..................  14.1...............  20
                                 Mexico.
Clymene dolphin...............  Western North      20.................  110................  110
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   1..................  89.5...............  100
                                 Mexico.
Spinner dolphin...............  Western North      unk................  unk................  100
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   16.................  151.5..............  200
                                 Mexico.

[[Page 27058]]

 
                                Puerto Rico and    n/a................  unk................  50
                                 U.S. Virgin
                                 Islands.
Pygmy killer whale............  Northern Gulf of   1..................  18.5...............  20
                                 Mexico.
False killer whale............  Western North      1..................  unk................  20
                                 Atlantic.
                                Northern Gulf of   n/a................  27.6...............  28
                                 Mexico.
Harbor porpoise...............  Gulf of Maine/Bay  n/a................  8 4................  16
                                 of Fundy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Groups sizes based on Fulling et. al., 2003; Garrison et al., 2011; Mullin et al., 2003; and Mullin et al.,
  2004.
2 Take estimates are based on take calculations using fin whales as a proxy.
3 We note the SEFSC's application did not request take, by Level B harassment, of bottlenose dolphins belonging
  to coastal stocks. However, because surveys occur using scientific sonar in waters where coastal dolphins may
  occur, we are proposing to issue the same amount of Level B take as requested for the continental shelf stock.
4 The American Cetacean Society reports average group size of harbor porpoise range from 6 to 10 individuals. We
  propose an average group size of 8 for the ARA which is likely conservative given the low density of animals
  off North Carolina. Given the short and confined spatio-temporal scale of SEFSC surveys in North Carolina
  during winter months, we assume two groups per year could be encountered.

Mitigation

    In order to issue an incidental take authorization under Section 
101(a)(5)(A or D) of the MMPA, NMFS must set forth the permissible 
methods of taking pursuant to such activity, ``and other means of 
effecting the least practicable impact on such species or stock and its 
habitat, paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and 
areas of similar significance, and on the availability of such species 
or stock for taking'' for certain subsistence uses. NMFS regulations 
require applicants for incidental take authorizations to include 
information about the availability and feasibility (economic and 
technological) of equipment, methods, and manner of conducting such 
activity or other means of effecting the least practicable adverse 
impact upon the affected species or stocks and their habitat (50 CFR 
216.104(a)(11)).
    In evaluating how mitigation may or may not be appropriate to 
ensure the least practicable adverse impact on species or stocks and 
their habitat, as well as subsistence uses where applicable, we 
carefully consider two primary factors:
    (1) The manner in which, and the degree to which, the successful 
implementation of the measure(s) is expected to reduce impacts to 
marine mammals, marine mammal species or stocks, and their habitat. 
This considers the nature of the potential adverse impact being 
mitigated (likelihood, scope, range). It further considers the 
likelihood that the measure will be effective if implemented 
(probability of accomplishing the mitigating result if implemented as 
planned), and the likelihood of effective implementation (probability 
implemented as planned); and
    (2) the practicability of the measures for applicant 
implementation, which may consider such things as cost, impact on 
operations, and, in the case of a military readiness activity, 
personnel safety, practicality of implementation, and impact on the 
effectiveness of the military readiness activity.

SEFSC Mitigation for Marine Mammals and Their Habitat

    The SEFSC has invested significant time and effort in identifying 
technologies, practices, and equipment to minimize the impact of the 
proposed activities on marine mammal species and stocks and their 
habitat. The mitigation measures discussed here have been determined to 
be both effective and practicable and, in some cases, have already been 
implemented by the SEFSC. In addition, the SEFSC is actively conducting 
research to determine if gear modifications are effective at reducing 
take from certain types of gear. Any potentially effective and 
practicable gear modification mitigation measures will be discussed as 
research results are available as part of the adaptive management 
strategy included in this rule. As for other parts of this rule, all 
references to the SEFSC, unless otherwise noted, include requirements 
for all partner institutions identified in the SEFSC's application.
    Coordination and communication--When SEFSC survey effort is 
conducted aboard NOAA-owned vessels, there are both vessel officers and 
crew and a scientific party. Vessel officers and crew are not composed 
of SEFSC staff, but are employees of NOAA's Office of Marine and 
Aviation Operations (OMAO), which is responsible for the management and 
operation of NOAA fleet ships and aircraft and is composed of uniformed 
officers of the NOAA Commissioned Corps as well as civilians. The 
ship's officers and crew provide mission support and assistance to 
embarked scientists, and the vessel's Commanding Officer (CO) has 
ultimate responsibility for vessel and passenger safety and, therefore, 
decision authority. When SEFSC-funded surveys are conducted aboard 
cooperative platforms (i.e., non-NOAA vessels), ultimate responsibility 
and decision authority again rests with non-SEFSC personnel (i.e., 
vessel's master or captain). Decision authority includes the 
implementation of mitigation measures (e.g., whether to stop deployment 
of trawl gear upon observation of marine mammals). The scientific party 
involved in any SEFSC survey effort is composed, in part or whole, of 
SEFSC staff and is led by a Chief Scientist (CS). Therefore, because 
the SEFSC--not OMAO or any other entity that may have authority over 
survey platforms used by the SEFSC--is the applicant to whom any 
incidental take authorization issued under the authority of these 
regulations would be issued, we require that the SEFSC take all 
necessary measures to coordinate and communicate in advance of each 
specific survey with OMAO, and other relevant parties, to ensure that 
all mitigation measures and monitoring requirements described herein, 
as well as the specific manner of implementation and relevant event-
contingent decision-making processes, are clearly understood and 
agreed-upon. This may involve description of all required measures when 
submitting cruise instructions to OMAO or when completing contracts 
with external entities. The SEFSC will coordinate and conduct briefings 
at the outset of each survey and, as necessary, between ship's crew 
(CO/master or designee(s), as appropriate) and scientific party in 
order to explain responsibilities, communication procedures, marine 
mammal monitoring protocol, and operational procedures. SEFSC will also 
coordinate as necessary on a daily basis during survey cruises with 
OMAO personnel or other relevant personnel on non-NOAA platforms to 
ensure that requirements, procedures, and decision-making processes are 
understood and

[[Page 27059]]

properly implemented. The CS will be responsible for coordination with 
the Officer on Deck (OOD; or equivalent on non-NOAA platforms) to 
ensure that requirements, procedures, and decision-making processes are 
understood and properly implemented.
    For fisheries research being conducted by partner entities, it 
remains the SEFSC's responsibility to ensure those partners are 
communicating and coordinating with the SEFSC, receiving all necessary 
marine mammal mitigation and monitoring training, and implementing all 
required mitigation and monitoring in a manner compliant with the rule 
and LOA. The SEFSC will incorporate specific language into its 
contracts that specifies training requirements, operating procedures, 
and reporting requirements for protected species that will be required 
for all surveys conducted by research partners, including those 
conducted on chartered vessels. To facilitate this requirement, SEFSC 
would be required to hold at least one training per year with at least 
one representative from each partner institution (preferably CSs of the 
fishery independent surveys discussed in this rule) to review the 
mitigation, monitoring and reporting requirements. The SEFSC would also 
provide consistent, timely support throughout the year to address any 
questions or concerns researchers may have regarding these measures.
    SEFSC would also be required to establish and maintain cooperating 
partner working group(s) to identify circumstances of a take should it 
occur and any action necessary to avoid future take. Each working group 
shall consist of at least one SEFSC representative knowledgeable of the 
mitigation, monitoring and reporting requirements contained within 
these regulations, one or more research institution or SEFSC 
representative(s) (preferably researcher(s) aboard vessel when take or 
risk of take occurred), one or more staff from NMFS Southeast Regional 
OPRDivision, and one or more staff from NMFS OPR. At the onset of these 
regulations, SEFSC shall maintain the recently established SCDNR 
working group to identify actions necessary to reduce the amount of 
take from SCDNR trawling. If a partner takes more than one marine 
mammal within 5-years, other working groups shall be established to 
identify circumstances of marine mammal take and necessary action to 
avoid future take. Each working group shall meet at least once 
annually. The SEFSC will maintain a centralized repository for all 
working group findings to facilitate sharing and coordination.
    While at sea, best professional judgement is used to determine if a 
marine mammal is at risk of entanglement/hooking and, if so, what type 
of actions should be taken to decrease risk of interaction. To improve 
judgement consistency across the region, the SEFSC will initiate a 
process for SEFSC and partner institution FPCs, SWLs, scientists, and 
vessel captains and crew to communicate with each other about their 
experiences with protected species interactions during research work, 
with the goal of improving decision-making regarding avoidance of 
adverse interactions. The SEFSC will host at least one training 
annually (may be combined with other training requirements) to inform 
decision-makers of various circumstances that may arise during surveys, 
necessary action, and follow-up coordination and reporting of instances 
of take or possible take. The intent of this new training program would 
be to draw on the collective experience of people who have been making 
those decisions, provide a forum for the exchange of information about 
what went right and what went wrong, and try to determine if there are 
any rules-of-thumb or key factors to consider that would help in future 
decisions regarding avoidance practices. The SEFSC would coordinate, 
not only among its staff and vessel captains and crew, but also with 
those from other fisheries science centers, research partners, the 
Southeast Regional Office, and other institutions with similar 
experience.
    The SEFSC will coordinate with the local Southeast Regional 
Stranding Coordinator and the NMFS Stranding Coordinator for any 
unusual protected species behavior and any stranding, beached live/
dead, or floating protected species that are encountered during field 
research activities. If a large whale is alive and entangled in fishing 
gear, the vessel will immediately call the U.S. Coast Guard at VHF Ch. 
16 and/or the appropriate Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response 
Network for instructions. All entanglements (live or dead) and vessel 
strikes must be reported immediately to the NOAA Fisheries Marine 
Mammal Stranding Hotline at 1-877-433-8299.

General Fishing Gear Measures

    The following measures describe mitigation application to all SEFSC 
surveys while measures specific to gear types follow. SEFSC will take 
all necessary measures to avoid marine mammal interaction with fishing 
gear used during fishery research surveys. This includes implementing 
the move-on rule (when applicable), meaning delaying setting gear when 
marine mammals are observed at or approaching the sampling site, and 
are deemed to be at-risk of becoming entangled or hooked on any type of 
fishing gear, and immediately pulling gear from the water when marine 
mammals are deemed to be at-risk of becoming entangled or hooked on any 
type of fishing gear. SEFSC will, at all times, monitor for any unusual 
circumstances that may arise at a sampling site and use best 
professional judgment to avoid any potential risks to marine mammals 
during use of all research equipment.
    In some cases, marine mammals may be attracted to the vessel during 
fishing. To avoid increased risk of interaction, the SEFSC will conduct 
fishery research sampling as soon as practicable upon arriving at a 
sampling station and prior to conducting environmental sampling. If 
fishing operations have been suspended because of the presence of 
marine mammals, SEFSC may resume fishing operations when interaction 
with marine mammals is deemed unlikely. SEFSC may use best professional 
judgment in making this determination. SEFSC shall coordinate with all 
research partners, at least once annually, to ensure mitigation, 
monitoring and reporting requirements, procedures and decision-making 
processes contained within the regulations and LOA are understood. All 
vessels must comply with applicable and relevant take reduction plans, 
including any required soak time limits and gear length restrictions.

Trawl Mitigation Measures

    The SEFSC and research partners use a variety of bottom trawl gears 
for different research purposes. These trawl types include various 
shrimp trawls (otter, western jib, mongoose, Falcon), high-opening 
bottom trawls, and flat net bottom trawls (see Table 1-1 and Appendix A 
in the DPEA). The SEFSC and its research partners also use modified 
beam trawls and benthic trawls pulled by hand that are not considered 
to pose a risk to protected species due to their small size and very 
short tow durations. Therefore, these smaller, hand pulled trawls are 
not subject to the mitigation measures provided here.
    The following mitigation measures apply for trawl surveys:
     Limit tow times to 30 minutes (except for sea turtle 
research trawls);
     open codend close to deck/sorting table during haul back 
to avoid damage to animals that may be caught in gear

[[Page 27060]]

and empty gear as quickly as possible after retrieval haul back;
     delay gear deployment if marine mammals are believed to be 
at-risk of interaction;
     retrieve gear immediately if marine mammals is believed to 
be entangled or at-risk of entanglement;
     implement marine mammal mitigation measures included in 
the NMFS ESA Scientific Research permit under which a survey may be 
operating;
     dedicated marine mammal observations shall occur at least 
15 minutes to beginning of net deployment; this watch may include 
approach to the sampling station;
     at least one scientist will monitor for marine mammals 
while the trawl is deployed and upon haul-back;
     minimize ``pocketing'' in areas of the net where dolphin 
depredation evidence is commonly observed;
     continue investigation into gear modifications (e.g., 
stiffening lazy lines) and the effectiveness of gear modification; and
     reduce vessel speed and/or implement appropriate course 
alteration.
    In 2008, standard tow durations for fishery bottom trawl surveys 
were reduced from 55 minutes to 30 minutes or less at target depth 
(excluding deployment and retrieval time). These short tow durations 
decrease the opportunity for curious marine mammals to find the vessel 
and investigate. Tow times are less than the 55 minute tow time 
restriction required for commercial shrimp trawlers not using turtle 
excluder devices (TEDs) (50 CFR 223.206). The resulting tow distances 
are typically one to two nm or less, depending on the survey and trawl 
speed. Short tow times reduce the likelihood of entangling protected 
species.
    The move-on rule will be applied to all oceanic deep water trawls 
if sightings occur anywhere around vessel (within 2 nm) during a 30 
minute pre-gear deployment monitoring timeframe. Vessels will move away 
if animals appear at risk or trawling will be delayed until marine 
mammals have not been sighted for 30 minutes or otherwise determined to 
no longer be at risk. If animals are still at risk after moving or 30 
minutes have lapsed, the vessel will move again or the station will be 
skipped.
    Bottom trawl surveys conducted for purposes of researching gears 
designed to reduce sea turtle interaction (e.g., turtle exclusion 
device (TED) testing) and develop finfish bycatch mitigation measures 
for commercial trawl fisheries may have tow times of up to 4 hours. 
These exceptions to the short tow duration protocols are necessary to 
meet research objectives. TEDs are used in nets that are towed in 
excess of 55 minutes as required by 50 CFR 223.206. When research 
objectives prevent the installation of TEDs, tow time limits will match 
those set by commercial fishing regulations such as the skimmer trawl 
fishery which has a 55 minute tow time limit. This research is covered 
under the authority of the ESA and the regulations governing the 
taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species 
(50 CFR parts 222-226). The SEFSC began using skimmer trawls in their 
TED testing in 2012. Mitigation measures in Scientific Research permit 
20339, issued May 23, 2017, include:
     Trawling must not be initiated when marine mammals (except 
dolphins or porpoises) are observed within the vicinity of the 
research, and the marine mammals must be allowed to either leave or 
pass through the area safely before trawling is initiated;
     Researchers must make every effort to prevent interactions 
with marine mammals, and researchers must be aware of the presence and 
location of these animals at all times as they conduct trawling 
activities;
     During skimmer trawl surveys, a minimum of two staff, one 
on each side (port/starboard) of the vessel, must inspect the gear 
every 5 minutes to monitor for the presence of marine mammals;
     Prior to retrieving the skimmer trawl tail bags, the 
vessel must be slowed from the active towing speed to 0.5-1.0 kn;
     If a marine mammal enters the net, becomes entangled or 
dies, researchers must (a) Stop trawling activities and immediately 
free the animal, (b) notify the appropriate NMFS Regional Stranding 
Coordinator as soon as possible and (c) report the incident (permitted 
activities will be suspended until the Permits Division has granted 
approval to continue research); and
     Video monitoring of the TED must be used when trawling 
around Duck, North Carolina, to reduce take of Atlantic sturgeon 
(although this requirement is not geared toward marine mammals, the 
camera feed can be used to observe marine mammals to inform decisions 
regarding implementing mitigation).
    The SEFSC also holds an ESA-research permit to assess sea turtle 
abundance, stock identification, life history, and impacts of human 
activities; determine sea turtle movements, fine-scale habitat 
characteristics and selection, and delineation of foraging and nursery 
areas; and examine how sea turtle distributions correlate with temporal 
trends and environmental data (Scientific Research Permit 16733-04). 
That research permit includes a number of marine mammal conditions that 
must be followed and are incorporated into this rule by reference:
     Trawl tow times must not exceed 30 minutes (bottom time) 
except in cases when the net is continuously monitored with a real-time 
video camera or multi-beam sonar system;
     Haul back must begin once a sea turtle or marine mammal 
enters the net regardless of time limits;
     Seine net pulls must not exceed 45 minutes as part of a 2-
hour deployment;
     Nets must not be put in the water and trawls must not be 
initiated when marine mammals are observed within the vicinity of the 
research;
     Marine mammals must be allowed to either leave or pass 
through the area safely before net setting or trawling is initiated;
     Researchers must make every effort to prevent interactions 
with marine mammals;
     Researchers must be aware of the presence and location of 
these animals at all times as they conduct activities;
     During skimmer trawl surveys, a minimum of two staff, one 
on each side (port/starboard) of the vessel, must inspect the gear 
every five minutes to monitor for the presence of marine mammals;
     Prior to retrieving the skimmer trawl tail bags, the 
vessel must be slowed from the active towing speed to 0.5-1.0 kn;
     Should marine mammals enter the research area after the 
seine or tangle nets have been set, the lead line must be raised and 
dropped in an attempt to make marine mammals in the vicinity aware of 
the net;
     If marine mammals remain within the vicinity of the 
research area, tangle or seine nets must be removed; and
     If a marine mammal enters the trawl net, becomes entangled 
or captured, researchers must stop activities and immediately free the 
animal, notify the NMFS Southeast Regional Stranding Coordinator as 
soon as possible, report the incident within 2 weeks and, in addition 
to the written report, the Permit Holder must contact the Permits 
Division.
    Other mitigation measures are included in research permit 16733-04 
that are designed for sea turtles but also have benefits to minimizing 
entanglement of marine mammals. These include:

[[Page 27061]]

     Highly visible buoys must be attached to the float line of 
each net and be spaced at intervals of 10 mor less. Nets must be 
checked at intervals of less than 30 minutes, and more frequently 
whenever turtles or other organisms are observed in the net. If water 
temperatures are <= 10oC or >= 30oC, nets must be checked at less than 
20-minute intervals (``net checking'' is defined as a complete and 
thorough visual check of the net either by snorkeling the net in clear 
water or by pulling up on the top line such that the full depth of the 
net is viewed along the entire length). The float line of all nets must 
be observed at all times for movements that indicate an animal has 
encountered the net (when this occurs the net must be immediately 
checked). During diver-assisted gear evaluations (SEFSC Small Turtle 
TED Testing and Gear Evaluations), dive teams are deployed on the 
trawls while they are being towed. During this research, divers 
actively monitor the gear for protected species interactions and use 
emergency signal floats to notify the vessel if an interaction occurs. 
When the signal float is deployed, the vessel terminates the tow and 
slows the gear down to a minimal forward speed of less than 0.5 knots 
which allows divers to assist the protected species to escape.
    Live feed video or sonar monitoring of the trawl may be used in 
lieu of tow time limits. This mitigation measure is also used in 
addition to TEDs during some projects. Video or sonar feeds are 
monitored for the duration of the tow. If a TED is not installed in the 
trawl and a protected species is observed in the trawl then the tow is 
immediately terminated. If a TED is installed and a marine mammal is 
observed to have difficulty escaping through the TED opening, or the 
individual is lost from the video or sonar feed then the tow is 
immediately terminated. For all trawl types, the lazy line is a source 
of entanglement. In particular, dolphins like to rub the line. Loose 
lines are prone to create a half-hitch around their tail. Therefore, to 
mitigate this type of interaction, the SEFSC Harvesting Systems Unit 
(HSU) has conducted limited research examining the potential use of 
lazy lines constructed of alternative materials designed to reduce 
marine mammal entanglement with respect to material, thickness, and 
stiffness. Polyester rope, also known as Dacron, may be a suitable 
alternative to traditionally used polypropylene. Polyester rope is UV 
and abrasion resistant and has less elasticity than nylon but does not 
lose strength when wet. Polyester, like polypropylene, does not absorb 
water but has a higher specific gravity (1.38), which causes it to 
sink. Polyester can be constructed using a process that results in a 
medium or hard lay rope that is stiff, avoids hockling (a twist in the 
line which gets caught in a block), and is self-coiling when loaded or 
unloaded off a capstan or gear hauler. The high specific gravity of 
this type of rope may pose a snagging or hang-up hazard when used as a 
lazy line in trawl operations. However, the smooth feel of the rope 
compared to polypropylene may reduce the attractiveness of the line to 
the rubbing behavior of bottlenose dolphin.
    In 2007, the HSU conducted preliminary NOAA diver assisted trials 
with High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) rope as a replacement for 
traditional polypropylene. Compared to polypropylene, HDPE rope has 
similar properties including negligible water absorption, UV 
resistance, and low specific gravity, which allows it to float. 
However, HDPE rope may be constructed with a harder lay than 
traditional polypropylene rope. Divers found that half-hitching the 
line was more difficult than traditional polypropylene line. However, 
operational trials were not conducted to examine performance and 
usability aboard the vessel during extended fishing operations.
    Another alternative may be replacement of the lazy line with \3/8\ 
in. stainless steel cable or replacement of the aft portion of the lazy 
line with \3/8\ in. stainless steel cable. Replacement of the entire 
lazy line with cable would require block replacement and the use of 
dedicated winches for hauling the gear. Replacing the aft portion of 
the lazy line, where bottlenose dolphins typically interact with the 
line, would not require any changes as long as the rope to cable 
connection is able to smoothly pass through existing blocks. However, 
each of these changes would result in sinking and potential snagging or 
hang-up hazards. These modifications are also not without consequences. 
Lazy line modifications may require vessel equipment changes (e.g., 
blocks on research vessels) or may change the effectiveness of the 
catch, precluding the comparison of new data with long-term data sets. 
In 2017, the HSU conducted a follow-up study, funded by NMFS Office of 
Science and Technology, to further investigate gear modification and 
the potential effectiveness at reducing dolphin entanglement.
    The following summarizes HSU's 2017 research efforts on shrimp 
trawl gear modification which was carried out to inform the development 
of this rule (the full report can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/node/23111). Gearhart and Hathaway (2018) 
provide the following summary of research methods and findings: From 
June 9-22, 2017, HSU conducted gear evaluations in Panama City, 
Florida, with various lazy lines and configurations. In addition to 
traditional polypropylene, three types of 3 strand rope were examined; 
Samson Ultra-Blue Medium Hard Lay (MHL); Samson SSR 100 MHL; and Samson 
XLR. Vertical and horizontal profiles of each rope type were measured 
with and without a ``sugar line'' attached in a twin-rigged trawl 
configuration. In addition, dolphin interactions were simulated by NMFS 
divers with an aluminum dolphin fluke model. Results indicate that the 
vertical profiles were reduced and horizontal profiles increased for 
all rope types when a 25 ft (7.6 m) ``sugar line'' was added. Due to 
differences in elasticity when compared to polypropylene, the 
alternative rope types experienced greater tension with vertical 
profiles flattening, while the polypropylene rope maintained vertical 
relief. Results of simulated dolphin interactions were inconclusive 
with divers able to introduce half-hitch loops around the model fluke 
with both polypropylene and the stiffest alternative rope, Samson SSR 
100 MHL. However, divers commented that it was more difficult to 
introduce the loop in the stiffer Samson SSR 100 MHL than the 
polypropylene line and more difficult to introduce the loop along the 
outer portion of the lazy line with the sugar line attached, due to the 
increased tension on the line. Use of an alternative stiffer line with 
low stretch in combination with a short sugar line may reduce the 
potential for bottlenose dolphin takes on lazy lines. However, 
additional usability research is needed with these alternative rope 
types to see how they perform under commercial conditions. Finally, 
more directed dolphin/lazy line interaction behavior research is needed 
to better understand the modes of interaction and provide conservation 
engineers with the knowledge required to better formulate potential 
solutions.
    Given the report's results and recommendations, NMFS is not 
requiring the SEFSC implement lazy line modifications at this time. 
However, as an adaptive management strategy, NMFS will be periodically 
assessing lazy line modification as a potential mitigation measure in 
this and future regulations. NMFS will continue to work with the SEFSC 
to determine if gear modifications such as stiffer lazy

[[Page 27062]]

lines are both warranted and practicable to implement. Should the SEFSC 
volunteer to modify trawl lazy lines, NMFS will work with the 
researchers to identify any potential benefits and costs of doing so.
    In addition to interactions with the lazy line, the SEFSC has 
identified that holes in trawl nets resulting from dolphin depredation 
are most numerous around net ``pockets'' where fish congregate. 
Reinforcing these more vulnerable sections of the net could help reduce 
entanglement. Similar to lazy line modification investigations, this 
potential mitigation measure will be further examined to determine its 
effectiveness and practicability. The regulations provide that 
``pocketing'' of the net should be minimized.
    Finally, marine mammal monitoring will occur during all trawls. 
Bottlenose dolphins are consistently interacting with research trawls 
in the estuary and nearshore waters and are seemingly attracted to the 
vessel, with most dolphins converging around the net during haul-back 
(SCDNR Working Group, pers. comm., February 2, 2016). This makes it 
difficult to ``lose'' dolphins, even while moving stations. Due to the 
known persistent behavior of dolphins around trawls in the estuary and 
nearshore waters, the move-on rule will not be required for such 
surveys. However, the CS and/or vessel captain will be required to take 
immediate action to reduce dolphin interaction should animals appear to 
be at risk or are entangled in the net. For skimmer trawl research, 
both the lazy line and net can be monitored from the vessel. However, 
this is not possible for bottom trawls. Therefore, for bottom trawls, 
researchers should use best professional judgement to determine if gear 
deployment should be delayed or hauled. For example, the SCDNR has 
noted one instance upon which dolphins appeared distressed, evident by 
the entire group converging on the net during haul-back. They quickly 
discovered a dolphin was entangled in the net. This, and similar types 
of overt distress behaviors, should be used by researchers monitoring 
the net to identify potential entanglement, requiring the net be 
hauled-in immediately and quickly.
    Pelagic trawls conducted in deep water (500-800 m deep) are 
typically mid-water trawls and occur in oceanic waters where marine 
mammal species diversity is greater when compared to the coast or 
estuaries. Oceanic species often travel in very large groups and are 
less likely to have prior encounters and experience with trawl gear 
than inshore bottlenose dolphins. For these trawls, a dedicated marine 
mammal observer would observe around the vessel for no less than 30 
minutes prior to gear deployment. If a marine mammal is observed within 
2 nm of the vessel, gear deployment would be delayed until that animal 
is deemed to not be at risk of entanglement (e.g., the animal is moving 
on a path away from the vessel) or the vessel would move to a location 
absent of marine mammals and deploy gear. If trawling operations have 
been delayed because of the presence of protected species, the vessel 
resumes trawl operations (when practicable) only when these species 
have not been sighted within 30 minutes or are determined to no longer 
be at risk (e.g., moving away from deployment site). If the vessel 
moves, the required 30-minute monitoring period begins again. In 
extreme circumstances, the survey station may need to be cancelled if 
animals (e.g., delphinids) follow the vessel. In addition to 
implementing the ``move-on'' rule, all trawling would be conducted 
first to reduce the opportunity to attract marine mammals to the 
vessel. However, the order of gear deployment is at the discretion of 
the FPC or SWL based on environmental conditions. Other activities, 
such as water sampling or plankton tows, are conducted in conjunction 
with, or upon completion of, trawl activities.
    Once the trawl net is in the water, the officer on watch, FPC or 
SWL, and/or crew standing watch continue to monitor the waters around 
the vessel and maintain a lookout for protected species as far away as 
environmental conditions allow. If protected species are sighted before 
the gear is fully retrieved, the most appropriate response to avoid 
incidental take is determined by the professional judgment of the FPC 
or SWL, in consultation with the officer on watch. These judgments take 
into consideration the species, numbers, and behavior of the animals, 
the status of the trawl net operation (net opening, depth, and distance 
from the stern), the time it would take to retrieve the net, and safety 
considerations for changing speed or course. Most marine mammals have 
been caught during haul-back operations, especially when the trawl 
doors have been retrieved and the net is near the surface and no longer 
under tension. In some situations, risk of adverse interactions may be 
diminished by continuing to trawl with the net at depth until the 
protected species have left the area before beginning haul-back 
operations. In other situations, swift retrieval of the net may be the 
best course of action. The appropriate course of action to minimize the 
risk of incidental take of protected species is determined by the 
professional judgment of the FPC or SWL based on all situation 
variables, even if the choices compromise the value of the data 
collected at the station. Care is taken when emptying the trawl, 
including opening the codend as close as possible to the deck of the 
checker (or sorting table) in order to avoid damage to protected 
species that may be caught in the gear but are not visible upon 
retrieval. The gear is emptied as quickly as possible after retrieval 
in order to determine whether or not protected species are present.

Seine Nets

    The SEFSC will implement the following mitigation measures when 
fishing with seine nets (e.g., gillnets, trammel nets):
     Conduct gillnet and trammel net research activities during 
daylight hours only;
     Limit soak times to the least amount of time required to 
conduct sampling;
     Conduct dedicated marine mammal observation monitoring 
beginning 15 minutes prior to deploying the gear and continue through 
deployment and haulback;
     Hand-check the net every 30 minutes if soak times are 
longer than 30 minutes or immediately if disturbance is observed;
     Pull gear immediately if disturbance in the nets is 
observed;
     Reduce net slack and excess floating and trailing lines;
     Repair damaged nets prior to deploying; and
     Delay or pull all gear immediately and implement the move-
on rule if marine mammal is at-risk of entanglement.
    The dedicated observation will be made by scanning the water and 
marsh edge (if visible when working in estuarine waters) 360 degrees 
around the vessel where the net would be set. If a marine mammal is 
sighted during this observation period, nets would not be deployed 
until the animal has left the area, is on a path away from where the 
net would be set, or has not been re-sighted within 15 minutes. 
Alternatively, the research team may move the vessel to an area clear 
of marine mammals. If the vessel moves, the 15 minute observation 
period is repeated. Monitoring by all available crew would continue 
while the net is being deployed, during the soak, and during haulback.
    If marine mammals are sighted in the peripheral sampling area 
during active netting, the SEFSC will raise and lower the net leadline. 
If marine mammals do

[[Page 27063]]

not immediately depart the area and the animal appears to be at-risk of 
entanglement (e.g, interacting with or on a path towards the net), the 
SEFSC will delay or pull all gear immediately and, if required, 
implement the move-on rule if marine mammal is at-risk of entanglement.
    If protected species are not sighted during the 15 minute 
observation period, the gear may be set. Waters surrounding the net and 
the net itself would be continuously monitored during the soak. If 
protected species are sighted during the soak and appear to be at risk 
of interaction with the gear, then the gear is pulled immediately. If 
fishing operations are halted, operations resume when animal(s) have 
not been sighted within 15 minutes or are determined to no longer be at 
risk, as determined by the judgment of the FPC or SWL. In other 
instances, the station is moved or cancelled. If any disturbance in the 
gear is observed in the gear, it is immediately checked or pulled.

Hook and Line Gear Mitigation

    In addition to the general mitigation measures listed above, the 
SEFSC will implement the following mitigation measures:
     Monitor area for marine mammals and, if present, delay 
setting gear until the animal is deemed not at risk.
     Immediately reel in lines if marine mammals are deemed to 
be at risk of interacting with gear.
     Follow existing Dolphin Friendly Fishing Tips: http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/outreach_and_education/documents/dolphin_friendly_fishing_tips.pdf.
     Not discard leftover bait overboard while actively 
fishing.
     Inspect tackles daily to avoid unwanted line breaks.
    When fishing with bottom or pelagic longlines, the SEFSC will: (1) 
Limit longline length and soak times to the minimum amount possible; 
(2) deploy longline gear first (after required monitoring) prior to 
conducting environmental sampling; (3) if any marine mammals are 
observed, delay deploying gear unless animal is not at risk of hooking; 
(4) pull gear immediately and implement the move-on rule if any marine 
mammal is hooked or is at risk of being hooked; (5) deploy longline 
gear prior to environmental sampling; and (6) avoid chumming (i.e., 
baiting water). More detail on these measures are described below.
    Prior to arrival on station (but within 0.5 nautical mile), the 
officer, crew members, and scientific party on watch visually scan for 
protected species for 30 minutes prior to station arrival for pelagic 
longline surveys and 15 minutes prior for other surveys. Binoculars 
will be used as necessary to survey the area while approaching and upon 
arrival at the station, while the gear is deployed, and during 
haulback. Additional monitoring is conducted 15 minutes prior to 
setting longline gear by members of the scientific crew that monitor 
from the back deck while baiting hooks. If protected species are 
sighted prior to setting the gear or at any time the gear is in the 
water, the bridge crew and SWL are alerted immediately. Environmental 
conditions (e.g., lighting, sea state, precipitation, fog, etc.) often 
limit the distance for effective visual monitoring of protected 
species. If marine mammals are sighted during any monitoring period, 
the ``move-on'' rule, as described in the trawling mitigation section 
above would be implemented. If longline operations have been delayed 
because of the presence of protected species, the vessel resumes 
longline operations only when these species have not been sighted 
within 15 minutes or otherwise determined to no longer be at risk. The 
risk decision is at the discretion of the FPC or SWL and is dependent 
on the situation. After the required monitoring period, longline gear 
is always the first equipment or fishing gear to be deployed when the 
vessel arrives on station.
    If marine mammals are detected during setting operations or while 
the gear is in the water and are considered to be at risk (e.g., moving 
towards deployment site, displaying behaviors of potentially 
interacting with gear, etc.), the FPC or SWL in conjunction with the 
officer on watch may halt the setting operation or call for retrieval 
of gear already set. The species, number, and behavior of the protected 
species are considered along with the status of the ship and gear, 
weather and sea conditions, and crew safety factors when making 
decisions regarding gear deployment delay or retrieval.
    There are also a number of standard measures designed to reduce 
hooking potential and minimize injury. In all pelagic longline sets, 
gangions are 110 percent as long as the drop line depth. Therefore, 
this gear configuration allows a potentially hooked marine mammal to 
reach the surface. SEFSC longline protocols specifically prohibit 
chumming, thereby reducing any attraction. Further, no stainless steel 
hooks are used, so that in the event a hook can not be retrieved from 
an animal, it will corrode. Per PLTRP, the SEFSC pelagic longline 
survey uses the Pelagic Longline Marine Mammal Handling and Release 
Guidelines for any pelagic longline sets made within the Atlantic EEZ. 
These procedures would also be implemented in the GOMRA and CRA.
    Other gears--The SEFSC deploys a wide variety of gear to sample the 
marine environment during all of their research cruises. Many of these 
types of gear (e.g., chevron fish trap, eel traps, dip nets, video 
cameras and ROV deployments) are not considered to pose any risk to 
marine mammals due to their size, deployment methods, or location, and 
therefore are not subject to mitigation. However, at all times when the 
SEFSC is conducting survey operations at sea, the OOD and/or CS and 
crew will monitor for any unusual circumstances that may arise at a 
sampling site and use best professional judgment to avoid any potential 
risks to marine mammals during all vessel operation and use of research 
equipment.
    Electrofishing--Electrofishing occurs on small vessels and operates 
with a 3,000 watt pulsed direct current for 15 minutes. The electric 
field is less than 20 feet (6 m) around the electrofishing vessel. 
Before the electrofishing vessel begins operating, a dedicated marine 
mammal observer would scan the surrounding waters for at least 15 
minutes prior to fishing. If a marine mammal is observed within 50 m of 
the vessel or on a path toward the vessel, electrofishing would be 
delayed. Fishing would not begin until the animal is outside of the 50 
m safety zone or on a consistent path away from the vessel. 
Alternatively, if animals do not leave the area, the vessel could move 
to another sampling station. If the vessel moves, the 15 minutes 
observation period is repeated. During electrofishing, the research 
crew would also monitor for marine mammals. If animals are observed 
within or on a path toward the 50 m safety zone, electrofishing would 
be terminated and not resume until the animal is clear of and on a path 
away from the 50 m safety zone. All samples collected during 
electrofishing are to remain on the vessel and not discarded until all 
electrofishing is completed to avoid attracting protected species.
    Vessel speed--Vessel speed during active sampling is less than 5 kn 
(average 2-3 kn). Transit speeds to and from sampling sites vary from 
6-14 kn but average 10 kn. These low vessel speeds minimize the 
potential for ship strike (see Potential Effects of Specified 
Activities on Marine Mammals and Their Habitat for an in-depth 
discussion of ship strikes). At any time during a survey or in transit, 
if a crew member standing watch or dedicated marine mammal observer 
sights marine

[[Page 27064]]

mammals that may intersect with the vessel course, that individual will 
immediately communicate the presence of marine mammals to the bridge 
for appropriate course alteration or speed reduction, if possible, to 
avoid incidental collisions.
    While transiting in areas subject to the North Atlantic ship strike 
rule, all SEFSC- affiliated research vessels (NOAA vessels, NOAA 
chartered vessels, and research partner vessels) will abide by the 
required speed restrictions and sighting alert protocols. The ship 
strike rule for the southeast U.S. seasonal management area (SMA) 
requires that, from November 15 through April 15, all vessels 65 feet 
(20 m) or longer must slow to 10 kn or less in the right whale calving 
and nursery grounds which are bounded to the north by latitude 
31[deg]27' N, to the south by 29[deg]45' N, and to the east by 
80[deg]51'36'' W. Mid-Atlantic SMAs include several port or bay 
entrances from northern Georgia to Rhode Island between November 1 and 
April 30. In addition, dynamic management areas (DMAs) are temporary 
areas created around right whale sightings, the size of which depends 
on the number of whales sighted. Voluntary speed reductions may apply 
when no SMA is in effect. All NOAA research vessels operating in North 
Atlantic right whale habitat participate in the Right Whale Early 
Warning System.
    SEFSC research vessel captains and crew watch for marine mammals 
while underway during daylight hours and take necessary actions to 
avoid them. There are currently no Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) 
aboard the vessels dedicated to watching for marine mammals to minimize 
the risk of collisions, although the large NOAA vessels (e.g., NOAA 
Ship Pisces) operated by the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation 
Operations (OMAO) include one bridge crew dedicated to watching for 
obstacles at all times, including marine mammals. At any time during a 
survey or in transit, any bridge personnel that sights marine mammals 
that may intersect with the vessel course immediately communicates 
their presence to the helm for appropriate course alteration or speed 
reduction as soon as possible to avoid incidental collisions, 
particularly with large whales (e.g., North Atlantic right whales).
    The Right Whale Early Warning System is a multi-agency effort that 
includes the SEFSC, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
Commission (FWCC), U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and volunteer 
observers. Sightings of the critically endangered North Atlantic right 
whale are reported from aerial surveys, shipboard surveys, whale watch 
vessels, and opportunistic sources (U.S. Coast Guard, commercial ships, 
fishing vessels, and the general public). Whale sightings are reported 
in real time to the Right Whale Early Warning System network and 
information is disseminated to mariners within a half hour of a 
sighting. The program was designed to reduce collisions between ships 
and North Atlantic right whales by alerting mariners to the presence of 
the whales in near real time. Under the rule, all NOAA-affiliated 
vessels operating in North Atlantic right whale habitat will be 
required to participate in the Right Whale Early Warning System.
    Acoustic and Visual Deterrent Devices--Acoustic and visual 
deterrents include, but are not limited; to pingers, recordings of 
predator vocalizations, light sticks, and reflective twine/rope. 
Pingers are underwater sound-emitting devices attached to gear that 
have been shown to decrease the probability of interactions with 
certain species of marine mammals. Pingers have been shown to be 
effective in deterring some marine mammals, particularly harbor 
porpoises, from interacting with gillnet gear (Nowacek et al. 2007, 
Carretta and Barlow 2011). Multiple studies have reported large 
decreases in harbor porpoise mortality (approximately 80 to 90 percent) 
in bottom-set gillnets (nets composed of vertical panes of netting, 
typically set in a straight line and either anchored to the bottom or 
drifting) during controlled experiments (e.g., Kraus et al., 1997; 
Trippel et al., 1999; Gearin et al., 2000). Using commercial fisheries 
data rather than a controlled experiment, Palka et al. (2008) reported 
that harbor porpoise bycatch rates in the northeast U.S gillnet fishery 
when fishing without pingers was about two to three times higher 
compared to when pingers were used. After conducting a controlled 
experiment in a California drift gillnet fishery during 1996-97, Barlow 
and Cameron (2003) reported significantly lower bycatch rates when 
pingers were used for all cetacean species combined, all pinniped 
species combined, and specifically for short-beaked common dolphins (85 
percent reduction) and California sea lions (69 percent reduction). 
While not a statistically significant result, catches of Pacific white-
sided dolphins (which are historically one of the most frequently 
captured species in SEFSC surveys; see Table 4) were reduced by 70 
percent. Carretta et al. (2008) subsequently examined 9 years of 
observer data from the same drift gillnet fishery and found that pinger 
use had eliminated beaked whale bycatch. Carretta and Barlow (2011) 
assessed the long-term effectiveness of pingers in reducing marine 
mammal bycatch in the California drift gillnet fishery by evaluating 
fishery data from 1990-2009 (with pingers in use beginning in 1996), 
finding that bycatch rates of cetaceans were reduced nearly fifty 
percent in sets using a sufficient number of pingers. However, in a 
behavioral response study investigating bottlenose dolphin behavior 
around gillnets outfitted with acoustic alarms in North Carolina, there 
was no significant difference in number of dolphins or closest approach 
between nets with alarms and nets without alarms (Cox et al., 2003). 
Studies of acoustic deterrents in a trawl fishery in Australia 
concluded that pingers are not likely to be effective in deterring 
bottlenose dolphins, as they are already aware of the gear due to the 
noisy nature of the fishery (Stephenson and Wells 2008, Allen et al. 
2014). Acoustic deterrents were also ineffective in reducing bycatch of 
common dolphins in the U.K. bass pair trawl fishery (Mackay and 
Northridge 2006).
    The use and effectiveness of acoustic deterrent devices in 
fisheries in which bottlenose dolphins have the potential to interact 
has been approached with caution. Two primary concerns expressed with 
regard to pinger effectiveness in reducing marine mammal bycatch relate 
to habituation (i.e., marine mammals may become habituated to the 
sounds made by the pingers, resulting in increasing bycatch rates over 
time; Dawson, 1994; Cox et al., 2001; Carlstr[ouml]m et al., 2009) and 
the ``dinner bell effect'' (Dawson, 1994; Richardson et al., 1995), 
which implies that certain predatory marine mammal species may come to 
associate pingers with a food source (e.g., fish caught in nets), with 
the result that bycatch rates may be higher in nets with pingers than 
in those without.
    The BDTRP, after years of directed investigation, found that 
pingers are not effective at deterring bottlenose dolphins from 
depredating on fish captured by trawls and gillnets. During research 
driven by the BDTRT efforts to better understand the effectiveness of 
pingers on bottlenose dolphins, one became entangled and drowned in a 
net outfitted with a pinger. Dolphins can become attracted to the sound 
of the pinger because they learn it signals the presence of fish (i.e., 
the ``dinner bell effect''), raising concerns about potential increased 
entanglement risks (Cox et al., 2003; Read et al., 2004 and 2006; and 
Read and Waples 2010). Due to the lack of evidence that pingers are 
effective at

[[Page 27065]]

deterring bottlenose dolphins coupled with the potential dinner-bell 
effect, the BDTRP does not recommend them for use in SEFSC for 
bottlenose dolphins.
    The effectiveness of acoustic and visual deterrents for species 
encountered in the ARA, GOMRA, and CRA is uncertain. Therefore, the 
SEFSC will not be required to outfit gear with deterrent devices but is 
encouraged to undertake investigations on the efficacy of these 
measures where unknown (i.e., not for surveys in which bottlenose 
dolphins are primary bycatch) in order to minimize the potential for 
takes.
    Disentanglement Handling Procedures--The SEFSC will implement a 
number of handling protocols to minimize the potential harm to marine 
mammals that are incidentally taken during the course of fisheries 
research activities. In general, protocols have already been prepared 
for use on commercial fishing vessels. Although commercial fisheries 
are known to take a larger number of marine mammals than fisheries 
research, the nature of entanglements are similar. Therefore, the SEFSC 
would adopt commercial fishery disentanglement protocols, which are 
expected to increase post-release survival. Handling or disentangling 
marine mammals carries inherent safety risks, and using best 
professional judgment and ensuring human safety is paramount.
    Captured live or injured marine mammals are released from research 
gear and returned to the water as soon as possible with no gear or as 
little gear remaining on the animal as possible. Animals are released 
without removing them from the water if possible, and data collection 
is conducted in such a manner as not to delay the release of the 
animal(s) or endanger the crew. SEFSC is responsible for training SEFSC 
and partner researchers on how to identify different species; handle 
and bring marine mammals aboard a vessel; assess the level of 
consciousness; remove fishing gear; and return marine mammals to water. 
Human safety is always the paramount concern.
    At least two persons aboard SEFSC ships and one person aboard 
smaller vessels, including vessels operated by partners where no SEFSC 
staff are present, will be trained in marine mammal handling, release, 
and disentanglement procedures. If a marine mammal is entangled or 
hooked in fishery research gear and discovered alive, the SEFSC or 
affiliate will follow safe handling procedures. To facilitate this 
training, SEFSC would be required to ensure relevant researchers attend 
the NMFS Highly Migratory Species/Protected Species Safe Handling, 
Release, and Identification Workshop www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/compliance/workshops/protected_species_workshop/index.html or other 
similar training. The SEFSC shall provide SEFSC scientists and partner 
institutions with the Protected Species Safe Handling and Release 
Manual (see Appendix D is SEFSC's application) and advise researchers 
to follow this manual, in addition to lessons learned during training, 
should a marine mammal become entangled during a survey. For those 
scientists conducting longline surveys, the SEFSC shall provide 
training on the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team Marine Mammal 
Handling and Release Guidelines.
    Based on our evaluation of the SEFSC's proposed measures, as well 
as other measures considered by NMFS, NMFS has preliminarily determined 
that the mitigation measures provide the means of effecting the least 
practicable impact on the affected species or stocks and their habitat, 
paying particular attention to rookeries, mating grounds, and areas of 
similar significance.

Monitoring and Reporting

    In order to issue an incidental take authorization for an activity, 
section 101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA states that NMFS must set forth 
``requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such 
taking.'' The MMPA implementing regulations at 50 CFR 216.104 (a)(13) 
require that requests for incidental take authorizations must include 
the suggested means of accomplishing the necessary monitoring and 
reporting that will result in increased knowledge of the species and of 
the level of taking or impacts on populations of marine mammals that 
are expected to be present in the action area.
    Monitoring and reporting requirements prescribed by NMFS should 
contribute to improved understanding of one or more of the following:
     Occurrence of marine mammal species or stocks in the 
action area (e.g., presence, abundance, distribution, density);
     Nature, scope, or context of likely marine mammal exposure 
to potential stressors/impacts (individual or cumulative, acute or 
chronic), through better understanding of: (1) Action or environment 
(e.g., source characterization, propagation, ambient noise); (2) 
affected species (e.g., life history, dive patterns); (3) co-occurrence 
of marine mammal species with the action; or (4) biological or 
behavioral context of exposure (e.g., age, calving or feeding areas);
     Individual marine mammal responses (behavioral or 
physiological) to acoustic stressors (acute, chronic, or cumulative), 
other stressors, or cumulative impacts from multiple stressors;
     How anticipated responses to stressors impact either: (1) 
Long-term fitness and survival of individual marine mammals; or (2) 
populations, species, or stocks;
     Effects on marine mammal habitat (e.g., marine mammal prey 
species, acoustic habitat, or other important physical components of 
marine mammal habitat); and
     Mitigation and monitoring effectiveness.
    The SEFSC plans to make more systematic its training, operations, 
data collection, animal handling and sampling protocols, etc. in order 
to improve its ability to understand how mitigation measures influence 
interaction rates and ensure its research operations are conducted in 
an informed manner and consistent with lessons learned from those with 
experience operating these gears in close proximity to marine mammals. 
We propose the monitoring requirements described below.
    Marine mammal watches are a standard part of conducting fisheries 
research activities and are implemented as described previously in the 
Mitigation section. Dedicated marine mammal observations occur as 
described (1) for some period prior to deployment of most research 
gear; (2) throughout deployment and active fishing of all research 
gears; (3) for some period prior to retrieval of gear; and (4) 
throughout retrieval of research gear. Observers should record the 
species and estimated number of animals present and their behaviors, 
which may be valuable information towards an understanding of whether 
certain species may be attracted to vessels or certain survey gears. 
Separately, on white boats, marine mammal watches are conducted by 
watch-standers (those navigating the vessel and other crew; these will 
typically not be SEFSC personnel) at all times when the vessel is being 
operated. The primary focus for this type of watch is to avoid striking 
marine mammals and to generally avoid navigational hazards. These 
watch-standers typically have other duties associated with navigation 
and other vessel operations and are not required to record or report 
data to the scientific party on marine mammal sightings, except when 
gear is being deployed or retrieved.

[[Page 27066]]

Training

    The SEFSC anticipates that additional information on practices to 
avoid marine mammal interactions can be gleaned from training sessions 
and more systematic data collection standards. The SEFSC will conduct 
annual trainings for all CS and other personnel who may be responsible 
for conducting dedicated marine mammal visual observations to explain 
mitigation measures and monitoring and reporting requirements, 
mitigation and monitoring protocols, marine mammal identification, 
recording of count and disturbance observations (relevant to AMLR 
surveys), completion of datasheets, and use of equipment. Some of these 
topics may be familiar to SEFSC staff, who may be professional 
biologists. The SEFSC shall determine the agenda for these trainings 
and ensure that all relevant staff have necessary familiarity with 
these topics. The first such training will include three primary 
elements:
    First, the course will provide an overview of the purpose and need 
for the authorization, including mandatory mitigation measures by gear 
and the purpose for each, and species that the SEFSC is authorized to 
incidentally take. Second, the training will provide detailed 
descriptions of reporting, data collection, and sampling protocols. 
This portion of the training will include instruction on how to 
complete new data collection forms such as the marine mammal watch log, 
the incidental take form (e.g., specific gear configuration and details 
relevant to an interaction with protected species), and forms used for 
species identification and biological sampling. The biological data 
collection and sampling training module will include the same sampling 
and necropsy training that is used for the Southeast Regional Observer 
training.
    The SEFSC will also dedicate a portion of training to discussion of 
best professional judgment (which is recognized as an integral 
component of mitigation implementation; see Mitigation), including use 
in any incidents of marine mammal interaction and instructive examples 
where use of best professional judgment was determined to be successful 
or unsuccessful. We recognize that many factors come into play 
regarding decision-making at sea and that it is not practicable to 
simplify what are inherently variable and complex situational decisions 
into rules that may be defined on paper. However, it is our intent that 
use of best professional judgment be an iterative process from year to 
year, in which any at-sea decision-maker (i.e., responsible for 
decisions regarding the avoidance of marine mammal interactions with 
survey gear through the application of best professional judgment) 
learns from the prior experience of all relevant SEFSC personnel 
(rather than from solely their own experience). The outcome should be 
increased transparency in decision-making processes where best 
professional judgment is appropriate and, to the extent possible, some 
degree of standardization across common situations, with an ultimate 
goal of reducing marine mammal interactions. It is the responsibility 
of the SEFSC to facilitate such exchange.

Handling Procedures and Data Collection

    Improved standardization of handling procedures was discussed 
previously in the Mitigation section. SEFSC believes that implementing 
these protocols will benefit animals through increased post-release 
survival. In addition, SEFSC believes that adopting these protocols for 
data collection will also increase the information on which ``serious 
injury'' determinations (NMFS, 2012a, b) are based and improve 
scientific knowledge about marine mammals that interact with fisheries 
research gears and the factors that contribute to these interactions. 
SEFSC personnel will be provided standard guidance and training 
regarding handling of marine mammals, including how to identify 
different species, bring an individual aboard a vessel, assess the 
level of consciousness, remove fishing gear, return an individual to 
water and log activities pertaining to the interaction.
    The SEFSC will record interaction information on either existing 
data forms created by other NMFS programs or will develop their own 
standardized forms. To aid in serious injury determinations and comply 
with the current NMFS Serious Injury Guidelines, researchers will also 
answer a series of supplemental questions on the details of marine 
mammal interactions.
    Finally, for any marine mammals that are killed during fisheries 
research activities, when practicable, scientists will collect data and 
samples pursuant to Appendix D of the SEFSC DEA, ``Protected Species 
Handling Procedures for SEFSC Fisheries Research Vessels.''

SEFSC Reporting

    As is normally the case, SEFSC will coordinate with the relevant 
stranding coordinators for any unusual marine mammal behavior and any 
stranding, beached live/dead, or floating marine mammals that are 
encountered during field research activities. The SEFSC will follow a 
phased approach with regard to the cessation of its activities and/or 
reporting of such events, as described in the regulatory text following 
this preamble. In addition, CS (or cruise leader) will provide reports 
to SEFSC leadership and to the OPR. As a result, when marine mammals 
interact with survey gear, whether killed or released alive, a report 
provided by the CS will fully describe any observations of the animals, 
the context (vessel and conditions), decisions made and rationale for 
decisions made in vessel and gear handling. The circumstances of these 
events are critical in enabling the SEFSC and OPR to better evaluate 
the conditions under which takes are most likely occur. We believe in 
the long term this will allow the avoidance of these types of events in 
the future.
    The SEFSC will submit annual summary reports to OPR including:
    (1) Annual line-kilometers surveyed during which the EK60, ME70, 
SX90 (or equivalent sources) were predominant (see ``Estimated Take'' 
for further discussion), specific to each region;
    (2) Summary information regarding use of all trawl, net, and hook 
and line gear, including number of sets, tows, hook hours, etc., 
specific to each research area and gear;
    (3) Accounts of all incidents of marine mammal interactions, 
including circumstances of the event and descriptions of any mitigation 
procedures implemented or not implemented and why;
    (4) Summary information related to any disturbance of marine 
mammals and distance of closest approach;
    (5) A written description of any mitigation research investigation 
efforts and findings (e.g., lazy line modifications);
    (6) A written evaluation of the effectiveness of SEFSC mitigation 
strategies in reducing the number of marine mammal interactions with 
survey gear, including best professional judgment and suggestions for 
changes to the mitigation strategies, if any;
    (7) Details on marine mammal-related training taken by SEFSC and 
partner scientists; and
    (8) A summary of meeting(s) and workshop(s) outcomes with any 
partner working group, including, the South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources, designed to reduce the number of marine mammal 
interactions.
    The period of reporting will be annually, beginning one year post-
issuance of any LOA, and the report must be submitted not less than 
ninety days following the end of a given year.

[[Page 27067]]

Submission of this information is in service of an adaptive management 
framework allowing NMFS to make appropriate modifications to mitigation 
and/or monitoring strategies, as necessary, during the 5-year period of 
validity for these regulations and LOA.
    Should an incidental take occur, the SEFSC, or affiliated partner 
involved in the taking, shall follow the NMFS Final Take Reporting and 
Response Procedures, dated January 15, 2016. NMFS has established a 
formal incidental take reporting system, the PSIT database, requiring 
that incidental takes of protected species be reported within 48 hours 
of the occurrence. The PSIT generates automated messages to NMFS 
leadership and other relevant staff, alerting them to the event and to 
the fact that updated information describing the circumstances of the 
event has been inputted to the database. The PSIT and CS reports 
represent not only valuable real-time reporting and information 
dissemination tools but also serve as an archive of information that 
may be mined in the future to study why takes occur by species, gear, 
region, etc.
    The SEFSC will also collect and report all necessary data, to the 
extent practicable given the primacy of human safety and the well-being 
of captured or entangled marine mammals, to facilitate serious injury 
(SI) determinations for marine mammals that are released alive. The 
SEFSC will require that the CS complete data forms and address 
supplemental questions, both of which have been developed to aid in SI 
determinations. The SEFSC understands the critical need to provide as 
much relevant information as possible about marine mammal interactions 
to inform decisions regarding SI determinations. In addition, the SEFSC 
will perform all necessary reporting to ensure that any incidental M/SI 
is incorporated as appropriate into relevant SARs.

Negligible Impact Analysis and Determination

    Introduction--NMFS has defined negligible impact as an impact 
resulting from the specified activity that cannot be reasonably 
expected to, and is not reasonably likely to, adversely affect the 
species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival (50 CFR 216.103). A negligible impact finding is based on the 
lack of likely adverse effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival (i.e., population-level effects). An estimate of the number of 
takes alone is not enough information on which to base an impact 
determination. In addition to considering estimates of the number of 
marine mammals that might be ``taken'' by mortality, serious injury, 
and Level A or Level B harassment, we consider other factors, such as 
the likely nature of any behavioral responses (e.g., intensity, 
duration), the context of any such responses (e.g., critical 
reproductive time or location, migration), as well as effects on 
habitat, and the likely effectiveness of mitigation. We also assess the 
number, intensity, and context of estimated takes by evaluating this 
information relative to population status. Consistent with the 1989 
preamble for NMFS's implementing regulations (54 FR 40338; September 
29, 1989), the impacts from other past and ongoing anthropogenic 
activities are incorporated into this analysis via their impacts on the 
environmental baseline (e.g., as reflected in the regulatory status of 
the species, population size and growth rate where known, ongoing 
sources of human-caused mortality, and specific consideration of take 
by M/SI previously authorized for other NMFS research activities).
    We note here that the takes from potential gear interactions 
enumerated below could result in non-serious injury or no injury, but 
their worst potential outcome (M/SI) is analyzed for the purposes of 
the negligible impact determination.
    We discuss here the connection, and differences, between the legal 
mechanisms for authorizing incidental take under section 101(a)(5) for 
activities such as the SEFSC fishery research activities, and for 
authorizing incidental take from commercial fisheries. In 1988, 
Congress amended the MMPA's provisions for addressing incidental take 
of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations. Congress directed 
NMFS to develop and recommend a new long-term regime to govern such 
incidental taking (see MMC, 1994). The need to develop a system suited 
to the unique circumstances of commercial fishing operations led NMFS 
to suggest a new conceptual means and associated regulatory framework. 
That concept, PBR, and a system for developing plans containing 
regulatory and voluntary measures to reduce incidental take for 
fisheries that exceed PBR were incorporated as sections 117 and 118 in 
the 1994 amendments to the MMPA. In Conservation Council for Hawaii v. 
National Marine Fisheries Service, 97 F. Supp.3d 1210 (D. Haw. 2015), 
which concerned a challenge to NMFS' regulations and LOAs to the Navy 
for activities assessed in the 2013-2018 HSTT MMPA rulemaking, the 
Court ruled that NMFS' failure to consider PBR when evaluating lethal 
takes in the negligible impact analysis under section 101(a)(5)(A) 
violated the requirement to use the best available science.
    PBR is defined in section 3 of the MMPA 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'' (OSP) and, although not controlling, 
can be one measure considered among other factors when evaluating the 
effects of M/SI on a marine mammal species or stock during the section 
101(a)(5)(A) process. OSP is defined in section 3 of 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.'' Through section 2, an overarching goal of the 
statute is to ensure that each species or stock of marine mammal is 
maintained at or returned to its OSP.
    PBR values are calculated by NMFS as the level of annual removal 
from a stock that will allow that stock to equilibrate within OSP at 
least 95 percent of the time, and is the product of factors relating to 
the minimum population estimate of the stock (Nmin), the 
productivity rate of the stock at a small population size, and a 
recovery factor. Determination of appropriate values for these three 
elements incorporates significant precaution, such that application of 
the parameter to the management of marine mammal stocks may be 
reasonably certain to achieve the goals of the MMPA. For example, 
calculation of the minimum population estimate (Nmin) 
incorporates the level of precision and degree of variability 
associated with abundance information, while also providing reasonable 
assurance that the stock size is equal to or greater than the estimate 
(Barlow et al., 1995), typically by using the 20th percentile of a log-
normal distribution of the population estimate. In general, the three 
factors are developed on a stock-specific basis in consideration of one 
another in order to produce conservative PBR values that appropriately 
account for both imprecision that may be estimated, as well as 
potential bias stemming from lack of knowledge (Wade, 1998).
    Congress called for PBR to be applied within the management 
framework for commercial fishing incidental take under section 118 of 
the MMPA. As a result, PBR cannot be applied appropriately outside of 
the section 118 regulatory framework without

[[Page 27068]]

consideration of how it applies within the section 118 framework, as 
well as how the other statutory management frameworks in the MMPA 
differ from the framework in section 118. PBR was not designed and is 
not used as an absolute threshold limiting commercial fisheries. 
Rather, it serves as a means to evaluate the relative impacts of those 
activities on marine mammal stocks. Even where commercial fishing is 
causing M/SI at levels that exceed PBR, the fishery is not suspended. 
When M/SI exceeds PBR in the commercial fishing context under section 
118, NMFS may develop a take reduction plan, usually with the 
assistance of a take reduction team. The take reduction plan will 
include measures to reduce and/or minimize the taking of marine mammals 
by commercial fisheries to a level below the stock's PBR. That is, 
where the total annual human-caused M/SI exceeds PBR, NMFS is not 
required to halt fishing activities contributing to total M/SI but 
rather utilizes the take reduction process to further mitigate the 
effects of fishery activities via additional bycatch reduction 
measures. In other words, under section 118 of the MMPA, PBR does not 
serve as a strict cap on the operation of commercial fisheries that may 
incidentally take marine mammals.
    Similarly, to the extent PBR may be relevant when considering the 
impacts of incidental take from activities other than commercial 
fisheries, using it as the sole reason to deny (or issue) incidental 
take authorization for those activities would be inconsistent with 
Congress's intent under section 101(a)(5), NMFS' long-standing 
regulatory definition of ``negligible impact,'' and the use of PBR 
under section 118. The standard for authorizing incidental take for 
activities other than commercial fisheries under section 101(a)(5) 
continues to be, among other things that are not related to PBR, 
whether the total taking will have a negligible impact on the species 
or stock. Nowhere does section 101(a)(5)(A) reference use of PBR to 
make the negligible impact finding or authorize incidental take through 
multi-year regulations, nor does its companion provision at 
101(a)(5)(D) for authorizing non-lethal incidental take under the same 
negligible-impact standard. NMFS' MMPA implementing regulations state 
that take has a negligible impact when it does not ``adversely affect 
the species or stock through effects on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival''--likewise without reference to PBR. When Congress amended 
the MMPA in 1994 to add section 118 for commercial fishing, it did not 
alter the standards for authorizing non-commercial fishing incidental 
take under section 101(a)(5), implicitly acknowledging that the 
negligible impact standard under section 101(a)(5) is separate from the 
PBR metric under section 118. In fact, in 1994 Congress also amended 
section 101(a)(5)(E) (a separate provision governing commercial fishing 
incidental take for species listed under the ESA) to add compliance 
with the new section 118 but retained the standard of the negligible 
impact finding under section 101(a)(5)(A) (and section 101(a)(5)(D)), 
showing that Congress understood that the determination of negligible 
impact and application of PBR may share certain features but are, in 
fact, different.
    Since the introduction of PBR in 1994, NMFS had used the concept 
almost entirely within the context of implementing sections 117 and 118 
and other commercial fisheries management-related provisions of the 
MMPA. Prior to the Court's ruling in Conservation Council for Hawaii v. 
National Marine Fisheries Service and consideration of PBR in a series 
of section 101(a)(5) rulemakings, there were a few examples where PBR 
had informed agency deliberations under other MMPA sections and 
programs, such as playing a role in the issuance of a few scientific 
research permits and subsistence takings. But as the Court found when 
reviewing examples of past PBR consideration in Georgia Aquarium v. 
Pritzker, 135 F. Supp. 3d 1280 (N.D. Ga. 2015), where NMFS had 
considered PBR outside the commercial fisheries context, ``it has 
treated PBR as only one `quantitative tool' and [has not used it] as 
the sole basis for its impact analyses.'' Further, the agency's 
thoughts regarding the appropriate role of PBR in relation to MMPA 
programs outside the commercial fishing context have evolved since the 
agency's early application of PBR to section 101(a)(5) decisions. 
Specifically, NMFS' denial of a request for incidental take 
authorization for the U.S. Coast Guard in 1996 seemingly was based on 
the potential for lethal take in relation to PBR and did not appear to 
consider other factors that might also have informed the potential for 
ship strike in relation to negligible impact (61 FR 54157; October 17, 
1996).
    The MMPA requires that PBR be estimated in SARs and that it be used 
in applications related to the management of take incidental to 
commercial fisheries (i.e., the take reduction planning process 
described in section 118 of the MMPA and the determination of whether a 
stock is ``strategic'' as defined in section 3). But nothing in the 
statute requires the application of PBR outside the management of 
commercial fisheries interactions with marine mammals. Nonetheless, 
NMFS recognizes that as a quantitative metric, PBR may be useful as a 
consideration when evaluating the impacts of other human-caused 
activities on marine mammal stocks. Outside the commercial fishing 
context, and in consideration of all known human-caused mortality, PBR 
can help inform the potential effects of M/SI requested to be 
authorized under 101(a)(5)(A). As noted by NMFS and the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service in our implementation regulations for the 1986 
amendments to the MMPA (54 FR 40341, September 29, 1989), the Services 
consider many factors, when available, in making a negligible impact 
determination, including, but not limited to, the status of the species 
or stock relative to OSP (if known); whether the recruitment rate for 
the species or stock is increasing, decreasing, stable, or unknown; the 
size and distribution of the population; and existing impacts and 
environmental conditions. In this multi-factor analysis, PBR can be a 
useful indicator for when, and to what extent, the agency should take 
an especially close look at the circumstances associated with the 
potential mortality, along with any other factors that could influence 
annual rates of recruitment or survival.
    When considering PBR during evaluation of effects of M/SI under 
section 101(a)(5)(A), we first calculate a metric for each species or 
stock that incorporates information regarding ongoing anthropogenic M/
SI from all sources into the PBR value (i.e., PBR minus the total 
annual anthropogenic mortality/serious injury estimate in the SAR), 
which is called ``residual PBR.'' (Wood et al., 2012). We first focus 
our analysis on residual PBR because it incorporates anthropogenic 
mortality occurring from other sources. If the ongoing human-caused 
mortality from other sources does not exceed PBR, then residual PBR is 
a positive number, and we consider how the anticipated or potential 
incidental M/SI from the activities being evaluated compares to 
residual PBR using the framework in the following paragraph. If the 
ongoing anthropogenic mortality from other sources already exceeds PBR, 
then residual PBR is a negative number and we consider the M/SI from 
the activities being evaluated as described further below.
    When ongoing total anthropogenic mortality from the applicant's 
specified activities does not exceed PBR and

[[Page 27069]]

residual PBR is a positive number, as a simplifying analytical tool, we 
first consider whether the specified activities could cause incidental 
M/SI that is less than 10 percent of residual PBR (the ``insignificance 
threshold,'' see below). If so, we consider M/SI from the specified 
activities to represent an insignificant incremental increase in 
ongoing anthropogenic M/SI for the marine mammal stock in question, 
that alone (i.e., in the absence of any other take) will not adversely 
affect annual rates of recruitment and survival. As such, this amount 
of M/SI would not be expected to affect rates of recruitment or 
survival in a manner resulting in more than a negligible impact on the 
affected stock unless there are other factors that could affect 
reproduction or survival, such as Level A and/or Level B harassment, or 
other considerations such as information that illustrates the 
uncertainty involved in the calculation of PBR for some stocks. In a 
few prior incidental take rulemakings, this threshold was identified as 
the ``significance threshold,'' but it is more accurately labeled an 
insignificance threshold. Thus, we use that terminology here, as we did 
in the AFTT Proposed and Final Rules (83 FR 57076; November 14, 2018). 
Assuming that any additional incidental take by Level A or Level B 
harassment from the activities in question would not combine with the 
effects of the authorized M/SI to exceed the negligible impact level, 
the anticipated M/SI caused by the activities being evaluated would 
have a negligible impact on the species or stock. However, M/SI above 
the 10 percent insignificance threshold does not indicate that the M/SI 
associated with the specified activities is approaching a level that 
would necessarily exceed negligible impact. Rather, the 10 percent 
insignificance threshold is meant only to identify instances where 
additional analysis of the anticipated M/SI is not required because the 
negligible impact standard clearly will not be exceeded on that basis 
alone.
    Where the anticipated M/SI is near, at, or above residual PBR, 
consideration of other factors (positive or negative), including those 
outlined above, as well as mitigation is especially important to 
assessing whether the M/SI will have a negligible impact on the species 
or stock. PBR is a conservative metric and not sufficiently precise to 
serve as an absolute predictor of population effects upon which 
mortality caps would appropriately be based. For example, in some cases 
stock abundance (which is one of three key inputs into the PBR 
calculation) is underestimated because marine mammal survey data within 
the U.S. EEZ are used to calculate the abundance, even when the stock 
range extends well beyond the U.S. EEZ. An underestimate of abundance 
could result in an underestimate of PBR. Alternatively, we sometimes 
may not have complete M/SI data beyond the U.S. EEZ to compare to PBR, 
which could result in an overestimate of residual PBR. The accuracy and 
certainty around the data that feed any PBR calculation, such as the 
abundance estimates, must be carefully considered to evaluate whether 
the calculated PBR accurately reflects the circumstances of the 
particular stock. M/SI that exceeds PBR may still potentially be found 
to be negligible in light of other factors that offset concern, 
especially when robust mitigation and adaptive management provisions 
are included.
    In Conservation Council for Hawaii v. NMFS, 97 F.Supp.3d 1210 (D. 
Haw. 2015), which involved the challenge to NMFS' issuance of LOAs to 
the Navy in 2013 for activities in the HSTT Study Area, the Court 
reached a different conclusion, stating, ``Because any mortality level 
that exceeds PBR will not allow the stock to reach or maintain its OSP, 
such a mortality level could not be said to have only a `negligible 
impact' on the stock.'' As described above, the Court's statement 
fundamentally misunderstands the two terms and incorrectly indicates 
that these concepts (PBR and ``negligible impact'') are directly 
connected, when in fact nowhere in the MMPA is it indicated that these 
two terms are equivalent.
    Specifically, PBR was designed as a tool for evaluating mortality 
and is defined as the number of animals that can be removed while 
``allowing that stock to reach or maintain its [OSP].'' OSP is defined 
as a population that falls within a range from the population level 
that is the largest supportable within the ecosystem to the population 
level that results in maximum net productivity, and thus is an 
aspirational management goal of the overall statute with no specific 
timeframe by which it should be met. PBR is designed to ensure minimal 
deviation from this overarching goal, with the formula for PBR 
typically ensuring that growth towards OSP is not reduced by more than 
10 percent (or equilibrates to OSP 95 percent of the time). As PBR is 
applied by NMFS, it provides that growth toward OSP is not reduced by 
more than 10 percent, which certainly allows a stock to ``reach or 
maintain its [OSP]'' in a conservative and precautionary manner--and we 
can therefore clearly conclude that if PBR were not exceeded, there 
would not be adverse effects on the affected species or stocks. 
Nonetheless, it is equally clear that in some cases the time to reach 
this aspirational OSP level could be slowed by more than 10 percent 
(i.e., total human-caused mortality in excess of PBR could be allowed) 
without adversely affecting a species or stock through effects on its 
rates of recruitment or survival. Thus, even in situations where the 
inputs to calculate PBR are thought to accurately represent factors 
such as the species' or stock's abundance or productivity rate, it is 
still possible for incidental take to have a negligible impact on the 
species or stock even where M/SI exceeds residual PBR or PBR.
    As noted above, in some cases the ongoing human-caused mortality 
from activities other than those being evaluated already exceeds PBR. 
Therefore, residual PBR is negative. In these cases (specifically two 
GoM BSE stocks: Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay), any additional 
mortality, no matter how small, and no matter how small relative to the 
mortality caused by other human activities, would result in greater 
exceedance of PBR. PBR is helpful in informing the analysis of the 
effects of mortality on a species or stock because it is important from 
a biological perspective to be able to consider how the total mortality 
in a given year may affect the population. However, section 
101(a)(5)(A) of the MMPA indicates that NMFS shall authorize the 
requested incidental take from a specified activity if we find that 
``the total of such taking [i.e., from the specified activity] will 
have a negligible impact on such species or stock.'' In other words, 
the task under the statute is to evaluate the applicant's anticipated 
take in relation to their take's impact on the species or stock, not 
other entities' impacts on the species or stock. Neither the MMPA nor 
NMFS' implementing regulations call for consideration of other 
unrelated activities and their impacts on the species or stock. In 
fact, in response to public comments on the implementing regulations, 
NMFS explained that such effects are not considered in making 
negligible impact findings under section 101(a)(5). However, the extent 
to which a species or stock is being impacted by other anthropogenic 
activities is not ignored. Such effects are reflected in the baseline 
of existing impacts as reflected in the species' or stock's abundance, 
distribution, reproductive rate, and other biological indicators.
    NMFS guidance for commercial fisheries provides insight when 
evaluating the effects of an applicant's incidental take as compared to 
the

[[Page 27070]]

incidental take caused by other entities. Parallel to section 
101(a)(5)(A), section 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA provides that NMFS shall 
allow the incidental take of ESA-listed endangered or threatened marine 
mammals by commercial fisheries if, among other things, the incidental 
M/SI from the commercial fisheries will have a negligible impact on the 
species or stock. As discussed earlier, the authorization of incidental 
take resulting from commercial fisheries and authorization for 
activities other than commercial fisheries are under two separate 
regulatory frameworks. However, when it amended the statute in 1994 to 
provide a separate incidental take authorization process for commercial 
fisheries, Congress kept the requirement of a negligible impact 
determination for ESA-listed species, thereby applying the standard to 
both programs. While the structure and other standards of the two 
programs differ such that evaluation of negligible impact under one 
program may not be fully applicable to the other program (e.g., the 
regulatory definition of ``negligible impact'' at 50 CFR 216.103 
applies only to activities other than commercial fishing), guidance on 
determining negligible impact for commercial fishing take 
authorizations can be informative when considering incidental take 
outside the commercial fishing context. In 1999, NMFS published 
criteria for making a negligible impact determination pursuant to 
section 101(a)(5)(E) of the MMPA in a notice of proposed permits for 
certain fisheries (64 FR 28800; May 27, 1999). Criterion 2 stated ``If 
total human-related serious injuries and mortalities are greater than 
PBR, and fisheries-related mortality is less than 0.1 PBR, individual 
fisheries may be permitted if management measures are being taken to 
address non-fisheries-related serious injuries and mortalities. When 
fisheries-related serious injury and mortality is less than 10 percent 
of the total, the appropriate management action is to address 
components that account for the major portion of the total.'' This 
criterion addresses when total human-caused mortality is exceeding PBR, 
but the activity being assessed is responsible for only a small portion 
of the mortality. In the SEFSC proposed rule, NMFS' description of how 
we consider PBR in the section 101(a)(5) authorization process did not 
include consideration of this scenario. However, the analytical 
framework we use here appropriately incorporates elements of the one 
developed for use under section 101(a)(5)(E). And because the 
negligible impact determination under section 101(a)(5)(A) focuses on 
the activity being evaluated, it is appropriate to utilize the parallel 
concept from the framework for section 101(a)(5)(E).
    Accordingly, we are using a similar criterion in our negligible 
impact analysis under section 101(a)(5)(A) to evaluate the relative 
role of an applicant's incidental take when other sources of take are 
causing PBR to be exceeded, but the take of the specified activity is 
comparatively small. Where this occurs, we may find that the impacts of 
the taking from the specified activity may (alone) be negligible, even 
when total human-caused mortality from all activities exceeds PBR if 
(in the context of a particular species or stock) the authorized 
mortality or serious injury would be less than or equal to 10 percent 
of PBR and management measures are being taken to address serious 
injuries and mortalities from the other activities (i.e., other than 
the specified activities covered by the incidental take authorization 
under consideration). We must also determine, though, that impacts on 
the species or stock from other types of take (i.e., harassment) caused 
by the applicant do not combine with the impacts from mortality or 
serious injury to result in adverse effects on the species or stock 
through effects on annual rates of recruitment or survival.
    As discussed above, however, while PBR is useful in informing the 
evaluation of the effects of M/SI in section 101(a)(5)(A) 
determinations, it is just one consideration to be assessed in 
combination with other factors. It is not determinative including 
because, as explained above, the accuracy and certainty of the data 
used to calculate PBR for the species or stock must be considered. And 
we reiterate the considerations discussed above for why it is not 
appropriate to consider PBR an absolute cap in the application of this 
guidance. Accordingly, we use PBR as a trigger for concern while also 
considering other relevant factors to provide a reasonable and 
appropriate means of evaluating the effects of potential mortality on 
rates of recruitment and survival, while acknowledging that it is 
possible to exceed PBR (or exceed 10 percent of PBR in the case where 
other human-caused mortality is exceeding PBR but the specified 
activity being evaluated is an incremental contributor, as described in 
the last paragraph) by some small amount and still make a negligible 
impact determination under section 101(a)(5)(A).
    Our evaluation of the M/SI for each of the species and stocks for 
which mortality or serious injury could occur follows. All mortality 
authorized for some of the same species or stocks over the next several 
years pursuant to our final rulemaking for the NMFS Southwest and 
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Centers has been incorporated into 
the residual PBR.
    We first consider maximum potential incidental M/SI for each stock 
(Table 13 and 14) in consideration of NMFS's threshold for identifying 
insignificant M/SI take (10 percent of residual PBR (69 FR 43338; July 
20, 2004)). By considering the maximum potential incidental M/SI in 
relation to residual PBR and ongoing sources of anthropogenic 
mortality, we begin our evaluation of whether the potential incremental 
addition of M/SI through SEFSC research activities may affect the 
species' or stock's annual rates of recruitment or survival. We also 
consider the interaction of those mortalities with incidental taking of 
that species or stock by harassment pursuant to the specified activity.
    We methodically examined each stock above the insignificance 
threshold to determine if the amount and degree of authorized taking 
would have effects to annual rates of recruitment or survival (i.e., 
have a negligible impact on the species or stock). These rates are 
inherently difficult to quantify for marine mammals because adults of 
long-lived, birth-pulse populations (e.g., many cetaceans, polar bears 
and walrus) may not breed every year because of parental care, long 
gestation periods or nutritional constraints (Taylor et al., 1987). 
Therefore, we pursued a combination of quantitative and qualitative 
analyses to inform our determinations.
    First, we compiled data to assess the baseline population status of 
each stock for which the SEFSC is requesting take. These data were 
pulled from the most recent SARs (Hayes et al., 2017) and, where 
information was unknown or undetermined in the SARs, we consulted 
marine mammal experts at the SEFSC and on TRTs to fill data gaps to the 
best of our ability based on the best available science. Data pulled 
from these sources include population size and demographics (where 
known), PBR, known mortality and serious injury from commercial and 
recreational fishing and other human-caused sources (e.g., direct 
shootings), stock trends (i.e., declining, stable, or increasing), 
threats, and other sources of potential take M/SI (e.g., MMPA 
101(a)(5)(A or D) applications and scientific research permit 
applications). In addition, we looked at ongoing management actions 
(e.g., TRT gear restrictions) to identify

[[Page 27071]]

where efforts are being focused and are successful at reducing 
incidental take.

Estuarine and Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins

    For estuarine bottlenose dolphin stocks, reaching our negligible 
impact determination required a hard examination of the status of each 
of the 7 ARA and 11 GOMRA stocks for which we authorized take. We 
recognize that PBR is technically undetermined for many stocks because 
abundance data is more than 8 years old. Therefore, we consulted with 
marine mammal experts at the SEFSC to derive best estimates of PBR 
based on the available data. Overall, PBR is low (less than one animal) 
because stock sizes are generally small (tens to hundreds) in southeast 
estuaries (with notable exceptions such as Mississippi Sound and Mobile 
Bay). Stock sizes are expected to be small because the abundance of a 
dolphin stock in an estuary is bounded by the capabilities of the bays 
and estuarine systems to support that stock (i.e., carrying capacity of 
the system) due to the residential nature of these stocks, among other 
things. With respect to rates of annual M/SI, we note some fisheries in 
the GoM (e.g., shrimp fishery) do not have full observer coverage. 
Estimates of take from these fisheries are both extrapolated and 
aggregated to the state level. Thus, calculating total M/SI rates from 
commercial fisheries applicable to any given stock, rather than all 
stocks within a state, not possible.
    We approached the issue of outdated abundance information by 
working closely with SEFSC experts and have developed estimated 
abundance data and PBR values. The resulting values follow the general 
trend of small stock sizes and are very conservative in some cases. For 
example, recent abundance surveys in Barataria Bay and Terrebonne Bay 
revealed stock numbers were in the thousands compared to the previously 
estimated populations of approximately 200-300 animals (Hayes et al., 
2018). In addition, three stocks, including the Perdido Bay stock have 
population estimates showing zero. However, it is well documented that 
dolphins inhabit these areas. We also consulted with the NMFS Southeast 
Regional Office (SERO) bottlenose dolphin conservation coordinator to 
better understand the nature of the takes identified in the SARs M/SI 
values (i.e., the source of take such as commercial fishery or 
research). That is, if we relied solely on the SAR annual M/SI values 
reported in the SARs and added the authorized M/SI take to these 
numbers, we would be double-counting M/SI as some takes were attributed 
to the research for which we are proposing to authorize take. 
Therefore, where M/SI takes were contributed to SEFSC research, we have 
adjusted annual M/SI values from Table 3b above so as not to ``double 
count'' potential take. Table 13 reflects these adjustments.
    In the ARA, the amount of take from all M/SI (both authorized here 
and other sources) does not exceed PBR. M/SI take for ARA stocks is 
below the insignificance threshold (10 percent r-PBR) except for the 
Northern South Carolina Estuarine, Northern Georgia/Southern South 
Carolina Estuarine, Central Georgia Estuarine, and Southern Georgia 
Estuarine stocks (Table 13). Authorized M/SI take for the latter two 
stocks are only slightly above the insignificance threshold (11.76 and 
10.35 percent, respectively). The authorized take for the Northern 
Georgia/Southern South Carolina stock constitutes 28.57 percent of r-
PBR. Sources of anthropogenic mortality for this stock include hook and 
line and crab pot/trap fisheries. The authorized M/SI take (0.2/year) 
of the Northern South Carolina stock is 50 percent of PBR. However, 
considering an average of one animal every 5 years is taken in 
commercial fisheries (likely gillnet or crab pot/trap), the authorized 
take and annual M/SI constitute 100 percent of r-PBR. The Northern 
South Carolina Estuarine System stock is delimited as dolphins 
inhabiting estuarine waters from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, 
southwest to Price Inlet, South Carolina, the northern boundary of 
Charleston Estuarine System stock. The region has little residential, 
commercial, and industrial development and contains the Cape Romain 
National Wildlife Refuge. As such, the stock is not facing heavy 
anthropogenic pressure, and there are no identified continuous indirect 
stressors threatening the stock.
    For the nine estuarine stocks in the GOMRA for which we are 
proposing to authorize take by M/SI, take is below the insignificance 
threshold (10 percent r-PBR) for four stocks: Mobile Bay, Terrebonne 
Bay/Timbalier Bay; St. Vincent Sound/Apalachicola Bay/St. George Sound, 
and Apalachee Bay. As described above, we have updated the population 
estimate and PBR of the Mobile Bay stock in this final rule to reflect 
data presented in the DWH Trustees quantification of injury report (DWH 
MMIQT 2015), which more accurately describes the Mobile Bay stock 
abundance than the proposed rule as that estimate was based on outdated 
(1991) survey data. The authorized M/SI take for three coastal stocks 
are also below the insignificance threshold. The authorized M/SI take 
for four BSE stocks are between 14 and 40 percent r-PBR. Ongoing M/SI 
take attributed to the Mississippi Sound stock is already above PBR in 
absence of the authorized M/SI take. (Table 13).

    Table 13--Summary Information of Estuarine and Coastal Bottlenose Dolphin Stocks Related to SEFSC Authorized M/SI Take in the ARA, GOMRA, and CRA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          NEFSC
                                          Stock                                           Annual M/    authorized     r-PBR 2    M/SI  take/r-PBR (%) 3
               Stock                    abundance       M/SI take (annual)        PBR         SI      take by M/SI
                                         (Nbest)                                                        (annual)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Atlantic
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern South Carolina Estuarine              1 50  0.2.....................      1 0.4        0.2               0        0.2  100.00.
 Stock.
Charleston Estuarine System Stock..           1 289  0.2.....................      1 2.8        0.2               0        2.6  7.69.
Northern Georgia/Southern South               1 250  0.2.....................      1 2.1        1.4               0        0.7  28.57.
 Carolina Estuarine.
Central Georgia Estuarine..........             192  0.2.....................        1.9        0.2               0        1.7  11.76.
Southern Georgia Estuarine.........             194  0.2.....................        1.9          0               0        1.9  10.53.
Jacksonville Estuarine System......           1 412  0.2.....................      1 3.9        1.2               0        2.7  7.41.
Florida Bay........................           1 514  0.2.....................      1 4.5          0               0        4.5  4.44.
South Carolina/Georgia Coastal.....           6,027  0.6.....................         46    1.0-1.4               0    44.6-45  1.35.
Northern Florida Coastal...........             877  0.6.....................          6        0.6               0        5.4  11.11.

[[Page 27072]]

 
Central Florida Coastal............           1,218  0.6.....................        9.1        0.2               0        8.9  6.74.
Northern Migratory Coastal.........           6,639  0.6.....................         48   6.1-13.2             1.6  33.2-43.5  0.4-0.6.
Southern Migratory Coastal.........           3,751  0.6.....................         23       14.3             1.6        7.1  8.45.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Gulf of Mexico
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terrebonne Bay, Timbalier Bay......           3,870  0.2.....................         27        0.2               0       26.8  0.75.
Mississippi River Delta............             332  0.2.....................        1.4        4 0               0        1.4  14.29.
Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay           3,046  .02 (M/SI), 0.2 (Level           23        310               0       -287  Neg.
 Boudreau 5.                                          A).
Mobile Bay, Bonsecour Bay..........           1,393  0.2.....................       6 13      5 0.8               0       12.2  1.6.
St. Andrew Bay.....................             199  0.2.....................        1.5        0.2               0        1.3  15.4.
St. Joseph Bay.....................             142  0.2.....................        1.0          0               0        1.0  20.0.
St. Vincent Sound, Apalachicola                 439  0.2.....................     1 3.91          0               0       3.91  5.12.
 Bay, St. George Sound.
Apalachee Bay......................             491  0.2.....................     1 3.61          0               0       3.61  5.54.
Waccasassa Bay, Withlacoochee Bay,            1 100  0.2.....................      1 0.5          0               0        0.5  40.00.
 Crystal Bay.
Northern Gulf of Mexico Western              20,161  0.6.....................        175        0.6               0      174.4  0.34.
 Coastal Stock.
Northern Gulf of Mexico Northern              7,185  0.6.....................         60        0.4               0       59.6  1.01.
 Coastal Stock.
Northern Gulf of Mexico Eastern              12,388  0.6.....................        111        1.6               0      109.4  0.55.
 Coastal Stock.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 For many estuarine stocks, the draft 2019 SAR has unknown abundance estimates and undetermined PBRs. Where this occurred, we used either the most
  recent estimates (even if more than 8 years old) or we consulted with SEFSC marine mammal experts for best judgement (pers. comm., K. Mullin).
2 r-BPR = PBR--(annual M/I + NEFSC authorized take). For example, for the southern migratory coastal stock r-PBR = 23-(14.3 + 1.6).
3 Values in the column reflect what the take represents as a percentage of r-PBR. The insignificance threshold is 10 percent.
4 The annual M/SI in the draft 2019 SAR is 0.2 for the Mississippi River stock. However, the takes considered were from gillnet fishery research.
  Therefore, we reduced M/SI to 0.
5 The annual M/SI in the draft 2019 SAR is 1.0. However, one take used in those calculations is from fisheries research for which we propose to
  authorize take. Therefore, we reduced M/SI to 0.8.
6 PBR for the Mobile Bay stock was derived from the lower 95 percent confidence interval presented in DHW MIQTT 2015 (Nmin = 1252). We calculated PBR as
  1252 * 0.02 * 0.4 = 13.

    For the Mississippi Sound stock, we evaluated various aspects of 
stock status and considered the amount of SEFSC M/SI compared to PBR. 
As described above, we may find that the impacts of the taking from the 
specified activity may be negligible even when total human-caused 
mortality from all activities exceeds PBR if (in the context of a 
particular species or stock) the authorized mortality or serious injury 
would be less than or equal to 10 percent of PBR and management 
measures are being taken to address serious injuries and mortalities 
from the other activities (i.e., other than the specified activities 
covered by the incidental take authorization under consideration). In 
this case, authorized M/SI take is less than 10 percent of PBR and 
management actions are in place to address M/SI from other sources. 
According to this stock's 2017 SAR, the mean annual fishery-related 
mortality and serious injury during 2012-2015 for observed fisheries 
and strandings and at-sea observations identified as fishery-caused 
related is 1.0. Additional mean annual mortality and serious injury 
during 2011-2015 due to other human-caused actions (fishery research, 
sea turtle relocation trawling, gunshot wounds, and DWH oil spill) is 
309 with the majority sourced from DWH. Projected annual M/SI over the 
next 5 years from commercial fishing and DWH are 6 and 1539 (or 1.2 and 
308, annually), respectively.
    Management and research actions, including ongoing health 
assessments and Natural Resource Damage Plan efforts designed to 
restore injury to the stock, are anticipated to improve the status of 
the stock moving forward. In June 2017, the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil 
spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees (Trustees) 
released a ``Strategic Framework for Marine Mammal Restoration 
Activities.'' The framework outlines the following general actions:
     Implement an integrated portfolio of restoration 
approaches to restore injured Bay, Sound, and Estuary (BSE); coastal; 
shelf; and oceanic marine mammals across the diverse habitats and 
geographic ranges they occupy.
     Identify and implement restoration activities that 
mitigate key stressors to support resilient populations. Collect and 
use monitoring information, such as population and health assessments 
and spatiotemporal distribution information.
     Identify and implement actions that support ecological 
needs of the stocks; improve resilience to natural stressors; and 
address direct human-caused threats such as bycatch in commercial 
fisheries, vessel collisions, noise, industrial activities, illegal 
feeding and harassment, and hook-and-line fishery interactions.
    NMFS is also currently investigating a number of actions to reduce 
both intentional and incidental mortality and serious injury for all 
GOM BSE stocks, including Mississippi Sound and Mobile Bay. These 
efforts include working collaboratively with shrimp fishermen to 
explore ways to modify fishing gear that would reduce bycatch of 
dolphins; enhancing observer coverage & data collection on shrimp

[[Page 27073]]

trawls; working collaboratively to reduce dolphin mortality from 
intentional mortality (gunshot, arrows) and illegal feeding activities 
by enhancing state law enforcement and conducting outreach; and 
building capacity and preparedness of the marine mammal stranding 
network.
    Further, marine mammal population modeling indicates dolphin 
populations should begin recovery nine years post spill (NRDA Trustees, 
2016; DWH MMIQT 2015). Applying that model to the Mississippi Sound 
stock, we should begin to see the population recover during the life of 
the regulations. Moreover, we note the three research-related 
mortalities discussed in the SAR for this stock are from the specified 
activities for which we have authorized take. Therefore, the authorized 
take would not be in addition to, but would account for, these 
research-related takes.
    In addition to quantitative comparisons between the issued amount 
of M/SI take to PBR and r-PBR, we consider qualitative information such 
as population dynamics and context to determine if the authorized 
amount of take of estuarine and coastal bottlenose dolphins in the ARA 
and GOMRA would adversely affect a stock through effects of annual 
rates of recruitment and survival. Marine mammals are K-selected 
species, meaning they have few offspring, long gestation and parental 
care periods, and reach sexual maturity later in life. Therefore, 
between years, reproduction rates vary based on age and sex class 
ratios. As such, population dynamics is a driver when looking at 
reproduction rates. We focus on reproduction here because we 
conservatively consider inter-stock reproduction is the primary means 
of recruitment for these stocks. We note this is a conservative 
assumption, as some individuals are known to travel, and there is some 
mixing between the estuarine stocks and adjacent coastal stocks (Hayes 
et al, 2017). Given reproduction is the primary means of recruitment 
and females play a significantly larger role in their offspring's 
reproductive success (also known as Bateman's Principle), the mortality 
of females rather than males is, in general, more likely to influence 
recruitment rate. Several studies have purported that male bottlenose 
dolphins are more likely to engage in depredation or related behaviors 
with trawls and recreational fishing (Corkeron et al., 1990; Powell & 
Wells, 2011) or become entangled in gear (Reynolds et al., 2000; Adimey 
et al., 2014). Male bias has also been reported for strandings with 
evidence of fishery interaction (Stolen et al., 2007; Fruet et al., 
2012; Adimey et al., 2014) and for in situ observations of fishery 
interaction (Corkeron et al., 1990; Finn et al., 2008; Powell & Wells, 
2011). Byrd and Hohn (2017) examined stranding data to determine 
whether there was differential risk of bycatch based on sex and age 
class from gillnet fisheries in North Carolina. They found more males 
than females stranded. However, the relative gillnet bycatch risk was 
not different for males and females. In summary, these data suggest the 
risk of gear interaction from trawls and hook and line is likely higher 
for males, while gillnet interactions may pose equal risk for males and 
females. For this rulemaking, the majority of historical gear 
interactions are from trawls. Therefore, we believe males (which are 
less likely to influence recruitment rate) are more likely at risk than 
females.
    Understanding the population dynamics of each bottlenose dolphin 
stock considered in this rulemaking is not possible as the data simply 
do not exist for each stock. Therefore, we considered a well-studied 
population, the Sarasota Bay stock, as a proxy for assessing population 
dynamics of other estuarine stocks throughout the ARA and GOMRA. The 
Sarasota Bay stock is the most data rich population of bottlenose 
dolphins in the United States. The Sarasota Bay Research Program (SBRP) 
possesses 40 years of data on the resident dolphin population. Research 
topics include, but are not limited to, population structure and 
dynamics, health and physiology, and human interaction and impacts.
    The Sarasota Bay stock demonstrates high recruitment and survival 
rates. Wells et al. (2014) found 83 percent (95 percent CI = 0.52 to 
0.99) of detected pregnancies were documented as resulting in live 
births. Eight of the 10 calves (80 percent) resulting from documented 
pregnancies survived through the calendar year of their birth and, 
therefore, were considered to have been successfully recruited into the 
Sarasota Bay bottlenose dolphin population. This value compares 
favorably with the 81 percent first year survival reported by Wells & 
Scott (1990) for Sarasota Bay bottlenose dolphins. Thus, approximately 
66 percent of documented pregnancies led to successful recruitment. 
Mann et al. (2000) found dolphin interbirth intervals for surviving 
calves are between 3 and 6.2 years, resulting in annual variability in 
reproductive rates.
    With respect to survival, Wells and Scott (1990) calculated a mean 
annual survival rate of Sarasota Bay dolphins at 96.2 percent. In 
comparison, a mark-recapture study of dolphins near Charleston, South 
Carolina reported an apparent annual survival rate of 95.1 percent (95 
percent CI: 88.2-100) (Speakman et al., 2010). In summary, survival 
rate and reproductive success of the Sarasota Bay stock is high and, 
except for those stocks for which we know individual marine mammal 
health and reproductive success are compromised from the Deepwater 
Horizon oil spill (e.g., Mississippi Sound stock), we consider 
estuarine bottlenose stocks in the ARA and GOMRA to have similar rates 
of recruitment and survival.
    For stocks that are known to be experiencing levels of stress from 
fishing and other anthropogenic sources, we look toward the ongoing 
management actions and research designed to reduce those pressures when 
considering our negligible impact determination. Overall, many 
estuarine bottlenose dolphin stocks are facing anthropogenic stressors 
such as commercial and recreational fishing, coastal development, 
habitat degradation (e.g., oil spills, harmful algal blooms), and 
directed violence (intentional killing/injury) and have some level of 
annual M/SI. NOAA, including the SEFSC, is dedicated to reducing 
fishery take, both in commercial fisheries and research surveys. For 
example, the Atlantic BDTRT is in place to decrease M/SI in commercial 
fisheries and scientists at NOAA's National Center for Coastal Ocean 
Science (NCCOS) in Charleston, South Carolina, are undertaking research 
and working with local fishermen to reduce crab pot/trap and trawling 
entanglement (e.g., McFee et al., 2006, 2007; Greenman and McFee, 
2014). In addition, through this rulemaking, the SEFSC has invested in 
developing measures that may be adopted by commercial fisheries to 
reduce bycatch rates, thereby decreasing the rate of fishing-related M/
SI. For example, in 2017, the SEFSC executed the previously described 
Lazy Line Modification Mitigation Work Plan (see Potential Effects of 
Specified Activities on Marine Mammals and Their Habitat section) and 
is investigating the feasibility of applying gear modifications to 
select research trawl surveys. Also, as a result of this rulemaking 
process, the SEFSC has a heightened awareness of the risk of take and a 
commitment to not only implement the mitigation measures in this 
rulemaking but to develop additional mitigation measures beyond this 
rule that they find effective and practicable. Because all NMFS Science 
Centers are dedicated to decreasing gear

[[Page 27074]]

interaction risk, each Science Center is also committed to sharing 
information about reducing marine mammal bycatch, further educating 
fishery researchers on means by which is to make best professional 
judgements and minimize risk of take.
    Region-wide, Gulf of Mexico states, in coordination with Federal 
agencies, are taking action to recover from injury sustained during the 
DWH spill. Funds from the spill have been allocated specifically for 
marine mammal restoration to the Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, 
Louisiana, Texas, Open Ocean, and Region-wide Trustee Implementation 
Groups (TIGs). As described above, in June 2017, the Trustees released 
their Strategic Framework for Marine Mammal Restoration Activities. The 
framework includes a number of marine mammal restoration goals (listed 
above) which would improve marine mammal populations over the course of 
the regulations by, among other things, increasing marine mammal 
resilience to natural stressors and addressing direct human-caused 
threats such as bycatch in commercial fisheries, vessel collisions, 
noise, industrial activities, illegal feeding and harassment, and hook-
and-line fishery interactions. The Alabama TIG has made the most 
progress on executing this strategic framework. In 2018, the Alabama 
TIG committed to three projects designed to restore marine mammals: (1) 
Enhancing Capacity for the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network; (2) 
Assessment of Alabama Estuarine Bottlenose Dolphin Populations & Health 
(including the Mobile Bay stock); and (3) Alabama Estuarine Bottlenose 
Dolphin Protection: Enhancement & Education.
    Since publication of the proposed rule, an unusual mortality event 
(UME) has been declared for dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, including 
BSE dolphins. We consider this UME in the context of our negligible 
impact determination since it was (a) recent, (b) is ongoing, and (c) 
most notably impacted BSE stocks (e.g., Mobile Bay) for which we 
authorized M/SI take. Elevated bottlenose dolphin strandings have been 
occurring in the Northern Gulf of Mexico including Louisiana (n = 114), 
Mississippi (n = 139), Alabama (n = 58), and the panhandle of Florida 
(Alabama border through Franklin County; n = 38) since February 1, 
2019. As of January 2, 2020, these 342 dolphin stranding rate is 
approximately three times higher than the average. The UME 
investigation is ongoing and, to date, no specific causes have been 
identified. However, a number of the stranded dolphins have had visible 
skin lesions that are consistent with freshwater exposure. During the 
spring season, it is not uncommon to see a reduction of salinity in 
bays, sounds, and estuaries and also an increase in dolphins (both live 
free swimming and stranded) exhibiting visible skin lesions consistent 
with low salinity exposure. These freshets may be a result of local 
rainfall and/or watershed flow from upstream snow melt or flood events 
emptying into the bays, sounds and estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico. 
Last year (2019) was an especially wet year with high levels of 
rainfall in addition to the opening of the spillways due to the extreme 
flooding upstream (e.g., the Bonnet-Carre spillway was open 76 days 
(January-June 11, 2019) affecting areas east of the Mississippi River 
outflow). The majority of strandings associated with this UME occurred 
prior to July with the stranding rate decreasing over the last several 
months. For example, of the total 342 strandings since February 1, 
2019, 289 occurred prior to July 5, 2019 (5 months). Between July 5, 
2019 and October 3, 2019 (3 months), there were 28 strandings and 
between October 4, 2019 and January 2, 2020 (3 months), there were 25 
strandings. Therefore, although the UME is ongoing, the rate of 
mortality is decreasing.
    For all estuarine stocks, 0.2 M/SI annually means the potential for 
one mortality in 1 of the 5 years and zero mortalities in 4 of those 5 
years. Therefore, the SEFSC would not be contributing to the total 
human-caused mortality at all in 4 of the 5, or 80 percent, of the 
years covered by this rule. That means that even if a dolphin from any 
estuarine stock were to be killed or seriously injured as a result of 
fisheries research, in 4 of the 5 years there could be no effect on 
annual rates of recruitment or survival from SEFSC-caused M/SI. 
Additionally, as noted previously, the loss of a male, which we have 
demonstrated is more likely when trawling is the cause of take, would 
have far less, if any, effect on annual rates of recruitment or 
survival. As described above, male bias has been documented for 
strandings with evidence of fishery interaction (most notably trawls), 
and the majority of work assessed under this rule is trawling. 
Therefore, there is likely a greater than 50 percent chance a male 
could be taken, further decreasing the likelihood of impact on annual 
rates of recruitment or survival.
    In situations like this where potential M/SI take is fractional 
(e.g., 0.2 per year), consideration must be given to the lessened 
impacts anticipated due to the absence of M/SI in four of the years and 
due to the fact that a single M/SI from gear interaction is more likely 
to be male. Lastly, we reiterate that PBR is a conservative metric and 
also not sufficiently precise to serve as an absolute predictor of 
population effects upon which mortality caps would appropriately be 
based. This is especially important given the minor difference between 
zero and one across the 5-year period covered by this rule, which is 
the smallest distinction possible when considering mortality. Wade 
(1998), authors of the paper from which the current PBR equation is 
derived, note (on page 29) that ``Estimating incidental mortality in 
one year to be greater than the PBR calculated from a single abundance 
survey does not prove the mortality will lead to depletion; it 
identifies a population worthy of careful future monitoring and 
possibly indicates that mortality-mitigation efforts should be 
initiated.''

Offshore Pelagic Stocks

    For all offshore pelagic stocks where PBR is known, except for gray 
seal, the level of taking is less than 10 percent of r-PBR after 
considering other sources of human-caused mortality (Table 14). Again, 
for those stocks with total incidental M/SI take less than the 
significance threshold (i.e., ten percent of residual PBR), we consider 
the effects of the specified activity to represent an insignificant 
incremental increase in ongoing anthropogenic M/SI and need not 
consider other factors in making a negligible impact determination 
except in combination with additional incidental take by acoustic 
harassment.

[[Page 27075]]



                 Table 14--Summary Information of Pelagic Stocks Related to Authorized M/SI Take to the SEFSC in the ARA, GOMRA, and CRA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                             NEFSC
                                                                                                          authorized
             Species                       Stock         M/SI take         PBR            Annual  M/SI    take by M/        r-PBR        MI/SI take/ r-
                                                          (annual)                           (SAR)            SI                             PBR (%)
                                                                                                           (annual)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risso's dolphin..................  Western North               0.2  126..............  49.9.............         0.6  75.5............  0.26.
                                    Atlantic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.2  16...............  7.9..............           0  8.1.............  2.47.
                                   Puerto Rico/USVI....        0.2  15...............  0.5..............           0  14.5............  1.38.
Melon headed whale...............  N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.6  13...............  0................           0  13..............  4.62.
Short-finned pilot whale.........  Western North               0.2  236..............  168..............           0  68..............  0.29.
                                    Atlantic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.2  15...............  0.5..............           0  14.5............  1.38.
                                   Puerto Rico/USVI....        0.2  unk..............  unk..............           0  unk.............  unk.
Common dolphin...................  Western North               0.8  557..............  406..............         1.4  149.6...........  0.53.
                                    Atlantic.
Atlantic spotted dolphin.........  Western North               0.8  316..............  0................         0.4  315.6...........  0.25.
                                    Atlantic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.8  undet............  42...............           0  unk.............  unk.
                                   Puerto Rico/USVI....        0.2  unk..............  unk..............           0  unk.............  unk.
Pantropical spotted dolphin......  Western North               0.2  17...............  0................           0  17..............  1.18.
                                    Atlantic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.8  407..............  4.4..............           0  402.6...........  0.20.
Striped dolphin..................  Western North               0.6  428..............  0................           0  428.............  0.14.
                                    Atlantic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.6  10...............  0................           0  10..............  6.00.
Spinner dolphin..................  Western North                 0  unk..............  0................           0  unk.............
                                    Atlantic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.6  62...............  0................           0  62..............  0.
                                   Puerto Rico/USVI....          0  unk..............  unk..............           0  unk.............  0.
Rough-toothed dolphin............  Western North                 0  1.3..............  0................           0  1.3.............  0.
                                    Atlantic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.2  3................  0.8..............           0  2.2.............  9.09.
Bottlenose dolphin...............  Western North               0.8  561..............  39.4.............         1.6  520.............  0.15.
                                    Atlantic Offshore.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico           0.8  60...............  0.4..............           0  59.6............  1.34.
                                    Oceanic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico           0.8  469..............  0.8..............           0  468.2...........  0.17.
                                    Continental Shelf.
                                   Puerto Rico/USVI....        0.2  unk..............  0................           0  unk.............  unk.
Harbor porpoise..................  Gulf of Maine/Bay of        0.2  706..............  437..............           0  269.............  0.07.
                                    Fundy.
Unidentified delphinid...........  Western North               0.2  .................  .................         0.6  n/a.............  n/a.
                                    Atlantic.
                                   N. Gulf of Mexico...        0.2  .................  .................           0  n/a.............  n/a.
                                   Puerto Rico/USVI....        0.2  .................  .................           0  n/a.............  n/a.
Harbor seal......................  Western North               0.2  2,006............  389..............          12  1,605...........  0.01.
                                    Atlantic.
Gray seal........................  Western North               0.2  1,389............  5,688............  ..........  -4,299..........  Neg.
                                    Atlantic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Gray seals are the only stock where, at first look, annual M/SI is 
above PBR (but the authorized M/SI is less than 10 percent of PBR) 
(Table 14). However, the minimum abundance estimate provided in the SAR 
is based on the U.S. population estimate of 23,158 and does not include 
the Canada population. The total estimated Canadian gray seal 
population in 2016 was estimated to be 424,300 (95 percent CI = 263,600 
to 578,300) (DFO 2017). This would be acceptable except that the annual 
M/SI rate of 5,688 includes M/SI from both the U.S. and Canada 
populations. Therefore, we should compare population to population. The 
draft 2018 SAR indicates the annual M/SI for the U.S. population is 
878. That equates to an r-PBR of 511. Considering the SEFSC is 
requesting one take, by M/SI, of gray seal over 5 years (or 0.2 animals 
per year), this results in a percentage of 0.003, well under the 10 
percent insignificance threshold. Further, given the authorized M/SI 
take of one animal over 5 years, this amount of take can be considered 
discountable given the large population size.
    We note that for all stocks, we have conservatively considered in 
this analysis that any gear interaction would result in mortality or 
serious injury when it has been documented that some gear interactions 
may result in Level A harassment (injury) or no injury at all, as 
serious injury determinations are not made in all cases where the 
disposition of the animal is ``released alive'' and, in some cases, 
animals are disentangled from nets without any injury observations 
(e.g., no wounds, no blood in water, etc).

Level B Take From Acoustic Sources

    As described in greater depth previously, we do not believe that 
SEFSC use of active acoustic sources has the likely potential to result 
in Level A harassment, serious injury, or mortality. In addition, for 
the majority of species, the annual take by Level B harassment is very 
low in relation to the population abundance estimate (less than one 
percent). We have produced what we believe to be precautionary 
estimates of potential incidents of Level B harassment (Table 12). The 
procedure for producing these estimates, described in detail in 
Estimated Take Due to Acoustic Harassment, represents NMFS' best effort 
towards balancing the need to quantify the potential for occurrence of 
Level B harassment due to production of underwater sound with a general 
lack of information related to the specific way that these acoustic 
signals, which are generally highly directional and transient, interact 
with the physical environment and to a meaningful understanding of 
marine mammal perception of these signals and occurrence in the areas 
where the SEFSC operates. The sources considered here have moderate to 
high output frequencies (10 to 180 kHz), generally short ping 
durations, and are typically focused (highly directional with narrow 
beam width) to serve their intended purpose of mapping specific 
objects, depths, or environmental features. In addition, some of these 
sources can be operated in different output modes (e.g., energy can be 
distributed among multiple output beams) that may lessen the likelihood 
of perception by and potential impacts on marine mammals in comparison 
with the quantitative

[[Page 27076]]

estimates that guide our take authorization.
    As described previously, there is some minimal potential for 
temporary effects to hearing capabilities within specific frequency 
ranges for select marine mammals, but most effects would likely be 
limited to temporary behavioral disturbance. If individuals are in 
close proximity to active acoustic sources, they may temporarily 
increase swimming speeds (presumably swimming away from the source) and 
surface time or decrease foraging effort (if such activity were 
occurring). These reactions are considered to be of low severity due to 
the short duration of the reaction. Individuals may move away from the 
source if disturbed. However, because the source is itself moving and 
because of the directional nature of the sources considered here, it is 
unlikely any temporary displacement from areas of significance would 
occur, and any disturbance would be of short duration. In addition, 
because the SEFSC survey effort is widely dispersed in space and time, 
repeated exposures of the same individuals would be very unlikely. For 
these reasons, we do not consider the level of take by acoustic 
disturbance to represent a significant additional population stressor 
when considered in context with the level of take by M/SI for any 
species. Further, we note no take by harassment is for estuarine 
bottlenose dolphins. Therefore, only M/SI is incorporated into our 
negligible impact analysis for those stocks. For Level B take of 
coastal stocks in both the ARA and GOMRA, it is not possible to 
quantify take per stock given overlap in time and space. However, we 
consider the anticipated amount of take to have the potential to occur 
from some combination of coastal stocks.

Summary of Negligible Impact Determination for SEFSC

    In summary, we consider the authorization would not impact annual 
rates of recruitment or survival of any of the stocks considered here 
because: (1) The possibility of injury, serious injury, or mortality 
from the use of active acoustic devices may reasonably be considered 
discountable; (2) the anticipated incidents of Level B harassment from 
the use of active acoustic devices consist of, at worst, temporary and 
relatively minor modifications in behavior; (3) the predicted number of 
incidents of potential mortality are at insignificant levels (i.e., 
below ten percent of residual PBR) for select stocks; (4) consideration 
of more detailed data for gray seals do not reveal cause for concern; 
(5) for stocks above the insignificance threshold, the loss of one 
animal over 5 years, especially if it is male (the sex more likely to 
interact with trawls), is not likely to contribute to measurable 
changes in annual rates of recruitment or survival; (7) many stocks are 
subjected to ongoing management actions designed to improve stock 
understanding and reduce sources of M/SI from other anthropogenic 
stressors (e.g., BDTRT management actions, pelagic longline TRT); (8) 
the efforts by the DHW Trustees are designed to restore for injury, 
including addressing ongoing stressors such as commercial fishery 
entanglement which would improve stock conditions; (9) implementation 
of this rule would build upon research designed to reduce fishery 
related mortality (e.g., NCCOS crab pot/trap and trawl interaction 
research; HSU lazy line research); (10) the presumed efficacy of the 
planned mitigation measures in reducing the effects of the specified 
activity to the level of least practicable adverse impact, and (11) M/
SI is more likely to be attributed to males and M/SI for all BSE stocks 
is the lowest level practicable (1 over 5 years) with no M/SI occurring 
in 4 of those 5 years.
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the likely effects of the 
specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into 
consideration the implementation of the monitoring and mitigation 
measures, NMFS preliminarily finds that the total marine mammal take 
from SEFSC fisheries research activities will have a negligible impact 
on affected marine mammal species or stocks.

Small Numbers

    As noted above, only small numbers of incidental take may be 
authorized under Section 101(a)(5)(D) of the MMPA for specified 
activities other than military readiness activities. The MMPA does not 
define small numbers and so, in practice, where estimated numbers are 
available, NMFS compares the number of individuals taken to the most 
appropriate estimation of abundance of the relevant species or stock in 
our determination of whether an authorization is limited to small 
numbers of marine mammals. Additionally, other qualitative factors may 
be considered in the analysis, such as the temporal or spatial scale of 
the activities.

Small Numbers Analysis--SEFSC

    The total amount of take authorized for all estuarine and coastal 
bottlenose dolphin stocks is less than one percent of each estuarine 
stock and less than 12 percent of all coastal stocks (Table 15; we note 
this 12 percent is conservatively high because it considers that all 
Level B take would come from any given single stock). For pelagic 
stocks, the total amount of take is less than 13 percent of the 
estimated population size (Table 16).

   Table 15--Amount of Authorized Take of Estuarine and Coastal Bottlenose Dolphin Stocks in the ARA and GOMRA
                                           Related to Stock Abundance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Stock
                Stock                    abundance     Level B take       M/SI take (annual)          Take %
                                          (Nbest)                                                   population
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Atlantic
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern South Carolina Estuarine                 50               0  0.2.......................            0.40
 Stock.
Charleston Estuarine System Stock...             289                  0.2.......................            0.07
Northern Georgia/Southern South                  250                  0.2.......................            0.08
 Carolina Estuarine System Stock.
Central Georgia Estuarine System....             192                  0.2.......................            0.10
Southern Georgia Estuarine System                194                  0.2.......................            0.10
 Stock.
Jacksonville Estuarine System Stock.             412                  0.2.......................            0.05
Florida Bay Stock...................             514                  0.2.......................            0.04
South Carolina/Georgia Coastal Stock           6,027                  0.6.......................            0.01
Northern Florida Coastal Stock......             877             110  0.6.......................           12.61
Central Florida Coastal Stock.......           1,218                  0.6.......................            9.08
Northern Migratory Coastal Stock....           6,639                  0.6.......................            1.67

[[Page 27077]]

 
Southern Migratory Coastal Stock....           3,751                  0.6.......................            2.95
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Gulf of Mexico
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terrebonne Bay, Timbalier Bay.......             100               0  0.2.......................            0.20
Mississippi River Delta.............             332                  0.2.......................            0.06
Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay            3,046                  0.2 (M/SI), 0.2 (Level A).            0.01
 Boudreau.
Mobile Bay, Bonsecour Bay...........           1,393                  0.2.......................            0.16
St. Andrew Bay......................             124                  0.2.......................            0.16
St. Joseph Bay......................             152                  0.2.......................            0.13
St. Vincent Sound, Apalachicola Bay,             439                  0.2.......................            0.05
 St. George Sound.
Apalachee Bay.......................             491                  0.2.......................            0.04
Waccasassa Bay, Withlacoochee Bay,               100                  0.2.......................            0.20
 Crystal Bay.
Northern Gulf of Mexico Western               20,161             350  0.6.......................            1.74
 Coastal Stock.
Northern Gulf of Mexico Northern               7,185                  0.6.......................            4.88
 Coastal Stock.
Northern Gulf of Mexico Eastern               12,388                  0.6.......................            2.83
 Coastal Stock.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                Table 16--Amount of Authorized Take of Pelagic Stocks in the ARA, GOMRA, and CRA to the SEFSC Related to Stock Abundance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Level B take      M/SI take
               Species                           Stock                Abundance (Nbest)          (annual)        (annual)       Total take % population
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N. Atlantic right whale..............  Western North Atlantic..  451........................               4               0  0.89
Fin whale............................  Western North Atlantic..  1,618......................               4               0  0.25
Sei whale............................  Western North Atlantic..  357........................               4               0  1.12
Blue whale...........................  Western North Atlantic..  33.........................               4               0  12
Humpback whale.......................  Gulf of Maine...........  896........................               4               0  0.45
Minke whale..........................  Western North Atlantic..  2,591......................               4               0  0.15
Bryde's whale........................  Northern Gulf of Mexico.  33.........................               4               0  12.12
Sperm whale..........................  North Atlantic..........  2,288......................               4               0  0.17
                                       Northern Gulf of Mexico.  763........................              17               0  2.23
                                       Puerto Rico/USVI........  unk........................               4               0  unk.
Risso's dolphin......................  Western North Atlantic..  18,250.....................              15             0.2  0.08
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  2,442......................              10             0.2  0.42
                                       Puerto Rico/USVI........  21,515.....................              10             0.2  0.05
Kogia................................  Western North Atlantic..  3,785......................              10               0  0.26
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  186........................              12               0  6.45
Beaked whales........................  Western North Atlantic..  7,092......................               9               0  0.13
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  149........................               8               0  5.37
Melon headed whale...................  N. Gulf of Mexico.......  2,235......................             100             0.6  4.50
Short-finned pilot whale.............  Western North Atlantic..  28,924.....................              48             0.2  0.17
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  2,415......................              25             0.2  1.04
                                       Puerto Rico/USVI........  unk........................              20             0.2  unk.
Common dolphin.......................  Western North Atlantic..  70,184.....................             268             0.8  0.38
Atlantic spotted dolphin.............  Western North Atlantic..  44,715.....................              37             0.8  0.08
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  unk........................             198             0.8  unk.
                                       Puerto Rico/USVI........  unk........................              50             0.2  unk.
Pantropical spotted dolphin..........  Western North Atlantic..  3,333......................              78             0.2  2.35
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  50,807.....................             203             0.8  0.40
Striped dolphin......................  Western North Atlantic..  54,807.....................              75             0.6  0.14
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  1,849......................              46             0.6  2.52
Spinner dolphin......................  Western North Atlantic..  unk........................             100               0  unk.
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  11,441.....................             200             0.6  1.75
                                       Puerto Rico/USVI........  unk........................              50               0  unk.
Rough-toothed dolphin................  Western North Atlantic..  136........................              10               0  7.35
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......  624........................              20             0.2  3.24
Bottlenose dolphin...................  Western North Atlantic    77,532.....................              39             0.8  0.05
                                        Offshore.
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico         5,806......................             100             0.8  1.74
                                        Oceanic.
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico         51,192.....................             350             0.8  0.69
                                        Continental Shelf.
                                       Puerto Rico/USVI........  unk........................              50             0.2  unk.
Harbor porpoise......................  Gulf of Maine/Bay of      79,833.....................               0             0.2  0.00
                                        Fundy.
Unidentified delphinid...............  Western North Atlantic..  n/a........................               0             0.2  n/a
                                       N. Gulf of Mexico.......                                                          0.2
                                       Puerto Rico/USVI........                                                          0.2
Harbor seal..........................  Western North Atlantic..  75,834.....................               0             0.2  0.00
Gray seal............................  Western North Atlantic..  27,131.....................               0             0.2  0.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 27078]]

    The majority of stocks would see take less than 5 percent of the 
population taken with the greatest being 12.12 percent from Bryde's 
whales in the Gulf of Mexico. However, this is assuming all takes came 
from the same stock of beaked whales which is unlikely. Where stock 
numbers are unknown, we would expect a similar small amount of take 
relative to population sizes.
    Based on the analysis contained herein of the proposed activity 
(including the mitigation and monitoring measures) and the authorized 
take of marine mammals, NMFS finds that small numbers of marine mammals 
will be taken relative to the population size of the affected species 
or stocks.

Unmitigable Adverse Impact Analysis and Determination

    There are no relevant subsistence uses of the affected marine 
mammal stocks or species implicated by the issuance of regulations to 
the SEFSC. Therefore, NMFS has determined that the total taking of 
affected species or stocks would not have an unmitigable adverse impact 
on the availability of such species or stocks for taking for 
subsistence purposes.

Adaptive Management

    The regulations governing the take of marine mammals incidental to 
SEFSC fisheries research survey operations contain an adaptive 
management component which is both valuable and necessary within the 
context of 5-year regulations for activities that have been associated 
with marine mammal mortality. The use of adaptive management allows OPR 
to consider new information from different sources to determine (with 
input from the SEFSC regarding practicability) on an annual or biennial 
basis if mitigation or monitoring measures should be modified 
(including additions or deletions). The coordination and reporting 
requirements in this rule are designed to provide OPR with data to 
allow consideration of whether any changes to mitigation and monitoring 
is necessary. OPR and the SEFSC will meet annually to discuss the 
monitoring reports and current science and whether mitigation or 
monitoring modifications are appropriate. Decisions will also be 
informed by findings from any established working groups, 
investigations into gear modifications and dolphin-gear interactions, 
new stock data, and coordination efforts between all NMFS Fisheries 
Science Centers. Mitigation measures could be modified if new data 
suggest that such modifications would have a reasonable likelihood of 
reducing adverse effects to marine mammals and if the measures are 
practicable. In addition, any M/SI takes by the SEFSC and affiliates 
are required to be submitted within 48 hours to the PSIT database and 
OPR will be made aware of the take. If there is an immediate need to 
revisit monitoring and mitigation measures based on any given take, OPR 
and SEFSC would meet as needed.
    The following are some of the possible sources of applicable data 
to be considered through the adaptive management process: (1) Results 
from monitoring reports, as required by MMPA authorization; (2) results 
from general marine mammal and sound research; (3) any information 
which reveals that marine mammals may have been taken in a manner, 
extent, or number not authorized by these regulations or subsequent 
LOAs; and (4) findings from any mitigation research (e.g., gear 
modification). In addition, developments on the effectiveness of 
mitigation measures as discovered through research (e.g., stiffness of 
lazy lines) will inform adaptive management strategies. Finally, the 
SEFSC-SCDNR working group is investigating the relationships between 
SCDNR research surveys and marine mammal takes. Any report produced by 
that working group will inform improvements to marine mammal monitoring 
and mitigation.

National Environmental Policy Act

    To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6A, 
NMFS must review our action (i.e., the issuance of an incidental 
harassment authorization) with respect to potential impacts on the 
human environment.
    Accordingly, NMFS prepared a PEA to consider the environmental 
impacts associated with the issuance of the regulations and LOA to 
SEFSC. Subsequently, NMFS issued the Final PEA for Fisheries and 
Ecosystem Research Conducted and Funded by the Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center and signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on 
March 23, 2020. The documents can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/incidental-take-authorizations-under-marine-mammal-protection-act.

Endangered Species Act (ESA)

    On May 9, 2016, NMFS SERO issued a Biological Opinion on Continued 
Authorization and Implementation of National Marine Fisheries Service's 
Integrated Fisheries Independent Monitoring Activities in the Southeast 
Region (Biological Opinion). The Biological Opinion found independent 
fishery research is not likely to adversely affect the following ESA-
listed species: Blue whales, sei whales, sperm whales, fin whales, 
humpback whales, North Atlantic right whales, gulf sturgeon and all 
listed corals in the action area. NMFS amended this Biological Opinion 
on June 4, 2018, updating marine mammal hearing group frequency ranges 
based on the best available science, adding evaluation of the effects 
of this proposed action on the Gulf of Mexico Bryde's whale, and 
including NMFS' issuance of regulations and a LOA to SEFSC as part of 
the proposed action. Similar to the previous finding, the amended 
Biological Opinion concluded SEFSC independent fishery research is not 
likely to adversely affect listed marine mammals or adversely modify 
critical habitat.

Classification

    Pursuant to the procedures established to implement Executive Order 
12866, the Office of Management and Budget has determined that this 
rule is not significant.
    Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 
the Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce has 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that this rule, if adopted, would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The SEFSC is 
the sole entitiy that would be subject to the requirements in these 
regulations, and the SEFSC is not a small governmental jurisdiction, 
small organization, or small business, as defined by the RFA. Because 
of this certification, a regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required and none has been prepared.
    The rule for the SEFSC does not contain a collection-of-information 
requirement subject to the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
(PRA) because the applicant is a Federal agency.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 219

    Endangered and threatened species, Fish, Marine mammals, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Wildlife.

    Dated: April 10, 2020.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    For reasons set forth in the preamble, 50 CFR part 219 is amended 
as follows:

[[Page 27079]]

PART 219--REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE TAKING AND IMPORTING OF MARINE 
MAMMALS

0
1. The authority citation for part 219 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.


0
2. Add subpart H to read as follows:
Subpart H--Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center Fisheries Research in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, and Caribbean Sea
Sec.
219.71 Specified activity and specified geographical region.
219.72 Effective dates.
219.73 Permissible methods of taking.
219.74 Prohibitions.
219.75 Mitigation requirements.
219.76 Requirements for monitoring and reporting.
219.77 Letters of Authorization.
219.78 Renewals and modifications of Letters of Authorization.
219.79-219.80 [Reserved]

Subpart H--Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Southeast Fisheries 
Science Center Fisheries Research in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 
Mexico, and Caribbean Sea


Sec.  219.71   Specified activity and specified geographical region.

    (a) Regulations in this subpart apply only to the National Marine 
Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) 
and those persons it authorizes or funds to conduct fishery-independent 
research surveys on its behalf for the taking of marine mammals that 
occurs in the area outlined in paragraph (b) of this section and that 
occurs incidental to SEFSC and partner research survey program 
operations. Hereafter, ``SEFSC'' refers to both the SEFSC and all 
designated partners.
    (b) The taking of marine mammals by the SEFSC and partners may be 
authorized in a 5-year Letter of Authorization (LOA) only if it occurs 
during fishery research surveys in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, 
and Caribbean Sea and their associated estuaries.


Sec.  219.72   Effective dates.

    This subpart is effective from June 5, 2020, through June 5, 2025.


Sec.  219.73   Permissible methods of taking.

    Under an LOA issued pursuant to Sec. Sec.  216.106 of this chapter 
and 219.77, the Holder of the LOA (hereinafter ``SEFSC'') may 
incidentally, but not intentionally, take marine mammals within the 
areas described in Sec.  219.71 by Level A harassment, serious injury, 
or mortality associated with fisheries research gear including trawls, 
gillnets, and hook and line, and Level B harassment associated with use 
of active acoustic systems provided the activity is in compliance with 
all terms, conditions, and requirements of the regulations in this 
subpart and the relevant LOA.


Sec.  219.74   Prohibitions.

    Notwithstanding takings contemplated in Sec.  219.73 and authorized 
by an LOA issued under Sec. Sec.  216.106 of this chapter and 219.77, 
no person in connection with the activities described in Sec.  219.71 
may:
    (a) Violate, or fail to comply with, the terms, conditions, and 
requirements of this subpart or a LOA issued under Sec. Sec.  216.106 
of this chapter and 219.77;
    (b) Take any marine mammal species or stock not specified in the 
LOA;
    (c) Take any marine mammal in any manner other than as specified in 
the LOA; and
    (d) Take a marine mammal specified in an LOA in numbers exceeding 
those authorized.


Sec.  219.75  Mitigation requirements.

    When conducting the activities identified in Sec.  219.71, the 
mitigation measures contained in any LOA issued under Sec. Sec.  
216.106 of this chapter and 219.77 must be implemented. These 
mitigation measures must include but are not limited to:
    (a) General conditions. (1) SEFSC must take all necessary measures 
to coordinate and communicate in advance of each specific survey with 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of 
Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) or other relevant parties on non-
NOAA platforms to ensure that all mitigation measures and monitoring 
requirements described herein, as well as the specific manner of 
implementation and relevant event-contingent decision-making processes, 
are clearly understood and agreed upon;
    (2) SEFSC must coordinate and conduct briefings at the outset of 
each survey and as necessary between ship's crew (Commanding Officer/
master or designee(s), as appropriate) and scientific party in order to 
explain responsibilities, communication procedures, marine mammal 
monitoring protocol, and operational procedures;
    (3) SEFSC must coordinate, on an annual basis, with all partners to 
ensure that marine mammal-related requirements, procedures, and 
decision-making processes are understood and properly implemented.
    (4) SEFSC must establish and maintain cooperating partner working 
group(s) to identify circumstances of a take should it occur and any 
action necessary to avoid future take.
    (i) Working groups must be established if a partner takes more than 
one marine mammal within 5 years to identify circumstances of marine 
mammal take and necessary action to avoid future take. Each working 
group must meet at least once annually.
    (ii) Each working group must consist of at least one SEFSC 
representative knowledgeable of the mitigation, monitoring and 
reporting requirements contained within these regulations, one or more 
research institution or SEFSC representative(s) (preferably 
researcher(s) aboard vessel when take or risk of take occurred), one or 
more staff from NMFS Southeast Regional Office Protected Resources 
Division, and one or more staff from NMFS Office of Protected 
Resources.
    (5) When deploying any type of sampling gear at sea, SEFSC must at 
all times monitor for any unusual circumstances that may arise at a 
sampling site and use best professional judgment to avoid any potential 
risks to marine mammals during use of all research equipment.
    (6) SEFSC must implement handling and/or disentanglement protocols 
that must be provided to survey personnel. During fishery surveys where 
there is a potential for take, at least two persons aboard SEFSC ships 
and one person aboard smaller vessels, including vessels operated by 
partners where no SEFSC staff are present, must be trained in marine 
mammal handling, release, and disentanglement procedures.
    (7) For research surveys using gear that has the potential to hook 
or entangle a marine mammal in open-ocean waters (as defined from the 
coastline seaward), the SEFSC must implement move-on rule mitigation 
protocol upon observation of any marine mammal other than dolphins and 
porpoises attracted to the vessel (see specific gear types below for 
marine mammal monitoring details). Specifically, if one or more marine 
mammals (other than dolphins and porpoises) are observed near the 
sampling area and are considered at risk of interacting with the vessel 
or research gear, or appear to be approaching the vessel and are 
considered at risk of interaction, SEFSC must either remain onsite or 
move on to another sampling location. If remaining onsite, the set must 
be delayed until the animal(s) depart or appear to no longer be at risk 
of interacting with the vessel or gear. At such time, the SEFSC may 
deploy gear. The SEFSC must use best professional judgment, in 
accordance with this

[[Page 27080]]

paragraph, in making decisions related to deploying gear.
    (8) Vessels Operation--While transiting in areas subjected to the 
North Atlantic right whale ship strike rule, all SEFSC-affiliated 
research vessels (NOAA vessels, NOAA chartered vessels, and research 
partner vessels) must abide by the required speed restrictions and 
sighting alert protocols. All NOAA research vessels operating in North 
Atlantic right whale habitat participate in the Right Whale Early 
Warning System.
    (9) The SEFSC must avoid baiting the waters (i.e, chumming) during 
all surveys.
    (b) Trawl survey mitigation. In addition to the general conditions 
provided in Sec.  219.75(a), the following measures must be implemented 
during trawl surveys:
    (1) SEFSC must conduct fishing operations as soon as practicable 
upon arrival at the sampling station and, if practicable, prior to 
other environmental sampling;
    (2) The SEFSC must limit tow times to 30 minutes (except for sea 
turtle research trawls);
    (3) The SEFSC must, during haul back, open cod end close to deck/
sorting table to avoid damage to animals that may be caught in gear and 
empty gear as quickly as possible after retrieval haul back;
    (4) The SEFSC must delay gear deployment if any marine mammals are 
believed to be at risk of interaction;
    (5) The SEFSC must retrieve gear immediately if any marine mammals 
are believed to be entangled or at risk of entanglement;
    (6) Dedicated marine mammal observations must occur at least 15 
minutes prior to the beginning of net deployment when trawling occurs 
in waters less than 200 meters in depth. If trawling occurs in waters 
deeper than 200 m, dedicated marine mammal observations must occur at 
least 30 minutes prior to net deployment. This watch may include 
approach to the sampling station within 0.5 nm. Marine mammal watches 
should be conducted by systematically scanning the surrounding waters 
and marsh edge (if visible) 360 degrees around the vessel. If 
dolphin(s) are sighted and believed to be at-risk of interaction (e.g., 
moving in the direction of the vessel/gear; moms/calves close to the 
gear; etc.), gear deployment should be delayed until the animal(s) are 
no longer at risk or have left the area on their own. If species other 
than dolphins are sighted, trawling must not be initiated and the 
marine mammal(s) must be allowed to either leave or pass through the 
area safely before trawling is initiated. All marine mammal sightings 
must be logged and reported per Sec.  219.76 of this subpart.
    (7) The SEFSC must retrieve gear immediately if marine mammals are 
believed to be captured/entangled in a net or associated gear (e.g., 
lazy line) and follow disentanglement protocols;
    (8) The SEFSC must minimize ``pocketing'' in areas of trawl nets 
where dolphin depredation evidence is commonly observed;
    (9) When conducting research under an ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) 
scientific research permit issued by NMFS, all marine mammal mitigation 
and monitoring protocol contained within that permit must be 
implemented;
    (10) SEFSC must implement standard survey protocols to minimize 
potential for marine mammal interactions, including maximum tow 
durations at target depth and maximum tow distance, and must carefully 
empty the trawl as quickly as possible upon retrieval. Trawl nets must 
be cleaned prior to deployment; and
    (11) The SEFSC must continue investigation into gear modifications 
(e.g., stiffening lazy lines) and the effectiveness of gear 
modification at avoiding entanglement, as funding allows.
    (c) Seine net and gillnet survey mitigation. In addition to the 
general conditions provided in paragraph (a) of this section, the 
following measures must be implemented during seine and gillnet 
surveys:
    (1) Conduct gillnet and trammel net research activities during 
daylight hours only.
    (2) Limit soak times to the least amount of time required to 
conduct sampling;
    (3) Conduct dedicated marine mammal observation monitoring 
beginning 15 minutes prior to deploying the gear and continue through 
deployment and haulback;
    (4) Hand-check the net every 30 minutes if soak times are longer 
than 30 minutes or immediately if disturbance is observed;
    (5) Reduce net slack and excess floating and trailing lines;
    (6) Repair damaged nets prior to deploying;
    (7) Delay setting net if a marine mammal is deemed to be at-risk of 
entanglement;
    (8) Pull net immediately if a marine mammal is entangled and follow 
disentanglement procedures; and
    (9) If marine mammals are sighted in the sampling area during 
active netting, the SEFSC must raise and lower the net leadline. If 
marine mammals do not immediately depart the area and the animal 
appears to be at-risk of entanglement (e.g., interacting with or on a 
path towards the net), the SEFSC must delay or pull all gear 
immediately.
    (d) Hook and line (including longline) survey mitigation. In 
addition to the General Conditions provided in paragraph (a) of this 
section, the following measures must be implemented during hook and 
line surveys:
    (1) SEFSC must deploy hook and line gear as soon as is practicable 
upon arrival at the sampling station.
    (2) SEFSC must initiate marine mammal observations (visual 
observation) no less than 30 minutes prior to gear deployment if 
sampling is conducted in waters greater than 200 m. If sampling in 
water less than 200 m, the SEFSC must initiate marine mammal 
observations no less than 15 minutes prior to setting gear. 
Observations must be conducted by scanning the surrounding waters with 
the naked eye and range-finding binoculars (or monocular) when 
longlines exceed observation distances using the naked eye. During 
nighttime operations, visual observation must be conducted using 
available vessel lighting.
    (3) SEFSC must implement the move-on rule mitigation protocol, as 
described in paragraph (a)(7) of this section.
    (4) SEFSC must maintain visual monitoring effort, where 
practicable, during the entire period of gear deployment and retrieval. 
If marine mammals are sighted before the gear is fully deployed or 
retrieved, SEFSC must take the most appropriate action to avoid marine 
mammal interaction. SEFSC may use best professional judgment in making 
this decision.
    (5) If gear deployment or fishing has been suspended because of the 
presence of marine mammals, SEFSC may resume such operations when 
practicable only when the animals are believed to have departed the 
area in accordance with the move-on rule as described in paragraph 
(a)(7) of this section. If longline operations have been delayed 
because of the presence of protected species, the vessel resumes 
longline operations only when these species have not been sighted 
within 15 minutes if in less than 200 m or 30 minutes if greater than 
200 m of water, or otherwise determined to no longer be at risk. SEFSC 
may use best professional judgment in making this decision.
    (6) SEFSC must implement standard survey protocols, including 
maximum soak durations and limiting longline length to that necessary.
    (7) For pelagic, surface longlines, gangion length must allow 
hooked

[[Page 27081]]

animals to reach the surface. SEFSC must immediately reel in lines if 
marine mammals are deemed to be at risk of interacting with gear.
    (8) SEFSC must follow existing Dolphin Friendly Fishing Tips 
available at http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_resources/outreach_and_education/documents/dolphin_friendly_fishing_tips.pdf.
    (9) SEFSC must not discard leftover bait overboard while actively 
fishing.
    (10) SEFSC must inspect tackles daily to avoid unwanted line 
breaks.
    (11) Pull gear immediately if a marine mammal is hooked and follow 
disentanglement procedures.
    (12) Avoid using stainless steel hooks.
    (13) For pelagic longline surveys in the Atlantic Ocean, follow the 
Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan and Longline Marine Mammal 
Handling and Release Guidelines.
    (d) Electrofishing. (1) SEFSC must implement marine mammal 
monitoring 15 minutes prior to the onset of electrofishing (this can 
include approach to the survey site). If the vessel moves to another 
survey site, the 15 minutes observation period must be repeated.
    (2) SEFSC must implement a 50-m safety zone. If a marine mammal is 
observed within 50 m of the vessel or on a path toward the vessel, 
electrofishing must be delayed. Electrofishing must not begin until the 
animal is outside of the 50 m safety zone or on a consistent path away 
from the vessel.
    (3) All samples collected during electrofishing must remain on the 
vessel and not be discarded until all electrofishing is completed to 
avoid attracting protected species.


Sec.  219.76  Requirements for monitoring and reporting.

    (a) Compliance coordination. SEFSC must designate a compliance 
coordinator who is responsible for ensuring and documenting compliance 
with all requirements of any LOA issued pursuant to Sec. Sec.  216.106 
of this chapter and 219.77 and for preparing for any subsequent 
request(s) for incidental take authorization. All partners must report 
to this SEFSC-based compliance coordinator.
    (b) Visual monitoring program. (1) Marine mammal visual monitoring 
must occur prior to deployment of trawl, net, and hook and line gear, 
respectively; throughout deployment of gear and active fishing of 
research gears (not including longline soak time); prior to retrieval 
of longline gear; and throughout retrieval of all research gear.
    (2) When vessels are transiting, the SEFSC must maintain marine 
mammal observations to avoid ship strike.
    (c) Training. (1) SEFSC must conduct annual training for all SEFSC 
and affiliate chief scientists and other personnel who may be 
responsible for conducting dedicated marine mammal visual observations 
to explain mitigation measures, by gear and the purpose for each 
measure, and monitoring and reporting requirements in the LOA, 
mitigation and monitoring protocols, and marine mammal identification 
and species that the SEFSC is authorized to incidentally take. SEFSC 
may determine the agenda for these trainings.
    (2) The training must provide detailed descriptions of reporting, 
data collection, and sampling protocols. This portion of the training 
will include instruction on how to complete new data collection forms 
such as the marine mammal watch log, the incidental take form (e.g., 
specific gear configuration and details relevant to an interaction with 
protected species), and forms used for species identification and 
biological sampling. The biological data collection and sampling 
training module will include the same sampling and necropsy training 
that is used for the Southeast Regional Observer training.
    (3) SEFSC must also dedicate a portion of training to discussion of 
best professional judgment, including use in any incidents of marine 
mammal interaction and instructive examples where use of best 
professional judgment was determined to be successful or unsuccessful.
    (4) SEFSC must coordinate with NMFS' Office of Science and 
Technology to ensure training and guidance related to handling 
procedures and data collection is consistent with other fishery science 
centers.
    (d) Handling procedures and data collection. (1) SEFSC must 
implement standardized marine mammal handling, disentanglement, and 
data collection procedures. These standard procedures will be subject 
to approval by NMFS' Office of Protected Resources (OPR).
    (2) For any marine mammal interaction involving the release of a 
live animal, SEFSC must collect necessary data to facilitate a serious 
injury determination.
    (3) SEFSC must provide its relevant personnel with standard 
guidance and training regarding handling of marine mammals, including 
how to identify different species, bring an individual aboard a vessel, 
assess the level of consciousness, remove fishing gear, return an 
individual to water, and log activities pertaining to the interaction.
    (4) At least two persons aboard SEFSC ships and one person aboard 
smaller vessels, including vessels operated by partners where no SEFSC 
staff are present, must be trained in marine mammal handling, release, 
and disentanglement procedures.
    (5) SEFSC must record such data on standardized forms, which will 
be subject to approval by OPR. SEFSC must also answer a standard series 
of supplemental questions regarding the details of any marine mammal 
interaction.
    (6) For any marine mammals that are killed during fisheries 
research activities, when practicable, scientists will collect data and 
samples pursuant to Appendix D of the SEFSC DEA, ``Protected Species 
Handling Procedures for SEFSC Fisheries Research Vessels.
    (e) Reporting. (1) The SEFSC must follow protocol for reporting 
incidental takes:
    (i) The SEFSC must notify the Southeast Marine Mammal Stranding 
Network (877-433-8299) immediately following the incidental take of a 
marine mammal. For injured/uninjured marine mammals, priority should be 
to release the animal before notifying the Stranding Network.
    (ii) The SEFSC must report all marine mammal gear interaction to 
NMFS's Protected Species Incidental Take (PSIT) database within 48 
hours of occurrence and must provide supplemental information to OPR 
and SERO upon request. Information related to marine mammal interaction 
(animal captured or entangled in research gear) must include details of 
research survey, monitoring conducted prior to interaction, full 
descriptions of any observations of the animals, the context (vessel 
and conditions), decisions made, and rationale for decisions made in 
vessel and gear handling.
    (2) The SEFSC must submit a draft annual report to NMFS OPR. The 
period of reporting must be annual, beginning one year post-issuance of 
any LOA and the report must be submitted not less than ninety days 
following the end of a given year.
    (i) SEFSC must provide a final report within thirty days following 
resolution of comments on the draft report.
    (ii) These reports must contain, at minimum, the following:
    (A) Annual line-kilometers and locations surveyed during which the 
EK60, ME70, and EQ50 (or equivalent sources) operating below 200 kHz 
were predominant and associated pro-rated estimates of actual take;
    (B) Summary information regarding use of all trawl, gillnet, and 
hook and line gear, including location, number of

[[Page 27082]]

sets, hook hours, tows, etc., specific to each gear;
    (C) Accounts of surveys where marine mammals were observed during 
sampling but no interactions occurred;
    (D) All incidents of marine mammal interactions, including 
circumstances of the event and descriptions of any mitigation 
procedures implemented or not implemented and why and, if released 
alive, serious injury determinations;
    (E) Summary information related to any disturbance of marine 
mammals and distance of closest approach;
    (F) A written evaluation of the effectiveness of SEFSC mitigation 
strategies in reducing the number of marine mammal interactions with 
survey gear, including gear modifications and best professional 
judgment and suggestions for changes to the mitigation strategies, if 
any;
    (G) A summary of all relevant training provided by SEFSC and any 
coordination with NMFS Office of Science and Technology and the SERO;
    (H) A summary of meeting(s) and workshop(s) outcomes with any 
partner working group, including, the South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources, designed to reduce the number of marine mammal 
interactions; and
    (I) A written description of any mitigation research investigation 
efforts and findings (e.g., lazy line modifications).
    (f) Reporting of injured or dead marine mammals. (1) In the 
unanticipated event that the activity defined in Sec.  219.71(a) 
clearly causes the take of a marine mammal in a prohibited manner, 
SEFSC personnel engaged in the research activity must immediately cease 
such activity until such time as an appropriate decision regarding 
activity continuation can be made by the SEFSC Director (or designee). 
The incident must be reported immediately to OPR and SERO. OPR and SERO 
will review the circumstances of the prohibited take and work with 
SEFSC to determine what measures are necessary to minimize the 
likelihood of further prohibited take. The immediate decision made by 
SEFSC regarding continuation of the specified activity is subject to 
OPR concurrence. The report must include the information included in 
paragraph (f)(2) of this section.
    (2) SEFSC or partner must report all injured or dead marine mammals 
observed during fishery research surveys that are not attributed to the 
specified activity to the Southeast Regional Stranding Coordinator 
within 24 hours. If the discovery is made by a partner, the report must 
also be submitted to the SEFSC Environmental Compliance Coordinator. 
The following information must be provided:
    (i) Time, date, and location (latitude/longitude) of the incident;
    (ii) Description of the incident including, but not limited to, 
monitoring prior to and occurring at time of incident;
    (iii) Environmental conditions (e.g., wind speed and direction, 
Beaufort sea state, cloud cover, visibility);
    (iv) Description of all marine mammal observations in the 24 hours 
preceding the incident;
    (v) Species identification or description of the animal(s) 
involved;
    (vi) Status of all sound source or gear used in the 24 hours 
preceding the incident;
    (vii) Water depth;
    (viii) Fate of the animal(s) (e.g. dead, injured but alive, injured 
and moving, blood or tissue observed in the water, status unknown, 
disappeared, etc.); and
    (ix) Photographs or video footage of the animal(s).
    (3) In the event of a ship strike of a marine mammal by any SEFSC 
or partner vessel involved in the activities covered by the 
authorization, SEFSC or partner must immediately report the information 
in paragraph (f)(2) of this section, as well as the following 
additional information:
    (i) Vessel's speed during and leading up to the incident;
    (ii) Vessel's course/heading and what operations were being 
conducted;
    (iii) Status of all sound sources in use;
    (iv) Description of avoidance measures/requirements that were in 
place at the time of the strike and what additional measures were 
taken, if any, to avoid strike;
    (v) Estimated size and length of animal that was struck; and
    (vi) Description of the behavior of the marine mammal immediately 
preceding and following the strike.


Sec.  219.77  Letters of Authorization.

    (a) To incidentally take marine mammals pursuant to these 
regulations, SEFSC must apply for and obtain an LOA.
    (b) An LOA, unless suspended or revoked, may be effective for a 
period of time not to exceed the expiration date of these regulations.
    (c) In the event of projected changes to the activity or to 
mitigation and monitoring measures required by an LOA, SEFSC must apply 
for and obtain a modification of the LOA as described in Sec.  219.78.
    (d) The LOA must set forth:
    (1) Permissible methods of incidental taking;
    (2) Means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact (i.e., 
mitigation) on the species, its habitat, and on the availability of the 
species for subsistence uses; and
    (3) Requirements for monitoring and reporting.
    (e) Issuance of the LOA must be based on a determination that the 
level of taking will be consistent with the findings made for the total 
taking allowable under these regulations.
    (f) Notice of issuance or denial of an LOA must be published in the 
Federal Register within 30 days of a determination.


Sec.  219.78  Renewals and modifications of Letters of Authorization.

    (a) An LOA issued under Sec. Sec.  216.106 of this chapter and 
219.77 for the activity identified in Sec.  219.71(a) must be renewed 
or modified upon request by the applicant, provided that:
    (1) The specified activity and mitigation, monitoring, and 
reporting measures, as well as the anticipated impacts, are the same as 
those described and analyzed for these regulations (excluding changes 
made pursuant to the adaptive management provision in paragraph (c)(1) 
of this section), and
    (2) OPR determines that the mitigation, monitoring, and reporting 
measures required by the previous LOA under these regulations were 
implemented.
    (b) For an LOA modification or renewal requests by the applicant 
that include changes to the activity or the mitigation, monitoring, or 
reporting (excluding changes made pursuant to the adaptive management 
provision in paragraph (c)(1) of this section) that do not change the 
findings made for the regulations or result in no more than a minor 
change in the total estimated number of takes (or distribution by 
species or years), OPR may publish a notice of proposed LOA in the 
Federal Register, including the associated analysis of the change, and 
solicit public comment before issuing the LOA.
    (c) An LOA issued under Sec. Sec.  216.106 of this chapter and 
219.77 for the activity identified in Sec.  219.71(a) may be modified 
by OPR under the following circumstances:
    (1) Adaptive management. OPR may modify or augment the existing 
mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures (after consulting with 
SEFSC regarding the practicability of the modifications) if doing so 
creates a reasonable likelihood of more effectively accomplishing the 
goals of the mitigation and monitoring set forth in the preamble for 
these regulations.

[[Page 27083]]

    (i) If, through adaptive management, the modifications to the 
mitigation, monitoring, or reporting measures are substantial, OPR will 
publish notification of proposed LOA in the Federal Register and 
solicit public comment.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (2) Emergencies. If OPR determines that an emergency exists that 
poses a significant risk to the well-being of the species or stocks of 
marine mammals specified in LOAs issued pursuant to Sec. Sec.  216.106 
of this chapter and 219.77, an LOA may be modified without prior notice 
or opportunity for public comment. Notification would be published in 
the Federal Register within 30 days of the action.


Sec. Sec.  219.79-219.80  [Reserved]

[FR Doc. 2020-07933 Filed 5-5-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P