Forms may be submitted via any of the following means: (1) Online using the electronic form; (2) emailed as an attachment to nmfs.mireport@noaa.gov; (3) faxed to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources at 301-713-0376; or (4) mailed to the NMFS Office of Protected Resources (mailing address is provided on the postage-paid form that can be printed from the web address listed above). Covering 317,690 square miles of the eastern Pacific Ocean, and more than 7,000 miles of tidal coastline, as well as the ecological functions within the states vast rivers and estuaries, we build sustainable fisheries, recover endangered and threatened species, maintain healthy ecosystems, and protect human health. headings within the legal text of Federal Register documents. NMFS is proposing a schedule of RFDs for every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from July 1, 2023, through November 30, 2023. The management change resulted in a substantial reduction in discarded catch.It led to the full rebuilding of several groundfish species, some of them a decade or more ahead of expectations. Bradford, J. Barlow, D.L. Category II: Annual mortality and serious injury of a stock in a given fishery is greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent of the PBR level (i.e., occasional incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals). The commenter notes that NMFS splits undetermined North Atlantic right whale M/SI evenly between the two countries. Tidal wetlands in the Nisqually River Basin, where restored habitat fosters growth of juvenile salmon and steelhead on their way to the ocean. For these fisheries, NMFS will review the other sources of information listed above and use its discretion to decide when it is appropriate to remove a species or stock. The assessment of large whale M/SI in fisheries with limited observer coverage remains a considerable challenge compared to other gear types that interact with pinniped or small cetaceans. Age structure of spawning salmon represents an example of portfolio effects such that the risks of experiencing unfavorable conditions are spread across time. Lyman. These grants build up NOAA's continuing long . Responses to substantive comments are below; comments on actions not related to the LOF are not included. Fisheries off West Coast States; Highly Migratory Fisheries; Amendment 6 to the Fishery Management Plan for West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; Authorization of Deep-Set Buoy Gear A Proposed Rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on 02/06/2023 For high seas fisheries, Table 3 lists the number of valid HSFCA permits currently held. Bryde's Whale Steller Sea Lion Spinner Dolphin Bowhead Whale Endangered & Threatened Species NOAA Fisheries has jurisdiction over 163 endangered and threatened marine species, including 65 foreign species. documents in the last year, by the Executive Office of the President American Samoa bottomfish handline fishery from fewer than 30 to fewer than 20 vessels/persons. MLA further states that there are several factors with disparity among the Northeast and mid-Atlantic lobster fisheries, as well as significant differences in potential overlap with North Atlantic right whales. has no substantive legal effect. Open Access (OA) Gears South of 4010' N. Lat. Where does NMFS obtain information on the level of observer coverage in a fishery on the LOF? recoveryplans for all listed species. Comment 7: HLA restates a previous comment opposing the inclusion of the Hawaii stocks of Kogia species (pygmy or dwarf sperm whales) on the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category I HI deep-set longline fishery. Extending along the U.S. Coast from Canada to Mexico, the California Current is characterized by some of the most dramatic annual, interannual, and decadal environmental variability in the world. However, there have been a number of entanglements for which interventions occurred because these entanglements were determined to be resulting in serious injuries (Henry et al., 2019).. Credit: Mary Campbell, Feiro Marine Life Center, Volunteer Group Responds to Strandings on Washingtons Olympic Peninsula, West Coast Species on the Move as Climate Change Drives Ecological Shifts, Analysis Shows, NOAA Fisheries Releases Draft National Seafood Strategy, Requests Public Input. NMFS has integrated the MMPA registration process, implemented through the Marine Mammal Authorization Program (MMAP), with existing state and Federal fishery license, registration, or permit systems for Category I and II fisheries on the LOF. Am I required to comply with any marine mammal TRP regulations? Atlantic spotted dolphin, Northern Gulf of Mexico. NMFS will continue to annually evaluate marine mammal interactions and risk posed by a variety of gear types and fisheries through the LOF process. Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, through its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has awarded grants of up to $30 million, over a five-year period, to two Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Florida A&M University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl (including pair trawl). Irma Lagomarsino Senior Policy Advisor at NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region 4d Report this post Report Report. In the table below, the Region column shows if the species can be found in a NOAA Fisheries region. Participants in these fisheries are automatically registered under the MMAP and are not required to submit registration or renewal materials. They also develop science-based strategies and effective partnerships to recover and conserve West Coast trust resources. Many vessels holding HSFCA permits also fish within U.S. waters and are included in the number of vessels and participants operating within those fisheries in Tables 1 and 2. We participate in the implementation of numerous international treaties and other agreements to sustainably conserve fisheries for cross-boundary species including highly migratory fish, particularly tuna; whiting; halibut, and salmon; and protect marine mammals of mutual interest to nations of the Pacific. We review federal proposals for land and water development to make sure these activities do not further degrade habitat or harm protected species. With this request, the commenter is also not taking into consideration the high percentage of unidentified entanglements that are both first sighted in the U.S. and in Canada. NMFS has classified these fisheries by analogy to other Category I or II fisheries that use similar fishing techniques or gear that are known to cause mortality or serious injury of marine mammals, as discussed in the final LOF for 1996 (60 FR 67063; December 28, 1995), and according to factors listed in the definition of a Category II fishery in 50 CFR 229.2 (i.e., fishing techniques, gear types, methods used to deter marine mammals, target species, seasons and areas fished, qualitative data from logbooks or fishermen reports, stranding data, and the species and distribution of marine mammals in the area). NMFS must reexamine the LOF annually, considering new information in the Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports (SARs) and other relevant Start Printed Page 3029sources, and publish in the Federal Register any necessary changes to the LOF after notice and opportunity for public comment (16 U.S.C. Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum. Additional information about HSFCA permits can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/high-seas-fishing-permits. should verify the contents of the documents against a final, official For the purposes of the LOF, the high seas fisheries are subdivided based on gear type (e.g., trawl, longline, purse seine, gillnet, troll, etc.) Comments were received from members of the public, Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen's Association (AOLA), Freezer Longline Coalition (FLC), Hawaii Longline Association (HLA), Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA), Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA DMF), Marine Mammal Commission (Commission) and Whale Safe USA. "We've always been like the punching bag for, like, the whale people. Mahaffy, A.M. Gorgone, T. Cullins, D.J. Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine. It is the responsibility of fishery participants to comply with applicable take reduction regulations. 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100 . Additional detail on how gear would be considered unique to differentiate it from other state lobster and trap/pot fisheries is included in response to Comment #11. The OFR/GPO partnership is committed to presenting accurate and reliable The Communications and External Affairs Branch creates stories/content, graphics, presentations, brochures, and literature that engage stakeholders, promote understanding of NOAA Fisheries trust resources, convey the science behind our decisions, and advance NOAA Fisheries mission. Its expertise includes online information and design, intergovernmental relations, education, tribal relations, media relations, and social media. The Commission states that the clearer case can be made for reclassifying the Category II SE Alaska salmon drift gillnet fishery as a Category I fishery. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration I National Marine Fisheries Service I West Coast Region Goal 2 - Safeguard Protected Species and Propel Their Recovery Advance Reintroduction Efforts for At-Risk Species Identify the steps and resources needed to restore the Kingfisher Flat Hatchery in Santa Cruz County, California which was documents in the last year, 83 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan; Amendment 30; 2023-24 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Correcting Amendment, 12865-12868 [2023-03889] However, due to the large number of Category III fisheries on the LOF and the lack of accessible and detailed information on many of these fisheries, the development of these fishery fact sheets is taking significant time to complete. Under Section 4(f)(1)(B), to the maximum . The West Coast groundfish recreational fisheries are managed by the coastal states with management coordinated in the Pacific Fishery Management Council process. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. The Commission notes that is more difficult to address the harbor porpoise M/SI in Category II Yakutat salmon set gillnet because there is a geographical disconnect between where observer data was collected and the population surveys were conducted. Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet. 03/03/2023, 234 May 10, 2019. Thus, M/SI of false killer whales of unknown stock within the stock overlap zones must be prorated to MHI insular, pelagic, or NWHI stocks. Observers collect information on what is caught, whether it is landed or discarded at sea, to estimate bycatch. They also implement temporary and permanent area closures to protect salmon in the ocean and on their way back to their rivers to reproduce. The Branch works with staff throughout the region to share strategic communications and knowledge, build understanding, and recognize achievements from NOAA Fisheries stewardship activities on the West Coast. With our partners, we are working on hundreds of projects to protect and restore vital habitat for West Coast fish and wildlife populations. Additionally, unless a rope diameter is explicitly prohibited in an area, rope diameter does not rule out the potential for an entanglement to have occurred in Maine waters, even if it does not represent the majority's normal fishing practices. Most individual species tend to localize by depth more than latitude. They typically become effective on January 1 of any given year (the beginning of the management cycle). Therefore, the Commission reiterates its recommendation that NMFS reclassify the SE Alaska salmon drift gillnet as a Category I fishery. We work to recover and conserve threatened and endangered marine and anadromous species, as well as manage and conserve marine mammals. The number of permits listed in Table 3 represents only the number of permits for the high seas component of the fishery; **These gear types are not authorized under the Pacific HMS FMP (2004), the Atlantic HMS FMP (2006), or without a South Pacific Tuna Treaty license (in the case of the South Pacific Tuna fisheries). Since 1999, RCO, through the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB), has distributed more than $1.23 billion in state and federal funds to advance salmon recovery statewide, with more than $649 million directed toward efforts in the Puget Sound. Ferguson, L.W. NMFS addressed FWS' concern by deciding that when an ESU contained both steelhead and rainbow trout, NMFS would list only the steelhead population within that ESU as threatened or endangered. US Department of Commerce, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to ensure that the regions living marine resources remain at healthy and sustainable levels, as functioning parts of their ecosystems, and continue to enhance the quality of life for the public. NMFS adds two stocks to the list of species/stocks incidentally killed or injured in the Category III WA/OR/CA groundfish trawl fishery: (1) California Start Printed Page 3039breeding stock of northern elephant seal and (2) CA/OR/WA stock of northern right whale dolphin. NMFS is proposing that the nearshore fishery be open every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday beginning Monday May 8 until the nearshore allocation is taken, or on September 30, whichever is earlier. Under the MMPA, we conserve and manage marine mammal populations along the West Coast. 24 pp. These tools are designed to help you understand the official document The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2021, as required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Baird, R.W., S.D. Learn more about Fisheries Management on the West Coast. 1201 NE Lloyd Boulevard, Suite 1100 PORTLAND, OR 97232-1274. The fishery is also split into two groups based on whether vessels are required to hold a federal limited entry permit to participate or whether they fish without a federal permit in the open access fishery. March 2, 2023 - JOHN'S, NL - Despite the mountains of evidence and years' worth of work by inshore fish harvesters and the Union that represents them, the federal meeting to determine the fate of the Atlantic Mackerel Fishery in 2023 has left fish harvesters feeling frustrated and ignored.FFAW-Unifor is calling on Minister Murray to commit to fully investigating the possibility of . From floodplains to estuaries, nearshore habitats to kelp forests, urban waterways to rural streams, NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of our nations living marine resources and their habitats. NMFS has designated those fisheries listed by analogy in Tables 1 and 2 by adding a 2 after the fishery's name. Tier 1: Tier 1 considers the cumulative fishery mortality and serious injury for a particular stock. Bottlenose dolphin, Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau. AOLA requests NMFS incorporate more timely data and recent information into the 2021 LOF. Below we provide further detail as to why the information presented by the MLA is insufficient for the requested changes. Limited Entry Fixed Gear (LEFG) North of 4010' N Lat. ^The list of marine mammal species and/or stocks killed or injured in this fishery is identical to the list of species and/or stocks killed or injured in high seas component of the fishery, minus species and/or stocks that have geographic ranges exclusively on the high seas. As stated previously, should information suggest that unique gear characteristics have lowered the risk of interaction in a particular geographically unique portion of a fishery, NMFS will evaluate to determine if the risk reduction is sufficient for separating the fishery out from the broader, current, classification of the Category I Northeast/mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot fishery. Response: MMPA section 118 requires individuals participating in a Category I or II fishery to accommodate an observer aboard their vessel(s) upon request from NMFS. We also note that two additional entanglements have been identified as Massachusetts lobster trap/pot entanglements (E36-16/RW 3623 and E25-09). This prototype edition of the Response: The SARs are drafted according to NMFS' Guidelines for Preparing Stock Assessment Reports Pursuant to the 1994 Amendments to the MMPA (NMFS 2016, 02-204-01). Pacific white-sided dolphin, North Pacific. NMFS also removes both the Eastern North Pacific AK resident stock and Gulf of Alaska, BSAI transient stock of killer whales from the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the BSAI Pacific cod longline fishery. PDF | We delineated and scored Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) in the Arctic region. NMFS re-classifies two fisheries in the LOF for 2021. In addition, any animal that ingests fishing gear or any animal that is released with fishing gear entangling, trailing, or perforating any part of the body is considered injured, regardless of the presence of any wound or other evidence of injury, and must be reported. According to NMFS' Process for Distinguishing Serious from Non-Serious Injury of Marine Mammals (NMFS 2015, 02-238-01), cases that would have been serious injuries prior to disentanglement are not counted against PBR in the SAR, but they are included in the recorded takes for the LOF and associated management measures. London, S.A. Mizroch, R.R. The commenter cites four cases of unknown entanglements they believe explicitly rule out Maine lobster fisheries from the origin of entanglement. documents in the last year, 853 documents in the last year. As described in the 2019 LOF (84 FR 22051, May 16, 2019), six false killer whale M/SI incidental to the deep-set longline fishery were observed inside the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Hawaii, including three that occurred close to the outer boundary of the Main Hawaiian Islands Longline Fishing Prohibited Area, in close proximity to the outer boundary of the MHI Insular false killer whale stocks' range. Sources of Information Reviewed for the 2021 LOF, Comments on Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean, Comments on Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean, Summary of Changes From the Proposed Rule, Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific Ocean, List of Species and/or Stocks Incidentally Killed or Injured in the Pacific Ocean, Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean, Fishery Name and Organizational Changes and Clarification, List of Species and/or Stocks Incidentally Killed or Injured in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2021-00570, MODS: Government Publishing Office metadata, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-stock-assessment-reports-region, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/list-fisheries-summary-tables, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/fisheries-observers/national-observer-program, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/high-seas-fishing-permits, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-protection-act-list-fisheries, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-authorization-program#obtaining-a-marine-mammal-authorization-certificate, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-authorization-program#reporting-a-death-or-injury-of-a-marine-mammal-during-commercial-fishing-operations, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/marine-mammal-take-reduction-plans-and-teams, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/64690366, CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (14 in mesh)*. Boveng, J.M. [FR Doc. Of those, 0.2 were attributed to U.S. fisheries, 1.2 to Canadian fisheries, and the remaining 4.15 were undetermined. These species are key elements of the ecosystem and are critically important for our culture, recreation, and economy. That 2016 SAR also reported a total annual M/SI estimate of 34 animals for the two fisheries combined. Limited Entry Trawl South of 4010' N Lat. Steelhead, or occasionally steelhead trout, is the common name of the anadromous form of the coastal rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus m. irideus) or Columbia River redband trout (O. m. gairdneri, also called redband steelhead). "NOAA Fisheries Service" and the "National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)" are synonymous names for the same agency. Groundfish populations on the West Coast have rebounded from lows experienced in the 1990s. Vessel or gear owners who participate in fisheries in these regions and have not received authorization certificates by the beginning of the calendar year, or with renewed fishing licenses, must contact the appropriate NMFS Regional Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION). This killer whale M/SI occurred in 2012, and no additional M/SI have been observed or reported for the 2013-2017 data analysis timeframe for this fishery. No comments were received on that certification, and no new information has been discovered to change that conclusion. The LOF includes three tables that list all U.S. commercial fisheries by Category. These fishery fact sheets provide the full history of each Category I and II fishery, including: When the fishery was added to the LOF; the basis for the fishery's initial classification; classification changes to the fishery; changes to the list of species and/or stocks incidentally killed or injured in the fishery; fishery gear and methods used; observer coverage levels; fishery management and regulation; and applicable TRPs or TRTs, if any. Is Action NMFS updates the MMAP certificate process for calendar year 2021. The LOF fishery fact sheet for the BSAI Pacific cod longline fishery Start Printed Page 3033has an incorrect description for the observer coverage in both the catcher processor and catcher vessel longline sectors. AOLA recommends NMFS take a more equitable approach when assessing entanglement risk across fisheries, countries, and non-fishery sources, and also notes this would assist in assuring fishermen are treated fairly.