81 FR 87951 - Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Report for the Southern Sea Otter in California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 234 (December 6, 2016)

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, and its implementing regulations, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have developed a draft revised marine mammal stock assessment report (SAR) for the southern sea otter stock in the State of California. We now make the draft SAR available for public review and comment.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87951-87954]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29190]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2016-N127; FF08EVEN00-FXFR1337088SSO0]


Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Report for the 
Southern Sea Otter in California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, 
as amended, and its implementing regulations, we, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service), have developed a draft revised marine 
mammal stock assessment report (SAR) for the southern sea otter stock 
in the State of California. We now make the draft SAR available for 
public review and comment.

DATES: We will consider comments that are received or postmarked on or 
before March 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the draft revised SAR for southern sea 
otter, you may obtain a copy from our Web site at http://www.fws.gov/ventura. Alternatively, you may contact the Ventura Fish and Wildlife 
Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003 (telephone: 805-
644-1766). If you wish to comment on the SAR, you may submit your 
comments in writing by any one of the following methods:
     U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, at the above address;
     Hand delivery: Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office at the 
above address;
     Fax: 805-644-3958; or
     Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lilian Carswell, at the above street 
address, by telephone (805-612-2793), or by email 
([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce the availability for review and 
comment of a draft revised marine mammal stock assessment report (SAR) 
for the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) stock in the State 
of California.

Background

    Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (MMPA; 
16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and its implementing regulations in the Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 18, we regulate the taking; 
import; and, under certain conditions, possession; transportation; 
purchasing; selling; and offering for sale, purchase, or export, of 
marine mammals. One of the MMPA's goals is to ensure that stocks of 
marine mammals occurring in waters under U.S. jurisdiction do not 
experience a level of human-caused mortality and serious injury that is 
likely to cause the stock to be reduced below its optimum sustainable 
population level (OSP). OSP is defined under the MMPA as ``the number 
of animals which will result in the maximum productivity of the 
population or the species, keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the 
habitat and the health of the ecosystem of which they form a 
constituent element'' (16 U.S.C. 1362(9)).
    To help accomplish the goal of maintaining marine mammal stocks at 
their OSPs, section 117 of the MMPA requires the Service and the 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to prepare a SAR for each 
marine mammal stock that occurs in waters under U.S. jurisdiction. A 
SAR must be based on the best scientific information available; 
therefore, we prepare it in consultation with established regional 
scientific review groups. Each SAR must include:
    1. A description of the stock and its geographic range;
    2. A minimum population estimate, current and maximum net 
productivity rate, and current population trend;
    3. An estimate of the annual human-caused mortality and serious 
injury by source and, for a strategic stock, other factors that may be 
causing a decline or impeding recovery;
    4. A description of commercial fishery interactions;
    5. A categorization of the status of the stock; and
    6. An estimate of the potential biological removal (PBR) level.
    The MMPA defines the PBR as ``the maximum number of animals, not 
including natural mortalities, that may be removed from a marine mammal 
stock while allowing that stock to reach or maintain its OSP'' (16 
U.S.C. 1362(20)). The PBR is the product of the minimum population 
estimate of the stock (Nmin); one-half the maximum 
theoretical or estimated net productivity rate of the stock at a small 
population size (Rmax); and a recovery factor 
(Fr) of between 0.1 and 1.0, which is intended to compensate 
for uncertainty and unknown estimation errors. This can be written as:

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

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

[[Page 87952]]

Stock Assessment Report History for the Southern Sea Otter in 
California

    The southern sea otter SAR was last revised in January 2014. 
Because the southern sea otter qualifies as a strategic stock due to 
its listing as a threatened species under the ESA, the Service has 
reviewed the stock assessment annually since then. In January 2015, 
Service review concluded that revision was not warranted because the 
status of the stock had not changed, nor could it be more accurately 
determined. However, upon review in 2016, the Service determined that 
revision was warranted because of changes in population dynamics in the 
central portion of the mainland range and new information on fishery-
related sea otter mortality.

Summary of Draft Revised Stock Assessment Report for the Southern Sea 
Otter in California

    The following table summarizes some of the information contained in 
the draft revised southern sea otter SAR, which includes the stock's 
Nmin, Rmax, Fr, PBR, annual estimated 
human-caused mortality and serious injury, and status. After 
consideration of any public comments we receive, the Service will 
revise and finalize the SAR, as appropriate. We will publish a notice 
of availability and summary of the final SAR, including responses to 
submitted comments.

                                    Summary--Draft Revised Stock Assessment Report, Southern Sea Otter in California
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Annual estimated human-caused
         Southern sea otter stock             NMIN        RMAX         FR          PBR       mortality and serious injury            Stock status
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mainland.................................       2,990        0.06         0.1        8.97  Figures by specific source,       Strategic.
                                                                                            where known, are provided in
                                                                                            the SAR.
San Nicolas Island.......................          64        0.13         0.1        0.42
Summary..................................       3,054  ..........  ..........           9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public Availability of Comments

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

References

    In accordance with the MMPA, we include in this notice a list of 
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[[Page 87953]]

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

    Dated: November 23, 2016.
James W. Kurth,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-29190 Filed 12-5-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P