82 FR 60181 - Draft 2017 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 242 (December 19, 2017)

Page Range		60181-60184
FR Document		2017-27281
NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2017 SARs.
Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60181-60184]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27281]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF566


Draft 2017 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

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

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional 
marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act. SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, 
Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new 
information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2017 SARs.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 19, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The 2017 draft SARs are available in electronic form via the 
internet at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-mammal-protection/draft-marine-mammal-stock-assessment-reports.
    Copies of the Alaska Regional SARs may be requested from Marcia 
Muto, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, 
Seattle, WA 98115-6349.
    Copies of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Regional SARs 
may be requested from Elizabeth Josephson, Northeast Fisheries Science 
Center, 166 Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543.
    Copies of the Pacific Regional SARs may be requested from Jim 
Carretta, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8604 La Jolla Shores 
Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037-1508.
    You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2017-0065, by 
either of the following methods:
    Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0065, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, 
complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
    Mail: Send comments or requests for copies of reports to: Chief, 
Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226, Attn: Stock Assessments.
    Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments if they are sent by 
any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after 
the end of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Lierheimer, Office of Protected 
Resources, 301-427-8402, [email protected]; Marcia Muto, 206-
526-4026, [email protected], regarding Alaska regional stock 
assessments; Elizabeth Josephson, 508-495-2362, 
[email protected], regarding Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and 
Caribbean regional stock assessments; or Jim Carretta, 858-546-7171, 
[email protected], regarding Pacific regional stock assessments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 117 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 
1361 et seq.) requires NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS) to prepare stock assessments for each stock of marine mammals 
occurring in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States, 
including the Exclusive Economic Zone. These reports must contain 
information regarding the distribution and abundance of the stock, 
population growth rates and trends, estimates of annual human-caused 
mortality and serious injury (M/SI) from all sources, descriptions of 
the fisheries with which the stock interacts, and the status of the 
stock. Initial reports were completed in 1995.
    The MMPA requires NMFS and FWS to review the SARs at least annually 
for strategic stocks and stocks for which significant new information 
is available, and at least once every three years for non-strategic 
stocks. The term ``strategic stock'' means a marine mammal stock: (A) 
For which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the 
potential biological removal level or PBR (defined

[[Page 60182]]

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); (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 (ESA) within the foreseeable 
future; or (C) which is listed as a threatened species or endangered 
species under the ESA. NMFS and the FWS are required to revise a SAR if 
the status of the stock has changed or can be more accurately 
determined.
    Prior to public review, the updated SARs under NMFS' jurisdiction 
are peer-reviewed within NMFS' Fisheries Science Centers and by members 
of three regional independent Scientific Review Groups (SRGs), which 
were established under the MMPA to independently advise NMFS on 
information and uncertainties related to the status of marine mammals.
    The period covered by the 2017 draft SARs is 2011-2015. NMFS 
reviewed the status of marine mammal stocks as required and revised a 
total of 67 reports representing 75 stocks in the Alaska, Atlantic, and 
Pacific regions to incorporate new information. The 2017 revisions 
consist primarily of updated or revised M/SI estimates and updated 
abundance estimates. One stock (Gulf of Maine humpback whale) changed 
in status from non-strategic to strategic, and three stocks 
(California/Oregon/Washington (CA/OR/WA) Mesoplodont beaked whales, CA/
OR/WA Cuvier's beaked whale, and Hawaii pelagic false killer whale) 
changed in status from strategic to non-strategic. Substantive 
revisions to the SARs are discussed below. NMFS solicits public 
comments on the draft 2017 SARs.

Guidelines for Assessing Marine Mammal Stocks (GAMMS)

    The MMPA provides only general guidance on assessment methods and 
on the content of the reports. As a result, NMFS and FWS have held a 
series of workshops (1994, 1996, 2003, and 2011) to develop guidelines 
for consistently assessing marine mammal stocks and developing reports. 
The guidelines were most recently revised in 2016 (NMFS 2016), based on 
the 2011 GAMMS workshop, after opportunity for the public to review and 
provide comments (81 FR 10830, March 2, 2016). The 2017 draft reports 
reflect the first year that the 2016 revised guidelines have been 
applied.

Humpback Whales

    On September 8, 2016, NMFS published a final rule revising the 
listing status of humpback whales under the ESA (81 FR 62259). We 
divided the globally listed endangered species into 14 distinct 
population segments (DPSs), removed the species-level listing, and in 
its place, listed four DPSs as endangered and one DPS as threatened. 
Based on their current statuses, the remaining nine DPSs did not 
warrant listing. Upon the effective date of the final rule, October 11, 
2016, humpback whales listed as threatened or endangered retained their 
depleted status under the MMPA, and humpback whales not listed as 
threatened or endangered lost their depleted status under the MMPA.
    In response to this revision to the humpback whale listing status, 
NMFS is currently evaluating the humpback whale stock delineations 
under the MMPA to determine whether we can align the stocks with the 
DPSs under the ESA. We note that the DPSs established in this final 
rule that occur in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States 
do not necessarily equate to the existing MMPA stocks for which Stock 
Assessment Reports (SARs) have been published in accordance with 
section 117 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1386). As described in our Federal 
Register notice requesting comments on the Draft 2016 Marine Mammal 
Stock Assessment Reports (81 FR 70097, October 11, 2016), until we have 
completed our review of the MMPA stock delineations, we will treat 
existing MMPA stocks that fully or partially coincide with a listed DPS 
as depleted, and stocks that do not fully or partially coincide with a 
listed DPS as not depleted for management purposes. Therefore, in the 
interim, we will treat the Western North Pacific, Central North 
Pacific, and California/Oregon/Washington stocks as endangered and 
depleted because they partially or fully coincide with ESA-listed DPSs, 
and we will treat the Gulf of Maine and American Samoa stocks as no 
longer depleted because they do not coincide with any ESA-listed DPS. 
Any changes in stock delineation or MMPA section 117 elements (such as 
PBR or strategic status) will be reflected in future stock assessment 
reports, and the Scientific Review Groups and the public will be 
provided opportunity to review and comment.

Alaska Reports

    In 2017, NMFS reviewed all 45 stocks in the Alaska region, and 
updated SARs under NMFS jurisdiction for 18 stocks (13 strategic and 5 
non-strategic). Reports for the following strategic stocks were revised 
for 2017: Steller sea lion, Western U.S.; northern fur seal, Eastern 
Pacific; beluga whale, Cook Inlet; killer whale, AT1 Transient; harbor 
porpoise, Southeast Alaska, Gulf of Alaska, and Bering Sea stocks; 
sperm whale, North Pacific; humpback whale, Western North Pacific and 
Central North Pacific stocks; fin whale, Northeast Pacific; North 
Pacific right whale, Eastern North Pacific; and bowhead whale, Western 
Arctic. Reports for the following non-strategic stocks were revised for 
2017: Spotted seal, Alaska; and beluga whale, Beaufort Sea, Eastern 
Chukchi Sea, Eastern Bering Sea, and Bristol Bay stocks. Information on 
the remaining Alaska region stocks can be found in the final 2016 
reports (Muto et al., 2017).
    Most revisions to the Alaska SARs included updates of abundance 
and/or M/SI estimates, including revised abundance estimates for the 
Western U.S. stock of Steller sea lions; Eastern Pacific northern fur 
seals; Alaska spotted seals; Eastern Chukchi Sea, Eastern Bering Sea, 
and Bristol Bay stocks of beluga whales; and Western Arctic bowhead 
whales.

Atlantic Reports

    In 2017, NMFS reviewed all 116 stocks in the Atlantic region 
(including the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. territories in 
the Caribbean), and updated SARs for 21 stocks under NMFS jurisdiction 
(13 strategic and 8 non-strategic). The reports for the following 
strategic stocks were revised for 2017: North Atlantic right whale, 
western Atlantic; humpback whale, Gulf of Maine; fin whale, Western 
North Atlantic (WNA); Bryde's whale, Gulf of Mexico; and 9 common 
bottlenose dolphin stocks (WNA northern migratory coastal; WNA southern 
migratory coastal; WNA South Carolina/Georgia coastal; WNA northern 
Florida coastal; WNA central Florida coastal; northern North Carolina 
Estuarine System; southern North Carolina Estuarine System; Barataria 
Bay Estuarine System; and Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay 
Boudreau).
    Reports for the following non-strategic stocks were revised for 
2017: Minke whale, Canadian east coast; Risso's dolphin, WNA; Atlantic 
white-sided dolphin, WNA; common dolphin, WNA offshore; harbor 
porpoise, Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy; harbor seal, WNA; gray seal, WNA; 
and harp seal, WNA. Information on the remaining Atlantic region stocks 
can be found in the final 2016 reports (Waring et al., 2017).
    Most revisions to the Atlantic SARs included updates of abundance 
and/or M/SI estimates. New abundance estimates are available for the 
North

[[Page 60183]]

Atlantic right whale, western Atlantic; humpback whale, Gulf of Maine; 
and seven common bottlenose dolphin stocks (5 WNA coastal stocks, and 2 
Gulf of Mexico stocks). For the 2017 SAR cycle, NMFS rewrote seven 
Atlantic common bottlenose dolphin reports (5 WNA coastal stocks, and 
the Northern North Carolina and Southern North Carolina Estuarine 
System Stocks) to address general comments from the SRG. Therefore, the 
reader will not see tracked changes in the draft 2017 reports for these 
stocks.
    The draft 2017 North Atlantic right whale, western Atlantic SAR 
provides an updated abundance estimate for right whales of 455, based 
on a new statistical model for estimating abundance (Pace et al., in 
press). When comparing the minimum abundance estimate from the 2016 
SAR, the abundance appears to increase from 440 (final 2016 SAR) to 455 
(draft 2017 SAR). However, these estimates are not comparable as they 
were derived using different methodologies. Prior assessments used 
counts of different individuals seen in a year, combined with some 
assumptions about deaths among those animals seen in prior years but 
not in the current year--the minimum number alive. In recent years, 
this method has been confounded by a change in right whale behavior: 
Whales are not being sighted at the times and places where they have 
historically been found and therefore are less likely to be sighted. 
The new statistical model for estimating abundance results in an 
estimate that is more current and more representative of the population 
trend than the minimum number alive method of the past. The model 
results of the time-series of abundance estimates show that abundance 
has slowly declined since 2010, after relatively steady increases since 
the early 1990s. However, M/SI estimates continue to be calculated 
based on the number reported. The mortality of female right whales is 
substantially (~50%) higher than males, and there are presently 1.5 
males for each female in the species.
    As a result of the humpback whale ESA listing rule (81 FR 62259; 
September 8, 2016), the Gulf of Maine stock of humpback whales is no 
longer considered ESA listed or depleted. Based on the most recent 
line-transect survey, the estimate of abundance for the Gulf of Maine 
humpback whales is 335, with a minimum population estimate of 239 
whales. The previous estimate of 823 was based on data that are now 
considered outdated (greater than 8 years old) and those data were not 
included in this most recent abundance estimate; thus, the 2017 
abundance estimate is considered negatively biased and likely not a 
true reflection of the size of the stock. Although the abundance 
appears to decline from 2016 to 2017, these estimates should not be 
compared as they were derived using different methodologies and data 
sets. As a result of the lower abundance estimate, the PBR for the Gulf 
of Maine humpback whale stock was reduced from 13 to 3.7 whales. The 
estimate of human-caused M/SI is now above PBR; thus, the stock has 
changed from non-strategic to strategic. However, because the abundance 
estimate is fairly imprecise, incomplete in coverage, and known to be 
negatively biased, the uncertainties associated with this assessment 
may have produced an incorrect determination of strategic status.
    Abundance estimates were updated for the Barataria Bay Estuarine 
System (BBES) and the Mississippi Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau (MS) 
stocks of common bottlenose dolphins in the draft 2017 SARs. The 
abundance estimates were derived using a spatially-explicit capture-
mark-recapture model using photo-identification data collected during 
2010-2014 (McDonald et al., 2017, Hornsby et al., 2017). The best 
estimate of abundance for the BBES stock of common bottlenose dolphins 
is 2,306, and the minimum population estimate is 2,138 bottlenose 
dolphins; both of these estimates were previously listed as ``unknown'' 
is the last revised SAR (2015). The updated PBR for the BBES stock of 
common bottlenose dolphins is 21. The updated best abundance estimate 
for the MS stock is 3,046, and the minimum abundance estimate is 2,896 
(901 and 551, respectively, in the 2015 SAR). The abundance estimate 
for the MS stock is substantially higher than estimates reported in the 
2015 SAR which were derived from aerial surveys. The updated estimate 
is still an underestimate of total stock size. The resulting PBR for 
the MS stock is 29 (5.6 in the 2015 SAR). The current best abundance 
estimate for common dolphins off the U.S. Atlantic coast is 70,184. 
This estimate, derived from 2011 shipboard and aerial surveys, is the 
only current estimate available. This estimate is substantially lower 
than the estimate from the 2015 SAR (173,486), because the previous 
estimate included data from the 2007 Trans-North Atlantic Sighting 
survey of Canadian waters. As recommended in the GAMMS (NMFS 2016), 
estimates older than eight years are unreliable, so this new estimate 
does not include data from the 2007 Canadian survey. The estimate 
should not be interpreted as a decline in abundance of this stock, as 
previous estimates are not directly comparable.
    The best estimate of abundance for the western North Atlantic stock 
of gray seals in Canada is 424,300 (CV = 0.16) using model-based 
abundance estimates derived from pup surveys. The ratio of total 
population size to pups in Canada is applied to the count of pups born 
in U.S. waters in 2016 (6,274), to approximate an Nbest and Nmin for 
gray seals in the U.S. The best estimate of abundance of gray seals in 
U.S waters is 26,985 (95% CI: 22,042-33,036) and the minimum abundance 
in U.S. waters is 25,768. There is uncertainty in these abundance 
levels in the U.S. because life history parameters that influence the 
ratio of pups to total individuals in this portion of the population 
are unknown. Based on the minimum population estimate in U.S. waters, 
PBR for the portion of the stock in U.S. waters is 1,546. In U.S. 
waters, human-caused mortality does not exceed PBR.

Pacific Reports

    In 2017, NMFS reviewed and considered for revising all 85 stocks in 
the Pacific region (waters along the west coast of the United States, 
within waters surrounding the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
(NWHI), and within waters surrounding U.S. territories in the Western 
Pacific), and updated SARs for 36 stocks (10 strategic and 26 non-
strategic). The reports for the following strategic stocks were revised 
for 2017: Hawaiian monk seal; killer whale, Eastern North Pacific 
Southern Resident; sperm whale, CA/OR/WA; humpback whale, CA/OR/WA; 
blue whale, Eastern North Pacific; false killer whale, Main Hawaiian 
Islands (MHI) Insular; sperm whale, Hawaii (HI); blue whale, Central 
North Pacific; fin whale, HI; and sei whale, HI.
    Reports for the following non-strategic stocks were revised for 
2017: Baird's beaked whale, CA/OR/WA; Cuvier's beaked whale, CA/OR/WA; 
Mesoplodont beaked whales, CA/OR/WA; rough-toothed dolphin, HI; Risso's 
dolphin, HI; common bottlenose dolphin, Hawaiian Islands Stock Complex 
(five stocks: HI pelagic, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau, O'ahu, 4-Islands region, 
and Hawaiian Island); pantropical spotted dolphin, Hawaiian Islands 
Stock Complex (four stocks: HI pelagic, O'ahu, 4-Islands region, and HI 
Island); striped dolphin, HI pelagic; Fraser's dolphin, HI; melon-
headed whale, Hawaiian Islands; pygmy killer whale, HI; false killer 
whale, NWHI; false killer whale, HI pelagic; killer whale, HI; short-
finned pilot whale, HI; Blainville's beaked whale, HI Pelagic; 
Longman's beaked

[[Page 60184]]

whale, HI; Cuvier's beaked whale, HI pelagic; and Bryde's whale, HI. 
The HI pelagic false killer whale, CA/OR/WA Mesoplodont beaked whales, 
and CA/OR/WA Cuvier's beaked whale stocks changed from strategic to 
non-strategic because their five-year mortality and serious injury 
estimates for 2011-2015 are less than their PBRs. Information on the 
remaining Pacific region stocks can be found in the final 2016 reports 
(Carretta et al., 2017).
    Several abundance estimates for Pacific stocks were updated in the 
draft 2017 reports based on a new analysis of a 2010 pelagic line-
transect survey within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around 
the Hawaiian Islands (Bradford et al., 2017a), a mark-recapture photo-
ID analysis of MHI Insular false killer whales (Bradford et al., 
2017b), and completed 2015 field studies of Hawaiian monk seals 
(Johanos 2017). The updated estimates of abundance for California 
Current beaked whales are based on a recent trend-based analysis (Moore 
and Barlow 2017).
    The Hawaii pelagic false killer whale stock changed from 
``strategic'' to ``non-strategic'' because M/SI is now below PBR. 
However, the stock status is based on information only from within the 
U.S. EEZ around Hawaii because that is where the stock's abundance has 
been assessed, even though the stock's range (and fishery bycatch) 
extends into the adjacent high seas. Mortality and serious injury of 
this stock outside the EEZ (where there is no PBR) is not factored into 
the evaluation of stock status.
    New approaches were developed to estimate Hawaiian monk seal 
abundance, both range-wide and at individual subpopulations. In the 
draft 2017 SAR, the best estimate of the total population size is 1,324 
seals with a minimum abundance estimate of 1,261 (1,272 and 1,205, 
respectively, in the 2016 SAR). Past reports have concluded that 
Hawaiian monk seal stock dynamics did not conform to the underlying 
model for calculating PBR because the stock was declining despite being 
well below OSP. As a result, PBR for the Hawaiian monk seal was 
undetermined. The trend since 2013 does not indicate the stock has 
continued to decline, so that PBR may be determined. For the first 
time, the monk seal SAR provides a valid calculation for PBR of 4.4.

    Dated: December 14, 2017.
Donna S. Wieting,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27281 Filed 12-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
60182 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 19, 2017 / Notices

by the MMPA as the maximum number Humpback Whales were revised for 2017: Steller sea lion,
of animals, not including natural On September 8, 2016, NMFS Western U.S.; northern fur seal, Eastern
mortalities, that may be removed from a published a final rule revising the Pacific; beluga whale, Cook Inlet; killer
marine mammal stock while allowing listing status of humpback whales under whale, AT1 Transient; harbor porpoise,
that stock to reach or maintain its the ESA (81 FR 62259). We divided the Southeast Alaska, Gulf of Alaska, and
optimum sustainable population); (B) globally listed endangered species into Bering Sea stocks; sperm whale, North
which, based on the best available 14 distinct population segments (DPSs), Pacific; humpback whale, Western
scientific information, is declining and removed the species-level listing, and in North Pacific and Central North Pacific
is likely to be listed as a threatened its place, listed four DPSs as endangered stocks; fin whale, Northeast Pacific;
species under the Endangered Species North Pacific right whale, Eastern North
and one DPS as threatened. Based on
Act (ESA) within the foreseeable future; Pacific; and bowhead whale, Western
their current statuses, the remaining
or (C) which is listed as a threatened Arctic. Reports for the following non-
nine DPSs did not warrant listing. Upon
species or endangered species under the strategic stocks were revised for 2017:
the effective date of the final rule,
ESA. NMFS and the FWS are required Spotted seal, Alaska; and beluga whale,
October 11, 2016, humpback whales
to revise a SAR if the status of the stock Beaufort Sea, Eastern Chukchi Sea,
listed as threatened or endangered
has changed or can be more accurately Eastern Bering Sea, and Bristol Bay
retained their depleted status under the
determined. stocks. Information on the remaining
MMPA, and humpback whales not
Alaska region stocks can be found in the
Prior to public review, the updated listed as threatened or endangered lost
final 2016 reports (Muto et al., 2017).
SARs under NMFS’ jurisdiction are their depleted status under the MMPA. Most revisions to the Alaska SARs
peer-reviewed within NMFS’ Fisheries In response to this revision to the included updates of abundance and/or
Science Centers and by members of humpback whale listing status, NMFS is M/SI estimates, including revised
three regional independent Scientific currently evaluating the humpback abundance estimates for the Western
Review Groups (SRGs), which were whale stock delineations under the U.S. stock of Steller sea lions; Eastern
established under the MMPA to MMPA to determine whether we can Pacific northern fur seals; Alaska
independently advise NMFS on align the stocks with the DPSs under the spotted seals; Eastern Chukchi Sea,
information and uncertainties related to ESA. We note that the DPSs established Eastern Bering Sea, and Bristol Bay
the status of marine mammals. in this final rule that occur in waters stocks of beluga whales; and Western
under the jurisdiction of the United Arctic bowhead whales.
The period covered by the 2017 draft States do not necessarily equate to the
SARs is 2011–2015. NMFS reviewed the existing MMPA stocks for which Stock Atlantic Reports
status of marine mammal stocks as Assessment Reports (SARs) have been In 2017, NMFS reviewed all 116
required and revised a total of 67 reports published in accordance with section stocks in the Atlantic region (including
representing 75 stocks in the Alaska, 117 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1386). As the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and
Atlantic, and Pacific regions to described in our Federal Register notice U.S. territories in the Caribbean), and
incorporate new information. The 2017 requesting comments on the Draft 2016 updated SARs for 21 stocks under
revisions consist primarily of updated Marine Mammal Stock Assessment NMFS jurisdiction (13 strategic and 8
or revised M/SI estimates and updated Reports (81 FR 70097, October 11, non-strategic). The reports for the
abundance estimates. One stock (Gulf of 2016), until we have completed our following strategic stocks were revised
Maine humpback whale) changed in review of the MMPA stock delineations, for 2017: North Atlantic right whale,
status from non-strategic to strategic, we will treat existing MMPA stocks that western Atlantic; humpback whale, Gulf
and three stocks (California/Oregon/ fully or partially coincide with a listed of Maine; fin whale, Western North
Washington (CA/OR/WA) Mesoplodont DPS as depleted, and stocks that do not Atlantic (WNA); Bryde’s whale, Gulf of
beaked whales, CA/OR/WA Cuvier’s fully or partially coincide with a listed Mexico; and 9 common bottlenose
beaked whale, and Hawaii pelagic false DPS as not depleted for management dolphin stocks (WNA northern
killer whale) changed in status from purposes. Therefore, in the interim, we migratory coastal; WNA southern
strategic to non-strategic. Substantive will treat the Western North Pacific, migratory coastal; WNA South Carolina/
revisions to the SARs are discussed Central North Pacific, and California/ Georgia coastal; WNA northern Florida
below. NMFS solicits public comments Oregon/Washington stocks as coastal; WNA central Florida coastal;
on the draft 2017 SARs. endangered and depleted because they northern North Carolina Estuarine
Guidelines for Assessing Marine partially or fully coincide with ESA- System; southern North Carolina
Mammal Stocks (GAMMS) listed DPSs, and we will treat the Gulf Estuarine System; Barataria Bay
of Maine and American Samoa stocks as Estuarine System; and Mississippi
The MMPA provides only general no longer depleted because they do not Sound, Lake Borgne, Bay Boudreau).
guidance on assessment methods and on coincide with any ESA-listed DPS. Any Reports for the following non-strategic
the content of the reports. As a result, changes in stock delineation or MMPA stocks were revised for 2017: Minke
NMFS and FWS have held a series of section 117 elements (such as PBR or whale, Canadian east coast; Risso’s
workshops (1994, 1996, 2003, and 2011) strategic status) will be reflected in dolphin, WNA; Atlantic white-sided
to develop guidelines for consistently future stock assessment reports, and the dolphin, WNA; common dolphin, WNA
assessing marine mammal stocks and Scientific Review Groups and the public offshore; harbor porpoise, Gulf of
developing reports. The guidelines were will be provided opportunity to review Maine/Bay of Fundy; harbor seal, WNA;
most recently revised in 2016 (NMFS
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

and comment. gray seal, WNA; and harp seal, WNA.
2016), based on the 2011 GAMMS Information on the remaining Atlantic
workshop, after opportunity for the Alaska Reports region stocks can be found in the final
public to review and provide comments In 2017, NMFS reviewed all 45 stocks 2016 reports (Waring et al., 2017).
(81 FR 10830, March 2, 2016). The 2017 in the Alaska region, and updated SARs Most revisions to the Atlantic SARs
draft reports reflect the first year that the under NMFS jurisdiction for 18 stocks included updates of abundance and/or
2016 revised guidelines have been (13 strategic and 5 non-strategic). M/SI estimates. New abundance
applied. Reports for the following strategic stocks estimates are available for the North

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 19, 2017 / Notices 60183

Atlantic right whale, western Atlantic; abundance estimate is considered not be interpreted as a decline in
humpback whale, Gulf of Maine; and negatively biased and likely not a true abundance of this stock, as previous
seven common bottlenose dolphin reflection of the size of the stock. estimates are not directly comparable.
stocks (5 WNA coastal stocks, and 2 Although the abundance appears to The best estimate of abundance for
Gulf of Mexico stocks). For the 2017 decline from 2016 to 2017, these the western North Atlantic stock of gray
SAR cycle, NMFS rewrote seven estimates should not be compared as seals in Canada is 424,300 (CV = 0.16)
Atlantic common bottlenose dolphin they were derived using different using model-based abundance estimates
reports (5 WNA coastal stocks, and the methodologies and data sets. As a result derived from pup surveys. The ratio of
Northern North Carolina and Southern of the lower abundance estimate, the total population size to pups in Canada
North Carolina Estuarine System Stocks) PBR for the Gulf of Maine humpback is applied to the count of pups born in
to address general comments from the whale stock was reduced from 13 to 3.7 U.S. waters in 2016 (6,274), to
SRG. Therefore, the reader will not see whales. The estimate of human-caused approximate an Nbest and Nmin for
tracked changes in the draft 2017 M/SI is now above PBR; thus, the stock gray seals in the U.S. The best estimate
reports for these stocks. has changed from non-strategic to of abundance of gray seals in U.S waters
The draft 2017 North Atlantic right strategic. However, because the is 26,985 (95% CI: 22,042–33,036) and
whale, western Atlantic SAR provides abundance estimate is fairly imprecise, the minimum abundance in U.S. waters
an updated abundance estimate for right incomplete in coverage, and known to is 25,768. There is uncertainty in these
whales of 455, based on a new statistical be negatively biased, the uncertainties abundance levels in the U.S. because
model for estimating abundance (Pace et associated with this assessment may life history parameters that influence
al., in press). When comparing the have produced an incorrect the ratio of pups to total individuals in
minimum abundance estimate from the determination of strategic status. this portion of the population are
2016 SAR, the abundance appears to unknown. Based on the minimum
Abundance estimates were updated
increase from 440 (final 2016 SAR) to population estimate in U.S. waters, PBR
for the Barataria Bay Estuarine System
455 (draft 2017 SAR). However, these for the portion of the stock in U.S.
(BBES) and the Mississippi Sound, Lake
estimates are not comparable as they waters is 1,546. In U.S. waters, human-
Borgne, Bay Boudreau (MS) stocks of
were derived using different caused mortality does not exceed PBR.
common bottlenose dolphins in the
methodologies. Prior assessments used
draft 2017 SARs. The abundance Pacific Reports
counts of different individuals seen in a
estimates were derived using a spatially- In 2017, NMFS reviewed and
year, combined with some assumptions
about deaths among those animals seen explicit capture-mark-recapture model considered for revising all 85 stocks in
in prior years but not in the current using photo-identification data collected the Pacific region (waters along the west
year—the minimum number alive. In during 2010–2014 (McDonald et al., coast of the United States, within waters
recent years, this method has been 2017, Hornsby et al., 2017). The best surrounding the main and Northwestern
confounded by a change in right whale estimate of abundance for the BBES Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), and within
behavior: Whales are not being sighted stock of common bottlenose dolphins is waters surrounding U.S. territories in
at the times and places where they have 2,306, and the minimum population the Western Pacific), and updated SARs
historically been found and therefore estimate is 2,138 bottlenose dolphins; for 36 stocks (10 strategic and 26 non-
are less likely to be sighted. The new both of these estimates were previously strategic). The reports for the following
statistical model for estimating listed as ‘‘unknown’’ is the last revised strategic stocks were revised for 2017:
abundance results in an estimate that is SAR (2015). The updated PBR for the Hawaiian monk seal; killer whale,
more current and more representative of BBES stock of common bottlenose Eastern North Pacific Southern
the population trend than the minimum dolphins is 21. The updated best Resident; sperm whale, CA/OR/WA;
number alive method of the past. The abundance estimate for the MS stock is humpback whale, CA/OR/WA; blue
model results of the time-series of 3,046, and the minimum abundance whale, Eastern North Pacific; false killer
abundance estimates show that estimate is 2,896 (901 and 551, whale, Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI)
abundance has slowly declined since respectively, in the 2015 SAR). The Insular; sperm whale, Hawaii (HI); blue
2010, after relatively steady increases abundance estimate for the MS stock is whale, Central North Pacific; fin whale,
since the early 1990s. However, M/SI substantially higher than estimates HI; and sei whale, HI.
estimates continue to be calculated reported in the 2015 SAR which were Reports for the following non-strategic
based on the number reported. The derived from aerial surveys. The stocks were revised for 2017: Baird’s
mortality of female right whales is updated estimate is still an beaked whale, CA/OR/WA; Cuvier’s
substantially (∼50%) higher than males, underestimate of total stock size. The beaked whale, CA/OR/WA;
and there are presently 1.5 males for resulting PBR for the MS stock is 29 (5.6 Mesoplodont beaked whales, CA/OR/
each female in the species. in the 2015 SAR). The current best WA; rough-toothed dolphin, HI; Risso’s
As a result of the humpback whale abundance estimate for common dolphin, HI; common bottlenose
ESA listing rule (81 FR 62259; dolphins off the U.S. Atlantic coast is dolphin, Hawaiian Islands Stock
September 8, 2016), the Gulf of Maine 70,184. This estimate, derived from Complex (five stocks: HI pelagic, Kaua’i
stock of humpback whales is no longer 2011 shipboard and aerial surveys, is and Ni’ihau, O’ahu, 4-Islands region,
considered ESA listed or depleted. the only current estimate available. This and Hawaiian Island); pantropical
Based on the most recent line-transect estimate is substantially lower than the spotted dolphin, Hawaiian Islands Stock
survey, the estimate of abundance for estimate from the 2015 SAR (173,486), Complex (four stocks: HI pelagic, O’ahu,
because the previous estimate included 4-Islands region, and HI Island); striped
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

the Gulf of Maine humpback whales is
335, with a minimum population data from the 2007 Trans-North Atlantic dolphin, HI pelagic; Fraser’s dolphin,
estimate of 239 whales. The previous Sighting survey of Canadian waters. As HI; melon-headed whale, Hawaiian
estimate of 823 was based on data that recommended in the GAMMS (NMFS Islands; pygmy killer whale, HI; false
are now considered outdated (greater 2016), estimates older than eight years killer whale, NWHI; false killer whale,
than 8 years old) and those data were are unreliable, so this new estimate does HI pelagic; killer whale, HI; short-finned
not included in this most recent not include data from the 2007 pilot whale, HI; Blainville’s beaked
abundance estimate; thus, the 2017 Canadian survey. The estimate should whale, HI Pelagic; Longman’s beaked

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60184 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 19, 2017 / Notices

whale, HI; Cuvier’s beaked whale, HI Dated: December 14, 2017. or transship bottomfish management
pelagic; and Bryde’s whale, HI. The HI Donna S. Wieting, unit species (BMUS) using a large vessel
pelagic false killer whale, CA/OR/WA Director, Office of Protected Resources, (50 ft or longer) around Guam, fish
Mesoplodont beaked whales, and CA/ National Marine Fisheries Service. commercially for BMUS in the EEZ
OR/WA Cuvier’s beaked whale stocks [FR Doc. 2017–27281 Filed 12–18–17; 8:45 am] around the Northern Mariana Islands, or
changed from strategic to non-strategic BILLING CODE 3510–22–P use a vessel to fish for BMUS within the
because their five-year mortality and EEZ around each of the PRIA, in areas
serious injury estimates for 2011–2015 not prohibited to fishing, must register
are less than their PBRs. Information on DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE it to a valid federal fishing permit.
the remaining Pacific region stocks can Regulations at 50 CFR 665, Subparts
National Oceanic and Atmospheric B, C, D, and E, require that a vessel used
be found in the final 2016 reports Administration to fish for precious corals within the
(Carretta et al., 2017).
EEZ of U.S. islands in the central and
Several abundance estimates for Submission for OMB Review; western Pacific, must be registered to a
Pacific stocks were updated in the draft Comment Request valid federal fishing permit for a
2017 reports based on a new analysis of The Department of Commerce will specific precious coral permit area.
a 2010 pelagic line-transect survey submit to the Office of Management and The collection is revised by merging
within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Budget (OMB) for clearance the currently approved information
Zone (EEZ) around the Hawaiian Islands following proposal for collection of collections OMB Control Numbers
(Bradford et al., 2017a), a mark- information under the provisions of the 0648–0584, Northern Mariana Islands
recapture photo-ID analysis of MHI Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Commercial Bottomfish Fishery Permit,
Insular false killer whales (Bradford et Chapter 35). 0648–0586, Pacific Islands Crustacean
al., 2017b), and completed 2015 field Agency: National Oceanic and Permit, and 0648–0589, Pacific Islands
studies of Hawaiian monk seals Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Pelagic Squid Jig Fishing Permit, into
(Johanos 2017). The updated estimates Title: Pacific Islands Region Permit OMB Control No. 0648–0490 Pacific
of abundance for California Current Family of Forms. Islands Region Permit Family of Forms.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0490. NMFS approved new two-tier
beaked whales are based on a recent
Form Number(s): None. processing fees for most permits,
trend-based analysis (Moore and Barlow
Type of Request: Regular (revision resulting in revised cost estimates.
2017). Affected Public: Business or other for-
and extension of a currently approved
The Hawaii pelagic false killer whale profit organizations; individuals or
information collection).
stock changed from ‘‘strategic’’ to ‘‘non- households.
Number of Respondents: 354.
strategic’’ because M/SI is now below Frequency: Annually and on occasion.
Average Hours per Response: Hawaii Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
PBR. However, the stock status is based longline limited entry permits: Renewal
on information only from within the This information collection request
on paper application—30 minutes; may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow
U.S. EEZ around Hawaii because that is renewal online—15 minutes; transfer—
where the stock’s abundance has been the instructions to view Department of
1 hour, closed area exemption and Commerce collections currently under
assessed, even though the stock’s range permit appeals—2 hours; American review by OMB.
(and fishery bycatch) extends into the Samoa longline limited entry permits: Written comments and
adjacent high seas. Mortality and Renewal and additional permit recommendations for the proposed
serious injury of this stock outside the application—45 minutes, transfer—1 information collection should be sent
EEZ (where there is no PBR) is not hour 15 minutes, permit appeals—2 within 30 days of publication of this
factored into the evaluation of stock hours; all other permits: Paper—30 notice to OIRA_Submission@
status. minutes, online—15 minutes. omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806.
New approaches were developed to Burden Hours: 169.
Dated: December 14, 2017.
estimate Hawaiian monk seal Needs and Uses: Regulations at 50
CFR 665, Subpart F, require that a vessel Sarah Brabson,
abundance, both range-wide and at NOAA PRA Clearance Officer.
must be registered to a valid federal
individual subpopulations. In the draft [FR Doc. 2017–27288 Filed 12–18–17; 8:45 am]
fishing permit to fish with longline gear
2017 SAR, the best estimate of the total
for Pacific pelagic management unit BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
population size is 1,324 seals with a
species (PMUS), land or transship
minimum abundance estimate of 1,261 longline caught PMUS, or receive
(1,272 and 1,205, respectively, in the longline caught PMUS from a longline DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
2016 SAR). Past reports have concluded vessel, within the Exclusive Economic
that Hawaiian monk seal stock Zone (EEZ) of United States (U.S.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric
dynamics did not conform to the islands in the central and western Administration
underlying model for calculating PBR Pacific, to fish with pelagic squid jig RIN 0648–XF899
because the stock was declining despite gear for PMUS within the Exclusive
being well below OSP. As a result, PBR Economic Zone (EEZ) of United States Fisheries of the South Atlantic;
for the Hawaiian monk seal was (U.S.) islands in the central and western Southeast Data, Assessment, and
undetermined. The trend since 2013 Pacific, or to fish with troll and Review (SEDAR); Public Meetings
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

does not indicate the stock has handline gear for PMUS within the EEZ AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
continued to decline, so that PBR may around each of the Pacific Remote Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
be determined. For the first time, the Island Areas (PRIA), in areas not Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
monk seal SAR provides a valid prohibited to fishing. Commerce.
calculation for PBR of 4.4. Regulations at 50 CFR parts 665,
ACTION: Notice of SEDAR 55 Assessment
Subparts D and E, require that the
Webinars I and II.
owner of a vessel used to fish for, land,

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Document Created: 2017-12-19 01:31:09
Document Modified: 2017-12-19 01:31:09
Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; request for comments.
Dates		Comments must be received by March 19, 2018.
Contact		Lisa Lierheimer, Office of Protected Resources, 301-427-8402, [email protected]; Marcia Muto, 206- 526-4026, [email protected], regarding Alaska regional stock assessments; Elizabeth Josephson, 508-495-2362, [email protected], regarding Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean regional stock assessments; or Jim Carretta, 858-546-7171, [email protected], regarding Pacific regional stock assessments.
FR Citation		82 FR 60181
RIN Number		0648-XF56
82 FR 60181 - Draft 2017 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 242 (December 19, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
