11504 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Notices 

fishing operations. Currently, two 

commercial fishermen have volunteered 

to participate in the EFP while using 

hook-and-line gear fishing in South 

Atlantic Federal waters in depths 

ranging from 70 ft (21 m) to 600 ft (183 

m). If the fishermen encounter a 

speckled hind, a fin clip would be taken 

from the harvested speckled hind and 

shipped to the Marine Genomics 

Laboratory at Texas A&M University, 

Corpus Christi, Texas. The sampled fin 

clip would be used for genetic studies. 

All sampled speckled hind carcasses 

would be shipped to the NMFS 

Southeast Fisheries Science Center for 

otolith extraction to determine age and 

growth parameters. The results of the 

EFP are expected to contribute to 

improved understanding of speckled 

hind population structure, genetic 

diversity, and life history in the U.S. 

South Atlantic. The EFP results could 

help support future scientific and 

management decisions for the speckled 

hind stock in the South Atlantic. 

NMFS finds the application warrants 

further consideration based on a 

preliminary review. Possible conditions 

the agency may impose on the permit, 

if granted, include but are not limited 

to, a prohibition on fishing within 

marine protected areas, marine 

sanctuaries, or special management 

zones without additional authorization. 

A final decision on issuance of the EFP 

will depend on NMFS’ review of public 

comments received on the application, 

consultations with the appropriate 

fishery management agencies of the 

affected states, the South Atlantic 

Fishery Management Council, and the 

U.S. Coast Guard, and a determination 

that the activities to be taken under the 

EFP are consistent with all other 

applicable laws. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C 1801 et seq. 

Dated: February 22, 2021. 

Jennifer M. Wallace, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03889 Filed 2–24–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA884] 

Endangered and Threatened Species; 

Initiation of 5-Year Review for Cook 

Inlet Beluga Whale (Delphinapterus 

leucas) Distinct Population Segment 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of initiation of 5-year 

review; request for information. 

SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to 

conduct a 5-year review of the 

endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale 

(Delphinapterus leucas) distinct 

population segment (DPS). NMFS is 

required by the Endangered Species Act 

(ESA) to conduct 5-year reviews to 

ensure that listing classifications of 

species are accurate. The 5-year review 

must be based on the best scientific and 

commercial data available at the time of 

the review. We request submission of 

any such information on the Cook Inlet 

beluga whale DPS, particularly 

information on its status, threats, and 

recovery, that has become available 

since the previous 5-year review was 

issued in February 2017. 

DATES: To allow us adequate time to 

conduct this review, we must receive 

your information no later than April 26, 

2021. However, we will continue to 

accept new information about any listed 

species at any time. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your information, 

identified by docket number NOAA– 

NMFS–2021–0010, by either of the 

following methods: 

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, 

enter the above docket number for this 

notice. Then, click on the Search icon. 

On the resulting web page, click the 

‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the 

required fields, and enter or attach your 

comments. 

• Mail: Submit written information to 

Jon Kurland, Assistant Regional 

Administrator for Protected Resources, 

Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Records 

Office. Mail comments to P.O. Box 

21668, Juneau, AK 99802–1668. 

Instructions: NMFS may not consider 

comments or other information if sent 

by any other method, to any other 

address or individual, or received after 

the comment period ends. All 

comments and information received are 

a part of the public record and NMFS 

will post the comments 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 is 

publicly accessible. NMFS will accept 

anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in 

the required fields if you wish to remain 

anonymous). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill 

Seymour, NMFS Alaska Region, 

jill.seymour@noaa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

4(c)(2)(A) of the ESA requires that the 

Secretary, through NMFS, conduct a 

review of listed species at least once 

every 5 years. The regulations in 50 CFR 

424.21 require that we publish a notice 

in the Federal Register announcing 

species currently under active review. 

Based on such reviews, we determine 

whether a listed species should be 

delisted, or be reclassified from 

endangered to threatened or from 

threatened to endangered (16 U.S.C. 

1533(c)(2)(B)). As described by the 

regulations in 50 CFR 424.11(e), the 

Secretary shall delist a species if the 

Secretary finds that, after conducting a 

status review based on the best 

scientific and commercial data 

available: (1) the species is extinct; (2) 

the species does not meet the definition 

of an endangered species or a threatened 

species; or (3) the listed entity does not 

meet the statutory definition of a 

species. Any change in Federal 

classification would require a separate 

rulemaking process. 

The Cook Inlet beluga whale DPS was 

listed as endangered under the ESA on 

October 22, 2008 (73 FR 62919). 

Background information on the DPS is 

available on the NMFS website at: 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/ 

beluga-whale. 

Determining if a Species Is Threatened 

or Endangered 

Section 4(a)(1) of the ESA requires 

that we determine whether a species is 

endangered or threatened based on one 

or more of the five following factors: (1) 

The present or threatened destruction, 

modification, or curtailment of its 

habitat or range; (2) overutilization for 

commercial, recreational, scientific, or 

educational purposes; (3) disease or 

predation; (4) the inadequacy of existing 

regulatory mechanisms; or (5) other 

natural or manmade factors affecting its 

continued existence. Section 4(b) also 

requires that our determination be made 

on the basis of the best scientific and 

commercial data available after 

conducting a review of the status of the 

species and after taking into account 

those efforts, if any, being made by any 

State or foreign nation to protect such 

species. 

Public Solicitation of New Relevant 

Information 

To ensure that the 5-year review is 

complete and based on the best 

scientific and commercial data 

available, we are soliciting new 

information from the public, 

governmental agencies, Tribes, the 

scientific community, industry, 

environmental entities, and any other 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Notices 11505 

interested parties concerning the status 

of the listed Cook Inlet beluga whale 

DPS. Categories of requested 

information include: (1) Species biology 

including, but not limited to, population 

trends, distribution, abundance, 

demographics, and genetics; (2) habitat 

conditions including, but not limited to, 

amount, distribution, suitability, and 

important features for conservation; (3) 

status and trends of threats; (4) 

conservation measures that have been 

implemented that benefit the species, 

including monitoring data 

demonstrating effectiveness of such 

measures; (5) need for additional 

conservation measures; and (6) other 

new information, data, or corrections 

including, but not limited to, taxonomic 

or nomenclatural changes and improved 

analytical methods for evaluating 

extinction risk. 

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 

Dated: February 22, 2021. 

Angela Somma, 

Chief, Endangered Species Conservation 

Division, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03890 Filed 2–24–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XA901] 

Western Pacific Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meetings 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings and a 

partially closed meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

hold its 139th Scientific and Statistical 

Committee (SSC), Pelagic and 

International Standing Committee, 

Executive and Budget Standing 

Committee, and 185th Council meetings 

to take actions on fishery management 

issues in the Western Pacific Region. A 

portion of the Council’s Executive and 

Budget Standing Committee meeting 

will be closed to the public for a briefing 

on litigation by counsel. 

DATES: The meetings will be held 

between March 16 and March 25, 2021. 

For specific times and agendas, see 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held 

by web conference via WebEx. 

Instructions for connecting to the web 

conference and providing oral public 

comments will be posted on the Council 

website at www.wpcouncil.org. For 

assistance with the web conference 

connection, contact the Council office at 

(808) 522–8220. 

The following venues will be the host 

sites for the 185th Council meeting: Cliff 

Pointe, 304 W O’Brien Drive, Hagatna, 

Guam; BRI Building, Suite 205, Kopa Di 

Oru St., Garapan, Saipan, CNMI; and, 

Tedi of Samoa Building Suite 208B, 

Fagatogo Village, American Samoa. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, 

Western Pacific Fishery Management 

Council; phone: (808) 522–8220. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All times 

shown are in Hawaii Standard Time. 

The 139th SSC meeting will be held 

between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on March 

16–18, 2021. The Pelagic and 

International Standing Committee will 

be held between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on 

March 22, 2021. The Executive and 

Budget Standing Committee meeting 

will be held between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 

p.m. on March 22, 2021. The portion of 

the Executive and Budget Standing 

Committee from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. will 

be closed to the public in accordance 

with section 302(i)(3) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act (MSA). The 185th 

Council meeting will be held between 

11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on March 23–25, 

2021. 

Please note that the evolving public 

health situation regarding COVID–19 

may affect the conduct of the March 

Council and its associated meetings. At 

the time this notice was submitted for 

publication, the Council anticipated 

convening the Council meeting by web 

conference with host site locations in 

Guam, CNMI and American Samoa. 

Council staff will monitor COVID–19 

developments and will determine the 

extent to which in-person public 

participation at host sites will be 

allowable consistent with applicable 

local and federal safety and health 

guidelines. If public participation will 

be limited to web conference only or on 

a first-come-first-serve basis consistent 

with applicable guidelines, the Council 

will post notice on its website at 

www.wpcouncil.org. 

Agenda items noted as ‘‘Final Action’’ 

refer to actions that result in Council 

transmittal of a proposed fishery 

management plan, proposed plan 

amendment, or proposed regulations to 

the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, under 

sections 304 or 305 of the MSA. In 

addition to the agenda items listed here, 

the Council and its advisory bodies will 

hear recommendations from Council 

advisors. An opportunity to submit 

public comment will be provided 

throughout the agendas. The order in 

which agenda items are addressed may 

change and will be announced in 

advance at the Council meeting. The 

meetings will run as late as necessary to 

complete scheduled business. 

Background documents for the 185th 

Council meeting will be available at 

www.wpcouncil.org. Written public 

comments on final action items at the 

185th Council meeting should be 

received at the Council office by 5 p.m. 

HST, March 19, 2021, and should be 

sent to Kitty M. Simonds, Executive 

Director; Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Council, 1164 Bishop 

Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, 

phone: (808) 522–8220 or fax: (808) 

522–8226; or email: info.wpcouncil@

noaa.gov. Written public comments on 

all other agenda items may be submitted 

for the record by email throughout the 

duration of the meeting. Instructions for 

providing oral public comments during 

the meeting will be posted on the 

Council website. This meeting will be 

recorded for the purposes of generating 

the minutes of the meeting. 

Agenda for the 139th Scientific and 

Statistical Committee Meeting 

Tuesday, March 16, 2021, 11 a.m. to 5 

p.m. 

1. Introductions 

2. Approval of Draft Agenda and 

Assignment of Rapporteurs 

3. Status of the 138th SSC Meeting 

Recommendations 

4. Report from Pacific Islands Fisheries 

Science Center Director 

5. Program Planning and Research 

A. NMFS Briefing on Executive Order 

14008 on Tackling the Climate 

Crisis at Home and Abroad 

B. SSC Three-Year Plan 

C. Updates to the Pacific Island Stock 

Assessment Prioritization 

D. Integration of the ‘Catch it Log it’ app 

information into fisheries 

assessments and monitoring 

E. Socio-Economic Context for FisherShark Interaction in the Marianas 

F. Public Comment 

G. SSC Discussion and 

Recommendations 

6. Island Fisheries 

A. Main Hawaiian Island (MHI) Deep 7 

Bottomfish Fishery 

1. Report on the MHI Deep 7 Bottomfish 

Western Pacific Stock Assessment 

Review (WPSAR) 

2. 2021 Deep 7 Bottomfish Stock 

Assessment Update 

3. Updates to the Acceptable Biological 

Catch (Action Item) 

B. Territorial Bottomfish Fisheries