Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 28, 2010 / Notices 81585 

• Ship strikes was ranked as having 

an unknown but potentially low impact. 

• Fishery interactions in the Atlantic 

Ocean/Mediterranean Sea and Pacific 

Ocean disturbance from whale watching 

and other vessels, disease, injury from 

marine debris, disturbance due to 

research, predation and natural 

mortality, direct harvest, competition 

for resources, and cable laying were 

ranked as having a low impact; and 

No threats were identified as having 

a medium or high impact relative to the 

recovery of the fin whale. 

The Recovery Plan identifies nine 

measures that need to be taken to ensure 

the recovery of sperm whales in the 

Atlantic Ocean/Mediterranean Sea, 

Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean. The 

key features of the proposed recovery 

program for the sperm whale are to: (1) 

Coordinate State, Federal, and 

international actions to implement 

recovery efforts; (2) develop and apply 

methods to estimate population size and 

monitor trends in abundance; (3) 

determine population discreteness and 

stock structure; (4) conduct risk 

analyses; (5) identify, characterize, 

protect, and monitor habitat essential to 

sperm whale populations; (6) investigate 

causes of and reduce the frequency and 

severity of human-caused injury and 

mortality; (7) determine and minimize 

any detrimental effects of anthropogenic 

noise in the oceans; (8) maximize efforts 

to acquire scientific information from 

dead, stranded, and entangled sperm 

whales; and (9) develop a post-delisting 

monitoring plan. 

Criteria for the reclassification of the 

sperm whale are included in the final 

Recovery Plan. In summary, the sperm 

whale may be reclassified from 

endangered to threatened when all of 

the following have been met: (1) Given 

current and projected threats and 

environmental conditions, the sperm 

whale population in each ocean basin in 

which it occurs (Atlantic Ocean/ 

Mediterranean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and 

Indian Ocean) satisfies the risk analysis 

standard for threatened status (has no 

more than a 1 percent chance of 

extinction in 100 years) and the global 

population has at least 1,500 mature, 

reproductive individuals (consisting of 

at least 250 mature females and at least 

250 mature males in each ocean basin). 

Mature is defined as the number of 

individuals known, estimated, or 

inferred to be capable of reproduction. 

Any factors or circumstances that are 

thought to substantially contribute to a 

real risk of extinction that cannot be 

incorporated into a Population Viability 

Analysis will be carefully considered 

before downlisting takes place; and (2) 

None of the known threats to sperm 

whales are known to limit the continued 

growth of populations. Specifically, the 

factors in 4(a)(l) of the ESA are being or 

have been addressed: (A) The present or 

threatened destruction, modification or 

curtailment of a species’ habitat or 

range; (B) overutilization for 

commercial, recreational or educational 

purposes; (C) disease or predation; (D) 

the inadequacy of existing regulatory 

mechanisms; and (E) other natural or 

manmade factors. The population will 

be considered for delisting if all of the 

following can be met: (1) Given current 

and projected threats and environmental 

conditions, the total sperm whale 

population in each ocean basin in 

which it occurs (Atlantic Ocean/ 

Mediterranean Sea, Pacific Ocean, and 

Indian Ocean) satisfies the risk analysis 

standard for unlisted status (has less 

than a 10 percent probability of 

becoming endangered (has more than a 

1 percent chance of extinction in 100 

years) in 20 years). Any factors or 

circumstances that are thought to 

substantially contribute to a real risk of 

extinction that cannot be incorporated 

into a Population Viability Analysis will 

be carefully considered before delisting 

takes place; and (2) None of the known 

threats to sperm whales are known to 

limit the continued growth of 

populations. Specifically, the factors in 

4(a)(l) of the ESA are being or have been 

addressed. 

Time and cost for recovery actions are 

contained in the Recovery Plan. The 

recovery program for the sperm whale 

will cost $2.4 million dollars for the first 

5 fiscal years and $173.9 million dollars 

to full recovery, assuming 15 years for 

recovery starting in 2011 for the Atlantic 

Ocean/Mediterranean Sea and Pacific 

Ocean regions and 25 years for the 

Indian Ocean. 

In accordance with the 2003 Peer 

Review Policy as stated in Appendix R 

of the Interim Endangered and 

Threatened Species Recovery Planning 

Guidance, NMFS solicited independent 

peer-review on the draft Recovery Plan 

concurrent with the public comment 

period. Independent peer-reviews were 

requested from three scientists and 

managers with expertise in recovery 

planning, statistical analyses, fisheries, 

and marine mammals. Many of the 

recommendations that were made by the 

reviewers were addressed and provided 

in detail in the final Recovery Plan. New 

information, research results, and 

references that have become available 

since the draft Recovery Plan was 

released were also incorporated into the 

final Recovery Plan. 

Conclusion 

NMFS revised the final Recovery Plan 

for the sperm whale and evaluated all 

comments received by the public as 

well as independent peer-reviewers. 

NMFS concludes that the Recovery Plan 

meets the requirements of the ESA. 

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

Dated: December 21, 2010. 

Therese Conant, 

Acting Chief, Endangered Species Division, 

Office of Protected Resources, National 

Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–32692 Filed 12–27–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA114 

Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Council to convene public 

meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Gulf of Mexico Fishery 

Management Council will convene a 

meeting of the Ad Hoc Reef Fish 

Limited Access Privilege Program 

Advisory Panel. 

DATES: The meeting will convene at 9 

a.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, and 

conclude by 4 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management 

Council, 2203 North Lois Avenue, Suite 

1100, Tampa, FL 33607; telephone: 

(813) 348–1630. 

Council address: Gulf of Mexico 

Fishery Management Council, 2203 N. 

Lois Avenue, Suite 1100, Tampa, FL 

33607. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. 

Assane Diagne, Economist; Gulf of 

Mexico Fishery Management Council; 

telephone: (813) 348–1630. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ad 

Hoc Reef Fish Limited Access Privilege 

Program Advisory Panel will meet to 

discuss individual fishing quota 

financing under the Fisheries Finance 

Program, NOAA’s catch share policy, 

and, issues related to the design, 

adoption, implementation, and, 

evaluation of limited access programs 

for the commercial and/or recreational 

sectors. 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
81586 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 28, 2010 / Notices 

Copies of the agenda and other related 

materials can be obtained by calling 

(813) 348–1630. 

Although other non-emergency issues 

not on the agenda may come before the 

Advisory Panel for discussion, in 

accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, those issues may not be the subject 

of formal action during this meeting. 

Actions of the Advisory Panel will be 

restricted to those issues specifically 

identified in the agenda and any issues 

arising after publication of this notice 

that require emergency action under 

Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens 

Fishery Conservation and Management 

Act, provided the public has been 

notified of the Council’s intent to take 

action to address the emergency. 

Special Accommodations 

This meeting is physically accessible 

to people with disabilities. Requests for 

sign language interpretation or other 

auxiliary aids should be directed to 

Trish Kennedy at the Council (see 

ADDRESSES) at least 5 working days prior 

to the meeting. 

Dated: December 22, 2010. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–32626 Filed 12–27–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

RIN 0648–XA112 

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. 

SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) will 

hold meetings of its Marianas 

Archipelago Plan Team (PT), Guam 

Regional Ecosystem Advisory 

Committee (Guam REAC), Mariana 

Archipelago Advisory Panel (AP) and 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands Regional Ecosystem Advisory 

Committee (CNMI REAC). 

DATES: The PT meeting will be held on 

January 19–20, 2011, Guam REAC on 

January 21, 2011, AP on January 22, 

2011 and CNMI REAC on January 24, 

2011. For specific times and agendas, 

see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 

ADDRESSES: The PT, Guam REAC and 

AP meetings will be held at the Guam 

Hilton and Resort, 202 Hilton Road, 

Tumon Bay, Guam. The CNMI REAC 

will be held at the Saipan World Resort, 

P.O. Box 500066, Saipan, MP. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 

telephone: (808) 522–8220. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public 

comment periods will be provided. The 

order in which agenda items are 

addressed may change. The meetings 

will run as late as necessary to complete 

scheduled business. 

Schedule and Agenda for PT meeting: 

9 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesday and 

Thursday, January 19–20, 2011 

The Marianas PT will meet to hear 

reports on, discuss and consider 

developing recommendations on the 

following items: 

A. Status of Fishery Monitoring 

Programs and Research Projects 

B. Update on Marianas 

Recommendations from the 2009 

Fishery Data Workshop 

C. Marianas Archipelago Fishery 

Ecosystem Plan draft annual report. 

D. Proposals for improving fishery data 

collection for stock assessments 

E. Council meeting actions 

1. CNMI bottomfish regulatory 

changes to allow spear fishing of 

bottomfish management unit 

species 

2. Federal annual catch limit scoping 

F. Other business 

Schedule and Agenda for Guam REAC 

meeting: 

9 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday, January 21, 2011 

The Guam REAC will meet to hear 

reports on, discuss and consider 

developing recommendations on the 

following items: 

A. Report on previous REAC 

recommendations and actions 

B. Coastal Marine Spatial Planning 

C. Overview of traditional access and 

spatial planning 

D. Panel presentations and discussion 

on traditional access and history of 

change 

E. Guest presentation on Shoreline 

access restrictions in relation to 

fishermen deaths 

F. Panel presentations and discussion 

on Maintaining access to marine 

resources 

G. Local initiatives and actions 

1. Military efforts to mitigate marine 

spatial closure impacts on the 

fishing community 

2. Guam Fisheries Act 

3. Indigenous Fishing Rights 

4. Guam MCP 

H. Other business 

Schedule and Agenda for Marianas 

AP meeting: 

9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday, January 22, 

2011 

The Marianas AP will meet to hear 

reports on, discuss and consider 

developing recommendations on the 

following items: 

A. Coastal Marine Spatial Planning 

1. Shoreline access restrictions in 

relation to fishermen deaths 

2. Military build-up impacts to 

Marianas fishing community 

3. Review of Kahoolawe Transition 

4. Report on REAC outcomes 

B. Ecosystem monitoring and 

community issues 

1. Mariana programs and projects 

2. Federal programs and projects 

C. Local legislative activities 

D. Upcoming meetings and conferences 

1. Marianas archipelago lunar 

calendar workshop 

2. Offshore aquaculture workshop 

3. Mariana islands green sea turtle 

workshop 

E. Fisheries Development 

1. Guam Marine Conservation Plan 

2. CNMI Marine Conservation Plan 

F. Other business 

Schedule and Agenda for CNMI REAC 

meeting: 

9 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday, January 24, 

2011 

The CNMI REAC will meet to hear 

reports on, discuss and consider 

developing recommendations on the 

following items: 

A. Status of 2010 REAC 

Recommendations 

B. Coastal Marine Spatial Planning 

Initiative 

1. Regional Ocean Partnership 

2. Monument Activities and Status 

3. Military build-up impacts to 

Marianas fishing community 

C. Ecosystem monitoring and 

community issues 

1. CNMI bio-sampling program 

2. Impact of land-based pollution in 

fish from Saipan Lagoon 

3. Saipan Lagoon net fishing data 

analysis 

4. Annual catch limit scoping 

D. Community Development 

1. Status of Mariana longline fishery 

2. CNMI Marine Conservation Plan 

E. Upcoming meeting/conferences/ 

workshops 

1. Mariana Archipelago Lunar 

Calendar Workshop 

2. Offshore Aquaculture Workshop 

3. Mariana Islands Green Sea Turtle 

Workshop 

F. Other business 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES