2142 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 9 / Thursday, January 13, 2022 / Notices 

produced, we use the maximum mean 

seasonal (i.e., 3-month) abundance 

prediction for purposes of comparison 

as a precautionary smoothing of monthto-month fluctuations and in 

consideration of a corresponding lack of 

data in the literature regarding seasonal 

distribution of marine mammals in the 

GOM. Information supporting the small 

numbers determinations is provided in 

Table 1. 

TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS

Species Authorized 

take 1 Abundance 2 Percent 

abundance 

Rice’s whale 3 .............................................................................................................................. 0 51 n/a 

Sperm whale ................................................................................................................................ 32 2,207 1.4 

Kogia spp. .................................................................................................................................... 4 13 4,373 0.3 

Beaked whales ............................................................................................................................ 163 3,768 4.3 

Rough-toothed dolphin ................................................................................................................ 29 4,853 0.6 

Bottlenose dolphin ....................................................................................................................... 95 176,108 0.1 

Clymene dolphin .......................................................................................................................... 79 11,895 0.7 

Atlantic spotted dolphin ............................................................................................................... 38 74,785 0.1 

Pantropical spotted dolphin ......................................................................................................... 483 102,361 0.5 

Spinner dolphin ............................................................................................................................ 74 25,114 0.3 

Striped dolphin ............................................................................................................................. 34 5,229 0.6 

Fraser’s dolphin ........................................................................................................................... 10 1,665 3.9 

Risso’s dolphin ............................................................................................................................. 20 3,764 0.5 

Melon-headed whale ................................................................................................................... 52 7,003 0.7 

Pygmy killer whale ....................................................................................................................... 16 2,126 0.7 

False killer whale ......................................................................................................................... 22 3,204 0.7 

Killer whale .................................................................................................................................. 0 267 n/a 

Short-finned pilot whale ............................................................................................................... 12 1,981 0.6 

1Scalar ratios were not applied in this case due to brief survey duration. 

2Best abundance estimate. For most taxa, the best abundance estimate for purposes of comparison with take estimates is considered here to 

be the model-predicted abundance (Roberts et al., 2016). For those taxa where a density surface model predicting abundance by month was 

produced, the maximum mean seasonal abundance was used. For those taxa where abundance is not predicted by month, only mean annual 

abundance is available. For the killer whale, the larger estimated SAR abundance estimate is used. 3The final rule refers to the GOM Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni). These whales were subsequently described as a new species, Rice’s 

whale (Balaenoptera ricei) (Rosel et al., 2021). 4 Includes 1 take by Level A harassment and 12 takes by Level B harassment. 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of Equinor’s proposed survey 

activity described in its LOA 

application and the anticipated take of 

marine mammals, NMFS finds that 

small numbers of marine mammals will 

be taken relative to the affected species 

or stock sizes and therefore is of no 

more than small numbers. 

Authorization 

NMFS has determined that the level 

of taking for this LOA request is 

consistent with the findings made for 

the total taking allowable under the 

incidental take regulations and that the 

amount of take authorized under the 

LOA is of no more than small numbers. 

Accordingly, we have issued an LOA to 

Equinor authorizing the take of marine 

mammals incidental to its geophysical 

survey activity, as described above. 

Dated: January 7, 2022. 

Catherine Marzin, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–00460 Filed 1–12–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XB719] 

New England Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The New England Fishery 

Management Council (Council, NEFMC) 

will hold a three-day meeting to 

consider actions affecting New England 

fisheries in the exclusive economic zone 

(EEZ). Due to ongoing public safety 

considerations related to COVID–19, 

this meeting will be conducted entirely 

by webinar. 

DATES: The webinar meeting will be 

held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and 

Thursday, February 1, 2, and 3, 2022, 

beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday and 9 

a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. 

ADDRESSES: All meeting participants 

and interested parties can register to 

join the webinar at https://

register.gotowebinar.com/register/ 

3241130900598780683. 

Council address: New England 

Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 

Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950; 

telephone: (978) 465–0492; 

www.nefmc.org. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, 

New England Fishery Management 

Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492, ext. 

113. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Agenda 

Tuesday, February 1, 2022 

After introductions and brief 

announcements, the Council will 

receive reports on recent activities from 

its Chair and Executive Director, the 

Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries 

Office (GARFO) Regional Administrator, 

the Northeast Fisheries Science Center 

(NEFSC) Director, the NOAA Office of 

General Counsel, the Mid-Atlantic 

Fishery Management Council liaison, 

staff from the Atlantic States Marine 

Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), and 

representatives from the U.S. Coast 

Guard, NOAA’s Office of Law 

Enforcement, and the Northeast Trawl 

Advisory Panel. Next, the Council will 

receive the Skate Committee report and 

take final action on Framework 

Adjustment 9 to the Northeast Skate 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 9 / Thursday, January 13, 2022 / Notices 2143 

Complex Fishery Management Plan 

(FMP). This framework will revise: (1) 

The FMP’s objectives; and (2) 

conditions for open access federal skate 

fishing permits. 

Following the lunch break, the 

Council will take up ecosystem-based 

fishery management (EBFM) and receive 

brief updates on: (1) Informational 

EBFM workshops using public outreach 

materials, focusing on potential 

application to a Georges Bank example 

fishery ecosystem plan (eFEP); and (2) 

initial work to develop a Beta 

Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) 

for EBFM and the Georges Bank eFEP. 

Then, the Council will go into the 

Habitat Committee report, which will 

cover three items. First, the Council will 

initiate a framework adjustment to 

designate Habitat Areas of Particular 

Concern in Southern New England. 

Second, the Council will receive a 

report on recent discussions between 

New England and Mid-Atlantic Council 

leadership about the Great South 

Channel Habitat Management Area 

(HMA) and consider next steps, 

including a clam industry request for 

secretarial emergency action to gain 

additional access to the HMA. The 

Council will conclude the habitat report 

with updates on offshore energy and 

other ongoing habitat-related work. It 

then will adjourn for the day. Following 

adjournment, the Council will go into a 

closed session to discuss two items: (1) 

Scientific and Statistical Committee 

appointments; and (2) Council policies 

on U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity 

(EEO) harassment in the workplace 

issues. 

Wednesday, February 2, 2022 

The Council will begin the day with 

the Scallop Committee report. First, the 

Council will receive and discuss the 

final report for the evaluation of the 

scallop fishery’s rotational area 

management program. The Council also 

will receive a brief update on work 

being conducted by the Scallop Survey 

Working Group. This will be followed 

by an initial update on upcoming 

scoping sessions for potential 

development of a limited access leasing 

program. Next, the Council will receive 

a presentation from GARFO on the 

formation of the Atlantic Sturgeon 

Bycatch Working Group and an 

overview of the working group’s 

planned activities. This will be followed 

by a report on: (1) Results from the 27th 

Regular Meeting of the International 

Commission for the Conservation of 

Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT); and (2) 

recommendations from the Advisory 

Committee to the U.S. Section of ICCAT. 

Next, members of the public will have 

the opportunity to speak during an open 

comment period on issues that relate to 

Council business but are not included 

on the published agenda for this 

meeting. The Council asks the public to 

limit remarks to 3–5 minutes. These 

comments will be received through the 

webinar. A guide for how to publicly 

comment through the webinar is 

available on the Council website at 

https://s3.amazonaws.com/nefmc.org/ 

NEFMC-meeting-remote-participation_

generic.pdf. 

Following the lunch break, the 

Council will receive a congressional 

update about ongoing federal legislative 

activities. Next, the Council will receive 

a briefing on Atlantic mackerel stock 

status and work being done by the MidAtlantic Council to revise the mackerel 

rebuilding program based on results 

from the 2021 Atlantic Mackerel 

Management Track Stock Assessment. 

This will be followed by an update on 

the East Coast Climate Change Scenario 

Planning initiative, which will include: 

(1) A summary of the August/September 

2021 kick-off webinars that were held to 

introduce scenario planning to 

stakeholders; and (2) an outline of next 

steps, including information about the 

upcoming February/March 2022 

webinars that are intended to explore 

physical, biological, and social/ 

economic drivers and uncertainties 

about how the marine ecosystem could 

be affected by climate change. The 

Council then will adjourn for the day. 

Thursday, February 3, 2022 

The Council will devote the third day 

of its meeting to the Groundfish 

Committee report, which includes three 

primary components. These are: (1) A 

presentation on and Council discussion 

of the final report from the 2021 series 

of Atlantic Cod Stock Structure 

Workshops, which covered both science 

and management issues; (2) a progress 

report from the Atlantic Cod Research 

Track Working Group, followed by 

Council discussion on the potential 

number of cod stocks that should be 

considered for assessment purposes and 

potential management units; and (3) the 

development of recommendations on 

fishing year 2022 recreational measures 

for Gulf of Maine cod and Gulf of Maine 

haddock. These recommendations will 

be submitted to GARFO. 

The Council has scheduled a lunch 

break, which will be taken at a 

convenient time during the Groundfish 

Committee report. Following the 

conclusion of groundfish business, the 

Council will close out the meeting with 

other business. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained on this agenda may come 

before the Council for discussion, those 

issues may not be the subject of formal 

action during this meeting. Council 

action will be restricted to those issues 

specifically listed in this notice and any 

issues arising after publication of this 

notice that require emergency action 

under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act, provided the public 

has been notified of the Council’s intent 

to take final action to address the 

emergency. The public also should be 

aware that the meeting will be recorded. 

Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy 

of the recording is available upon 

request. 

Special Accommodations 

This meeting is being conducted 

entirely by webinar. Requests for 

auxiliary aids should be directed to 

Thomas A. Nies (see ADDRESSES) at least 

5 days prior to the meeting date. 

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

Dated: January 10, 2022. 

Tracey L. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable 

Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–00611 Filed 1–12–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XB724] 

North Pacific Fishery Management 

Council; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of public meetings. 

SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery 

Management Council (Council) and its 

advisory committees will meet via 

webconference January 31, 2022 

through February 11, 2022. 

DATES: The Council’s Scientific and 

Statistical Committee (SSC) will begin at 

8 a.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 and 

continue through Friday, February 4, 

2022. The Council’s Advisory Panel 

(AP) will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, 

February 1, 2022 and continue through 

Friday, February 4, 2022. The Council 

will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, 

February 7, 2022 and continue through 

Friday, February 11, 2022. All times 

listed are Alaska Standard Time. 

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be by 

webconference. Join online through the 

links at https://www.npfmc.org/ 

upcoming-council-meetings. 


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