105536 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 

constraint may be allowed to participate 

in the Consortium pursuant to a 

separate non-CRADA agreement. 

DATES: The Consortium’s activities will 

commence on May 1, 2025 

(‘‘Commencement Date’’). NIST will 

accept letters of interest to participate in 

this Consortium on an ongoing basis. 

ADDRESSES: Completed letters of interest 

must be submitted via the letter of 

interest webform at https://forms.gle/ 

bCMV9tmc9uRyZxmRA, by email to 

melissa.phillips@nist.gov, or via 

hardcopy to the Consortium Manager, 

Dr. Melissa Phillips, Chemical Sciences 

Division of NIST’s Material 

Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau 

Drive, Mail Stop 8390, Gaithersburg, 

Maryland 20899. Organizations whose 

letters of interest are accepted in 

accordance with the process set forth in 

the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 

of this notice will be asked to sign a 

consortium CRADA with NIST. A 

consortium CRADA template will be 

made available to qualifying applicants. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

J’aime Maynard, Consortia Agreements 

Officer, National Institute of Standards 

and Technology’s Technology 

Partnerships Office, by mail to 100 

Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 2200, 

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, by 

electronic mail agreements@nist.gov, or 

by phone (301) 975–8408. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

objective of the DSQAP is to develop 

and evaluate measurement methods and 

standards to support quality and safety 

for the dietary supplement testing 

community. Approximately 75% of the 

U.S. population takes dietary 

supplements, including vitamins and 

mineral supplements, representing an 

annual expenditure of more than $20 

billion USD. Regulations, driven by 

reported cases of inaccurate labeling, 

adulteration, contamination (with 

pesticides, heavy metals, or toxic 

botanicals), and drug interactions, are 

now in place that require manufacturers 

to evaluate the identity, purity, and 

composition of their ingredients and 

finished products. The plethora of 

unique products on the market has led 

to an uptick in published methods but 

limited outlets for external method 

evaluation and validation. 

The focus of this Consortium is to 

evaluate and standardize methods to 

characterize and quantify nutrients, 

marker compounds, and/or 

contaminants in dietary supplement 

ingredients and finished products, 

improving overall comparability within 

the community and enabling 

organizations that join the Consortium 

(‘‘Consortium Members’’) to improve the 

accuracy and precision of their own, 

internal measurements. The Consortium 

will organize at least two interlaboratory 

exercises annually based on candidate 

reference materials and/or commercial 

products with the following goals: 

• Evaluate the suitability of current 

published methods, including standard 

methods, to measure nutrients, marker 

compounds, and/or contaminants in 

dietary supplement ingredients and 

finished products. 

• Utilize common materials to collect 

reproducibility data in support of 

measurement assurance and standards 

development. 

• Propose tests(s) that can be 

standardized through the AOAC 

International or similar consensus 

process, using outcomes from 

Consortium efforts as a foundation. 

• Evaluate the applicability of current 

reference materials for dietary 

supplement ingredient and finished 

product testing. If needed, develop new 

reference materials to support 

advancement of the dietary supplement 

testing industry. 

No proprietary information will be 

shared as part of the Consortium. 

Contributions of materials to be used as 

interlaboratory study samples, such as 

dietary supplement ingredients or 

products, are highly encouraged. 

Participation Process 

Eligibility to participate in the 

Consortium will be determined by NIST 

based on the information provided by 

prospective participants in response to 

this notice. Prospective participants can 

submit a letter of interest by completing 

the letter of interest webform at https:// 

forms.gle/bCMV9tmc9uRyZxmRA; 

alternatively, parties can answer the 

questions detailed in LETTER OF 

INTEREST, below, and send via email 

or hardcopy (for reference, see 

ADDRESSES section above). NIST will 

contact interested parties if there are 

questions regarding the responsiveness 

of the letters of interest to the project 

objective or requirements identified 

below. 

Each responding organization’s letter 

of interest should include the address, 

point of contact, and following 

information: 

(1) The contribution(s) the 

organization will make to the 

Consortium efforts. All Consortium 

members must contribute one or more of 

the following: 

a. Analytical Testing: Narrative of 

interest and experience in analytical 

testing of dietary supplement 

ingredients and products and 

description of the services and/or 

technical capabilities (e.g., available 

instrumentation, relevant accreditations, 

published methods) they will contribute 

to Consortium activities. 

b. Materials: Narrative of interest and 

description of the dietary supplement 

ingredients and products they will 

contribute to Consortium activities. 

c. Unique Industry or Community 

Perspective: Narrative of interest and 

description of other relevant expertise 

(e.g., trade associations, regulatory 

oversight, standards development) they 

will contribute to Consortium activities. 

(2) List of anticipated participating 

individuals. 

Letters of interest must not include 

proprietary information, including 

proprietary business information. NIST 

will not treat any information provided 

in response to this notice as proprietary 

information. NIST will notify each 

organization of its eligibility to join the 

Consortium. In order to participate in 

this Consortium, each eligible 

organization must sign a CRADA. 

Entities that are not permitted to enter 

into CRADAs pursuant to law or other 

governmental constraint may be allowed 

to participate in the Consortium, at 

NIST’s discretion, pursuant to separate 

non-CRADA agreements with terms that 

may differ, as necessary from the 

Consortium CRADA terms. NIST does 

not guarantee participation in the 

Consortium to any organization 

submitting a letter of interest. 

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3710a. 

Alicia Chambers, 

NIST Executive Secretariat. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30948 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE504] 

Taking and Importing Marine 

Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals 

Incidental to Geophysical Surveys 

Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the 

Gulf of Mexico 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice of issuance of letter of 

authorization. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act 

(MMPA), as amended, its implementing 

regulations, and NMFS’ MMPA 

Regulations for Taking Marine 

Mammals Incidental to Geophysical 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 105537 

1For purposes of acoustic exposure modeling, the 

GOM was divided into seven zones. Zone 1 is not 

included in the geographic scope of the rule. 

2Acoustic propagation modeling was performed 

for two seasons: winter (December-March) and 

summer (April-November). Marine mammal density 

data is generally available on a monthly basis, and 

therefore further refines take estimates temporally. 

Surveys Related to Oil and Gas 

Activities in the Gulf of Mexico, 

notification is hereby given that NMFS 

has issued a Letter of Authorization 

(LOA) to TGS for the take of marine 

mammals incidental to geophysical 

survey activity in the Gulf of Mexico 

(GOM). 

DATES: The LOA is effective from 

December 20, 2024 through December 

19, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: The LOA, LOA request, and 

supporting documentation are available 

online at https://www.fisheries.

noaa.gov/action/incidental-takeauthorization-oil-and-gas-industrygeophysical-survey-activity-gulf-mexico. 

In case of problems accessing these 

documents, please call the contact listed 

below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rachel Wachtendonk, Office of 

Protected Resources, NMFS, (301) 427– 

8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the 

MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct 

the Secretary of Commerce to allow, 

upon request, the incidental, but not 

intentional, taking of small numbers of 

marine mammals by U.S. citizens who 

engage in a specified activity (other than 

commercial fishing) within a specified 

geographical region if certain findings 

are made and either regulations are 

issued or, if the taking is limited to 

harassment, a notice of a proposed 

authorization is provided to the public 

for review. 

An authorization for incidental 

takings shall be granted if NMFS finds 

that the taking will have a negligible 

impact on the species or stock(s), will 

not have an unmitigable adverse impact 

on the availability of the species or 

stock(s) for subsistence uses (where 

relevant), and if the permissible 

methods of taking and requirements 

pertaining to the mitigation, monitoring 

and reporting of such takings are set 

forth. NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible 

impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact 

resulting from the specified activity that 

cannot be reasonably expected to, and is 

not reasonably likely to, adversely affect 

the species or stock through effects on 

annual rates of recruitment or survival. 

Except with respect to certain 

activities not pertinent here, the MMPA 

defines ‘‘harassment’’ as any act of 

pursuit, torment, or annoyance, which 

(i) has the potential to injure a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has 

the potential to disturb a marine 

mammal or marine mammal stock in the 

wild by causing disruption of behavioral 

patterns, including, but not limited to, 

migration, breathing, nursing, breeding, 

feeding, or sheltering (Level B 

harassment). 

On January 19, 2021, we issued a final 

rule with regulations to govern the 

unintentional taking of marine 

mammals incidental to geophysical 

survey activities conducted by oil and 

gas industry operators, and those 

persons authorized to conduct activities 

on their behalf (collectively ‘‘industry 

operators’’), in U.S. waters of the GOM 

over the course of 5 years (86 FR 5322, 

January 19, 2021). The rule was based 

on our findings that the total taking 

from the specified activities over the 5- 

year period will have a negligible 

impact on the affected species or 

stock(s) of marine mammals and will 

not have an unmitigable adverse impact 

on the availability of those species or 

stocks for subsistence uses, and became 

effective on April 19, 2021. 

The regulations at 50 CFR 217.180 et 

seq. allow for the issuance of LOAs to 

industry operators for the incidental 

take of marine mammals during 

geophysical survey activities and 

prescribe the permissible methods of 

taking and other means of effecting the 

least practicable adverse impact on 

marine mammal species or stocks and 

their habitat (often referred to as 

mitigation), as well as requirements 

pertaining to the monitoring and 

reporting of such taking. Under 50 CFR 

217.186(e), issuance of an LOA shall be 

based on a determination that the level 

of taking will be consistent with the 

findings made for the total taking 

allowable under these regulations and a 

determination that the amount of take 

authorized under the LOA is of no more 

than small numbers. 

NMFS subsequently discovered that 

the 2021 rule was based on erroneous 

take estimates. We conducted another 

rulemaking using correct take estimates 

and other newly available and pertinent 

information relevant to the analyses 

supporting some of the findings in the 

2021 final rule and the taking allowable 

under the regulations. We issued a final 

rule in April 2024, effective May 24, 

2024 (89 FR 31488, April 24, 2024). 

The 2024 final rule made no changes 

to the specified activities or the 

specified geographical region in which 

those activities would be conducted, nor 

to the original 5-year period of 

effectiveness. In consideration of the 

new information, the 2024 rule 

presented new analyses supporting 

affirmance of the negligible impact 

determinations for all species, and 

affirmed that the existing regulations, 

which contain mitigation, monitoring, 

and reporting requirements, are 

consistent with the ‘‘least practicable 

adverse impact’’ standard of the MMPA. 

Summary of Request and Analysis 

TGS plans to conduct a threedimensional (3D) ocean bottom node 

(OBN) survey over 453 lease blocks in 

the East Breaks area, with water depths 

ranging from approximately 1,200 to 

2,000 m. See section F of the LOA 

application for a map of the area. TGS 

anticipates using two source vessels 

with a low-frequency airgun source 

known as Gemini (also referred to as a 

dual barbell source). Please see TGS’s 

application for additional detail. 

The Gemini source was not included 

in the acoustic exposure modeling 

developed in support of the rules. 

However, the Gemini was previously 

described and evaluated in support of a 

previous LOA and we rely on that 

analysis here (88 FR 72739, October 23, 

2023). For additional detail regarding 

the source, see section C of the LOA 

application. Based on this information 

we have determined there will be no 

effects of a magnitude or intensity 

different from those evaluated in 

support of the rules. NMFS expects that 

use of modeling results supporting the 

final rule relating to use of the 4,130 

cubic inch (in3) airgun array are 

expected to be conservative as a proxy 

for use in evaluating potential impacts 

of use of the Gemini. 

The survey effort proposed by TGS in 

its LOA request was used to develop 

LOA-specific take estimates based on 

the acoustic exposure modeling results 

described in our rule preamble (89 FR 

31488, April 24, 2024). In order to 

generate the appropriate take number 

for authorization, the following 

information was considered: (1) survey 

type; (2) location (by modeling zone 1); 

(3) number of days; (4) source; and (5) 

month.2 In this case, the 4,130 in3

airgun array was selected, as discussed 

above. The acoustic exposure modeling 

performed in support of the rule 

provides 24-hour exposure estimates for 

each species, specific to each modeled 

source and survey type in each zone and 

month. 

No 3D OBN surveys were included in 

the modeled survey types, and use of 

existing proxies (i.e., two-dimensional 

(2D), 3D (narrow-azimuth) NAZ, 3D 


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105538 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 

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). 

(wide-azimuth) WAZ, Coil) is generally 

conservative for use in evaluation of 3D 

OBN survey effort, largely due to the 

greater area covered by the modeled 

proxies. Summary descriptions of these 

modeled survey geometries are available 

in the preamble to the proposed rule (83 

FR 29212, 29220, June 22, 2018). Coil 

was selected as the best available proxy 

survey type in this case because the 

spatial coverage of the planned survey 

is most similar to the coil survey 

pattern. The planned OBN survey will 

involve two source vessels sailing along 

closely spaced survey lines, with daily 

survey area coverage of approximately 

172 kilometers squared per day, similar 

to that assumed for the coil survey 

proxy. Among the different parameters 

of the modeled survey patterns (e.g., 

area covered, line spacing, number of 

sources, shot interval, total simulated 

pulses), NMFS considers area covered 

per day to be most influential on daily 

modeled exposures exceeding Level B 

harassment criteria. Although TGS is 

not proposing to perform a survey using 

the coil geometry, the coil proxy is most 

representative of the effort planned by 

TGS in terms of predicted Level B 

harassment exposures. 

The survey will take place over 

approximately 150 days with 90 days of 

sound source operation in zone 6. The 

monthly distribution of survey days is 

not known in advance, so take estimates 

for each species are based on the time 

period that produces the greatest value. 

For some species, take estimates 

based solely on the modeling yielded 

results that are not realistically likely to 

occur when considered in light of other 

relevant information available during 

the rulemaking process regarding 

marine mammal occurrence in the 

GOM. The approach used in the 

acoustic exposure modeling, in which 

seven modeling zones were defined over 

the U.S. GOM, necessarily averages finescale information about marine mammal 

distribution over the large area of each 

modeling zone. Thus, although the 

modeling conducted for the rule is a 

natural starting point for estimating 

take, the rule acknowledged that other 

information could be considered (see, 

e.g., 86 FR 5442, January 19, 2021), 

discussing the need to provide 

flexibility and make efficient use of 

previous public and agency review of 

other information and identifying that 

additional public review is not 

necessary unless the model or inputs 

used differ substantively from those that 

were previously reviewed by NMFS and 

the public. For this survey, NMFS has 

other relevant information reviewed 

during the rulemaking that indicates use 

of the acoustic exposure modeling to 

generate a take estimate for Rice’s whale 

produces results inconsistent with what 

is known regarding their occurrence in 

the GOM. Accordingly, we have 

adjusted the calculated take estimates 

for Rice’s whale as described below. 

NMFS’ final rule described a ‘‘core 

habitat area’’ for Rice’s whales (formerly 

known as GOM Bryde’s whales) 3

located in the northeastern GOM in 

waters between 100 and 400 m depth 

along the continental shelf break (Rosel 

et al., 2016). However, whaling records 

suggest that Rice’s whales historically 

had a broader distribution within 

similar habitat parameters throughout 

the GOM (Reeves et al., 2011; Rosel and 

Wilcox, 2014). In addition, habitatbased density modeling has identified 

similar habitat (i.e., approximately 100 

to 400 m water depths along the 

continental shelf break) (Roberts et al., 

2016; Garrison et al., 2023), and Rice’s 

whales have been detected within this 

depth band throughout the GOM 

(Soldevilla et al., 2022, 2024). See 

discussion provided at, e.g., 83 FR 

29228, June 22, 2018; 83 FR 29280, June 

22, 2018; 86 FR 5418, January 19, 2021. 

Although Rice’s whales may occur 

outside of the core habitat area, we 

expect that any such occurrence would 

be limited to the narrow band of habitat 

described above (i.e., 100–400 m) and 

that, based on the few available records, 

these occurrences would be rare. TGS’s 

planned activities will occur in water 

depths of approximately 1,200 to 2,000 

m in the central GOM. Thus, NMFS 

does not expect there to be the 

reasonable potential for take of Rice’s 

whale in association with this survey 

and, accordingly, does not authorize 

take of Rice’s whale through the LOA. 

Based on the results of our analysis, 

NMFS has determined that the level of 

taking expected for this survey and 

authorized through the LOA is 

consistent with the findings made for 

the total taking allowable under the 

regulations. See table 1 in this notice 

and table 6 of the rule (89 FR 31488, 

April 24, 2024). 

Small Numbers Determination 

Under the GOM rule, NMFS may not 

authorize incidental take of marine 

mammals in an LOA if it will exceed 

‘‘small numbers.’’ In short, when an 

acceptable estimate of the individual 

marine mammals taken is available, if 

the estimated number of individual 

animals taken is up to, but not greater 

than, one-third of the best available 

abundance estimate, NMFS will 

determine that the numbers of marine 

mammals taken of a species or stock are 

small (89 FR 31535, May 24, 2024). For 

more information please see NMFS’ 

discussion of small numbers in the 2021 

final rule (86 FR 5438, January 19, 

2021). 

The take numbers for authorization 

are determined as described above in 

the Summary of Request and Analysis 

section. Subsequently, the total 

incidents of harassment for each species 

are multiplied by scalar ratios to 

produce a derived product that better 

reflects the number of individuals likely 

to be taken within a survey (as 

compared to the total number of 

instances of take), accounting for the 

likelihood that some individual marine 

mammals may be taken on more than 1 

day (86 FR 5404, January 19, 2021; 89 

FR 31535, May 24, 2024). The output of 

this scaling, where appropriate, is 

incorporated into adjusted total take 

estimates that are the basis for NMFS’ 

small numbers determinations, as 

depicted in table 1. 

This product is used by NMFS in 

making the necessary small numbers 

determinations through comparison 

with the best available abundance 

estimates (see discussion at 86 FR 5391, 

January 19, 2021). For this comparison, 

NMFS’ approach is to use the maximum 

theoretical population, determined 

through review of current stock 

assessment reports (SAR; https://

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/ 

marine-mammal-protection/marinemammal-stock-assessments) and modelpredicted abundance information 

(https://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/ 

Duke/GOM/). Information supporting 

the small numbers determinations is 

provided in table 1. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 248 / Friday, December 27, 2024 / Notices 105539 

TABLE 1—TAKE ANALYSIS

Species Authorized 

take Scaled take 1 Abundance 2 Percent abundance 

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

Sperm whale .................................................................................................... 674 284.9 3,007 9.5 

Kogia spp. ........................................................................................................ 3 259 79.0 980 9.4 

Beaked whales ................................................................................................ 254 25.7 803 3.2 

Rough-toothed dolphin .................................................................................... 1,862 534.5 4,853 11.0

Bottlenose dolphin ........................................................................................... 2,581 740.8 165,125 0.4 

Clymene dolphin .............................................................................................. 3,209 921.1 4,619 19.9 

Atlantic spotted dolphin ................................................................................... 4,349 1,248.2 21,506 5.8 

Pantropical spotted dolphin ............................................................................. 11,870 3,406.7 67,225 5.1 

Spinner dolphin ................................................................................................ 4 152 43.6 5,548 0.8 

Striped dolphin ................................................................................................. 1,887 541.6 5,634 9.6 

Fraser’s dolphin ............................................................................................... 742 213.0 1,665 12.8 

Risso’s dolphin ................................................................................................. 482 142.1 1,974 7.2 

Blackfish 5 ......................................................................................................... 5,034 1,484.9 6,113 24.3 

Short-finned pilot whale ................................................................................... 2,561 755.5 2,741 27.6 

1Scalar ratios were applied to ‘‘Authorized Take’’ values as described at 86 FR 5322, 5404 (January 19, 2021) to derive scaled take numbers 

shown here. 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 (Garrison et al., 2023). For Rice’s whale, Atlantic spotted dolphin, and Risso’s dolphin, the larger estimated 

SAR abundance estimate is used. 3 Includes 13 takes by Level A harassment and 246 takes by Level B harassment. Scalar ratio is applied to takes by Level B harassment only; 

small numbers determination made on basis of scaled Level B harassment take plus authorized Level A harassment take. 4 Modeled take of 9 increased to account for potential encounter with a group of average size (Maze-Foley and Mullin, 2006). 

5The ‘‘blackfish’’ guild includes melon-headed whales, false killer whales, pygmy killer whales, and killer whales. 

Based on the analysis contained 

herein of TGS’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 (i.e., less than one-third of 

the best available abundance estimate) 

and therefore the taking 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 

TGS authorizing the take of marine 

mammals incidental to its geophysical 

survey activity, as described above. 

Dated: December 20, 2024. 

Kimberly Damon-Randall, 

Director, Office of Protected Resources, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–31041 Filed 12–26–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

[RTID 0648–XE526] 

Pacific Fishery Management Council; 

Public Meeting 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice; public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Pacific Fishery 

Management Council’s (Pacific Council) 

Groundfish Management Team (GMT) 

will hold a hybrid in person/webinar 

work session that is open to the public. 

DATES: The GMT meeting will be held 

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 from 12:30 

p.m., Pacific standard time, until 

business for the day has been 

completed. The GMT will reconvene 

Wednesday, February 5 through Friday, 

February 7, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. until 

business for each day has been 

completed. 

ADDRESSES: 

Meeting address: The meeting will be 

held at the Pacific Fishery Management 

Council Office, Large Conference Room, 

7700 NE Ambassador Place, Suite 101, 

Portland, OR 97220–1384. This work 

session is being conducted in person 

with a web broadcast that provides the 

opportunity for remote public comment. 

Specific meeting information, including 

directions on how to join the meeting 

and system requirements will be 

provided in the meeting announcement 

on the Pacific Council’s website (see 

www.pcouncil.org). Please contact Mr. 

Kris Kleinschmidt (kris.kleinschmidt@

noaa.gov) or (503) 820–2412 for 

technical assistance. 

Council address: Pacific Fishery 

Management Council, 7700 NE 

Ambassador Place, Suite 101, Portland, 

OR 97220–1384. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Todd Phillips, Pacific Council; 

telephone: (503) 820–2426. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

primary purpose of this work session is 

for the GMT to prepare for 2025 Pacific 

Council meetings. Specific agenda items 

will include: Phase 2 stock definitions, 

new management measure development 

and prioritization, 2027/2028 harvest 

specifications and management measure 

expectations, the expected humpback 

whale and leatherback sea turtle 

biological opinion, and GMT chair/vice 

chair elections. The GMT may also 

address groundfish management actions 

the Pacific Council has indicated on 

their Year-at-a-Glance calendar, such as 

the 2025 Pacific whiting fishery and 

limited entry fixed gear follow-on 

actions. A detailed agenda will be 

available on the Pacific Council’s 

website prior to the meeting. 

Although non-emergency issues not 

contained in the meeting agenda may be 

discussed, those issues may not be the 

subject of formal action during these 

meetings. Action will be restricted to 

those issues specifically listed in this 

document and any issues arising after 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES