Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77919 

incorporation by reference in 

accordance with 5 U.S.C 552(a) and 1 

CFR part 51. Copies of this standard can 

be inspected at the Federal 

Communications Commission, 445 12th 

Street SW., Washington, DC (Reference 

Information Center) or at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the 

availability of this material at NARA, 

call 202–741–6030, or go to: http://

www.archives.gov/federal_register/

code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_

locations.html. Copies of the RTCA 

standards also may be obtained from the 

Radio Technical Commission for 

Aeronautics, Inc., 1150 18th Street NW., 

Suite 910, Washington, DC 20036. 

* * * * * 

(e) An identification code, issued by 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), the United 

States Program Manager for the 406.0– 

406.1 MHz COSPAS/SARSAT satellite 

system, must be programmed in each 

ELT unit to establish a unique 

identification for each ELT station. With 

each marketable ELT unit the 

manufacturer or grantee must include a 

postage pre-paid registration card 

printed with the ELT identification code 

addressed to: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon 

Registration, NSOF, E/SPO53, 1315 East 

West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910– 

9684. The registration card must request 

the owner’s name, address, telephone, 

type of aircraft, alternate emergency 

contact, and other information as 

required by NOAA. The registration 

card must also contain information 

regarding the availability to register the 

ELT at NOAA’s online Web-based 

registration database at: http://

www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov. 

Further, the following statement must 

be included: ‘‘WARNING—failure to 

register this ELT with NOAA before 

installation could result in a monetary 

forfeiture being issued to the owner.’’ 

(f) To enhance protection of life and 

property, it is mandatory that each 

406.0–406.1 MHz ELT must be 

registered with NOAA before 

installation and that information be kept 

up-to-date. In addition to the 

identification plate or label 

requirements contained in §§ 2.925 and 

2.926 of this chapter, each 406.0–406.1 

MHz ELT must be provided on the 

outside with a clearly discernable 

permanent plate or label containing the 

following statement: ‘‘The owner of this 

406.0–406.1 MHz ELT must register the 

NOAA identification code contained on 

this label with the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

whose address is: NOAA/SARSAT 

Beacon Registration, NSOF, E/SPO53, 

1315 East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 

20910–9684.’’ Aircraft owners shall 

advise NOAA in writing upon change of 

aircraft or ELT ownership, or any other 

change in registration information. Fleet 

operators must notify NOAA upon 

transfer of ELT to another aircraft 

outside of the owner’s control, or any 

other change in registration information. 

NOAA will provide registrants with 

proof of registration and change of 

registration postcards. 

* * * * * 

PART 95—PERSONAL RADIO 

SERVICES 

■ 6. The authority citation for part 95 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: Secs. 4, 303, 48 Stat. 1066, 

1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303. 

■ 7. Section 95.1402 is amended by 

revising paragraphs (a), (e), and (f) to 

read as follows: 

§ 95.1402 Special requirements for 406 

MHz PLBs. 

(a) All 406 MHz PLBs must meet all 

the technical and performance 

standards contained in the Radio 

Technical Commission for Maritime 

(RTCM) Service document ‘‘RTCM 

Recommended Standards for 406 MHz 

Satellite Personal Locator Beacons 

(PLBs),’’ Version 1.1, RTCM Paper 76– 

2002/SC110–STD, dated June 19, 2002. 

This RTCM document is incorporated 

by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 

552(a), and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of the 

document are available and may be 

obtained from the Radio Technical 

Commission for Maritime Services, 1611 

N. Kent Street, Suite 605, Arlington, VA 

22209; www.rtcm.org; telephone (703) 

527–2000; email information@rtcm.org. 

The document is available for 

inspection at Commission headquarters 

at 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 

20554. Copies may also be inspected at 

the National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of this 

material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, 

or go to: http://www.archives.gov/

federal_register/code_of_federal_

regulations/ibr_locations.html. 

* * * * * 

(e) An identification code, issued by 

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA), the United 

States Program Manager for the 406 

MHz COSPAS/SARSAT satellite system, 

must be programmed in each PLB unit 

to establish a unique identification for 

each PLB station. With each marketable 

PLB unit, the manufacturer or grantee 

must include a postage pre-paid 

registration card printed with the PLB 

identification code addressed to: 

NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, 

NSOF, E/SPO53, 1315 East West Hwy, 

Silver Spring, MD 20910–9684. The 

registration card must request the 

owner’s name, address, telephone 

number, alternate emergency contact 

and include the following statement: 

‘‘WARNING—failure to register this PLB 

with NOAA could result in a monetary 

forfeiture order being issued to the 

owner.’’ 

(f) To enhance protection of life and 

property, it is mandatory that each 406 

MHz PLB be registered with NOAA and 

that information be kept up-to-date. In 

addition to the identification plate or 

label requirements contained in §§ 2.925 

and 2.926 of this chapter, each 406 MHz 

PLB must be provided on the outside 

with a clearly discernable permanent 

plate or label containing the following 

statement: ‘‘The owner of this 406 MHz 

PLB must register the NOAA 

identification code contained on this 

label with the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

whose address is: NOAA/SARSAT 

Beacon Registration, NSOF, E/SPO53, 

1315 East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 

20910–9684.’’ Owners shall advise 

NOAA in writing upon change of PLB 

ownership, or any other change in 

registration information. NOAA will 

provide registrants with proof of 

registration and change of registration 

postcards. 

* * * * * 

[FR Doc. 2014–30381 Filed 12–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 229 

[Docket No. 1140325271–4999–02] 

RIN 0648–BE13 

List of Fisheries for 2015 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The National Marine 

Fisheries Service (NMFS) publishes its 

final List of Fisheries (LOF) for 2015, as 

required by the Marine Mammal 

Protection Act (MMPA). The final LOF 

for 2015 reflects new information on 

interactions between commercial 

fisheries and marine mammals. NMFS 

must classify each commercial fishery 

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77920 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

on the LOF into one of three categories 

under the MMPA based upon the level 

of mortality and serious injury of marine 

mammals that occurs incidental to each 

fishery. The classification of a fishery on 

the LOF determines whether 

participants in that fishery are subject to 

certain provisions of the MMPA, such as 

registration, observer coverage, and take 

reduction plan (TRP) requirements. 

DATES: The effective date of this final 

rule is January 28, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Chief, Marine Mammal and 

Sea Turtle Conservation Division, Office 

of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 

East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 

20910. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa 

White, Office of Protected Resources, 

301–427–8494; Allison Rosner, Greater 

Atlantic Region, 978–281–9328; Jessica 

Powell, Southeast Region, 727–824– 

5312; Elizabeth Petras, West Coast 

Region (CA), 562–980–3238; Brent 

Norberg, West Coast Region (WA/OR), 

206–526–6550; Kim Rivera, Alaska 

Region, 907–586–7424; Nancy Young, 

Pacific Islands Region, 808–725–5156. 

Individuals who use a 

telecommunications device for the 

hearing impaired may call the Federal 

Information Relay Service at 1–800– 

877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Eastern time, Monday through Friday, 

excluding Federal holidays. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

What is the list of fisheries? 

Section 118 of the MMPA requires 

NMFS to place all U.S. commercial 

fisheries into one of three categories 

based on the level of incidental 

mortality and serious injury of marine 

mammals occurring in each fishery (16 

U.S.C. 1387(c)(1)). The classification of 

a fishery on the LOF determines 

whether participants in that fishery may 

be required to comply with certain 

provisions of the MMPA, such as 

registration, observer coverage, and take 

reduction plan requirements. NMFS 

must reexamine the LOF annually, 

considering new information in the 

Marine Mammal Stock Assessment 

Reports (SARs) and other relevant 

sources, and publish in the Federal 

Register any necessary changes to the 

LOF after notice and opportunity for 

public comment (16 U.S.C. 1387 

(c)(1)(C)). 

How does NMFS determine in which 

category a fishery is placed? 

The definitions for the fishery 

classification criteria can be found in 

the implementing regulations for section 

118 of the MMPA (50 CFR 229.2). The 

criteria are also summarized here. 

Fishery Classification Criteria 

The fishery classification criteria 

consist of a two-tiered, stock-specific 

approach that first addresses the total 

impact of all fisheries on each marine 

mammal stock and then addresses the 

impact of individual fisheries on each 

stock. This approach is based on 

consideration of the rate, in numbers of 

animals per year, of incidental 

mortalities and serious injuries of 

marine mammals due to commercial 

fishing operations relative to the 

potential biological removal (PBR) level 

for each marine mammal stock. The 

MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1362 (20)) defines the 

PBR level 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. This 

definition can also be found in the 

implementing regulations for section 

118 of the MMPA (50 CFR 229.2). 

Tier 1: If the total annual mortality 

and serious injury of a marine mammal 

stock, across all fisheries, is less than or 

equal to 10 percent of the PBR level of 

the stock, all fisheries interacting with 

the stock will be placed in Category III 

(unless those fisheries interact with 

other stock(s) in which total annual 

mortality and serious injury is greater 

than 10 percent of PBR). Otherwise, 

these fisheries are subject to the next 

tier (Tier 2) of analysis to determine 

their classification. 

Tier 2, Category I: Annual mortality 

and serious injury of a stock in a given 

fishery is greater than or equal to 50 

percent of the PBR level (i.e., frequent 

incidental mortality and serious injury 

of marine mammals). 

Tier 2, Category II: Annual mortality 

and serious injury of a stock in a given 

fishery is greater than 1 percent and less 

than 50 percent of the PBR level (i.e., 

occasional incidental mortality and 

serious injury of marine mammals). 

Tier 2, Category III: Annual mortality 

and serious injury of a stock in a given 

fishery is less than or equal to 1 percent 

of the PBR level (i.e., a remote 

likelihood of or no known incidental 

mortality and serious injury of marine 

mammals). 

While Tier 1 considers the cumulative 

fishery mortality and serious injury for 

a particular stock, Tier 2 considers 

fishery-specific mortality and serious 

injury for a particular stock. Additional 

details regarding how the categories 

were determined are provided in the 

preamble to the final rule implementing 

section 118 of the MMPA (60 FR 45086, 

August 30, 1995). 

Because fisheries are classified on a 

per-stock basis, a fishery may qualify as 

one Category for one marine mammal 

stock and another Category for a 

different marine mammal stock. A 

fishery is typically classified on the LOF 

at its highest level of classification (e.g., 

a fishery qualifying for Category III for 

one marine mammal stock and for 

Category II for another marine mammal 

stock will be listed under Category II). 

Stocks driving a fishery’s classification 

are denoted with a superscript ‘‘1’’ in 

Tables 1 and 2. 

Other Criteria That May Be Considered 

The tier analysis requires a minimum 

amount of data, and NMFS does not 

have sufficient data to perform a tier 

analysis on certain fisheries. Therefore, 

NMFS has classified certain fisheries by 

analogy to other Category I or II fisheries 

that use similar fishing techniques or 

gear that are known to cause mortality 

or serious injury of marine mammals, or 

according to factors discussed in the 

final LOF for 1996 (60 FR 67063, 

December 28, 1995) and listed in the 

regulatory definition of a Category II 

fishery: ‘‘In the absence of reliable 

information indicating the frequency of 

incidental mortality and serious injury 

of marine mammals by a commercial 

fishery, NMFS will determine whether 

the incidental mortality or serious 

injury is ‘frequent,’ ‘occasional,’ or 

‘remote’ by evaluating other factors such 

as fishing techniques, gear used, 

methods used to deter marine mammals, 

target species, seasons and areas fished, 

qualitative data from logbooks or fisher 

reports, stranding data, and the species 

and distribution of marine mammals in 

the area, or at the discretion of the 

Assistant Administrator for Fisheries’’ 

(50 CFR 229.2). 

Further, eligible commercial fisheries 

not specifically identified on the LOF 

are deemed to be Category II fisheries 

until the next LOF is published (50 CFR 

229.2). 

How does NMFS determine which 

species or stocks are included as 

incidentally killed or injured in a 

fishery? 

The LOF includes a list of marine 

mammal species and/or stocks 

incidentally killed or injured in each 

commercial fishery. The list of species 

and/or stocks incidentally killed or 

injured includes ‘‘serious’’ and ‘‘nonserious’’ documented injuries as 

described later in the List of Species 

and/or Stocks Incidentally Killed or 

Injured in the Pacific Ocean and the 

Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and 

Caribbean sections. To determine which 

species and stocks are included as 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77921 

incidentally killed or injured in a 

fishery, NMFS annually reviews the 

information presented in the current 

SARs. The SARs are based upon the best 

available scientific information and 

provide the most current and inclusive 

information on each stock’s PBR level 

and level of interaction with 

commercial fishing operations. The best 

available scientific information used in 

the SARs reviewed for the 2015 LOF 

generally summarizes data from 2007– 

2011. NMFS also reviews other sources 

of new information, including injury 

determination reports, bycatch 

estimation reports, observer data, 

logbook data, stranding data, 

disentanglement network data, fisher 

self-reports (i.e. MMPA reports), and 

anecdotal reports from that time period. 

Where does NMFS obtain information 

on the level of observer coverage in a 

fishery on the LOF? 

The best available information on the 

level of observer coverage and the 

spatial and temporal distribution of 

observed marine mammal interactions is 

presented in the SARs. Data obtained 

from the observer program and observer 

coverage levels are important tools in 

estimating the level of marine mammal 

mortality and serious injury in 

commercial fishing operations. Starting 

with the 2005 SARs, each SAR includes 

an appendix with detailed descriptions 

of each Category I and II fishery on the 

LOF, including the observer coverage in 

those fisheries. The SARs generally do 

not provide detailed information on 

observer coverage in Category III 

fisheries because, under the MMPA, 

Category III fisheries are generally not 

required to accommodate observers 

aboard vessels due to the remote 

likelihood of mortality and serious 

injury of marine mammals. Fishery 

information presented in the SARs’ 

appendices and other resources 

referenced during the tier analysis may 

include: Level of observer coverage, 

target species, levels of fishing effort, 

spatial and temporal distribution of 

fishing effort, characteristics of fishing 

gear and operations, management and 

regulations, and interactions with 

marine mammals. Copies of the SARs 

are available on the NMFS Office of 

Protected Resources Web site at: 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. 

Information on observer coverage levels 

in Category I and II fisheries can also be 

found in the Category I and II fishery 

fact sheets on the NMFS Office of 

Protected Resources’ Web site: http://

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/ 

lof/. Additional information on observer 

programs in commercial fisheries can be 

found on the NMFS National Observer 

Program’s Web site: http://

www.st.nmfs.gov/st4/nop/. 

How do I find out if a specific fishery 

is in category I, II, or III? 

This rule includes three tables that 

list all U.S. commercial fisheries by LOF 

Category. Table 1 lists all of the 

commercial fisheries in the Pacific 

Ocean (including Alaska); Table 2 lists 

all of the commercial fisheries in the 

Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and 

Caribbean; and Table 3 lists all U.S.- 

authorized commercial fisheries on the 

high seas. A fourth table, Table 4, lists 

all commercial fisheries managed under 

applicable TRPs or take reduction teams 

(TRTs). 

Are high seas fisheries included on the 

LOF? 

Beginning with the 2009 LOF, NMFS 

includes high seas fisheries in Table 3 

of the LOF, along with the number of 

valid High Seas Fishing Compliance Act 

(HSFCA) permits in each fishery. As of 

2004, NMFS issues HSFCA permits only 

for high seas fisheries analyzed in 

accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 

the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The 

authorized high seas fisheries are broad 

in scope and encompass multiple 

specific fisheries identified by gear type. 

For the purposes of the LOF, the high 

seas fisheries are subdivided based on 

gear type (e.g., trawl, longline, purse 

seine, gillnet, troll, etc.) to provide more 

detail on composition of effort within 

these fisheries. Many fisheries operate 

in both U.S. waters and on the high 

seas, creating some overlap between the 

fisheries listed in Tables 1 and 2 and 

those in Table 3. In these cases, the high 

seas component of the fishery is not 

considered a separate fishery, but an 

extension of a fishery operating within 

U.S. waters (listed in Table 1 or 2). 

NMFS designates those fisheries in 

Tables 1, 2, and 3 by a ‘‘*’’ after the 

fishery’s name. The number of HSFCA 

permits listed in Table 3 for the high 

seas components of these fisheries 

operating in U.S. waters does not 

necessarily represent additional effort 

that is not accounted for in Tables 1 and 

2. Many vessels/participants holding 

HSFCA permits also fish within U.S. 

waters and are included in the number 

of vessels and participants operating 

within those fisheries in Tables 1 and 2. 

HSFCA permits are valid for five 

years, during which time FMPs can 

change. Therefore, some vessels/

participants may possess valid HSFCA 

permits without the ability to fish under 

the permit because it was issued for a 

gear type that is no longer authorized 

under the most current FMP. For this 

reason, the number of HSFCA permits 

displayed in Table 3 is likely higher 

than the actual U.S. fishing effort on the 

high seas. For more information on how 

NMFS classifies high seas fisheries on 

the LOF, see the preamble text in the 

final 2009 LOF (73 FR 73032; December 

1, 2008). Additional information about 

HSFCA permits can be found at: 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ia/permits/

highseas.html. 

Where can I find specific information 

on fisheries listed on the LOF? 

Starting with the 2010 LOF, NMFS 

developed summary documents, or 

fishery fact sheets, for each Category I 

and II fishery on the LOF. These fishery 

fact sheets provide the full history of 

each Category I and II fishery, including: 

When the fishery was added to the LOF, 

the basis for the fishery’s initial 

classification, classification changes to 

the fishery, changes to the list of species 

and/or stocks incidentally killed or 

injured in the fishery, fishery gear and 

methods used, observer coverage levels, 

fishery management and regulation, and 

applicable TRPs or TRTs, if any. These 

fishery fact sheets are updated after each 

final LOF and can be found under ‘‘How 

Do I Find Out if a Specific Fishery is in 

Category I, II, or III?’’ on the NMFS 

Office of Protected Resources’ Web site: 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/

interactions/lof/, linked to the ‘‘List of 

Fisheries by Year’’ table. NMFS is 

developing similar fishery fact sheets for 

each Category III fishery on the LOF. 

However, due to the large number of 

Category III fisheries on the LOF and the 

lack of accessible and detailed 

information on many of these fisheries, 

the development of these fishery fact 

sheets is taking significant time to 

complete. NMFS will begin posting 

Category III fishery fact sheets online 

with the final 2015 LOF. 

Am I required to register under the 

MMPA? 

Owners of vessels or gear engaging in 

a Category I or II fishery are required 

under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1387(c)(2)), 

as described in 50 CFR 229.4, to register 

with NMFS and obtain a marine 

mammal authorization to lawfully take 

non-endangered and non-threatened 

marine mammals incidental to 

commercial fishing operations. Owners 

of vessels or gear engaged in a Category 

III fishery are not required to register 

with NMFS or obtain a marine mammal 

authorization. 

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77922 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

How do I register and receive my 

authorization certificate and mortality/ 

injury reporting forms? 

NMFS has integrated the MMPA 

registration process, implemented 

through the Marine Mammal 

Authorization Program (MMAP), with 

existing state and Federal fishery 

license, registration, or permit systems 

for Category I and II fisheries on the 

LOF. Participants in these fisheries are 

automatically registered under the 

MMAP and are not required to submit 

registration or renewal materials 

directly under the MMAP. In the Pacific 

Islands, West Coast, and Alaska regions, 

NMFS will issue vessel or gear owners 

an authorization certificate and/or 

mortality/injury reporting forms via U.S. 

mail or with their state or Federal 

license at the time of renewal. In the 

Greater Atlantic Region, NMFS will 

issue vessel or gear owners an 

authorization certificate via U.S. mail 

automatically at the beginning of each 

calendar year; but vessel or gear owners 

must request or print mortality/injury 

reporting forms by contacting the NMFS 

Greater Atlantic Regional Office at 978– 

281–9328 or by visiting the Greater 

Atlantic Regional Office Web site 

(http://www.nero.noaa.gov/mmap). In 

the Southeast region, NMFS will issue 

vessel or gear owners notification of 

registry and vessel or gear owners may 

receive their authorization certificate 

and/or mortality/injury reporting form 

by contacting the Southeast Regional 

Office at 727–209–5952 or by visiting 

the Southeast Regional Office Web site 

(http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/protected_

resources/marine_mammal_

authorization_program/) and following 

the instructions for printing the 

necessary documents. Mortality/injury 

forms are also available online at 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/pdfs/

interactions/mmap_reporting_form.pdf. 

The authorization certificate, or a 

copy, must be on board the vessel while 

it is operating in a Category I or II 

fishery, or for non-vessel fisheries, in 

the possession of the person in charge 

of the fishing operation (50 CFR 

229.4(e)). Although efforts are made to 

limit the issuance of authorization 

certificates to only those vessel or gear 

owners that participate in Category I or 

II fisheries, not all state and Federal 

permit systems distinguish between 

fisheries as classified by the LOF. 

Therefore, some vessel or gear owners in 

Category III fisheries may receive 

authorization certificates even though 

they are not required for Category III 

fisheries. Individuals fishing in Category 

I and II fisheries for which no state or 

Federal permit is required must register 

with NMFS by contacting their 

appropriate Regional Office (see 

ADDRESSES). 

How do I renew my registration under 

the MMAP? 

In Alaska regional and Greater 

Atlantic Regional fisheries, registrations 

of vessel or gear owners are 

automatically renewed and participants 

should receive an authorization 

certificate by January 1 of each new 

year. In Pacific Islands regional 

fisheries, vessel or gear owners receive 

an authorization certificate by January 1 

for state fisheries and with their permit 

renewal for federal fisheries. In West 

Coast regional fisheries, vessel or gear 

owners receive authorization with each 

renewed state fishing license, the timing 

of which varies based on target species. 

Vessel or gear owners who participate in 

fisheries in these regions and have not 

received authorization certificates by 

January 1 or with renewed fishing 

licenses must contact the appropriate 

NMFS Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). 

In Southeast regional fisheries, vessel 

or gear owners’ registrations are 

automatically renewed and participants 

will receive a letter in the mail by 

January 1 instructing them to contact 

the Southeast Regional Office to have an 

authorization certificate mailed to them 

or to visit the Southeast Regional Office 

Web site (http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/

protected_resources/marine_mammal_

authorization_program/) to print their 

own certificate. 

Am I required to submit reports when 

I kill or injure a marine mammal 

during the course of commercial fishing 

operations? 

In accordance with the MMPA (16 

U.S.C. 1387(e)) and 50 CFR 229.6, any 

vessel owner or operator, or gear owner 

or operator (in the case of non-vessel 

fisheries), participating in a fishery 

listed on the LOF must report to NMFS 

all incidental mortalities and injuries of 

marine mammals that occur during 

commercial fishing operations, 

regardless of the category in which the 

fishery is placed (I, II, or III) within 48 

hours of the end of the fishing trip or, 

in the case of non-vessel fisheries, 

fishing activity. ‘‘Injury’’ is defined in 

50 CFR 229.2 as a wound or other 

physical harm. In addition, any animal 

that ingests fishing gear or any animal 

that is released with fishing gear 

entangling, trailing, or perforating any 

part of the body is considered injured, 

regardless of the presence of any wound 

or other evidence of injury, and must be 

reported. Mortality/injury reporting 

forms and instructions for submitting 

forms to NMFS can be downloaded 

from: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/

pdfs/interactions/mmap_reporting_

form.pdf or by contacting the 

appropriate Regional office (see 

ADDRESSES). Forms may be faxed 

directly to the NMFS Office of Protected 

Resources at 301–713–4060 or 301–713– 

0376. Reporting requirements and 

procedures can be found in 50 CFR 

229.6. 

Am I required to take an observer 

aboard my vessel? 

Individuals participating in a 

Category I or II fishery are required to 

accommodate an observer aboard their 

vessel(s) upon request from NMFS. 

MMPA section 118 states that the 

Secretary is not required to place an 

observer on a vessel if the facilities for 

quartering an observer or performing 

observer functions are inadequate or 

unsafe; thereby authorizing the 

exemption of vessels too small to 

accommodate an observer from this 

requirement. However, vessels will not 

be exempted from observer 

requirements regardless of their size, for 

U.S. Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, or Gulf 

of Mexico large pelagics longline vessels 

operating in special areas designated by 

the Pelagic Longline Take Reduction 

Plan implementing regulations (50 CFR 

229.36(d)). Observer requirements can 

be found in 50 CFR 229.7. 

Am I required to comply with any 

marine mammal take reduction plan 

regulations? 

Table 4 in this rule provides a list of 

fisheries affected by TRPs and TRTs. 

TRP regulations can be found at 50 CFR 

229.30 through 229.37. A description of 

each TRT and copies of each TRP can 

be found at: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ 

pr/interactions/trt/. It is the 

responsibility of fishery participants to 

comply with applicable take reduction 

regulations. 

Where can I find more information 

about the LOF and the MMAP? 

Information regarding the LOF and 

the Marine Mammal Authorization 

Program, including registration 

procedures and forms, current and past 

LOFs, information on each Category I 

and II fishery, observer requirements, 

and marine mammal mortality/injury 

reporting forms and submittal 

procedures, may be obtained at: http:// 

www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/interactions/ 

lof/, or from any NMFS Regional Office 

at the addresses listed below: 

NMFS, Greater Atlantic Regional 

Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic 

Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930–2298, 

Attn: Allison Rosner; 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77923 

NMFS, Southeast Region, 263 13th 

Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, 

Attn: Jessica Powell; 

NMFS, West Coast Region, Long 

Beach Office, 501 W. Ocean Blvd., Suite 

4200, Long Beach, CA 90802–4213, 

Attn: Elizabeth Petras; 

NMFS, West Coast Region, Seattle 

Office, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., 

Seattle, WA 98115, Attn: Brent Norberg, 

Protected Resources Division; 

NMFS, Alaska Region, Protected 

Resources, P.O. Box 22668, 709 West 

9th Street, Juneau, AK 99802, Attn: Kim 

Rivera; or 

NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional 

Office, Protected Resources Division, 

1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, 

Honolulu, HI 96818, Attn: Nancy 

Young. 

Sources of Information Reviewed for 

the 2015 LOF 

NMFS reviewed the marine mammal 

incidental mortality and serious injury 

information presented in the SARs for 

all fisheries to determine whether 

changes in fishery classification are 

warranted. The SARs are based on the 

best scientific information available at 

the time of preparation, including the 

level of mortality and serious injury of 

marine mammals that occurs incidental 

to commercial fishery operations and 

the PBR levels of marine mammal 

stocks. The information contained in the 

SARs is reviewed by regional Scientific 

Review Groups (SRGs) representing 

Alaska, the Pacific (including Hawaii), 

and the U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, 

and Caribbean. The SRGs were created 

by the MMPA to review the science that 

informs the SARs, and to advise NMFS 

on marine mammal population status, 

trends, and stock structure, 

uncertainties in the science, research 

needs, and other issues. 

NMFS also reviewed other sources of 

new information, including marine 

mammal stranding data, observer 

program data, fisher self-reports through 

the Marine Mammal Authorization 

Program, reports to the SRGs, 

conference papers, FMPs, and ESA 

documents. 

The LOF for 2015 was based on, 

among other things, information 

provided in the NEPA and ESA 

documents analyzing authorized high 

seas fisheries; stranding data; fishermen 

self-reports through the MMAP; and 

SARs, primarily the 2013 SARs, which 

are generally based on data from 2007– 

2011. The final SARs referenced in this 

LOF include: 2007 (73 FR 21111, April 

18, 2008), 2008 (74 FR 19530, April 29, 

2009), 2009 (75 FR 12498, March 16, 

2010), 2010 (76 FR 34054, June 10, 

2011), 2011 (77 FR 29969, May 21, 

2012), and 2012 (78 FR 19446, April, 1 

2013), and 2013 (79 FR 49053, August 

19, 2014). The SARs are available at: 

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/. 

Comments and Responses 

NMFS received four comment letters 

on the proposed LOF for 2015 (79 FR 

50589, August 25, 2014). Comments 

were received from the Center for 

Biological Diversity (CBD), Hawaii 

Department of Land and Natural 

Resources (DLNR), Hawaii Longline 

Association (HLA), and Oceana. 

Comments on issues outside of the 

scope of the LOF were noted, but 

generally without response. 

General Comments 

Comment 1: CBD states that the List 

of Fisheries is the first step in fisheries’ 

registration and authorization and asks 

NMFS to re-examine its practice of 

registering and authorizing fisheries 

under section 118 without also 

authorizing take of threatened and 

endangered marine mammals under 

section 101(a)(5)(E). 

Response: The List of Fisheries 

categorizes each commercial fishery 

based on the definitions of Category I, 

II, and III fisheries set forth at 50 CFR 

229.2. Publication of the List of 

Fisheries does not authorize take of 

threatened or endangered marine 

mammals incidental to commercial 

fishing. Under section 101(a)(5)(E) of the 

MMPA, NMFS issues permits for the 

incidental taking of threatened or 

endangered species listed under the 

Endangered Species Act, if it can be 

determined that (1) mortality and 

serious injury incidental to commercial 

fisheries would have a negligible impact 

on the affected species or stock, (2) a 

recovery plan for that species or stock 

has been developed or is being 

developed, and (3) where required 

under section 118, a monitoring 

program has been established, vessels 

are registered, and a take reduction plan 

has been developed or is being 

developed. NMFS publishes a separate 

list of fisheries that have met these 

conditions in the Federal Register. 

Participants in fisheries that are not 

included on that list remain subject to 

the ESA prohibition against taking 

marine mammals from endangered or 

threatened stocks. 

Comments on Commercial Fisheries in 

the Pacific Ocean 

Comment 2: HLA contends that the 

Hawaii-based deep-set longline fishery 

does not interact with Main Hawaiian 

Islands (MHI) insular false killer whales. 

HLA commented that there has never 

been a documented interaction between 

the fishery and an animal from the MHI 

insular stock, and there are no data or 

other scientific information to support 

attribution of MHI insular false killer 

whale interactions to the deep-set 

fishery. HLA opposes including the 

stock on the list of marine mammals 

killed or injured in the deep-set fishery. 

Response: NMFS determines which 

species or stocks are included as 

incidentally killed or injured in a 

fishery by annually reviewing the 

information presented in the current 

stock assessment reports (SARs), among 

other relevant sources. The SARs are 

based on the best available scientific 

information and provide the most 

current and inclusive information on 

each stock, including range, abundance, 

PBR, and level of interaction with 

commercial fishing operations. The LOF 

does not separately evaluate the data 

and calculations contained within the 

SARs. 

The 2015 LOF is based on the 2013 

SARs, which report fishery interactions 

from 2007–2011. During that time 

period, observers recorded one 

interaction with an unidentified 

blackfish (i.e., identified as either a 

short-finned pilot whale or a false killer 

whale) within the overlap zone shared 

by pelagic and MHI insular false killer 

whales (40–140 km from the main 

Hawaiian Islands). Based on NMFS’ 

proration models (for blackfish and for 

false killer whales of unknown stock 

identity), and an expansion of observed 

interactions to fleet-wide estimates, 

NMFS estimates a 5-year average 

mortality and serious injury level of 0.1 

MHI insular false killer whales per year 

incidental to the Hawaii-based deep-set 

longline fishery from 2007–2011 

(Carretta et al., 2014). 

NMFS is retaining the stock on the list 

of marine mammal stocks incidentally 

killed or injured in the Hawaii deep-set 

longline fishery. For a more complete 

analysis of the methodology for 

determining mortality and serious 

injury of MHI insular false killer whales, 

the commenter is referred to the 2013 

SAR. 

Comment 3: HLA opposes the 

continued inclusion of short-finned 

pilot whales on the list of species killed 

or injured in the Hawaii-based shallowset longline fishery because it is not 

supported by the available data. NMFS 

has included the species because of a 

single interaction on the high seas 

involving an unidentified cetacean that 

‘‘may have’’ been a short-finned pilot 

whale. There have been no confirmed 

short-finned pilot whale interactions in 

the shallow-set fishery. HLA states that 

in the absence of data confirming that 

the fishery is interacting with shortmstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

77924 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

finned pilot whales, NMFS may not add 

the species to the list of species or 

stocks that are incidentally killed or 

injured by the fishery. 

Response: The 2013 SAR for the 

Hawaii stock of short-finned pilot 

whales states that two unidentified 

cetaceans, known to be either false killer 

whales or short-finned pilot whales (i.e., 

‘‘blackfish’’), were observed seriously 

injured in the shallow-set longline 

fishery on the high seas from 2007–2011 

(Carretta et al., 2014). When the species 

of a blackfish cannot be positively 

identified, NMFS prorates the 

interaction to each species based on 

distance from shore (McCracken, 2010). 

Until all animals that are taken can be 

identified to either species (e.g., using 

photos, tissue samples), this prorating 

approach constitutes the best available 

information and ensures that potential 

impacts to all species and stocks are 

assessed. Based on this approach, the 

estimated average annual mortality and 

serious injury of short-finned pilot 

whales in the fishery on the high seas 

from 2007–2011 is 0.1 (Carretta et al., 

2014). The Western Pacific Pelagic 

longline (HI shallow-set) fishery is the 

high seas component of the HI shallowset longline fishery. Because the fishery 

operating in U.S. waters and the high 

seas component of the fishery pose the 

same risk to marine mammals, NMFS 

maintains identical lists of marine 

mammals killed or injured in the 

fisheries. Therefore, NMFS is retaining 

short-finned pilot whales on the list of 

species or stocks that are incidentally 

killed or injured by the fishery. 

Comment 4: HLA commented that 

pygmy or dwarf sperm whales should 

not be included in the list of species 

killed or injured in the Hawaii shallowset longline fishery, because the MMPA 

requires NMFS to list the species in the 

LOF that are killed or seriously injured 

by a fishery. HLA cites the 2013 SAR, 

which reports a single interaction with 

a pygmy or dwarf sperm whale in 2008 

that was classified as a non-serious 

injury. 

Response: As described in the 

preamble to this final rule and in the 

MMPA implementing regulations (50 

CFR 299.8(b)(2)), the LOF includes a list 

of marine mammal species or stocks 

incidentally killed or injured in each 

commercial fishery. While fishery 

classifications on the LOF are 

determined via the tier analysis process, 

which, as described in the preamble to 

the proposed LOF, evaluates the level of 

mortality and serious injury of marine 

mammals relative to the stocks’ PBR 

levels, the list of species and/or stocks 

killed or injured is more inclusive, and 

also includes those that have been nonseriously injured. Therefore, it is 

appropriate to include Kogia species 

whale (pygmy or dwarf sperm whale) in 

the list for the Hawaii shallow-set 

longline fishery, given the documented 

non-serious injury in 2008 (Carretta et 

al., 2014). 

Comment 5: HLA notes that for 

fisheries that operate both in the U.S. 

EEZ and on the high seas, marine 

mammal species for which an 

interaction has occurred in either the 

EEZ or the high seas are included on the 

lists of species killed or injured in both 

the EEZ and the high seas (i.e., on both 

Tables 1 or 2 and Table 3). This results 

in a mistaken implication that a given 

fishery may interact with a certain 

species in one geographic area (e.g., 

within the EEZ) when that fishery has 

only been observed to interact with the 

species in another geographic area (e.g., 

on the high seas). HLA requests that 

NMFS correct the LOF to only attribute 

species interactions in transboundary 

fisheries to those geographic regions 

where interactions are actually 

observed. This change would not result 

in underreporting of species killed or 

injured, but would avoid the arbitrary 

result of takes being attributed to 

fisheries in areas in which no take has 

ever been observed. 

Response: As described in the 

preamble, NMFS has included high seas 

fisheries in Table 3 of the LOF since 

2009. Several fisheries operate in both 

U.S. waters and on the high seas, 

creating some overlap between the 

fisheries listed in Tables 1 and 2 and 

those in Table 3. In these cases, the high 

seas component of the fishery is not 

considered a separate fishery, but an 

extension of a fishery operating within 

U.S. waters. For these fisheries, the lists 

of species and/or stocks killed or 

injured in Table 3 are identical to their 

Table 1 or 2 counterparts, except for 

those species or stocks with 

distributions known to occur on only 

one side of the EEZ boundary. Because 

the fisheries and the marine mammal 

lists are the same, takes of these animals 

are not being attributed to one 

geographic area or the other, even when 

that information may be available. This 

parallel list structure is explained in the 

footnotes for each table. 

Comment 6: CBD recommends that 

NMFS conduct a Tier 2 analysis for the 

HI crab trap fishery because the total 

fishery-related mortality and serious 

injury (M/SI) of Central North Pacific 

(CNP) humpback whales (7.45 per year, 

as cited in Allen and Angliss, 2013; or 

9.35 per year, as cited in NMFS’ draft 

Negligible Impact Determination (79 FR 

33726, June 12, 2014) exceeds 10% of 

the stock’s PBR level. Further, CBD 

recommends that NMFS reclassify the 

HI crab trap fishery as Category II 

because reported entanglements of CNP 

humpback whales likely underestimate 

actual entanglements, and M/SI in the 

fishery likely exceeds 1% of the stock’s 

PBR level. Given that the HI crab trap’s 

5-year annual average M/SI (0.55/yr) 

based on reported entanglements is just 

barely below 1% of PBR, if only one 

CNP humpback whale entanglement 

went unreported, M/SI would exceed 

1% of PBR, necessitating a Category II 

classification. 

Response: The level of commercial 

fishery-related M/SI of CNP humpback 

whales evaluated in the proposed LOF 

(1.1/year) was based on the number of 

confirmed commercial fishery-related 

M/SI presented in the draft 2013 Alaska 

SAR (0.55 from observer data in Alaska 

(0.40) and Hawaii (0.15); Allen and 

Angliss, 2013), plus unpublished values 

for M/SI attributed to the HI crab trap 

fishery (0.55). Using these values, a Tier 

1 analysis indicated total commercial 

fishery-related M/SI was less than 10% 

of PBR, so a Tier 2 analysis was not 

necessary. 

The commenter cites two alternative 

values for total commercial fisheriesrelated M/SI for CNP humpback whales. 

The first, 7.45 M/SI per year, is also 

from Allen and Angliss (2013), but 

includes not only the 0.55 M/SI per year 

described above from observer data in 

Alaska and Hawaii fisheries, but also 

2.15 and 4.75 M/SI per year from Alaska 

and Hawaii stranding response 

networks, respectively. The interactions 

reported from stranding networks and 

responses cannot or have not been 

confirmed to be from commercial 

fisheries, and are thus not appropriate to 

be included in the tier analysis. 

The second alternative M/SI value 

cited by the commenter, 9.35 M/SI per 

year, is described in NMFS’ draft 

Negligible Impact Determination for 

CNP humpbacks, Hawaii sperm whales, 

and MHI insular false killer whales. The 

page of the NID cited by the commenter 

(p. 38) notes that this value includes 

both commercial and recreational takes. 

The value of 9.35 M/SI per year is not 

appropriate to include in the LOF tier 

analysis, which focuses exclusively on 

M/SI in commercial fisheries. If, in the 

future, the responsible fishery or 

fisheries involved in the interactions 

can be identified and M/SI attributed to 

commercial fisheries, they will be 

considered in future tier analyses. Effort 

is ongoing in both regions to identify 

fisheries from the entangling gear. 

Although we do not accept the 

accuracy of the commenter’s values, we 

find that even if we apply them to the 

tier analysis the Category III 

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classification remains unchanged. In 

both cases, total fisheries-related M/SI 

would exceed 10% of PBR (7.45/61.2 is 

12.1% of PBR, and 9.35/61.2 is 15.3% 

of PBR). A Tier 2 analysis finds that the 

HI crab trap fishery’s 5-year average M/ 

SI from 2007–2011 is 0.55 per year, 

which is 0.9% of the stock’s PBR. This 

is less than 1% of the stock’s PBR level, 

so a Category III classification is 

warranted. At this time, we cannot 

speculate on the likely impacts of 

unreported or unobserved interactions, 

and instead rely on the data described 

above. 

Comment 7: DLNR provided 

information regarding measures of 

participation in various fisheries, 

including that the State of Hawaii does 

not issue fishery-specific licenses for 

commercial fisheries. DLNR commented 

that it may be misleading to list in the 

LOF the number of licensed commercial 

fishers who reported using the gear type 

at least once during the fishing year 

period, without considering how many 

times that person used the gear. 

Response: Section 118(c)(1) of the 

Marine Mammal Protection Act states 

that the Secretary shall include ‘‘the 

approximate number of vessels or 

persons actively involved in, each such 

fishery.’’ NMFS acknowledges that the 

Hawaii commercial fishing license is 

not specific to a fishery or gear type, and 

that the state-reported estimation of 

vessels/persons reflects the number of 

licensed fishermen who reported using 

the gear at least once during the fishing 

year period. The estimated number of 

vessels or persons column is intended to 

provide the best available 

approximation of active participation in 

the fishery for descriptive purposes and 

will not be used in determining current 

or future management of fisheries or 

observer coverage designations, if 

applicable. 

Comment 8: DLNR commented that 

several fisheries managed by DLNR pose 

little to no risk to marine mammals, 

including the Hawaii Kona crab loop net 

fishery, Hawaii fish pond, Hawaii 

handpick, and Hawaii lobster diving 

fisheries. In these cases, DLNR urges 

NMFS to make it abundantly clear that 

there is a high degree of certainty that 

these fisheries pose minimal risk to 

marine mammals, and urges NMFS to 

delineate clear criteria with respect to 

when a commercial fishery should be 

removed from the LOF. 

Response: NMFS recognizes that the 

fisheries referenced by DAR have a 

remote likelihood of incidental 

mortality or serious injury of marine 

mammals and maintains their 

classification as Category III on the Final 

LOF for 2015. The LOF is a complete 

list of all U.S. commercial fisheries. 

Fisheries are not removed from the LOF 

based on their posing a minimal risk to 

marine mammals. Instead, fisheries are 

removed from the LOF when there are 

no active permit/license holders, the 

gear is no longer authorized and permits 

are no longer given, or when a name 

change incorporates the fishery under a 

different name on the LOF. 

Comment 9: DLNR supported several 

proposed changes to the LOF, including 

the addition of the Hawaii aquarium 

collecting fishery, removal of the Hawaii 

lobster tangle net fishery, removal of 

Hawaii charter vessel fishery, splitting 

of the Hawaii troll fishery into the troll 

and rod and reel fisheries, addition of 

the Central North Pacific stock of 

humpback whale to the list of species 

killed or injured in the Hawaii crab trap 

fishery, and removal of the Hawaiian 

monk seal from the list of species killed 

or injured in the Hawaii lobster trap 

fishery. DLNR also provided a 

description of the Hawaii aquarium 

collecting fishery. 

Response: NMFS appreciates DLNR’s 

support and collaboration in developing 

these changes. NMFS is finalizing the 

changes mentioned by the commenter, 

as proposed. NMFS will also use the 

information provided by DLNR in the 

description of the Hawaii aquarium 

collecting fishery in the fishery’s fact 

sheet, which is being developed for 

release with a future LOF. 

Comment 10: DLNR requested that 

NMFS continue to work with DLNR to 

review humpback whale interactions to 

more fully understand them, to 

accurately identify the fishery, and to 

develop possible mitigation measures. 

Response: NMFS will continue to 

consult and work with DLNR to 

evaluate and address humpback whale 

entanglements. 

Comment 11: Oceana recommends 

that NMFS add the CA/OR/WA stock of 

short-finned pilot whales and the 

Eastern North Pacific stock of gray 

whales to the list of species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured in 

the CA thresher shark/swordfish drift 

gillnet fishery based on a 2013/2014 

fishing season observer report. 

Response: To determine which 

species and stocks are included as 

incidentally killed or injured in a 

fishery, NMFS annually reviews the 

information presented in the current 

SARs. The SARs are based upon the best 

available scientific information and 

provide the most current and inclusive 

information on each stock’s PBR level 

and level of interaction with 

commercial fishing operations. The best 

available scientific information used in 

the SARs reviewed for the 2015 LOF 

generally summarizes data from 2007– 

2011. NMFS also reviews other sources 

of new information, including injury 

determination reports, bycatch 

estimation reports, observer data, 

logbook data, stranding data, 

disentanglement network data, fisher 

self-reports (i.e. MMPA reports), and 

anecdotal reports from that time period. 

The observed interactions referenced by 

the commenter will be evaluated in a 

future LOF. 

Comments on Commercial Fisheries in 

the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and 

Caribbean 

Comment 12: CBD recommends that 

NMFS add the Gulf of Maine stock of 

humpback whales to the list of species/ 

stocks incidentally killed or injured in 

the Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark 

gillnet fishery based on a March 2012 

self-report. 

Response: The humpback whale 

entanglement in March 2012 occurred 

in a gillnet targeting smooth dogfish 

(also known as smooth hound) 

approximately two miles offshore of 

Hatteras, North Carolina. The smooth 

dogfish gillnet fishery is included in the 

larger Category I Mid-Atlantic Gillnet 

fishery, which already lists the Gulf of 

Maine stock of humpback whales as a 

marine mammal stock that is 

incidentally killed or injured in this 

fishery (see: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ 

pr/pdfs/fisheries/lof2012/midatlantic_

gillnet.pdf). Therefore, we are not 

adding the Gulf of Maine humpback 

whale stock to the Southeastern U.S. 

Atlantic shark gillnet fishery. 

Comments on Commercial Fisheries in 

the High Seas 

Comment 13: CBD recommends that 

the Pacific Highly Migratory Species 

(HMS) drift gillnet fishery be listed as 

Category I because it includes an 

extension of the Category I CA thresher 

shark/swordfish drift gillnet (≥14 in 

mesh) fishery. CBD also recommends 

that NMFS revise the number of HSFCA 

permits based on a 2013 biological 

opinion that reports no observed drift 

gillnet effort on the high seas since 2001 

(NMFS, 2013). 

Response: NMFS agrees that when the 

CA thresher shark/swordfish drift 

gillnet (≥14 in mesh) fishery was 

reclassified as Category I on Table 1 in 

2013, the Pacific HMS drift gillnet 

fishery should have also been elevated 

to Category I in Table 3 because it is an 

extension of the Table 1 fishery. 

Therefore, NMFS corrects this 

administrative error and clarifies that 

the Pacific HMS drift gillnet is a 

Category I fishery. NMFS finds no error 

in the number of HSFCA permits listed 

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77926 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

on Table 3. As stated in the preamble, 

HSFCA permits are valid for five years, 

during which time FMPs can change. 

Therefore, some vessels/participants 

may possess valid HSFCA permits 

without the ability to fish under the 

permit because it was issued for a gear 

type that is no longer authorized under 

the most current FMP. For this reason, 

the number of HSFCA permits 

displayed in Table 3 is likely higher 

than the actual U.S. fishing effort on the 

high seas. 

Summary of Changes From the 

Proposed Rule 

NMFS corrects an administrative error 

and elevates the Pacific HMS drift 

gillnet fishery from Category II to 

Category I. As an extension of the 

Category I CA thresher shark/swordfish 

drift gillnet (≥14 in mesh) fishery, 

Pacific HMS should have been moved to 

Category I in 2013 when the CA thresher 

shark/swordfish drift gillnet (≥14 in 

mesh) fishery was reclassified. 

Summary of Changes to the LOF for 

2015 

The following summarizes changes to 

the LOF for 2015, including the fisheries 

listed in the LOF, the estimated number 

of vessels/persons in a particular 

fishery, and the species and/or stocks 

that are incidentally killed or injured in 

a particular fishery. As described above 

(see ‘‘Summary of Changes From the 

Proposed Rule’’), the LOF for 2015 

corrects an administrative error and 

moves the Pacific HMS drift gillnet 

fishery to Category I. Additionally, 

NMFS adds 7 Category III fisheries to 

the LOF and removes 6 fisheries from 

the LOF. The LOF for 2015 does not 

include any other changes to fishery 

classifications or to fisheries that are 

subject to a take reduction plan. NMFS 

makes changes to the list of species and/ 

or stocks killed or injured in certain 

fisheries and the estimated number of 

vessels/persons in certain fisheries, as 

well as certain administrative changes. 

The classifications and definitions of 

U.S. commercial fisheries for 2015 are 

identical to those provided in the LOF 

for 2014 with the exception of those 

changes discussed below. State and 

regional abbreviations used in the 

following paragraphs include: AK 

(Alaska), CA (California), DE (Delaware), 

FL (Florida), GMX (Gulf of Mexico), HI 

(Hawaii), MA (Massachusetts), ME 

(Maine), NC (North Carolina), NY (New 

York), OR (Oregon), RI (Rhode Island), 

SC (South Carolina), VA (Virginia), WA 

(Washington), and WNA (Western North 

Atlantic). 

Commercial Fisheries in the Pacific 

Ocean 

Addition of Fisheries 

NMFS adds ‘‘HI aquarium collecting’’ 

as a Category III fishery. 

Removal of Fisheries 

NMFS removes the following 

Category III fisheries from the LOF: ‘‘OR 

salmon ranch,’’ ‘‘WA herring brush 

weir,’’ ‘‘WA herring spawn on kelp,’’ 

‘‘CA abalone,’’ ‘‘HI lobster tangle net,’’ 

and ‘‘HI charter vessel.’’ 

Fishery Name and Organizational 

Changes and Clarification 

NMFS renames the Category II ‘‘WA 

coastal Dungeness crab pot/trap’’ fishery 

to ‘‘WA coastal Dungeness crab pot.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category III ‘‘WA/ 

OR North Pacific halibut longline/

setline’’ to the ‘‘WA/OR Pacific halibut 

longline.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category III 

‘‘Coastwide scallop dredge’’ fishery to 

the ‘‘Alaska scallop dredge.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category III ‘‘OR/ 

CA hagfish pot or trap’’ to the ‘‘WA/OR/ 

CA hagfish pot.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category I ‘‘HI 

deep-set (tuna target) longline/set line’’ 

fishery to ‘‘HI deep-set longline.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category II ‘‘HI 

shallow-set (swordfish target) longline/

set line’’ fishery to ‘‘HI shallow-set 

longline.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category III ‘‘HI 

opelu/akule net’’ fishery to ‘‘HI lift net.’’ 

NMFS renames Category III ‘‘HI 

hukilau net’’ fishery to ‘‘HI seine net.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category III ‘‘HI 

vertical longline’’ fishery to ‘‘HI vertical 

line.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category III ‘‘HI 

MHI deep-sea bottomfish handline’’ 

fishery to ‘‘HI bottomfish handline.’’ 

NMFS renames the Category III ‘‘HI 

tuna handline’’ fishery to ‘‘HI pelagic 

handline.’’ 

NMFS splits the Category III ‘‘CA 

coonstripe shrimp, rock crab, tanner 

crab pot or trap’’ fishery into two 

Category III fisheries, ‘‘CA/OR 

coonstripe shrimp pot’’ and ‘‘CA rock 

crab pot’’, and eliminates the tanner 

crab component of the pot fishery. 

NMFS splits the Category III ‘‘HI 

trolling, rod and reel’’ fishery into two 

separate Category III fisheries, the ‘‘HI 

troll’’ and ‘‘HI rod and reel’’ fisheries. 

Number of Vessels/Persons 

NMFS updates the estimated number 

of vessels/persons in the Pacific Ocean 

(Table 1) as follows. Fisheries are 

labeled with their name on the 2015 

LOF: 

Category Fishery 

Number of 

vessels/persons 

(final 2014 LOF) 

Number of 

vessels/persons 

(final 2015 LOF) 

I ..................... HI deep-set longline ..................................................................................................... 129 128 

II .................... AK Bristol Bay salmon drift gillnet ............................................................................... 1,863 1,862 

II .................... AK Bristol Bay salmon set gillnet ................................................................................. 982 979 

II .................... AK Cook Inlet salmon set gillnet .................................................................................. 738 736 

II .................... AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon drift gillnet ...................................................... 114 113 

II .................... AK Yakutat salmon set gillnet ...................................................................................... 167 168 

II .................... AK Cook Inlet salmon purse seine .............................................................................. 82 83 

II .................... AK Kodiak salmon purse seine .................................................................................... 379 376 

II .................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl ............................................................. 34 32 

II .................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands pollock trawl ............................................................ 95 102 

II .................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands rockfish trawl ........................................................... 10 17 

II .................... HI shallow-set longline ................................................................................................. 20 18 

II .................... American Samoa longline ............................................................................................ 24 25 

II .................... HI shortline ................................................................................................................... 11 6 

III ................... AK Kuskokwim, Yukon, Norton Sound, Kotzebue salmon gillnet ............................... 1,702 1,778 

III ................... AK miscellaneous finfish set gillnet ............................................................................. 2 54 

III ................... AK Prince William Sound salmon set gillnet ............................................................... 30 29 

III ................... AK roe herring and food/bait herring gillnet ................................................................. 990 920 

III ................... HI inshore gillnet .......................................................................................................... 36 42 

III ................... AK Southeast salmon purse seine .............................................................................. 415 315 

III ................... AK miscellaneous finfish beach seine ......................................................................... 1 2 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77927 

Category Fishery 

Number of 

vessels/persons 

(final 2014 LOF) 

Number of 

vessels/persons 

(final 2015 LOF) 

III ................... AK roe herring and food/bait herring beach seine ...................................................... 6 10 

III ................... AK roe herring and food/bait herring purse seine ....................................................... 367 356 

III ................... AK salmon purse seine (excluding salmon purse seine fisheries listed as Category 

II).

935 936 

III ................... HI lift net ....................................................................................................................... 22 21 

III ................... HI throw net, cast net ................................................................................................... 29 20 

III ................... HI seine net .................................................................................................................. 26 21 

III ................... AK North Pacific halibut, AK bottom fish, WA/OR/CA albacore, groundfish, bottom 

fish, CA halibut non-salmonid troll fisheries.

1,320 (120 AK) 1,320 (180 AK) 

III ................... AK salmon troll ............................................................................................................. 2,008 1,908 

III ................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline ................................................. 154 45 

III ................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands rockfish longline ...................................................... 0 3 

III ................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot longline ........................................ 36 4 

III ................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands sablefish longline ..................................................... 28 22 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska halibut longline ............................................................................... 1,302 855 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod longline ........................................................................ 107 92 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish longline ............................................................................. 0 25 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline ............................................................................ 291 295 

III ................... AK halibut longline/set line (state and Federal waters) ............................................... 2,280 2,197 

III ................... AK octopus/squid longline ............................................................................................ 2 3 

III ................... AK state-managed waters longline/setline (including sablefish, rockfish, lingcod, and 

miscellaneous finfish).

1,323 464 

III ................... HI kaka line .................................................................................................................. 17 24 

III ................... HI vertical line .............................................................................................................. 9 6 

III ................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Atka mackerel trawl ................................................. 9 13 

III ................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod trawl ...................................................... 93 72 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska flatfish trawl .................................................................................... 41 36 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod trawl ............................................................................. 62 55 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska pollock trawl ................................................................................... 62 67 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish trawl .................................................................................. 34 43 

III ................... AK shrimp otter trawl and beam trawl (statewide and Cook Inlet) .............................. 33 38 

III ................... AK statewide miscellaneous finfish pot ....................................................................... 243 4 

III ................... AK Aleutian Islands sablefish pot ................................................................................ 8 4 

III ................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod pot ......................................................... 68 59 

III ................... AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands crab pot ................................................................... 296 540 

III ................... AK Bering Sea sablefish pot ........................................................................................ 6 2 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska crab pot .......................................................................................... 389 381 

III ................... AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod pot ................................................................................ 154 128 

III ................... AK Southeast Alaska crab pot ..................................................................................... 415 41 

III ................... AK Southeast Alaska shrimp pot ................................................................................. 274 269 

III ................... AK shrimp pot, except Southeast ................................................................................ 210 236 

III ................... HI crab trap .................................................................................................................. 9 7 

III ................... HI fish trap .................................................................................................................... 9 5 

III ................... HI shrimp trap .............................................................................................................. 4 6 

III ................... HI crab net ................................................................................................................... 6 4 

III ................... HI Kona crab loop net .................................................................................................. 48 35 

III ................... AK octopus/squid handline .......................................................................................... 0 7 

III ................... American Samoa bottomfish handline ......................................................................... 12 14 

III ................... HI aku boat, pole and line ............................................................................................ 3 < 3 

III ................... HI bottomfish handline ................................................................................................. 567 578 

III ................... HI inshore handline ...................................................................................................... 378 376 

III ................... HI pelagic handline ...................................................................................................... 459 484 

III ................... AK herring spawn on kelp pound net .......................................................................... 411 409 

III ................... AK Southeast herring roe/food/bait pound net ............................................................ 4 2 

III ................... AK scallop dredge ........................................................................................................ 108 (12 AK) 108 (5 AK) 

III ................... AK clam ........................................................................................................................ 156 130 

III ................... AK herring spawn on kelp ............................................................................................ 266 339 

III ................... AK urchin and other fish/shellfish ................................................................................ 521 398 

III ................... HI fish pond .................................................................................................................. 16 5 

III ................... HI handpick .................................................................................................................. 57 58 

III ................... HI lobster diving ........................................................................................................... 29 23 

III ................... HI spearfishing ............................................................................................................. 143 159 

List of Species and/or Stocks 

Incidentally Killed or Injured in the 

Pacific Ocean 

NMFS updates the list of species and/ 

or stocks incidentally killed or injured 

by fisheries in the Pacific Ocean (Table 

1) as follows: 

NMFS adds the Central North Pacific 

stock of humpback whales to the list of 

species and/or stocks killed or injured 

in the Category III HI crab trap fishery. 

NMFS adds the South Central Alaska 

stock of northern sea otters to the list of 

species and/or stocks killed or injured 

in the Category II AK Cook Inlet salmon 

set gillnet fishery and the Category III 

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77928 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

AK Prince William Sound set gillnet 

fishery. 

NMFS adds the Alaska stock of ringed 

seals to the list of species and/or stocks 

killed or injured in the Category III AK 

Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod 

trawl fishery and the Category III AK 

Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod 

longline fishery. 

NMFS removes the Hawaiian monk 

seal from the list of species and/or 

stocks killed or injured in the Category 

III HI bottomfish handline fishery 

(formerly ‘‘HI Main Hawaiian Islands 

deep-sea bottomfish handline’’) and the 

Category III HI lobster trap fishery. 

Commercial Fisheries in the Atlantic 

Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean 

Addition of Fisheries 

NMFS adds the following Category III 

fisheries to the LOF: ‘‘Gulf of Maine sea 

urchin dredge,’’ ‘‘Mid-Atlantic blue crab 

dredge,’’ ‘‘Mid-Atlantic whelk dredge,’’ 

and ‘‘Mid-Atlantic soft shell clam 

dredge’’. 

List of Species and/or Stocks 

Incidentally Killed or Injured in the 

Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and 

Caribbean 

NMFS updates the list of marine 

mammal species and/or stocks 

incidentally killed or injured in 

commercial fisheries in the Atlantic, 

Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean (Table 2) 

as follows: 

NMFS adds the Canadian East Coast 

stock of minke whales, the Western 

North Atlantic stock of Kogia species 

whale (pygmy or dwarf sperm whale), 

and the Western North Atlantic stock of 

false killer whale and removes the 

Western North Atlantic stock of 

Northern bottlenose whale on the list of 

species and/or stocks incidentally killed 

or injured by the Category I Atlantic 

Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large 

pelagics longline fishery. 

NMFS adds the Florida stock of West 

Indian manatee to the list of species 

and/or stocks incidentally killed or 

injured by the Category II Southeastern 

U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico shrimp 

trawl fishery. 

NMFS adds the Northern South 

Carolina estuarine system stock of 

bottlenose dolphins to the list of the 

species and/or stocks incidentally killed 

or injured in the Category II Atlantic 

blue crab trap/pot fishery. 

NMFS adds unknown stocks of 

bottlenose dolphin and renames the 

Central Florida coastal stock and 

Northern Florida coastal stocks as 

‘‘Bottlenose dolphin, unknown stocks’’ 

on the list of the species and/or stocks 

incidentally killed or injured in the 

Category II Southeastern U.S. Atlantic 

shark gillnet fishery. 

NMFS adds unknown stocks and the 

Northern North Carolina estuarine 

system stock of bottlenose dolphin and 

renames the Southern North Carolina 

estuarine system stock and the Southern 

migratory coastal stock as ‘‘Bottlenose 

dolphin, unknown stock’’ on the list of 

the species and/or stocks incidentally 

killed or injured in the Category II North 

Carolina roe mullet stop net fishery. 

NMFS adds two stocks of bottlenose 

dolphins, Charleston estuarine system 

and Southern migratory coastal, to the 

list of the species and/or stocks 

incidentally killed or injured in the 

Category II Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, 

Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl fishery. 

NMFS adds the Northern South 

Carolina estuarine system stock of 

bottlenose dolphins to the list of species 

and/or stocks incidentally killed or 

injured in the Category III Southeast 

Atlantic inshore gillnet fishery. 

NMFS adds two stocks of bottlenose 

dolphins, Choctawhatchee Bay and 

Florida Bay, to the list of species and/ 

or stocks incidentally killed or injured 

in the Category III Atlantic Ocean, Gulf 

of Mexico, Caribbean commercial 

passenger fishing vessel fishery. 

NMFS removes the Western North 

Atlantic stock of gray seal from the list 

of species and/or stocks incidentally 

killed or injured in the Category III Gulf 

of Maine herring and Atlantic mackerel 

stop seine/weir fishery. 

NMFS removes the Western North 

Atlantic stock of long-finned and shortfinned pilot whales from the list of 

species and/or stocks incidentally killed 

or injured in the Category I Mid-Atlantic 

gillnet fishery. 

NMFS makes the following 

typographical corrections to the list of 

marine mammal species and/or stocks 

incidentally killed or injured: Remove 

Northern migratory coastal stock of 

bottlenose dolphin from the NC roe 

mullet stop net fishery; add Northern 

migratory coastal stock of bottlenose 

dolphin to, and remove Southern North 

Carolina estuarine system stock of 

bottlenose dolphin from, the VA pound 

net fishery; add Gulf of Mexico stock of 

Gervais beaked whale to the Atlantic 

Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large 

pelagics longline; and corrects a stock 

name listed under the Category III 

Georgia cannonball jellyfish trawl 

fishery from ‘‘Southern South Carolina/ 

Georgia’’ stock of bottlenose dolphins to 

‘‘SC/GA coastal’’ stock. 

Commercial Fisheries on the High Seas 

Fishery Name and Organizational 

Changes and Clarification 

NMFS corrects an administrative error 

and moves the Pacific HMS drift gillnet 

fishery to Category I. As an extension of 

the Category I CA thresher shark/

swordfish drift gillnet (≥14 in mesh) 

fishery, Pacific HMS should have been 

moved to Category I in 2013 when the 

CA fishery was reclassified. 

Addition of Fisheries 

NMFS adds the following Category III 

fisheries to the LOF: ‘‘Northwest 

Atlantic trawl’’ and ‘‘Northwest Atlantic 

bottom longline.’’ 

Number of Vessels/Persons 

NMFS updates the estimated number 

of HSFCA permits (Table 3) as follows: 

Category Fishery 

Number of 

HSFCA permits 

(final 2014 LOF) 

Number of 

HSFCA permits 

(final 2015 LOF) 

I ..................... Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Longline ................................................................. 84 83 

I ..................... Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Deep-set component) ..................................................... 124 128 

II .................... South Pacific Tuna Fisheries Purse Seine .................................................................. 40 38 

II .................... Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Shallow-set component) ................................................. 28 18 

II .................... Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Handline/Pole and Line ......................................... 3 2 

II .................... Pacific Highly Migratory Species Handline/Pole and Line ........................................... 46 41 

II .................... South Pacific Albacore Troll Handline/Pole and Line .................................................. 9 8 

II .................... Western Pacific Pelagic Handline/Pole and Line ........................................................ 5 3

II .................... Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Troll ........................................................................ 4 2 

II .................... South Pacific Albacore Troll ......................................................................................... 33 35 

II .................... South Pacific Tuna Fisheries Troll ............................................................................... 2 3 

II .................... Pacific Highly Migratory Species Liners Nei ................................................................ 3 1 

III ................... Pacific Highly Migratory Species Longline ................................................................... 101 100 

III ................... Pacific Highly Migratory Species Purse Seine ............................................................ 8 5 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77929 

Category Fishery 

Number of 

HSFCA permits 

(final 2014 LOF) 

Number of 

HSFCA permits 

(final 2015 LOF) 

III ................... Pacific Highly Migratory Species Troll ......................................................................... 262 253 

List of Species and/or Stocks 

Incidentally Killed or Injured in High 

Seas Fisheries 

NMFS updates the list of species and/ 

or stocks incidentally killed or injured 

by fisheries in high seas fisheries (Table 

3) as follows: 

NMFS adds the Canadian East Coast 

stock of minke whales, Kogia species 

whale (pygmy or dwarf sperm whale), 

Western North Atlantic stock of false 

killer whales, Gulf of Mexico stock of 

Risso’s dolphins, Gulf of Mexico 

oceanic stock of killer whales, and 

Western North Atlantic stock of 

Pantropical spotted dolphins to the list 

of species incidentally killed or injured 

by the Category I Atlantic highly 

migratory species longline fishery. 

List of Fisheries 

The following tables set forth the list 

of U.S. commercial fisheries according 

to their classification under section 118 

of the MMPA. Table 1 lists commercial 

fisheries in the Pacific Ocean (including 

Alaska); Table 2 lists commercial 

fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of 

Mexico, and Caribbean; Table 3 lists 

commercial fisheries on the high seas; 

and Table 4 lists fisheries affected by 

TRPs or TRTs. 

In Tables 1 and 2, the estimated 

number of vessels or persons 

participating in fisheries operating 

within U.S. waters is expressed in terms 

of the number of active participants in 

the fishery, when possible. If this 

information is not available, the 

estimated number of vessels or persons 

licensed for a particular fishery is 

provided. If no recent information is 

available on the number of participants, 

vessels, or persons licensed in a fishery, 

then the number from the most recent 

LOF is used for the estimated number of 

vessels or persons in the fishery. NMFS 

acknowledges that, in some cases, these 

estimates may be inflations of actual 

effort, such as for many of the MidAtlantic and New England fisheries. 

However, in these cases, the numbers 

represent the potential effort for each 

fishery, given the multiple gear types for 

which several state permits may allow. 

Changes made to Mid-Atlantic and New 

England fishery participants will not 

affect observer coverage or bycatch 

estimates, as observer coverage and 

bycatch estimates are based on vessel 

trip reports and landings data. Table 1 

and 2 serve to provide a description of 

the fishery’s potential effort (state and 

Federal). If NMFS is able to extract more 

accurate information on the gear types 

used by state permit holders in the 

future, the numbers will be updated to 

reflect this change. For additional 

information on fishing effort in fisheries 

found on Table 1 or 2, contact the 

relevant regional office (contact 

information included above in 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION). 

For high seas fisheries, Table 3 lists 

the number of valid HSFCA permits 

currently held. Although this likely 

overestimates the number of active 

participants in many of these fisheries, 

the number of valid HSFCA permits is 

the most reliable data on the potential 

effort in high seas fisheries at this time. 

As noted previously in this rule, the 

number of HSFCA permits listed in 

Table 3 for the high seas components of 

fisheries that also operate within U.S. 

waters does not necessarily represent 

additional effort that is not accounted 

for in Tables 1 and 2. Many vessels 

holding HSFCA permits also fish within 

U.S. waters and are included in the 

number of vessels and participants 

operating within those fisheries in 

Tables 1 and 2. 

Tables 1, 2, and 3 also list the marine 

mammal species and/or stocks 

incidentally killed or injured (seriously 

or non-seriously) in each fishery based 

on SARs, injury determination reports, 

bycatch estimation reports, observer 

data, logbook data, stranding data, 

disentanglement network data, fisher 

self-reports (i.e. MMPA reports), and 

anecdotal reports. The best available 

scientific information included in these 

reports is based on data through 2011. 

This list includes all species and/or 

stocks known to be killed or injured in 

a given fishery but also includes species 

and/or stocks for which there are 

anecdotal records of a mortality or 

injury. Additionally, species identified 

by logbook entries, stranding data, or 

fishermen self-reports (i.e., MMPA 

reports) may not be verified. In Tables 

1 and 2, NMFS has designated those 

species/stocks driving a fishery’s 

classification (i.e., the fishery is 

classified based on mortalities and 

serious injuries of a marine mammal 

stock that are greater than or equal to 50 

percent [Category I], or greater than 1 

percent and less than 50 percent 

[Category II], of a stock’s PBR) by a ‘‘1’’ 

after the stock’s name. 

In Tables 1 and 2, there are several 

fisheries classified as Category II that 

have no recent documented mortalities 

or serious injuries of marine mammals, 

or fisheries that did not result in a 

mortality or serious injury rate greater 

than 1 percent of a stock’s PBR level 

based on known interactions. NMFS has 

classified these fisheries by analogy to 

other Category I or II fisheries that use 

similar fishing techniques or gear that 

are known to cause mortality or serious 

injury of marine mammals, as discussed 

in the final LOF for 1996 (60 FR 67063, 

December 28, 1995), and according to 

factors listed in the definition of a 

‘‘Category II fishery’’ in 50 CFR 229.2 

(i.e., fishing techniques, gear used, 

methods used to deter marine mammals, 

target species, seasons and areas fished, 

qualitative data from logbooks or fisher 

reports, stranding data, and the species 

and distribution of marine mammals in 

the area). NMFS has designated those 

fisheries listed by analogy in Tables 1 

and 2 by a ‘‘2’’ after the fishery’s name. 

There are several fisheries in Tables 1, 

2, and 3 in which a portion of the 

fishing vessels cross the EEZ boundary 

and therefore operate both within U.S. 

waters and on the high seas. These 

fisheries, though listed separately 

between Table 1 or 2 and Table 3, are 

considered the same fishery on either 

side of the EEZ boundary. NMFS has 

designated those fisheries in each table 

by a ‘‘*’’ after the fishery’s name. 

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77930 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 1—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

CATEGORY I 

LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES: 

HI deep-set longline * ∧ ....................................................... 128 Bottlenose dolphin, HI Pelagic. 

False killer whale, MHI Insular. 

False killer whale, HI Pelagic.1

False killer whale, Palmyra Atoll. 

Pantropical spotted dolphin, HI. 

Risso’s dolphin, HI. 

Short-finned pilot whale, HI. 

Sperm whale, HI. 

Striped dolphin, HI. 

GILLNET FISHERIES: 

CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (≥14 in mesh) * .... 19 Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA offshore. 

California sea lion, U.S. 

Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA. 

Long-beaked common dolphin, CA. 

Minke whale, CA/OR/WA. 

Northern elephant seal, CA breeding. 

Northern right-whale dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Pacific white-sided dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Risso’s dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Sperm Whale, CA/OR/WA.1

CATEGORY II 

GILLNET FISHERIES: 

CA halibut/white seabass and other species set gillnet 

(>3.5 in mesh).

50 California sea lion, U.S. 

Harbor seal, CA. 

Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA.1

Long-beaked common dolphin, CA. 

Northern elephant seal, CA breeding. 

Sea otter, CA. 

Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

CA yellowtail, barracuda, and white seabass drift gillnet 

(mesh size ≥3.5 in and <14 in) 2.

30 California sea lion, U.S. 

Long-beaked common dolphin, CA. 

Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

AK Bristol Bay salmon drift gillnet 2 .................................... 1,862 Beluga whale, Bristol Bay. 

Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

Harbor seal, Bering Sea. 

Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific. 

Pacific white-sided dolphin, North Pacific. 

Spotted seal, AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Bristol Bay salmon set gillnet 2 ...................................... 979 Beluga whale, Bristol Bay. 

Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

Harbor seal, Bering Sea. 

Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific. 

Spotted seal, AK. 

AK Kodiak salmon set gillnet .............................................. 188 Harbor porpoise, GOA.1

Harbor seal, GOA. 

Sea otter, Southwest AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Cook Inlet salmon set gillnet ......................................... 736 Beluga whale, Cook Inlet. 

Dall’s porpoise, AK. 

Harbor porpoise, GOA. 

Harbor seal, GOA. 

Humpback whale, Central North Pacific.1

Sea otter, South Central AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Cook Inlet salmon drift gillnet ........................................ 569 Beluga whale, Cook Inlet. 

Dall’s porpoise, AK. 

Harbor porpoise, GOA.1

Harbor seal, GOA. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77931 

TABLE 1—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN—Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon drift gillnet 2 ........... 162 Dall’s porpoise, AK. 

Harbor porpoise, GOA. 

Harbor seal, GOA. 

Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific. 

AK Peninsula/Aleutian Islands salmon set gillnet 2 ............. 113 Harbor porpoise, Bering Sea. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Prince William Sound salmon drift gillnet ..................... 537 Dall’s porpoise, AK. 

Harbor porpoise, GOA.1

Harbor seal, GOA. 

Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific. 

Pacific white-sided dolphin, North Pacific. 

Sea otter, South Central AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S.1

AK Southeast salmon drift gillnet ........................................ 474 Dall’s porpoise, AK. 

Harbor porpoise, Southeast AK. 

Harbor seal, Southeast AK. 

Humpback whale, Central North Pacific.1

Pacific white-sided dolphin, North Pacific. 

Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S. 

AK Yakutat salmon set gillnet 2 ........................................... 168 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

Harbor Porpoise, Southeastern AK. 

Harbor seal, Southeast AK. 

Humpback whale, Central North Pacific (Southeast AK). 

WA Puget Sound Region salmon drift gillnet (includes all 

inland waters south of US-Canada border and eastward 

of the Bonilla-Tatoosh line-Treaty Indian fishing is excluded).

210 Dall’s porpoise, CA/OR/WA. 

Harbor porpoise, inland WA.1

Harbor seal, WA inland. 

PURSE SEINE FISHERIES: 

AK Cook Inlet salmon purse seine ..................................... 83 Humpback whale, Central North Pacific.1

AK Kodiak salmon purse seine ........................................... 376 Humpback whale, Central North Pacific.1

TRAWL FISHERIES: 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands flatfish trawl .................... 32 Bearded seal, AK. 

Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

Harbor porpoise, Bering Sea. 

Harbor seal, Bering Sea. 

Humpback whale, Western North Pacific.1

Killer whale, AK resident.1

Killer whale, GOA, AI, BS transient.1

Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific. 

Ringed seal, AK. 

Ribbon seal, AK. 

Spotted seal, AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S.1

Walrus, AK. 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands pollock trawl .................... 102 Bearded Seal, AK. 

Dall’s porpoise, AK. 

Harbor seal, AK. 

Humpback whale, Central North Pacific. 

Humpback whale, Western North Pacific. 

Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific. 

Ribbon seal, AK. 

Ringed seal, AK. 

Spotted seal, AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S.1

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands rockfish trawl .................. 17 Killer whale, ENP AK resident.1

Killer whale, GOA, AI, BS transient.1

POT, RING NET, AND TRAP FISHERIES: 

CA spot prawn pot .............................................................. 28 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA.1

CA Dungeness crab pot ...................................................... 570 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA.1

OR Dungeness crab pot ..................................................... 433 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA.1

WA/OR/CA sablefish pot ..................................................... 309 Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA.1

WA coastal Dungeness crab pot ........................................ 228 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific 

Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA.1

LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES: 

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77932 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 1—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN—Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

HI shallow-set longline * ∧ ................................................... 18 Blainville’s beaked whale, HI. 

Bottlenose dolphin, HI Pelagic. 

False killer whale, HI Pelagic.1

Humpback whale, Central North Pacific. 

Kogia spp. whale (Pygmy or dwarf sperm whale), HI. 

Risso’s dolphin, HI. 

Short-finned pilot whale, HI. 

Striped dolphin, HI. 

American Samoa longline 2 ................................................. 25 Bottlenose dolphin, unknown. 

Cuvier’s beaked whale, unknown. 

False killer whale, American Samoa. 

Rough-toothed dolphin, American Samoa. 

Short-finned pilot whale, unknown. 

HI shortline 2 ........................................................................ 6 None documented. 

CATEGORY III 

GILLNET FISHERIES: 

AK Kuskokwim, Yukon, Norton Sound, Kotzebue salmon 

gillnet.

1,778 Harbor porpoise, Bering Sea. 

AK miscellaneous finfish set gillnet ..................................... 54 Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Prince William Sound salmon set gillnet ....................... 29 Harbor seal, GOA. 

Sea otter, South Central AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK roe herring and food/bait herring gillnet ........................ 920 None documented. 

CA set gillnet (mesh size <3.5 in) ....................................... 304 None documented. 

HI inshore gillnet ................................................................. 42 Bottlenose dolphin, HI. 

Spinner dolphin, HI. 

WA Grays Harbor salmon drift gillnet (excluding treaty 

Tribal fishing).

24 Harbor seal, OR/WA coast. 

WA/OR herring, smelt, shad, sturgeon, bottom fish, mullet, 

perch, rockfish gillnet.

913 None documented. 

WA/OR lower Columbia River (includes tributaries) drift 

gillnet.

110 California sea lion, U.S. 

Harbor seal, OR/WA coast. 

WA Willapa Bay drift gillnet ................................................. 82 Harbor seal, OR/WA coast. 

Northern elephant seal, CA breeding. 

MISCELLANEOUS NET FISHERIES: 

AK Southeast salmon purse seine ...................................... 315 None documented in the most recent 5 years of data. 

AK Metlakatla salmon purse seine ..................................... 10 None documented. 

AK miscellaneous finfish beach seine ................................ 2 None documented. 

AK miscellaneous finfish purse seine ................................. 2 None documented. 

AK octopus/squid purse seine ............................................ 0 None documented. 

AK roe herring and food/bait herring beach seine .............. 10 None documented. 

AK roe herring and food/bait herring purse seine .............. 356 None documented. 

AK salmon beach seine ...................................................... 31 None documented. 

AK salmon purse seine (excluding salmon purse seine 

fisheries listed as Category II).

936 Harbor seal, GOA. 

CA anchovy, mackerel, sardine purse seine ...................... 65 California sea lion, U.S. 

Harbor seal, CA. 

CA squid purse seine .......................................................... 80 Long-beaked common dolphin, CA 

........................ Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

CA tuna purse seine * ......................................................... 10 None documented. 

WA/OR sardine purse seine ............................................... 42 None documented. 

WA (all species) beach seine or drag seine ....................... 235 None documented. 

WA/OR herring, smelt, squid purse seine or lampara ........ 130 None documented. 

WA salmon purse seine ...................................................... 75 None documented. 

WA salmon reef net ............................................................ 11 None documented. 

HI lift net .............................................................................. 21 None documented. 

HI inshore purse seine ........................................................ <3 None documented. 

HI throw net, cast net .......................................................... 20 None documented. 

HI seine net ......................................................................... 21 None documented. 

DIP NET FISHERIES: 

CA squid dip net .................................................................. 115 None documented. 

WA/OR smelt, herring dip net ............................................. 119 None documented. 

MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES: 

CA marine shellfish aquaculture ......................................... Unknown None documented. 

CA salmon enhancement rearing pen ................................ >1 None documented. 

CA white seabass enhancement net pens ......................... 13 California sea lion, U.S. 

HI offshore pen culture ........................................................ 2 None documented. 

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TABLE 1—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN—Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

WA/OR salmon net pens .................................................... 14 California sea lion, U.S. 

Harbor seal, WA inland waters. 

TROLL FISHERIES: 

AK North Pacific halibut, AK bottom fish, WA/OR/CA albacore, groundfish, bottom fish, CA halibut non-salmonid 

troll fisheries *.

1,320 

(180 AK) 

None documented. 

AK salmon troll .................................................................... 1,908 Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

American Samoa tuna troll .................................................. 7 None documented. 

CA/OR/WA salmon troll ....................................................... 4,300 None documented. 

HI troll .................................................................................. 1,755 Pantropical spotted dolphin, HI. 

HI rod and reel .................................................................... 221 None documented. 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands tuna troll 40 None documented. 

Guam tuna troll .................................................................... 432 None documented. 

LONGLINE/SET LINE FISHERIES: 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod longline ........ 45 Dall’s Porpoise, AK. 

Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific. 

Ringed seal, AK. 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands rockfish longline .............. 3 None documented. 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Greenland turbot longline 4 Killer whale, AK resident. 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands sablefish longline ............ 22 None documented. 

AK Gulf of Alaska halibut longline ...................................... 855 None documented. 

AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod longline ............................... 92 Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish longline ..................................... 25 None documented. 

AK Gulf of Alaska sablefish longline ................................... 295 Sperm whale, North Pacific. 

AK halibut longline/set line (state and Federal waters) ...... 2,197 None documented in the most recent 5 years of data. 

AK octopus/squid longline ................................................... 3 None documented. 

AK state-managed waters longline/setline (including sablefish, rockfish, lingcod, and miscellaneous finfish).464 None documented. 

WA/OR/CA groundfish, bottomfish longline/set line ........... 367 Bottlenose dolphin, CA/OR/WA offshore. 

WA/OR Pacific halibut longline ........................................... 350 None documented. 

CA pelagic longline ............................................................. 1 None documented in the most recent 5 years of data. 

HI kaka line ......................................................................... 24 None documented. 

HI vertical line ...................................................................... 6 None documented. 

TRAWL FISHERIES: 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Atka mackerel trawl ........ 13 Ribbon seal, AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod trawl ............. 72 Ringed seal, AK. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Gulf of Alaska flatfish trawl ........................................... 36 Northern elephant seal, North Pacific. 

AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod trawl .................................... 55 Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Gulf of Alaska pollock trawl ........................................... 67 Dall’s porpoise, AK. 

Fin whale, Northeast Pacific. 

Northern elephant seal, North Pacific. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

AK Gulf of Alaska rockfish trawl ......................................... 43 None documented. 

AK food/bait herring trawl .................................................... 4 None documented. 

AK miscellaneous finfish otter/beam trawl .......................... 282 None documented. 

AK shrimp otter trawl and beam trawl (statewide and 

Cook Inlet).

38 None documented. 

AK state-managed waters of Cook Inlet, Kachemak Bay, 

Prince William Sound, Southeast AK groundfish trawl.

2 None documented. 

CA halibut bottom trawl ....................................................... 53 None documented. 

WA/OR/CA shrimp trawl ...................................................... 300 None documented. 

WA/OR/CA groundfish trawl ................................................ 160–180 California sea lion, U.S. 

Dall’s porpoise, CA/OR/WA. 

Harbor seal, OR/WA coast. 

Northern fur seal, Eastern Pacific. 

Pacific white-sided dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S. 

POT, RING NET, AND TRAP FISHERIES: 

AK statewide miscellaneous finfish pot ............................... 4 None documented. 

AK Aleutian Islands sablefish pot ....................................... 4 None documented. 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands Pacific cod pot ................ 59 None documented. 

AK Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands crab pot .......................... 540 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

AK Bering Sea sablefish pot ............................................... 2 None documented. 

AK Gulf of Alaska crab pot ................................................. 381 None documented. 

AK Gulf of Alaska Pacific cod pot ....................................... 128 Harbor seal, GOA. 

AK Southeast Alaska crab pot ............................................ 41 Humpback whale, Central North Pacific (Southeast AK). 

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77934 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 1—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN—Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

AK Southeast Alaska shrimp pot ........................................ 269 Humpback whale, Central North Pacific (Southeast AK).

AK shrimp pot, except Southeast ....................................... 236 None documented. 

AK octopus/squid pot .......................................................... 26 None documented. 

AK snail pot ......................................................................... 1 None documented. 

CA/OR coonstripe shrimp pot ............................................. 10 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific 

Harbor seal, CA. 

CA rock crab pot ................................................................. 150 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific 

Harbor seal, CA. 

CA spiny lobster .................................................................. 198 Gray whale, Eastern North Pacific. 

WA/OR/CA hagfish pot ....................................................... 54 None documented. 

WA/OR shrimp pot/trap ....................................................... 254 None documented. 

WA Puget Sound Dungeness crab pot/trap ........................ 249 None documented. 

HI crab trap ......................................................................... 7 Humpback whale, Central North Pacific. 

HI fish trap ........................................................................... 5 None documented. 

HI lobster trap ...................................................................... <3 None documented in recent years. 

HI shrimp trap ...................................................................... 6 None documented. 

HI crab net ........................................................................... 4 None documented. 

HI Kona crab loop net ......................................................... 35 None documented. 

HOOK-AND-LINE, HANDLINE, AND JIG FISHERIES: 

AK miscellaneous finfish handline/hand troll and mechanical jig.456 None documented. 

AK North Pacific halibut handline/hand troll and mechanical jig.180 None documented. 

AK octopus/squid handline .................................................. 7 None documented. 

American Samoa bottomfish ............................................... 14 None documented. 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

bottomfish.

28 None documented. 

Guam bottomfish ................................................................. >300 None documented. 

HI aku boat, pole, and line .................................................. <3 None documented. 

HI bottomfish handline ........................................................ 578 None documented in recent years. 

HI inshore handline ............................................................. 376 None documented. 

HI pelagic handline .............................................................. 484 None documented. 

WA groundfish, bottomfish jig ............................................. 679 None documented. 

Western Pacific squid jig ..................................................... <3 None documented. 

HARPOON FISHERIES: 

CA swordfish harpoon ......................................................... 30 None documented. 

POUND NET/WEIR FISHERIES: 

AK herring spawn on kelp pound net ................................. 409 None documented. 

AK Southeast herring roe/food/bait pound net ................... 2 None documented. 

HI bullpen trap ..................................................................... <3 None documented. 

BAIT PENS: 

WA/OR/CA bait pens .......................................................... 13 California sea lion, U.S. 

DREDGE FISHERIES: 

Alaska scallop dredge ......................................................... 108 (5 AK) None documented. 

DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL COLLECTION FISHERIES: 

AK abalone .......................................................................... 0 None documented. 

AK clam ............................................................................... 130 None documented. 

AK Dungeness crab ............................................................ 2 None documented. 

AK herring spawn on kelp ................................................... 339 None documented. 

AK urchin and other fish/shellfish ....................................... 398 None documented 

CA sea urchin ...................................................................... 583 None documented. 

HI black coral diving ............................................................ <3 None documented. 

HI fish pond ......................................................................... 5 None documented. 

HI handpick ......................................................................... 58 None documented. 

HI lobster diving .................................................................. 23 None documented. 

HI spearfishing .................................................................... 159 None documented. 

WA/CA kelp ......................................................................... 4 None documented. 

WA/OR sea urchin, other clam, octopus, oyster, sea cucumber, scallop, ghost shrimp hand, dive, or mechanical collection.637 None documented. 

WA shellfish aquaculture ..................................................... 684 None documented. 

COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING VESSEL (CHARTER 

BOAT) FISHERIES: 

AK/WA/OR/CA commercial passenger fishing vessel ........ >7,000 

(2,702 AK) 

Killer whale, unknown. 

Steller sea lion, Eastern U.S. 

Steller sea lion, Western U.S. 

LIVE FINFISH/SHELLFISH FISHERIES: 

CA nearshore finfish live trap/hook-and-line ....................... 93 None documented. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77935 

TABLE 1—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN—Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

HI aquarium collecting ......................................................... 90 None documented. 

List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 1: AI—Aleutian Islands; AK—Alaska; BS—Bering Sea; CA—California; ENP—Eastern North 

Pacific; GOA—Gulf of Alaska; HI—Hawaii; MHI—Main Hawaiian Islands; OR—Oregon; WA—Washington; 1Fishery classified based on mortalities and serious injuries of this stock, which are greater than or equal to 50 percent (Category I) or greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent (Category II) of the stock’s PBR; 2Fishery classified by analogy; * Fishery has an associated high seas component listed in Table 3; ∧ The 

list of marine mammal species and/or stocks killed or injured in this fishery is identical to the list of species and/or stocks killed or injured in high 

seas component of the fishery, minus species and/or stocks have geographic ranges exclusively on the high seas. The species and/or stocks are 

found, and the fishery remains the same, on both sides of the EEZ boundary. Therefore, the EEZ components of these fisheries pose the same 

risk to marine mammals as the components operating on the high seas. 

TABLE 2—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND CARIBBEAN

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

CATEGORY I 

GILLNET FISHERIES: 

Mid-Atlantic gillnet ............................................................... 5,509 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern Migratory coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern Migratory coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore. 

Common dolphin, WNA. 

Gray seal, WNA. 

Harbor porpoise, GME/BF. 

Harbor seal, WNA. 

Harp seal, WNA. 

Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine. 

Minke whale, Canadian east coast. 

Risso’s dolphin, WNA. 

White-sided dolphin, WNA. 

Northeast sink gillnet ........................................................... 4,375 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore. 

Common dolphin, WNA. 

Fin whale, WNA. 

Gray seal, WNA. 

Harbor porpoise, GME/BF.1

Harbor seal, WNA. 

Harp seal, WNA. 

Hooded seal, WNA. 

Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine. 

Long-finned Pilot whale, WNA. 

Minke whale, Canadian east coast. 

North Atlantic right whale, WNA. 

Risso’s dolphin, WNA. 

Short-finned Pilot whale, WNA. 

White-sided dolphin, WNA. 

TRAP/POT FISHERIES: 

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot ............... 11,693 Harbor seal, WNA. 

Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine. 

Minke whale, Canadian east coast. 

North Atlantic right whale, WNA.1

LONGLINE FISHERIES: 

Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics 

longline *.

420 Atlantic spotted dolphin, GMX continental and oceanic. 

Atlantic spotted dolphin, WNA. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX oceanic. 

Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore. 

Common dolphin, WNA. 

Cuvier’s beaked whale, WNA. 

False killer whale, WNA. 

Gervais beaked whale, GMX. 

Killer whale, GMX oceanic. 

Kogia spp. (Pygmy or dwarf sperm whale), WNA. 

Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.1

Mesoplodon beaked whale, WNA. 

Minke whale, Canadian East coast. 

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77936 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 2—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND CARIBBEAN— 

Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

Pantropical spotted dolphin, Northern GMX. 

Pantropical spotted dolphin, WNA. 

Risso’s dolphin, Northern GMX. 

Risso’s dolphin, WNA. 

Short-finned pilot whale, Northern GMX. 

Short-finned pilot whale, WNA.1

Sperm whale, GMX oceanic. 

CATEGORY II 

GILLNET FISHERIES: 

Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet 2 ....................................... 1,126 None documented in the most recent 5 years of data. 

Gulf of Mexico gillnet 2 ........................................................ 724 Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay, sound, and estuarine. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX coastal. 

NC inshore gillnet ................................................................ 1,323 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC estuarine system.1

Northeast anchored float gillnet.2 ........................................ 421 Harbor seal, WNA. 

Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine. 

White-sided dolphin, WNA. 

Northeast drift gillnet 2 ......................................................... 311 None documented. 

Southeast Atlantic gillnet 2 ................................................... 357 Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern FL coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, SC/GA coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern migratory coastal. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet ............................. 30 Bottlenose dolphin, unknown (Central FL, Northern FL, SC/GA 

coastal, or Southern migratory coastal). 

North Atlantic right whale, WNA. 

TRAWL FISHERIES: 

Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl (including pair trawl) .............. 322 Common dolphin, WNA. 

Long-finned pilot whale, WNA. 

Risso’s dolphin, WNA. 

Short-finned pilot whale, WNA. 

White-sided dolphin, WNA.1

Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl ..................................................... 631 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore. 

Common dolphin, WNA.1

Gray seal, WNA. 

Harbor seal, WNA. 

Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.1

Risso’s dolphin, WNA.1

Short-finned pilot whale, WNA.1

White-sided dolphin, WNA. 

Northeast mid-water trawl (including pair trawl) ................. 1,103 Gray seal, WNA. 

Harbor seal, WNA. 

Long-finned pilot whale, WNA.1

Short-finned pilot whale, WNA.1

Common dolphin, WNA. 

White-sided dolphin, WNA. 

Northeast bottom trawl ........................................................ 2,987 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore. 

Common dolphin, WNA. 

Gray seal, WNA. 

Harbor porpoise, GME/BF 

Harbor seal, WNA. 

Harp seal, WNA. 

Long-finned pilot whale, WNA. 

Minke whale, Canadian East Coast. 

Short-finned pilot whale, WNA. 

White-sided dolphin, WNA.1

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl .... 4,950 Atlantic spotted dolphin, GMX continental and oceanic. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Charleston estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay, sound, estuarine.1

Bottlenose dolphin, GMX continental shelf. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, SC/GA coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern migratory coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX coastal.1

West Indian manatee, Florida. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77937 

TABLE 2—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND CARIBBEAN— 

Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

TRAP/POT FISHERIES: 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico stone crab 

trap/pot 2.

1,282 Bottlenose dolphin, Biscayne Bay estuarine. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, FL Bay. 

Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay, sound, estuarine (FL west coast 

portion). 

Bottlenose dolphin, Indian River Lagoon estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Jacksonville estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX coastal. 

Atlantic mixed species trap/pot 2 ......................................... 3,467 Fin whale, WNA. 

Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine. 

Atlantic blue crab trap/pot ................................................... 8,557 Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Charleston estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Indian River Lagoon estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Jacksonville estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern FL coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GA/Southern SC estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern Migratory coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern SC estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, SC/GA coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern GA estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern Migratory coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC estuarine system.1

West Indian manatee, FL.1

PURSE SEINE FISHERIES: 

Gulf of Mexico menhaden purse seine ............................... 40–42 Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay, sound, estuarine. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX coastal.1

Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine 2 ................................. 5 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern Migratory coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern Migratory coastal. 

HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES: 

Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine ............................................. 565 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern Migratory coastal.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern Migratory coastal.1

NC long haul seine .............................................................. 372 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system.1

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC estuarine system. 

STOP NET FISHERIES: 

NC roe mullet stop net ........................................................ 13 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, unknown (Southern migratory coastal or 

Southern NC estuarine system). 

POUND NET FISHERIES: 

VA pound net ...................................................................... 67 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern migratory coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern Migratory coastal.1

CATEGORY III 

GILLNET FISHERIES: 

Caribbean gillnet ................................................................. >991 None documented in the most recent 5 years of data. 

DE River inshore gillnet ...................................................... Unknown None documented in the most recent 5 years of data. 

Long Island Sound inshore gillnet ....................................... Unknown None documented in the most recent 5 years of data. 

RI, southern MA (to Monomoy Island), and NY Bight 

(Raritan and Lower NY Bays) inshore gillnet.

Unknown None documented in the most recent 5 years of data. 

Southeast Atlantic inshore gillnet ........................................ Unknown Bottlenose dolphin, Northern SC estuarine system. 

TRAWL FISHERIES: 

Atlantic shellfish bottom trawl .............................................. >58 None documented. 

Gulf of Mexico butterfish trawl ............................................ 2 Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX oceanic. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX continental shelf. 

Gulf of Mexico mixed species trawl .................................... 20 None documented. 

GA cannonball jellyfish trawl ............................................... 1 Bottlenose dolphin, SC/GA coastal. 

MARINE AQUACULTURE FISHERIES: 

Finfish aquaculture .............................................................. 48 Harbor seal, WNA. 

Shellfish aquaculture ........................................................... Unknown None documented. 

PURSE SEINE FISHERIES: 

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77938 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

TABLE 2—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND CARIBBEAN— 

Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

Gulf of Maine Atlantic herring purse seine ......................... >7 Harbor seal, WNA. 

Gray seal, WNA. 

Gulf of Maine menhaden purse seine ................................. >2 None documented. 

FL West Coast sardine purse seine ................................... 10 Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX coastal. 

U.S. Atlantic tuna purse seine * .......................................... 5 Long-finned pilot whale, WNA. 

Short-finned pilot whale, WNA. 

LONGLINE/HOOK-AND-LINE FISHERIES: 

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic bottom longline/hook-and-line ......... >1,207 None documented. 

Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic tuna, shark swordfish 

hook-and-line/harpoon.

428 Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore. 

Humpback whale, Gulf of Maine. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean 

snapper-grouper and other reef fish bottom longline/ 

hook-and-line.

>5,000 Bottlenose dolphin, GMX continental shelf. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico shark bottom 

longline/hook-and-line.

<125 Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX continental shelf. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean 

pelagic hook-and-line/harpoon.

1,446 None documented. 

U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico trotline ................................... Unknown None documented. 

TRAP/POT FISHERIES: 

Caribbean mixed species trap/pot ...................................... >501 None documented. 

Caribbean spiny lobster trap/pot ......................................... >197 None documented. 

FL spiny lobster trap/pot ..................................................... 1,268 Bottlenose dolphin, Biscayne Bay estuarine 

Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, FL Bay estuarine. 

Gulf of Mexico blue crab trap/pot ........................................ 4,113 Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay, sound, estuarine. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX coastal. 

West Indian manatee, FL. 

Gulf of Mexico mixed species trap/pot ................................ Unknown None documented. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico golden crab 

trap/pot.

10 None documented. 

U.S. Mid-Atlantic eel trap/pot .............................................. Unknown None documented. 

STOP SEINE/WEIR/POUND NET/FLOATING TRAP FISHERIES: 

Gulf of Maine herring and Atlantic mackerel stop seine/ 

weir.

>1 Harbor porpoise, GME/BF. 

Harbor seal, WNA. 

Minke whale, Canadian east coast. 

Atlantic white-sided dolphin, WNA. 

U.S. Mid-Atlantic crab stop seine/weir ................................ 2,600 None documented. 

U.S. Mid-Atlantic mixed species stop seine/weir/pound net 

(except the NC roe mullet stop net).

Unknown Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine system. 

RI floating trap ..................................................................... 9 None documented. 

DREDGE FISHERIES: 

Gulf of Maine sea urchin dredge ........................................ Unknown None documented. 

Gulf of Maine mussel dredge .............................................. Unknown None documented. 

Gulf of Maine, U.S. Mid-Atlantic sea scallop dredge .......... >403 None documented. 

Mid-Atlantic blue crab dredge ............................................. Unknown None documented. 

Mid-Atlantic soft-shell clam dredge ..................................... Unknown None documented. 

Mid-Atlantic whelk dredge ................................................... Unknown None documented. 

U.S. Mid-Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico oyster dredge .................. 7,000 None documented. 

U.S. Mid-Atlantic offshore surf clam and quahog dredge ... Unknown None documented. 

HAUL/BEACH SEINE FISHERIES: 

Caribbean haul/beach seine ............................................... 15 None documented in the most recent 5 years of data.

Gulf of Mexico haul/beach seine ......................................... Unknown None documented. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic haul/beach seine ..................... 25 None documented. 

DIVE, HAND/MECHANICAL COLLECTION FISHERIES: 

Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean shellfish dive, 

hand/mechanical collection.

20,000 None documented. 

Gulf of Maine urchin dive, hand/mechanical collection ...... Unknown None documented. 

Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, and Caribbean cast net.Unknown None documented. 

COMMERCIAL PASSENGER FISHING VESSEL (CHARTER 

BOAT) FISHERIES: 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77939 

TABLE 2—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, GULF OF MEXICO, AND CARIBBEAN— 

Continued 

Fishery description 

Estimated 

Number of 

vessels/ 

persons 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean commercial 

passenger fishing vessel.

4,000 Bottlenose dolphin, Biscayne Bay estuarine. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Central FL coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Choctawhatchee Bay. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Eastern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, FL Bay. 

Bottlenose dolphin, GMX bay, sound, estuarine. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Indian River Lagoon estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Jacksonville estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern FL coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GA/Southern SC estuarine. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern migratory coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern NC estuarine. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern migratory coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern NC estuarine system. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Southern SC/GA coastal. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Western GMX coastal. 

List of Abbreviations and Symbols Used in Table 2: DE—Delaware; FL—Florida; GA—Georgia; GME/BF—Gulf of Maine/Bay of Fundy; GMX—

Gulf of Mexico; MA—Massachusetts; NC—North Carolina; NY—New York; RI—Rhode Island; SC—South Carolina; VA—Virginia; WNA—Western North Atlantic; 1Fishery classified based on mortalities and serious injuries of this stock, which are greater than or equal to 50 percent (Category I) or greater than 1 percent and less than 50 percent (Category II) of the stock’s PBR; 2Fishery classified by analogy; * Fishery has an associated high seas component listed in Table 3. 

TABLE 3—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ON THE HIGH SEAS

Fishery description 

Number of 

HSFCA 

permits 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

CATEGORY I 

LONGLINE FISHERIES: 

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species * ..................................... 83 Atlantic spotted dolphin, WNA. 

Bottlenose dolphin, Northern GMX oceanic. 

Bottlenose dolphin, WNA offshore. 

Common dolphin, WNA. 

Cuvier’s beaked whale, WNA. 

False killer whale, WNA. 

Killer whale, GMX oceanic. 

Kogia spp. whale (Pygmy or dwarf sperm whale), WNA. 

Long-finned pilot whale, WNA. 

Mesoplodon beaked whale, WNA. 

Minke whale, Canadian East coast. 

Pantropical spotted dolphin, WNA. 

Risso’s dolphin, GMX. 

Risso’s dolphin, WNA. 

Short-finned pilot whale, WNA. 

Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Deep-set component) * ∧ ....... 128 Bottlenose dolphin, HI Pelagic. 

False killer whale, HI Pelagic. 

Pantropical spotted dolphin, HI. 

Risso’s dolphin, HI. 

Short-finned pilot whale, HI. 

Sperm whale, HI. 

Striped dolphin, HI. 

DRIFT GILLNET FISHERIES: 

Pacific Highly Migratory Species * ∧ ................................... 4 Long-beaked common dolphin, CA. 

Humpback whale, CA/OR/WA. 

Northern right-whale dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Pacific white-sided dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Risso’s dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/OR/WA 

CATEGORY II 

DRIFT GILLNET FISHERIES: 

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species ....................................... 1 Undetermined. 

TRAWL FISHERIES: 

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TABLE 3—LIST OF FISHERIES—COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ON THE HIGH SEAS—Continued 

Fishery description 

Number of 

HSFCA 

permits 

Marine mammal species and/or 

stocks incidentally killed or injured 

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species ** .................................... 1 Undetermined. 

CCAMLR ............................................................................. 0 Antarctic fur seal. 

Western Pacific Pelagic ...................................................... 0 Undetermined. 

PURSE SEINE FISHERIES: 

South Pacific Tuna Fisheries .............................................. 38 Undetermined. 

Western Pacific Pelagic ...................................................... 3 Undetermined. 

LONGLINE FISHERIES: 

CCAMLR ............................................................................. 0 None documented. 

South Pacific Albacore Troll ................................................ 13 Undetermined. 

South Pacific Tuna Fisheries ** .......................................... 8 Undetermined. 

Western Pacific Pelagic (HI Shallow-set component) * ∧ .. 18 Blainville’s beaked whale, HI. 

Bottlenose dolphin, HI Pelagic. 

False killer whale, HI Pelagic. 

Humpback whale, Central North Pacific. 

Kogia spp. whale (Pygmy or dwarf sperm whale), HI. 

Risso’s dolphin, HI. 

Short-beaked common dolphin, CA/OR/WA. 

Short-finned pilot whale, HI. 

Striped dolphin, HI. 

HANDLINE/POLE AND LINE FISHERIES: 

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species ....................................... 2 Undetermined. 

Pacific Highly Migratory Species ......................................... 41 Undetermined. 

South Pacific Albacore Troll ................................................ 8 Undetermined. 

Western Pacific Pelagic ...................................................... 3 Undetermined. 

TROLL FISHERIES: 

Atlantic Highly Migratory Species ....................................... 2 Undetermined. 

South Pacific Albacore Troll ................................................ 35 Undetermined. 

South Pacific Tuna Fisheries ** ........................................... 3 Undetermined. 

Western Pacific Pelagic ...................................................... 19 Undetermined. 

LINERS NEI FISHERIES: 

Pacific Highly Migratory Species ** ..................................... 1 Undetermined. 

South Pacific Albacore Troll ................................................ 1 Undetermined. 

Western Pacific Pelagic ...................................................... 1 Undetermined. 

CATEGORY III 

LONGLINE FISHERIES: 

Northwest Atlantic Bottom Longline .................................... 1 None documented. 

Pacific Highly Migratory Species * ....................................... 100 None documented in the most recent 5 years of data.

PURSE SEINE FISHERIES 

Pacific Highly Migratory Species * ∧ ................................... 8 None documented. 

TRAWL FISHERIES: 

Northwest Atlantic ............................................................... 1 None documented. 

TROLL FISHERIES: 

Pacific Highly Migratory Species * ....................................... 253 None documented. 

List of Terms, Abbreviations, and Symbols Used in Table 3: 

CA—California; GMX—Gulf of Mexico; HI—Hawaii; OR—Oregon; WA—Washington; WNA—Western North Atlantic. 

* Fishery is an extension/component of an existing fishery operating within U.S. waters listed in Table 1 or 2. The number of permits listed in 

Table 3 represents only the number of permits for the high seas component of the fishery. 

** These gear types are not authorized under the Pacific HMS FMP (2004), the Atlantic HMS FMP (2006), or without a South Pacific Tuna 

Treaty license (in the case of the South Pacific Tuna fisheries). Because HSFCA permits are valid for five years, permits obtained in past years 

exist in the HSFCA permit database for gear types that are now unauthorized. Therefore, while HSFCA permits exist for these gear types, it 

does not represent effort. In order to land fish species, fishers must be using an authorized gear type. Once these permits for unauthorized gear 

types expire, the permit-holder will be required to obtain a permit for an authorized gear type. ∧ The list of marine mammal species and/or stocks killed or injured in this fishery is identical to the list of marine mammal species and/or 

stocks killed or injured in U.S. waters component of the fishery, minus species and/or stocks that have geographic ranges exclusively in coastal 

waters, because the marine mammal species and/or stocks are also found on the high seas and the fishery remains the same on both sides of 

the EEZ boundary. Therefore, the high seas components of these fisheries pose the same risk to marine mammals as the components of these 

fisheries operating in U.S. waters. 

TABLE 4—FISHERIES AFFECTED BY TAKE REDUCTION TEAMS AND PLANS

Take reduction plans Affected fisheries 

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP)—50 CFR 229.32 Category I 

Mid-Atlantic gillnet. 

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic American lobster trap/pot. 

Northeast sink gillnet. 

Category II 

Atlantic blue crab trap/pot. 

Atlantic mixed species trap/pot. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 77941 

TABLE 4—FISHERIES AFFECTED BY TAKE REDUCTION TEAMS AND PLANS—Continued 

Take reduction plans Affected fisheries 

Northeast anchored float gillnet. 

Northeast drift gillnet. 

Southeast Atlantic gillnet. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet *. 

Southeastern, U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico stone crab trap/pot ∧. 

Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction Plan (BDTRP)—50 CFR 229.35 ..... Category I 

Mid-Atlantic gillnet. 

Category II 

Atlantic blue crab trap/pot. 

Chesapeake Bay inshore gillnet fishery. 

Mid-Atlantic haul/beach seine. 

Mid-Atlantic menhaden purse seine. 

NC inshore gillnet. 

NC long haul seine. 

NC roe mullet stop net. 

Southeast Atlantic gillnet. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic shark gillnet. 

Southeastern U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico shrimp trawl ∧. 

Southeastern, U.S. Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico stone crab trap/pot ∧. 

VA pound net. 

False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan (FKWTRP)—50 CFR 229.37 ... Category I 

HI deep-set longline. 

Category II 

HI shallow-set longline. 

Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan (HPTRP)—50 CFR 229.33 (New 

England) and 229.34 (Mid-Atlantic).

Category I 

Mid-Atlantic gillnet. 

Northeast sink gillnet. 

Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Plan (PLTRP)—50 CFR 229.36 ......... Category I 

Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico large pelagics longline. 

Pacific Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Plan (POCTRP)—50 CFR 

229.31.

Category I 

CA thresher shark/swordfish drift gillnet (≥14 in mesh). 

Atlantic Trawl Gear Take Reduction Team (ATGTRT) ............................ Category II 

Mid-Atlantic bottom trawl. 

Mid-Atlantic mid-water trawl (including pair trawl). 

Northeast bottom trawl. 

Northeast mid-water trawl (including pair trawl). 

* Only applicable to the portion of the fishery operating in U.S. waters; 

∧ Only applicable to the portion of the fishery operating in the Atlantic Ocean. 

Classification 

The Chief Counsel for Regulation of 

the Department of Commerce certified 

to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 

Small Business Administration (SBA) at 

the proposed rule stage that this rule 

would not have a significant economic 

impact on a substantial number of small 

entities. No comments were received on 

that certification, and no new 

information has been discovered to 

change that conclusion. Accordingly, no 

regulatory flexibility analysis is 

required, and none has been prepared. 

This rule contains collection-ofinformation requirements subject to the 

Paperwork Reduction Act. The 

collection of information for the 

registration of individuals under the 

MMPA has been approved by the Office 

of Management and Budget (OMB) 

under OMB control number 0648–0293 

(0.15 hours per report for new 

registrants and 0.09 hours per report for 

renewals). The requirement for 

reporting marine mammal mortalities or 

injuries has been approved by OMB 

under OMB control number 0648–0292 

(0.15 hours per report). These estimates 

include the time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data 

sources, gathering and maintaining the 

data needed, and completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

Send comments regarding these 

reporting burden estimates or any other 

aspect of the collections of information, 

including suggestions for reducing 

burden, to NMFS and OMB (see 

ADDRESSES and SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION). 

Notwithstanding any other provision 

of law, no person is required to respond 

to nor shall a person be subject to a 

penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act unless that collection of 

information displays a currently valid 

OMB control number. 

This rule has been determined to be 

not significant for the purposes of 

Executive Order 12866. 

An environmental assessment (EA) 

was prepared under the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 

1995 and 2005. The 1995 EA examined 

the effects of regulations implementing 

section 118 of the 1994 Amendments of 

the MMPA on the affected environment. 

The 2005 EA analyzed the 

environmental impacts of continuing 

the existing scheme (as described in the 

1995 EA) for classifying fisheries on the 

LOF. The 1995 EA and the 2005 EA 

concluded that implementation of 

MMPA section 118 regulations would 

not have a significant impact on the 

human environment. NMFS reviewed 

the 2005 EA in 2009. NMFS concluded 

that because there were no changes to 

the process used to develop the LOF 

and implement section 118 of the 

MMPA, there was no need to update the 

2005 EA. NMFS initiated an EA for the 

LOF in 2013 but did not finalize it 

because the no action alternative 

described in the 2005 EA is still the 

preferred alternative. This rule would 

not change NMFS’ current process for 

classifying fisheries on the LOF; 

therefore, this rule is not expected to 

change the analysis or conclusion of the 

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77942 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 248 / Monday, December 29, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

2005 EA and FONSI, and no update is 

needed. If NMFS takes a management 

action, for example, through the 

development of a TRP, NMFS would 

first prepare an environmental 

document, as required under NEPA, 

specific to that action. 

This rule would not affect species 

listed as threatened or endangered 

under the Endangered Species Act 

(ESA) or their associated critical habitat. 

The impacts of numerous fisheries have 

been analyzed in various biological 

opinions, and this rule will not affect 

the conclusions of those opinions. The 

classification of fisheries on the LOF is 

not considered to be a management 

action that would adversely affect 

threatened or endangered species. If 

NMFS takes a management action, for 

example, through the development of a 

TRP, NMFS would consult under ESA 

section 7 on that action. 

This rule would have no adverse 

impacts on marine mammals and may 

have a positive impact on marine 

mammals by improving knowledge of 

marine mammals and the fisheries 

interacting with marine mammals 

through information collected from 

observer programs, stranding and 

sighting data, or take reduction teams. 

This rule would not affect the land or 

water uses or natural resources of the 

coastal zone, as specified under section 

307 of the Coastal Zone Management 

Act. 

References 

Allen, B.M. and R.P. Angliss, editors. 2014. 

Alaska Marine Mammal Stock 

Assessments, 2013. NOAA Tech. Memo. 

NMFS–AFSC–277. 294 p. 

Carretta, J.V., E. Oleson, D.W. Weller, A.R. 

Lang, K.A. Forney, J. Baker, B. Hanson, 

K Martien, M.M. Muto, M.S. Lowry, J. 

Barlow, D. Lynch, L. Carswell, R.L. 

Brownell Jr., D.K. Mattila, and M.C. Hill. 

2014. U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock 

Assessments: 2013. NOAA Technical 

Memorandum NOAA–TM–NMFS– 

SWFSC–532. 406 p. 

McCracken, M.L. 2010. Adjustments to false 

killer whale and short-finned pilot whale 

bycatch estimates. NMFS, Pacific Islands 

Fisheries Science Center Working paper 

WP–10–007. 23 p. 

NMFS. 2013. Biological Opinion on the 

continued management of the drift 

gillnet fishery under the Fishery 

Management Plan for U.S. West Coast 

Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species 

2012/03020:DDL, dated May 2, 2013, at 

10–11, n.7. 

Waring, G.T., E. Josephson, K. Maze-Foley, 

and P.E. Rosel, editors. 2014. U.S. 

Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Marine 

Mammal Stocks Assessments, 2013. 

NOAA Technical Memorandum NOAA– 

NE–228. 464 p. 

Dated: December 19, 2014. 

Samuel D. Rauch III, 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Regulatory Programs, National Marine 

Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–30375 Filed 12–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

50 CFR Part 300 

[Docket No. 140710571–4977–02] 

RIN 0648–BE36 

International Fisheries; Western and 

Central Pacific Fisheries for Highly 

Migratory Species; Restrictions on the 

Use of Fish Aggregating Devices in 

Purse Seine Fisheries for 2015; 

Correction 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule; correction. 

SUMMARY: NMFS published in the 

Federal Register of December 2, 2014, 

with an effective date of January 1, 

2015, a final rule to establish 

restrictions on the use of fish 

aggregating devices (FADs) by U.S. 

purse seine vessels in the western and 

central Pacific Ocean (‘‘International 

Fisheries; Western and Central Pacific 

Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species; 

Restrictions on the Use of Fish 

Aggregating Devices in Purse Seine 

Fisheries for 2015’’). The final rule also 

included a requirement for the owners 

and operators of such vessels to submit 

‘‘daily FAD reports’’ to NMFS. As 

indicated in the December 2, 2014, final 

rule, some of the FAD restrictions are to 

go into effect only if NMFS publishes a 

notice in the Federal Register 

announcing that they are in effect. 

NMFS intended to make the 

requirement to submit daily FAD 

reports also contingent on issuance of a 

Federal Register notice, but 

inadvertently wrote the final rule such 

that the reporting requirement would go 

into effect on January 1, 2015, 

irrespective of issuance by NMFS of a 

Federal Register notice. This document 

corrects that error in the final rule by 

making the requirement to submit daily 

FAD reports contingent on NMFS 

issuing a Federal Register notice 

announcing that it is in effect. 

DATES: Effective January 1, 2015. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom 

Graham, NMFS Pacific Islands Regional 

Office, 808–725–5032. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

published in the Federal Register of 

December 2, 2014 (79 FR 71327), a final 

rule to establish restrictions on the use 

of fish aggregating devices by U.S. purse 

seine vessels in the western and central 

Pacific Ocean (WCPO) during 2015. 

Some of the FAD restrictions in the final 

rule, specifically the FAD prohibitions 

during January and February and the 

limit of 3,061 FAD sets with associated 

prohibitions, were made contingent on 

NMFS issuing a subsequent Federal 

Register notice announcing that those 

restrictions are in effect. NMFS would 

issue such a Federal Register notice 

only if it determined that the 

Commission for the Conservation and 

Management of Highly Migratory Fish 

Stocks in the Western and Central 

Pacific Ocean (Commission) adopted 

particular arrangements at its Eleventh 

Regular Session, which took place 

December 1–5, 2014. The Commission 

did not adopt such arrangements at that 

session. 

The final rule also included a 

requirement for vessel owners and 

operators to submit ‘‘daily FAD reports’’ 

to NMFS. The reports would be used by 

NMFS to estimate and project the 

number of sets on FADs with respect to 

the limit of 3,061 FAD sets. NMFS 

intended the daily FAD reporting 

requirement to be effective only if the 

limit of 3,061 FAD sets were put in 

effect. However, NMFS inadvertently 

wrote the final rule such that the daily 

FAD report requirement would go into 

effect on January 1, 2015, irrespective of 

the Commission decision or a 

subsequent Federal Register notice. 

This document corrects that error in the 

final rule by making the requirement to 

submit daily FAD reports contingent on 

NMFS issuing a Federal Register notice 

announcing that the reporting 

requirement is in effect. 

Classification 

This final rule has been determined to 

be not significant for the purposes of 

Executive Order 12866. 

NMFS has determined that good 

cause exists to waive public notice and 

comment under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) 

because it would be unnecessary and 

contrary to the public interest. It is 

unnecessary and contrary to the public 

interest because delaying this rule 

would only serve to place an 

unwarranted burden on the regulated 

community. If this correction to the 

final rule is not effective by January 1, 

2015, then owners and operators of U.S. 

purse seine vessels in the WCPO would 

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