08-498. Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Reports

AGENCY:

Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of availability of draft revised marine mammal stock assessment reports for three stocks of northern sea otters in Alaska; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has developed draft revised marine mammal stock assessment reports for the three stocks of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) in Alaska, which are available for public review and comment.

DATES:

Comments must be received by May 6, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Copies of the draft revised stock assessment reports for northern sea otters in Alaska are available from the Marine Mammals Management Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503 [phone].

If you wish to submit comments on the draft revised stock assessment reports for northern sea otters in Alaska, you may do so by either of the following methods:

1. You may submit written comments to the Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99503.

2. You may hand-deliver written comments to our Marine Mammals Management Office at the above address during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or you may fax your comments to 907/786-3816.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

One of the goals of the MMPA is to ensure that stocks of marine mammals occurring in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States do not experience a level of human-caused mortality and serious injury that is likely to cause the stock to be reduced below its optimum sustainable population level (OSP). OSP is defined as “* * * the number of animals which will result in the maximum productivity of the population or the species, keeping in mind the carrying capacity of the habitat and the health of the ecosystem of which they form a constituent element.”

To help accomplish the goal of maintaining marine mammal stocks at their OSPs, section 117 of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361-1407) requires the Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to prepare stock assessment reports for each marine mammal stock that occurs in waters under the jurisdiction of the United States. These stock assessments are to be based on the best scientific information available and are, therefore, prepared in consultation with established regional scientific review groups. Each stock assessment must include: (1) A description of the stock and its geographic range; (2) minimum population estimate, maximum net productivity rate, and current population trend; (3) estimate of human-caused mortality and serious injury; (4) commercial fishery interactions; (5) status of the stock; and (6) potential biological removal level (PBR). The PBR is defined 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 OSP.” The PBR is the product of the minimum population estimate of the stock (N_min), one-half the maximum theoretical or estimated net productivity rate of the stock at a small population size (R_max); and a recovery factor (F_r) of between 0.1 and 1.0, which is intended to compensate for uncertainty and unknown estimation errors.

Section 117 of the MMPA also requires the Service and the NMFS to review and revise the stock assessment reports: (a) At least annually for stocks that are specified as strategic stocks; (b) at least annually for stocks for which significant new information is available; and (c) at least once every 3 years for all other stocks.

A strategic stock is defined in the MMPA as a marine mammal stock: (A) For which the level of direct human-caused mortality exceeds the potential biological removal level; (B) which, based on the best available scientific information, is declining and is likely to be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), within the foreseeable future; or (C) which is listed as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, or is designated as depleted under the MMPA.

A summary of the draft revised stock assessment reports is presented in Table 1. The table lists the stock=s N_min, R_max, F_r, PBR, annual estimated human-caused mortality and serious injury, and the status. After consideration of any public comments received, the Service will revise the stock assessments, as appropriate. We will publish a notice of availability and summary of the final stock assessments, including responses to the comments received.

In accordance with the MMPA, a list of the sources of information or public reports upon which the assessment is based is included in this notice.

Table 1.—Summary of Draft Revised Stock Assessment Reports for Three U.S. Northern Sea Otter Stocks.

Stock	Nmin	Rmax	Fr	PBR	Serious injury	Annual 5-year estimated human-caused mortality		Stock status
						Fishery/Other	Subsistence
Northern sea otters (Southeast AK)	9,136	0.20	1.0	914	0	0	322	Non-strategic
Northern sea otters (Southcentral AK)	12,774	0.20	1.0	1,277	0	0	346	Non-strategic
Northern sea otters (southwest AK)	38,703	0.20	0.25	968	0	0.2	91	Strategic

List of References

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Dated: January 29, 2008.

H. Dale Hall,

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.