[Federal Register: August 30, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 167)]
[Notices]               
[Page 47171-47172]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30au99-36]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D.080999G]

 
Notice of Availability of Bycatch Estimates Under the Harbor 
Porpoise Take Reduction Plan

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: NMFS has provided harbor porpoise bycatch estimates for 
January through December 1998 and January through April of 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send information requests to: Donna Wieting, Marine Mammal 
Division, Office of Protected Resources (F/PR2), National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-
3226, Attn: Harbor

[[Page 47172]]

Porpoise Bycatch Estimates. Copies of the information may also be 
requested from Richard Merrick, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 
Water St., Woods Hole, MA 02543; or Doug Beach, Northeast Regional 
Office (F/NER3), One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Wieting, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, at (301) 713-2322, ext. 157; Richard Merrick, 
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, (508) 495-2291; or Doug Beach, 
Northeast Region, (978) 281-9254.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS implemented a plan in December of 1998 
to reduce harbor porpoise bycatch in the Northeast sink gillnet fishery 
to below the Potential Biological Removal (PBR) level for that stock. 
The Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan includes a combination of 
management measures including fishery closures and gear modifications. 
The Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan aims to reduce New England 
harbor porpoise takes through two types of gillnet fishery closures: 
(1) Closures to all vessels except those using acoustic deterrent 
devices (or ``pingers'') and (2) In a limited number of cases, complete 
closures to all sink gillnet gear.
    NMFS is hereby making available harbor porpoise incidental take 
levels for 1998 and the months of January through April of 1999, as 
estimated by NMFS' Northeast Fisheries Science Center.
    For 1998, the total estimated bycatch of harbor porpoise was 778 
animals. For January through April of 1999, total estimated bycatch of 
harbor porpoise was 157 animals (104 in the Gulf of Maine and 53 in the 
Mid-Atlantic). NMFS considers the numbers to be the best estimates of 
harbor porpoise mortality in gillnet fisheries in the Gulf of Maine and 
the Mid-Atlantic during the time frames specified.
    NMFS will make information publicly available on harbor porpoise 
incidental take on a calendar-year quarterly basis through the end of 
the year 2001. Notification of the information availability will be 
published in the Federal Register on an annual basis.
    This information along with other material provided by NMFS staff 
will be reviewed by the Gulf of Maine Harbor Porpoise Team to evaluate 
what further action may be necessary for the coming year.

    Dated: August 23, 1999.
Andrew A. Rosenberg,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 99-22467 Filed 8-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F