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[Federal Register: June 3, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 040594D]
Marine Mammals; Gray Whale Research and Monitoring Plan
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of report availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: On January 7, 1993, NMFS made a determination that the eastern
North Pacific (California) stock of gray whale (Eschrictius robustus)
had recovered and should be removed from the List of Endangered and
Threatened Wildlife (List) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Section 4(g) requires NMFS to implement a system to monitor the status,
for at least 5 years, of any species that has recovered and is removed
from the List. This notice announces the availability of the draft Gray
Whale Research and Monitoring Plan (Plan), that was prepared under
section 4(g) of the ESA, for review and comment.
DATES: Comments on the Plan must be postmarked by August 2, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Send comments on the Plan to William W. Fox, Jr., Director,
Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1335
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3226. A copy of the Plan is
available from this address or by telephoning the individual listed
below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth R. Hollingshead, Office of
Protected Resources, 301/713-2055.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NMFS issued a proposed determination on November 22, 1991 (56 FR
58869) that the California population of gray whales should be removed
from the List. After a 104-day comment period, NMFS issued a final
determination on January 7, 1993 (58 FR 3121).
Under section 4(a) of the ESA, NMFS has the responsibility to
monitor the status of the California gray whale for a period of at
least 5 years following delisting. The purpose of monitoring
populations following delisting is to evaluate the validity of the
status determination used in the delisting process and to determine
whether the status of the population has deteriorated within a 5-year
period subsequent to delisting. If at any time during this period NMFS
finds that the species' well-being is at risk, the ESA (section
4(b)(7)) requires NMFS to issue emergency protective regulations to
ensure the conservation of the species.
NMFS is making available for comment its proposed Plan. The Plan
was developed by the staff of the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in
coordination with the NMFS Gray Whale Monitoring Task Group, which is
composed of scientists and managers who have specific responsibilities
for coordinating activities involving gray whales. The Task Group was
asked to develop a plan, monitor research activities after the plan is
implemented, and also to serve as a quick response advisory team in the
event of any catastrophic event affecting gray whales.
The following research is recommended for the first 5-year
monitoring plan, in order of priority:
(1) Estimation of abundance from biennial surveys (or other
appropriate sampling period) during the southbound migration;
(2) Estimation of calf production during the northbound migration;
(3) Determination of potential biases in methods used to estimate
abundance and calf production;
(4) Determination of trends in pregnancy rates from animals taken
in any subsistence harvests that may be conducted by Russia on behalf
of its natives in Siberian Arctic;
(5) Estimation of the number of animals killed in any subsistence
harvests that may be conducted by Russia on behalf of its natives in
Siberian Arctic;
(6) Use of Bayesian synthesis to evaluate current status of the
population;
(7) Determination of the degree to which anthropogenic factors
(e.g., chemical contaminants, marine noise) may compromise the
viability of this population (including its habitat).
Dated: May 25, 1994.
William W. Fox, Jr.,
Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-13499 Filed 6-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
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