[Federal Register: June 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 112)]
[Notices]
[Page 32732-32734]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn08-67]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R9-FHC-2008-N0085; 80221-1113-0000-L5]
Marine Mammal Protection Act; Stock Assessment Report
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of draft revised marine mammal stock
assessment report for the southern sea otter in California; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA),
the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has developed a draft revised
marine mammal stock assessment report for the southern sea otter
(Enhydra lutris nereis) stock in the State of California, which is
available for public review and comment.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 8, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft revised stock assessment report for the
southern sea otter in California are available from the Field
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife
Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003; (805) 644-1766.
It can also be viewed in Adobe Acrobat by navigating to the species
information page for the southern sea otter at http://www.fws.gov/
ventura.
If you wish to submit comments on the draft revised stock
assessment report for the southern sea otter in California, you may do
so by any of the following methods:
1. You may mail or hand-deliver (during normal business hours)
written comments to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B,
Ventura, CA 93003.
2. You may fax your comments to (805) 644-3958.
3. You may send comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to
fw8ssostock@fws.gov.
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) a minimum
population estimate, maximum net productivity rate, and current
population trend; (3) an estimate of human-caused mortality and serious
injury; (4) a description of commercial fishery interactions; (5) the
status of the stock; and (6) the 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
(Nmin), one-half the maximum theoretical or estimated net
productivity rate of the stock at a small population size
(Rmax); and a recovery factor (Fr) 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 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 report for southern
sea otters
[[Page 32733]]
in California is presented in Table 1. The table lists the stock's
Nmin, Rmax, Fr, PBR, annual estimated
human-caused mortality and serious injury, and status. After
consideration of any public comments received, the Service will revise
the stock assessment, as appropriate. We will publish a notice of
availability and summary of the final stock assessment, including
responses to comments we 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 Report for the Southern Sea Otter in California
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Annual estimated average human-
Stock NMIN RMAX FR PBR caused mortality Stock status
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Southern sea otters:
Mainland California................ 3,026 0.06 0.1 9 Unknown........................ Strategic.
Mainland California San Nicolas 41 0.09 0.1 0 Unknown........................ Strategic.
Island (CA).
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List of References
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Toxicology and Chemistry 18(3):452-458.
Bryant, H.C. 1915. Sea otters near Point Sur. California Department
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cetacean mortality in California/Oregon gillnet fisheries for 1999.
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Jameson, R.J., and S. Jeffries. 1999. Results of the 1999 survey of
the Washington sea otter population. Unpublished report. 5 pp.
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the reintroduced Washington sea otter population. Unpublished
report. 6 pp.
Kannan, K., E. Perrotta, and N.J. Thomas. 2006. Association between
perfluorinated compounds and pathological conditions in southern sea
otters. Environmental Science & Technology 40:4943-4948.
Kannan, K., E. Perrotta, N.J. Thomas, and K.M. Aldous. 2007. A
comparative analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and
polychlorinated biphenyls in southern sea otters that died of
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Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 53:293-302.
Kannan K., K.S. Guruge, N.J. Thomas, S. Tanabe, J.P. Giesy. 1998.
Butyltin residues in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis)
found dead along California coastal waters. Environmental Science
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2003. Patterns of mortality in southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris
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Kreuder, C., M.A. Miller, L.J. Lowenstine, P.A. Conrad, T.E.
Carpenter, D.A. Jessup, and J.A.K. Mazet. 2005. Evaluation of
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estimation of carrying capacity for sea otters along the California
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Giesy. 1998. Accumulation pattern of organochlorine pesticides and
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103:45-53.
Ralls, K., T.C. Eagle, and D.B. Siniff. 1996. Movement and
spatial use patterns of California sea otters. Canadian Journal of
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Riedman, M.L., and J.A. Estes. 1990. The sea otter (Enhydra
lutris): behavior, ecology, and natural history. U.S. Fish and
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Riedman, M.L., J.A. Estes, M.M. Staedler, A.A. Giles, and D.R.
Carlson. 1994. Breeding patterns and reproductive success of
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Sanchez, M.S. 1992. Differentiation and variability of
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Siniff, D.B., and K. Ralls. 1991. Reproduction, survival, and
tag loss in
[[Page 32734]]
California sea otters. Marine Mammal Science 7(3):211-229.
Siniff, D.B., T.D. Williams, A.M. Johnson, and D.L. Garshelis.
1982. Experiments on the response of sea otters, Enhydra lutris, to
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leads to behavioral diversification and dietary specialization in
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and D.P. Costa. 2006. Population Dynamics and Biology of the
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Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara,
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the accidental take of sea otters, Enhydra lutris, in gill and
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Dated: June 3, 2008.
H. Dale Hall,
Director, Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E8-12890 Filed 6-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P