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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 106 / Friday, June 4, 2021 / Proposed Rules gear type but may include the use of weak links, and gear marking and configuration specifications. Detailed requirements may be found in the regional guides to gillnet and pot/trap gear fisheries available at: http
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/
Protected/whaletrp/.
Of the species/stocks of concern in the ALWTRP, the NEFSC has requested the authorization of incidental M/SI
harassment for the minke whale only see Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment later in this document.
The Bottlenose Dolphin Take Reduction PlanThe goal of this plan is to reduce M/SI of coastal bottlenose dolphins incidental to the North Carolina inshore gillnet, Southeast Atlantic gillnet, Southeastern U.S. shark gillnet, U.S. Mid-Atlantic coastal gillnet, Atlantic blue crab trap/pot, MidAtlantic haul/beach seine, North Carolina long haul seine, North Carolina roe mullet stop net, and Virginia pound net fisheries 71 FR 24776, April 26, 2006. The following general requirements were implemented:
Spatial/temporal gillnet restrictions, gear proximity fishermen must stay within a set distance of gear, gear modifications, non-regulatory conservation measures, and a revision to the large mesh gillnet size restriction.
Detailed requirements may be found at:
http www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/
interactions/trt/bdtrp.htm.
Of the species/stocks of concern in the take reduction plan, the NEFSC has requested the authorization of incidental M/SI for two stocks of bottlenose dolphins, one of which belongs to a coastal stock covered in the take reduction plan see Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment later in this document.
The Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction PlanThe goal of this plan is to reduce interactions between harbor porpoises and commercial gillnet gear fisheries in the New England and the Mid-Atlantic areas. Management includes seasonal time and area closures that correspond with peak seasonal abundances of harbor porpoises and gear modification requirements such as the use of pingers, floatline length, twine size, tie downs, net size, net number, and numbers of nets per string. Detailed requirements may be found at: http
www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/
protected/porptrp/.
The NEFSC has requested the authorization of incidental M/SI
harassment for harbor porpoises see Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment later in this document.
The Pelagic Longline Take Reduction PlanThe plan addresses M/SI of long-

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finned and short-finned pilot whales as well as Rissos, common, and Atlantic white-sided dolphins in commercial pelagic longline fishing gear in the Atlantic. Regulatory measures include limiting mainline length to 20 nautical miles or less within the Mid-Atlantic Bight and posting an informational placard on careful handling and release of marine mammals in the wheelhouse and on working decks of the vessel.
Detailed requirements are on the internet at: http www.greateratlantic.
fisheries.noaa.gov/Protected/mmp/
atgtrp/.
Of the species/stocks of concern in the take reduction plan, the NEFSC has requested the authorization of incidental M/SI harassment for Rissos, common, Atlantic spotted dolphin, and Atlantic white-sided dolphins see Estimated Take by Incidental Harassment later in this document.
Unusual Mortality Events UME
The MMPA defines a UME as a stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response. From 1991 to the present, there have been 22 formally recognized UMEs in the Atlantic coast region involving species under NMFS
jurisdiction. Four of those 22 UME are currently open and involve the following species: North Atlantic right whales NARWs, humpback whales, minke whales, and harbor and gray seals.
NARW UMEBeginning in 2017, elevated mortalities in NARWs have been documented, primarily in Canada but some in the U.S. and were collectively declared an Unusual Mortality Event UME. In 2017, there were a total of 17 confirmed dead stranded whales 12 in Canada; 5 in the United States and in 2018, three confirmed dead stranded whales in the United States. In 2019, nine dead whales stranded in Canada, and one dead whale stranded in the United States. In 2020, two mortalities were documented. To date in 2021, two mortalities has been documented. The current total confirmed mortalities for the UME are 34 dead stranded whales 21 in Canada; 13 in the United States, and the leading category for the cause of death for this UME is human interaction, specifically from entanglements or vessel strikes.
Additionally, since 2017, 15 live freeswimming non-stranded whales have been documented with serious injuries from entanglements or vessel strikes.
More information on this UME can be found at https
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/
marine-life-distress/2017-2021-north-

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Atlantic Humpback Whale UME
Since January 2016, elevated humpback whale mortalities have occurred along the Atlantic coast from Maine through Florida. In total, 147 whales have stranded along the eastern seaboard.
The majority of strandings have occurred from the Outer Banks, NC to Massachusetts. Partial or full necropsy examinations were conducted on approximately half of the whales. Of the whales examined, about 50 percent had evidence of human interaction, either ship strike or entanglement. More information on this UME can be found at https www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-life-distress/2016-2021humpback-whale-unusual-mortalityevent-along-atlantic-coast.
Atlantic Minke Whale UMESince January 2017, elevated minke whale mortalities have occurred along the Atlantic coast from Maine through South Carolina. In total 105 whales have stranded, the majority along the New England coast. More information on this UME can be found at https
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/
marine-life-distress/2017-2021-minkewhale-unusual-mortality-event-alongatlantic-coast.
Northeast Pinniped UMESince July 2018, elevated numbers of harbor seal and gray seal mortalities have occurred across Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Additionally, seals showing clinical signs have stranded as far south as Virginia, although not in elevated numbers, therefore the UME
investigation now encompasses all seal strandings from Maine to Virginia. In total, 3,152 seals have stranded along the mid-Atlantic and New England coast. Full or partial necropsy examinations have been conducted on some of the seals and samples have been collected for testing. Based on tests conducted so far, the main pathogen found in the seals is phocine distemper virus. More information about this UME
can be found at https
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-englandmid-atlantic/marine-life-distress/20182020-pinniped-unusual-mortality-eventalong.
Of these species involved in active UMEs, the NEFSC has requested, and we propose to authorize, the incidental take, by mortality or serious injury, of minke whales, and harbor and gray seals. The NEFSC has also requested, and we are proposing to authorize, take by Level B harassment for each of these species incidental to the use of active acoustic equipment during fisheries and ecosystem research. See Estimated Take later in this document for more
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