Taking of Marine Mammals Incidental to Commercial Fishing Operations; Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Regulations

NMFS issues this final rule to amend the regulations that implement the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (ALWTRP) to identify gear modifications that sufficiently reduce the risk of entanglement to western North Atlantic right whales (right whales) under the Dynamic Area Management (DAM) program and, as such, allows NMFS to utilize the option of allowing gear with certain modifications within a DAM zone. Specifically, NMFS identifies anchored gillnet and lobster trap/pot gear modifications that could be allowed within a DAM zone. This final rule includes a provision to correct and clarify the regulations implementing the Seasonal Area Management (SAM) program with respect to lobster trap gear in Northern Inshore State Lobster Waters and Northern Nearshore Lobster Waters that overlap with a SAM area.