Specif ^f Cnmjients 



rnnrth paragraph: Thi= paragraph notes that leatherbacX 



^fi^ftli-r a^r: ZlnTrTle to cntSnglli^nt in fishing nets and 

 f^h=^^no? lines Although fishing nets and lobster pot lines 



:t^r?o\T:ore=^pp?:prt^te°^n^^:^:e=tion entitled -Hu^an 

 Activities" rather than here. 



paragraph discusses informa tion on the status and b^°l°?y °' 



T''4 lTo'r^.l\TllTls 5^f h:SpE:r.^e^a!er^^a^^e"louna 



:ryerr't^"Ha:^i=hrse??:^Bty While over 500 indi^ 

 „ay hLe been i^^-tif ied fro. the Stellwagen Bank^system^over^.^^ 



past several years, there is ^ J"^^^^°\i,3t 550 different whales 

 The paragraph also should be expanded to discuss the 



by individual humpback whales. 



^fied relate of^300-350 Whales for th^^^^^ 



^?''6of animus for t^co^Iined North Atlantic and North Pacific 

 pcpu?attonsiay significantly overestimate the total number 

 S«»,t^fi^ is indicated in the enclosed draft Right Whale 

 R^^oveS ka^ ^e No^ Pacific population may. well "umber only 

 a few^ns of animals and the total number of right whales in 

 Sot^ the North Pacific and the North Atlantic may number as few 

 as 400 aninals. 



Without benefit of supporting references, the paragraph also 

 suggests a seasonal presence of at least 100 right whales in the 

 Stellwagen Bank area. While we are aware of information 

 suggesting that much, if not most, of the North Atlantic right 

 whale population may migrate through the Great South Channel, SO- 

 TO miles southeast of the proposed sanctuary, it is our 

 understanding that the number of annual right whale sightings 

 around Stellwagen Bank itself is much smaller and appears to 

 reflect repeated sightings of a comparatively small number of 

 individuals. Messrs. Scott Kraus and Robert Kenney, in a report 

 which they have almost finished for the Commission, summarize 

 right whale sightings over the past 20 years in the Cape Cod 

 Bay/Massachusetts Bay area. Including Stellwagen Bank, and in the 

 Great South Channel. In the next few weeks, we shall send you 

 the final report. It nay be helpful to you in accurately 

 describing the occurrence of right whales within and around the 

 proposed sanctuary. 



The statement should also note that the area southwest of 

 the proposed sanctuary in Cape Cod Bay may be particularly 

 important as a spring nursery area for right whales. In this 

 respect, the report by Kraus and Kenney indicates that 75 percent 

 of the calves observed in the North Atlantic in 1986 (9 of 12 

 animals) were seen in the Cape Cod Bay/Massachusetts Bay area 

 (mostly southwest of the proposed sanctuary) . 



Page 39. First Paragr?nh . Northern Right Whal es: This paragraph 

 notes that the Massachusetts/Cape Cod Bay area is one of live 

 known high-use areas for northern right whales. A petition has 

 been submitted to designate this area as critical habitat for 

 -right whales under the Endangered Species Act and it should be 

 noted that the suggested boundaries overlap a small part of the 



6 . As noted throughout the FEIS , _ NOAA 

 intends to involve the NEFMC and* other 

 fishermen's organizations in Sanctuary 

 operations, e.g., via representation on 

 the Sanctuary Advisory Committee. 



7. Comment noted. References in the FEIS 

 have been corrected and revised. 



8. Specific comments noted. Changes 

 and/or corrections have been made at 

 appropriate locations in the FEIS. 



Page G33 



