80 FR 25609 - Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North and South Atlantic 2015 Commercial Swordfish Quotas
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 86 (May 5, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 86 (May 5, 2015)
| Page Range | 25609-25611 | |
| FR Document | 2015-10465 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 25609-25611] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-10465] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 [Docket No. 150116050-5375-02] RIN 0648-XD726 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North and South Atlantic 2015 Commercial Swordfish Quotas AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This final rule adjusts the 2015 fishing season quotas for North and South Atlantic swordfish based upon 2014 quota underharvests and international quota transfers consistent with International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) Recommendations 13-02 and 13-03. This final rule applies to commercial and recreational fishing for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. This action implements ICCAT recommendations, consistent with the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and furthers domestic management objectives under the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). DATES: Effective on June 4, 2015. ADDRESSES: Copies of the supporting documents--including the 2012 Environmental Assessment (EA), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) for North Atlantic swordfish; the 2007 EA, RIR, and FRFA for South Atlantic swordfish; and the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) and associated documents--are available from the HMS Management Division Web site at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or by contacting Andrew Rubin by phone at 301-427-8503 or Steve Durkee by phone at 202-670-6637. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Rubin by phone at 301-427-8503, Steve Durkee by phone at 202-670-6637. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery is managed under the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP. Implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 635 are issued under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., and ATCA, 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq. ATCA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to promulgate regulations as may be necessary and appropriate to implement ICCAT recommendations. For North Atlantic swordfish, this final action maintains the U.S. baseline quota of 2,937.6 metric tons (mt) dressed weight (dw) and implements an ICCAT-recommended quota transfer of 18.8 mt dw from the United States to Mauritania. For South Atlantic swordfish, this action maintains the U.S. South Atlantic swordfish quota at 75.2 mt dw (100 mt whole weight (ww)), carries over 75.1 mt dw of 2014 underharvest, and authorizes the transfer of 50 mt ww (37.6 mt dw) to Namibia, 25 mt ww (18.8 mt dw) to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, and 25 mt ww (18.8 mt dw) to Belize, consistent with ICCAT Recommendation 13-03. Information regarding the quota calculations can be found below. Additional details regarding the quotas and other actions in this rule and their impacts can be found in the proposed rule (80 FR 8838, February 19, 2015). North Atlantic Swordfish Quota At the 2013 ICCAT annual meeting, Recommendation 13-02 was adopted, maintaining the North Atlantic swordfish total allowable catch (TAC) of 10,301 metric tons (mt) dressed weight (dw) (13,700 mt whole weight (ww)) through 2016. Of this TAC, the United States' baseline quota is 2,937.6 mt dw (3,907 mt ww) per year. ICCAT Recommendation 13-02 also includes an 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) annual quota transfer from the United States to Mauritania and limits allowable 2014 and any future underharvest carryover to 15 percent of a contracting party's baseline quota. Therefore, the United States may carry over a maximum of 440.6 mt dw (585.9 mt ww) of underharvest from 2014 to 2015. This final rule adjusts the U.S. baseline quota for the 2015 fishing year to account for the annual quota transfer to Mauritania and the 2014 underharvest. The 2015 North Atlantic swordfish baseline quota is 2,937.6 mt dw (3,907 mt ww). The preliminary estimate of North Atlantic swordfish underharvest for 2014 is 2,395.6 mt dw (3,186.1 mt ww). Even without including an estimate of dead discards, the estimated underharvest is larger than the maximum carryover cap (440.6 mt dw or 585.9 mt ww). Therefore, as proposed, NMFS is carrying forward 440.6 mt dw, the maximum carryover allowed per Recommendation 13-02. Additionally, this final rule reduces the 2,937.6 mt dw baseline quota by the 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) annual quota transfer to Mauritania. These two changes result in an adjusted North Atlantic swordfish quota for the 2015 fishing year of 3,359.4 mt dw (2,937.6 baseline quota + 440.6 underharvest -18.8 transfer to Mauritania = 3,359.4 mt dw or 4467.47 mt ww). From that adjusted quota, 50 mt dw is allocated to the reserve category for in season adjustments and research, and 300 mt dw is allocated to the incidental category, which includes recreational landings and landings by incidental swordfish permit holders, per Sec. 635.27(c)(1)(i). This results in an allocation of 3,009.4 mt dw (3,359.4 adjusted quota -50 to the reserve quota--300 mt dw to the incidental quota = 3,009.4 mt dw) for the directed category, which is split equally between two seasons in 2015 (January through June, and July through December) (Table 1). South Atlantic Swordfish Quota In 2013, ICCAT Recommendation 13-03 established the South Atlantic swordfish TAC at 11,278.2 mt dw (15,000 mt ww) for 2014, 2015, and 2016. Of this, the United States receives 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww). Recommendation 13-03 limits the amount of South Atlantic swordfish underharvest that can be carried forward, and the United States may carry forward up to 100 percent of its baseline quota (75.2 mt dw). Recommendation 13-03 also included a total of 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww) of quota transfers from the United States to other countries. These transfers were 37.6 mt dw (50 mt ww) to Namibia, 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) to C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, and 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) to Belize. [[Page 25610]] In 2014, U.S. fishermen landed no South Atlantic swordfish according to data available as of December 31, 2014. The adjusted 2014 South Atlantic swordfish quota was 75.1 mt dw due to nominal landings the previous year. Therefore, 75.1 mt dw of underharvest is available to carry over to 2015. NMFS is carrying forward 75.1 mt dw to be added to the 75.2 mt dw baseline quota. The quota is then reduced by the 75.2 mt dw of annual international quota transfers outlined above, resulting in an adjusted South Atlantic swordfish quota of 75.1 mt dw for the 2015 fishing year. Table 1--2015 North and South Atlantic Swordfish Quotas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2014 2015 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- North Atlantic Swordfish Quota (mt dw) Baseline Quota.............. 2,937.6.............................. 2,937.6 International Quota Transfer (-)18.8 (to Mauritania).............. (-)18.8 (to Mauritania) Total Underharvest from 1,337.4.............................. 2,395.6 Previous Year +. Underharvest Carryover from (+)734.4............................. (+)440.6 Previous Year +. Adjusted Quota.............. 3,653.2.............................. 3,359.4 Quota Allocation............ Directed Category....... 3,303.2.............................. 3,009.4 Incidental Category..... 300.................................. 300 Reserve Category........ 50................................... 50 South Atlantic Swordfish Quota (mt dw) Baseline Quota.............. 75.2................................. 75.2 International Quota (-)75.2.............................. (-)75.2 Transfers *. Total Underharvest from 75.1................................. 75.1 Previous Year +. Underharvest Carryover from 75.1................................. 75.1 Previous Year +. Adjusted quota.............. 75.1................................. 75.1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + Allowable underharvest carryover is capped at 15 percent of the baseline quota allocation for the North Atlantic and 75.2 dw (100 mt ww) for the South Atlantic. The available 2014 underharvest is based on data received from commercial dealers and anglers; it does not include dead discards, late reports, or changes to the data as a result of quality control adjustments. * Under Recommendation 13-03, the United States transfers 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww) annually to Namibia (37.6 mt dw, 50 mt ww), C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire (18.8 mt dw, 25 mt ww), and Belize (18.8 mt dw, 25 mt ww). Response to Comments During the proposed rule comment period, NMFS received four written comments, three of which were directly related to the proposed rule. NMFS also heard comments during a discussion on the rule held at the HMS Advisory Panel meeting on March 10, 2015. A summary of the relevant comments on the proposed rule are shown below with NMFS' response. One written comment requested the general protection of fish, which is not specifically relevant to this rulemaking. All written comments submitted during the comment period can be found at http://www.regulations.gov/ by searching for NOAA-NMFS-2015-0023. Comment 1: Close the swordfish fishery because of overfishing. Response: According to the latest ICCAT Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS) stock assessment (2013), the stock is not overfished and no overfishing is taking place. Since the baseline adjusted quotas established through ICCAT are within the TAC established by the stock assessment, this action is unlikely to lead to overfishing. Therefore, NMFS does not make the change requested by the commenter. Comment 2: NMFS received contrasting comments regarding the underharvest carryover. One commenter said that no underharvest should be carried over into the 2015 quota. Other commenters stated that underharvest carryovers should not be limited to 15 percent of the baseline quota, and further specified that the underharvest carryover does not provide enough flexibility to account for unforeseen environmental and economic fluctuations and only affects the United States since most other countries fully utilize their allocation. That commenter felt the restriction of the carryover of underharvested quota is inconsistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and Atlantic Tuna Convention Act (ATCA) by not allowing for optimum yield or providing a reasonable opportunity to harvest U.S. quota. Response: Carrying over underharvest into the following year's quota provides flexibility to adjust to environmental and economic fluctuations. These fluctuations may result in fishermen not catching their full quota in a given year, but the carryover provides the opportunity to benefit from part of that underharvest in the subsequent year. Currently, the United States does not utilize the entire base quota from ICCAT, thus, the underharvest carryover limit is unlikely to affect domestic access to the resource in the short term. Because the current carryover limit is unlikely to affect domestic access to the resource, NMFS is not changing the current limit as requested by the commenter. Regarding the concerns that the underharvest carryover limit affects U.S. fishermen's opportunity to harvest the U.S. quota at optimum yield, ICCAT adopted the limited underharvest carryover provision to help ensure that MSY is not exceeded. The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires preventing overfishing while achieving on a continuing basis optimum yield. Optimum yield itself is prescribed based on MSY as reduced by ecological and other factors. The carryover limit is consistent with the MSA and with ATCA, which provides that quotas adopted at ICCAT cannot be increased or decreased. Furthermore, we note that for the past decade, the domestic fishery has neither utilized the entire U.S. quota allocation nor has it harvested it at a level to be impacted by an underharvest carryover limit. Comment 3: While NMFS should implement the current ICCAT swordfish quota recommendations, the next time the swordfish recommendations are negotiated at ICCAT, the United States should change its position. No U.S. quota should be transferred to other countries unless the United States receives something in return since these transfers help develop new fisheries that are not as conservation-minded as U.S. fisheries. Furthermore, landings under the international quota transfers should be credited as U.S. landings. Response: NMFS agrees that it should implement the quota measures in Recommendations 13-02 and 13-03 to comply with ICCAT measures. Under ATCA, the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary [[Page 25611]] and appropriate to carry out ICCAT recommendations, and the regulations as finalized appropriately carry out ICCAT recommendations regarding the North Atlantic swordfish stock while meeting NMFS's legal obligations and management needs. In the future, when negotiating swordfish recommendations at ICCAT, the United States will consider the state of the domestic fishery at that time to balance the needs of both U.S. fishermen and the environment. Comment 4: The U.S. fisheries are not harvesting part of its swordfish quota due to domestic regulations such as the time/area closures for pelagic longline gear. NMFS should reopen these areas to fishermen who are using circle hooks and following best practices. NMFS should reinstate the 33 pound minimum size for Atlantic swordfish. Response: This rule addresses quota specifications only; time/area closures and other management measure are beyond the scope of this action. Changes From the Proposed Rule The final rule contains no changes from the proposed rule, except for minor landings updates based on more recent 2014 landings reports. Classification Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator has determined that the final rule is consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and its amendments, other provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and other applicable law. This final action is exempt from the procedures of E.O. 12866 because this action contains no implementing regulations. The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The factual basis for the certification was published in the proposed rule and is not repeated here. No comments were received regarding this certification. As a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis was not required and none was prepared. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: April 29, 2015. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-10465 Filed 5-4-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 25609
(b) * * * 2007 EA, RIR, and FRFA for South to 15 percent of a contracting party’s
(8) Each transmitter in a Travelers’ Atlantic swordfish; and the 2006 baseline quota. Therefore, the United
Information Station shall be equipped Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory States may carry over a maximum of
with an audio low-pass filter. Such filter Species (HMS) Fishery Management 440.6 mt dw (585.9 mt ww) of
shall be installed either at the Plan (FMP) and associated documents— underharvest from 2014 to 2015. This
transmitter’s audio input or between the are available from the HMS final rule adjusts the U.S. baseline quota
modulation limiter and the modulated Management Division Web site at for the 2015 fishing year to account for
stage. At audio frequencies between 5 http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/ or the annual quota transfer to Mauritania
kHz and 20 kHz this filter shall have an by contacting Andrew Rubin by phone and the 2014 underharvest.
attenuation greater than the attenuation at 301–427–8503 or Steve Durkee by The 2015 North Atlantic swordfish
at 1 kHz by at least: phone at 202–670–6637. baseline quota is 2,937.6 mt dw (3,907
83 log10 (f/5) decibels. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
mt ww). The preliminary estimate of
where ‘‘f’’ is the audio frequency in kHz. Andrew Rubin by phone at 301–427– North Atlantic swordfish underharvest
At audio frequencies above 20 kHz, 8503, Steve Durkee by phone at 202– for 2014 is 2,395.6 mt dw (3,186.1 mt
the attenuation shall be at least 50 670–6637. ww). Even without including an
decibels greater than the estimate of dead discards, the estimated
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: underharvest is larger than the
attenuation at 1 kHz.
Background maximum carryover cap (440.6 mt dw
* * * * * or 585.9 mt ww). Therefore, as
[FR Doc. 2015–10471 Filed 5–4–15; 8:45 am] The U.S. Atlantic swordfish fishery is proposed, NMFS is carrying forward
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P managed under the 2006 Consolidated 440.6 mt dw, the maximum carryover
HMS FMP. Implementing regulations at allowed per Recommendation 13–02.
50 CFR part 635 are issued under the Additionally, this final rule reduces the
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 2,937.6 mt dw baseline quota by the
16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., and ATCA, 16 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) annual quota
National Oceanic and Atmospheric U.S.C. 971 et seq. ATCA authorizes the transfer to Mauritania. These two
Administration Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to changes result in an adjusted North
promulgate regulations as may be Atlantic swordfish quota for the 2015
50 CFR Part 635 necessary and appropriate to implement fishing year of 3,359.4 mt dw (2,937.6
ICCAT recommendations. baseline quota + 440.6 underharvest
[Docket No. 150116050–5375–02] For North Atlantic swordfish, this ¥18.8 transfer to Mauritania = 3,359.4
RIN 0648–XD726 final action maintains the U.S. baseline mt dw or 4467.47 mt ww). From that
quota of 2,937.6 metric tons (mt) adjusted quota, 50 mt dw is allocated to
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; dressed weight (dw) and implements an the reserve category for in season
North and South Atlantic 2015 ICCAT-recommended quota transfer of adjustments and research, and 300 mt
Commercial Swordfish Quotas 18.8 mt dw from the United States to dw is allocated to the incidental
Mauritania. For South Atlantic category, which includes recreational
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries swordfish, this action maintains the
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and landings and landings by incidental
U.S. South Atlantic swordfish quota at swordfish permit holders, per
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 75.2 mt dw (100 mt whole weight (ww)),
Commerce. § 635.27(c)(1)(i). This results in an
carries over 75.1 mt dw of 2014 allocation of 3,009.4 mt dw (3,359.4
ACTION: Final rule. underharvest, and authorizes the adjusted quota ¥50 to the reserve
transfer of 50 mt ww (37.6 mt dw) to quota—300 mt dw to the incidental
SUMMARY: This final rule adjusts the
Namibia, 25 mt ww (18.8 mt dw) to Côte quota = 3,009.4 mt dw) for the directed
2015 fishing season quotas for North
d’Ivoire, and 25 mt ww (18.8 mt dw) to category, which is split equally between
and South Atlantic swordfish based
Belize, consistent with ICCAT two seasons in 2015 (January through
upon 2014 quota underharvests and
Recommendation 13–03. Information June, and July through December) (Table
international quota transfers consistent
regarding the quota calculations can be 1).
with International Commission for the
found below. Additional details
Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) South Atlantic Swordfish Quota
regarding the quotas and other actions
Recommendations 13–02 and 13–03.
in this rule and their impacts can be In 2013, ICCAT Recommendation 13–
This final rule applies to commercial 03 established the South Atlantic
found in the proposed rule (80 FR 8838,
and recreational fishing for swordfish in swordfish TAC at 11,278.2 mt dw
February 19, 2015).
the Atlantic Ocean, including the (15,000 mt ww) for 2014, 2015, and
Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. This North Atlantic Swordfish Quota 2016. Of this, the United States receives
action implements ICCAT At the 2013 ICCAT annual meeting, 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww).
recommendations, consistent with the Recommendation 13–02 was adopted, Recommendation 13–03 limits the
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), maintaining the North Atlantic amount of South Atlantic swordfish
and furthers domestic management swordfish total allowable catch (TAC) of underharvest that can be carried
objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens 10,301 metric tons (mt) dressed weight forward, and the United States may
Fishery Conservation and Management (dw) (13,700 mt whole weight (ww)) carry forward up to 100 percent of its
Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). through 2016. Of this TAC, the United baseline quota (75.2 mt dw).
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
DATES: Effective on June 4, 2015. States’ baseline quota is 2,937.6 mt dw Recommendation 13–03 also included a
ADDRESSES: Copies of the supporting (3,907 mt ww) per year. ICCAT total of 75.2 mt dw (100 mt ww) of
documents—including the 2012 Recommendation 13–02 also includes quota transfers from the United States to
Environmental Assessment (EA), an 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) annual quota other countries. These transfers were
Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), and transfer from the United States to 37.6 mt dw (50 mt ww) to Namibia, 18.8
Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Mauritania and limits allowable 2014 mt dw (25 mt ww) to Côte d’Ivoire, and
(FRFA) for North Atlantic swordfish; the and any future underharvest carryover 18.8 mt dw (25 mt ww) to Belize.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 86 / Tuesday, May 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 25611
and appropriate to carry out ICCAT Dated: April 29, 2015. Director, Pacific Fishery Management
recommendations, and the regulations Samuel D. Rauch III, Council, 7700 NE Ambassador Place,
as finalized appropriately carry out Deputy Assistant Administrator for Suite 101, Portland, OR 97220–1384,
ICCAT recommendations regarding the Regulatory Programs, National Marine and are posted on the Pacific Fishery
North Atlantic swordfish stock while Fisheries Service. Management Council’s (Council’s) Web
meeting NMFS’s legal obligations and [FR Doc. 2015–10465 Filed 5–4–15; 8:45 am] site (www.pcouncil.org).
management needs. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
In the future, when negotiating Peggy Mundy at 206–526–4323, or Heidi
swordfish recommendations at ICCAT, Taylor at 562–980–4039.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
the United States will consider the state SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
of the domestic fishery at that time to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Background
balance the needs of both U.S. Administration
The ocean salmon fisheries in the EEZ
fishermen and the environment.
50 CFR Part 660 off Washington, Oregon, and California
Comment 4: The U.S. fisheries are not are managed under a ‘‘framework’’
harvesting part of its swordfish quota [Docket No. 150316270–5270–01] fishery management plan entitled the
due to domestic regulations such as the RIN 0648–XD843 Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery
time/area closures for pelagic longline Management Plan (Salmon FMP).
gear. NMFS should reopen these areas Fisheries Off West Coast States; West Regulations at 50 CFR part 660, subpart
to fishermen who are using circle hooks Coast Salmon Fisheries; 2015 H, provide the mechanism for making
and following best practices. NMFS Management Measures preseason and inseason adjustments to
should reinstate the 33 pound minimum the management measures, within limits
size for Atlantic swordfish. AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries set by the Salmon FMP, by notification
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and in the Federal Register.
Response: This rule addresses quota Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The management measures for the
specifications only; time/area closures Commerce. 2015 and pre-May 2016 ocean salmon
and other management measure are ACTION: Final rule. fisheries that are implemented in this
beyond the scope of this action. final rule were recommended by the
SUMMARY: Through this final rule NMFS Council at its April 10 to 16, 2015,
Changes From the Proposed Rule establishes fishery management meeting.
The final rule contains no changes measures for the 2015 ocean salmon
from the proposed rule, except for fisheries off Washington, Oregon, and Process Used To Establish 2015
minor landings updates based on more California and the 2016 salmon seasons Management Measures
recent 2014 landings reports. opening earlier than May 1, 2016. The Council announced its annual
Specific fishery management measures preseason management process for the
Classification vary by fishery and by area. The 2015 ocean salmon fisheries in the
measures establish fishing areas, Federal Register on December 31, 2014
Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens seasons, quotas, legal gear, recreational
Act, the NMFS Assistant Administrator (79 FR 78805), and on the Council’s
fishing days and catch limits, Web site at (www.pcouncil.org). NMFS
has determined that the final rule is possession and landing restrictions, and published an additional notice of
consistent with the 2006 Consolidated minimum lengths for salmon taken in opportunities to submit public
HMS FMP and its amendments, other the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ) comments on the 2015 ocean salmon
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens (3–200 NM) off Washington, Oregon, fisheries in the Federal Register on
Act, the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, and California. The management January 28, 2015 (80 FR 4547). These
and other applicable law. measures are intended to prevent notices announced the availability of
This final action is exempt from the overfishing and to apportion the ocean Council documents, the dates and
procedures of E.O. 12866 because this harvest equitably among treaty Indian, locations of Council meetings and
action contains no implementing non-treaty commercial, and recreational public hearings comprising the
regulations. fisheries. The measures are also Council’s complete schedule of events
intended to allow a portion of the for determining the annual proposed
The Chief Counsel for Regulation of salmon runs to escape the ocean and final modifications to ocean salmon
the Department of Commerce certified fisheries in order to provide for fishery management measures, and
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the spawning escapement and inside instructions on how to comment on
Small Business Administration during fisheries (fisheries occurring in state 2015 ocean salmon fisheries. The
the proposed rule stage that this action internal waters). This document also agendas for the March and April
would not have a significant economic announces the availability of an Council meetings were published in the
impact on a substantial number of small environmental assessment (EA) that Federal Register (80 FR 8628, February
entities. The factual basis for the analyzes the environmental impacts of 18, 2015 and 80 FR 15752, March 25,
certification was published in the implementing the 2015 ocean salmon 2015, respectively) and posted on the
proposed rule and is not repeated here. management measures. Council’s Web site prior to the actual
No comments were received regarding DATES: This final rule is effective from meetings.
rljohnson on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
this certification. As a result, a 0001 hours Pacific Daylight Time, May In accordance with the Salmon FMP,
regulatory flexibility analysis was not 1, 2015, until the effective date of the the Council’s Salmon Technical Team
required and none was prepared. 2016 management measures, as (STT) and staff economist prepared four
published in the Federal Register. reports for the Council, its advisors, and
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C.
1801 et seq. ADDRESSES: Copies of the documents the public. All four reports were posted
cited in this document are available on the Council’s Web site and otherwise
from Dr. Donald O. McIsaac, Executive made available to the Council, its
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Document Created: 2015-12-16 07:53:57
Document Modified: 2015-12-16 07:53:57
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Rules and Regulations | |
| Action | Final rule. | |
| Dates | Effective on June 4, 2015. | |
| Contact | Andrew Rubin by phone at 301-427-8503, Steve Durkee by phone at 202-670-6637. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 25609 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD72 |
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