80 FR 31863 - Pacific Island Fisheries; 2014-15 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures; Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 107 (June 4, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 107 (June 4, 2015)
| Page Range | 31863-31863 | |
| FR Document | 2015-13605 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 107 (Thursday, June 4, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 31863] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-13605] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 665 [Docket No. 140113035-5475-02] RIN 0648-XD082 Pacific Island Fisheries; 2014-15 Annual Catch Limits and Accountability Measures; Main Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final specifications. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS specifies an annual catch limit (ACL) of 346,000 lb for Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) for the 2014-15 fishing year. As an accountability measure (AM), if the ACL is projected to be reached, NMFS would close the commercial and non- commercial fisheries for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish for the remainder of the fishing year. The ACL and AM specifications support the long-term sustainability of Hawaii bottomfish. DATES: The final specifications are effective from July 6, 2015, through August 31, 2015. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian Archipelago are available from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or www.wpcouncil.org. Copies of the environmental assessments and findings of no significant impact for this action, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2013-0176, are available from www.regulations.gov, or from Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIR Sustainable Fisheries, 808-725-5176. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 21, 2015, NMFS published proposed specifications and a request for public comments (80 FR 22158) for the Deep 7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI) for the 2014-15 fishing year. You may review additional background information on this action in the preamble to the proposed specifications; we do not repeat this information here. Through this action, NMFS is specifying an ACL of 346,000 lb of Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI for the 2014-15 fishing year. This ACL is the same as that set for the 2013-14 fishing year. The MHI Management Subarea is the portion of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone around the Hawaiian Archipelago lying to the east of 161[deg]20' W. longitude. The Deep 7 bottomfish consist of: onaga (Etelis coruscans), ehu (E. carbunculus), gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus), kalekale (P. sieboldii), opakapaka (P. filamentosus), lehi (Aphareus rutilans), and hapuupuu (Epinephelus quernus). The ACL that is established by this final rule adopts the Council's recommended ACL, which was based on the best available scientific, commercial, and other information, taking into account the associated risk of overfishing. The MHI bottomfish fishing year started September 1, 2014, and is currently open. NMFS will monitor the fishery, and if the fishery reaches the ACL before August 31, 2015, NMFS will, as an associated accountability measure authorized in 50 CFR 665.4(f), close the non- commercial and commercial fisheries for Deep 7 bottomfish in Federal waters through August 31. During a fishery closure for Deep 7 bottomfish, no person may fish for, possess, or sell any of these fish in the MHI. There is no prohibition on fishing for or selling other (non-Deep 7) bottomfish throughout the year. All other management measures continue to apply in the MHI bottomfish fishery. Comments and Responses The comment period for the proposed specifications ended on May 6, 2015. NMFS received comments from three individuals, including two fishermen who participate in the Deep 7 bottomfish fishery, all in support of the proposed action. Comments: In addition to expressing support for the proposed specifications, two commenters provided suggestions for improving future bottomfish stock assessments. The suggestions included increasing fishermen involvement in the development of stock assessment models, incorporating the potential effects of bottomfish restricted fishing areas in estimating exploitable biomass, and refining catch per unit of effort methodologies by better accounting for differences in catchability of bottomfish between fishermen of the various Hawaiian Islands due differences in available fishing areas, fishing strategies, and environmental factors. Response: While these comments are beyond the immediate scope of the proposed specifications, NMFS continues to make improvements in the stock assessment process, and will consider the recommended actions in future stock assessments and updates. Additionally, NMFS is already reaching out to fishermen to ensure that their input is considered at important points in the bottomfish stock assessment process. NMFS continues to explore fishery-independent methods and technologies for assessing bottomfish resources. As information becomes available, NMFS will accommodate such data in future stock assessments to improve our understanding of the condition of bottomfish resources. Changes From the Proposed Specifications There are no changes in the final specifications from what was published in the proposed specifications on April 21, 2015. Classification The Regional Administrator, NMFS PIR, determined that this action is necessary for the conservation and management of MHI Deep 7 bottomfish, and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable laws. 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 specification stage that this action would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. NMFS published the factual basis for certification in the proposed specifications, and does not repeat it here. NMFS did not receive comments regarding this certification. As a result, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is not required, and one was not prepared. This action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 29, 2015. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-13605 Filed 6-3-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 107 / Thursday, June 4, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 31863
[FR Doc. 2015–13635 Filed 6–1–15; 4:15 pm] background information on this action available fishing areas, fishing
BILLING CODE 3510–22–C in the preamble to the proposed strategies, and environmental factors.
specifications; we do not repeat this Response: While these comments are
information here.
beyond the immediate scope of the
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Through this action, NMFS is proposed specifications, NMFS
specifying an ACL of 346,000 lb of Deep continues to make improvements in the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric 7 bottomfish in the MHI for the 2014–
Administration stock assessment process, and will
15 fishing year. This ACL is the same as consider the recommended actions in
that set for the 2013–14 fishing year.
50 CFR Part 665 future stock assessments and updates.
The MHI Management Subarea is the
Additionally, NMFS is already reaching
[Docket No. 140113035–5475–02] portion of U.S. Exclusive Economic
out to fishermen to ensure that their
Zone around the Hawaiian Archipelago
RIN 0648–XD082 input is considered at important points
lying to the east of 161°20′ W. longitude.
The Deep 7 bottomfish consist of: onaga in the bottomfish stock assessment
Pacific Island Fisheries; 2014–15 process. NMFS continues to explore
(Etelis coruscans), ehu (E. carbunculus),
Annual Catch Limits and fishery-independent methods and
gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus),
Accountability Measures; Main technologies for assessing bottomfish
kalekale (P. sieboldii), opakapaka (P.
Hawaiian Islands Deep 7 Bottomfish resources. As information becomes
filamentosus), lehi (Aphareus rutilans),
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries and hapuupuu (Epinephelus quernus). available, NMFS will accommodate
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and The ACL that is established by this final such data in future stock assessments to
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rule adopts the Council’s recommended improve our understanding of the
Commerce. ACL, which was based on the best condition of bottomfish resources.
ACTION: Final specifications.
available scientific, commercial, and Changes From the Proposed
other information, taking into account Specifications
SUMMARY: NMFS specifies an annual the associated risk of overfishing.
catch limit (ACL) of 346,000 lb for Deep The MHI bottomfish fishing year There are no changes in the final
7 bottomfish in the main Hawaiian started September 1, 2014, and is specifications from what was published
Islands (MHI) for the 2014–15 fishing currently open. NMFS will monitor the in the proposed specifications on April
year. As an accountability measure fishery, and if the fishery reaches the 21, 2015.
(AM), if the ACL is projected to be ACL before August 31, 2015, NMFS
reached, NMFS would close the will, as an associated accountability Classification
commercial and non-commercial measure authorized in 50 CFR 665.4(f),
The Regional Administrator, NMFS
fisheries for MHI Deep 7 bottomfish for close the non-commercial and
PIR, determined that this action is
the remainder of the fishing year. The commercial fisheries for Deep 7
bottomfish in Federal waters through necessary for the conservation and
ACL and AM specifications support the
long-term sustainability of Hawaii August 31. During a fishery closure for management of MHI Deep 7 bottomfish,
bottomfish. Deep 7 bottomfish, no person may fish and that it is consistent with the
for, possess, or sell any of these fish in Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
DATES: The final specifications are Conservation and Management Act and
the MHI. There is no prohibition on
effective from July 6, 2015, through other applicable laws.
fishing for or selling other (non-Deep 7)
August 31, 2015.
bottomfish throughout the year. All The Chief Counsel for Regulation of
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Fishery other management measures continue to the Department of Commerce certified
Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian apply in the MHI bottomfish fishery. to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Archipelago are available from the
Comments and Responses Small Business Administration during
Western Pacific Fishery Management
the proposed specification stage that
Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., The comment period for the proposed this action would not have a significant
Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel specifications ended on May 6, 2015.
808–522–8220, fax 808–522–8226, or economic impact on a substantial
NMFS received comments from three number of small entities. NMFS
www.wpcouncil.org. Copies of the individuals, including two fishermen
environmental assessments and findings published the factual basis for
who participate in the Deep 7 certification in the proposed
of no significant impact for this action, bottomfish fishery, all in support of the
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2013–0176, specifications, and does not repeat it
proposed action. here. NMFS did not receive comments
are available from www.regulations.gov,
Comments: In addition to expressing regarding this certification. As a result,
or from Michael D. Tosatto, Regional
support for the proposed specifications, a final regulatory flexibility analysis is
Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands
two commenters provided suggestions not required, and one was not prepared.
Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg.
for improving future bottomfish stock
176, Honolulu, HI 96818. This action is exempt from review
assessments. The suggestions included
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: increasing fishermen involvement in the under Executive Order 12866.
Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIR Sustainable development of stock assessment Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Fisheries, 808–725–5176. models, incorporating the potential
Dated: May 29, 2015.
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April effects of bottomfish restricted fishing
21, 2015, NMFS published proposed areas in estimating exploitable biomass, Samuel D. Rauch III,
specifications and a request for public and refining catch per unit of effort Deputy Assistant Administrator for
comments (80 FR 22158) for the Deep 7 methodologies by better accounting for Regulatory Programs, National Marine
bottomfish in the main Hawaiian differences in catchability of bottomfish Fisheries Service.
Islands (MHI) for the 2014–15 fishing between fishermen of the various [FR Doc. 2015–13605 Filed 6–3–15; 8:45 am]
year. You may review additional Hawaiian Islands due differences in BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:35 Jun 03, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\04JNR1.SGM 04JNR1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_31970/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-15 15:23:31
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 15:23:31
| 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 specifications. | |
| Dates | The final specifications are effective from July 6, 2015, through August 31, 2015. | |
| Contact | Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIR Sustainable Fisheries, 808-725-5176. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 31863 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD08 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR