80 FR 75437 - Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2015 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for Guam
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 231 (December 2, 2015)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 231 (December 2, 2015)
| Page Range | 75437-75437 | |
| FR Document | 2015-30544 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 231 (Wednesday, December 2, 2015)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 75437] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-30544] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 665 RIN 0648-XD998 Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2015 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for Guam AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Announcement of a valid specified fishing agreement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that allocates 1,000 mt of the 2015 Guam bigeye tuna limit to U.S. longline fishing vessels. The agreement supports the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands. DATES: November 27, 2015. ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact for this action, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0077, 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. Copies of the fishery ecosystem plans 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable Fisheries, 808-725-5176. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on November 6, 2015, NMFS specified a 2015 limit of 2,000 metric tons (mt) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for Guam (80 FR 68778). Of the 2,000 mt, NMFS allows the territory to allocate up to 1,000 mt to U.S. longline fishing vessels identified in a specified fishing agreement that meets established criteria. On November 25, 2015, NMFS received from the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council a specified fishing agreement between the Government of Guam and Quota Management, Inc. (QMI). In the transmittal memorandum, the Council's Executive Director noted that the specified fishing agreement was consistent with the criteria set forth in 50 CFR 665.819(c)(1). NMFS reviewed the agreement and determined that it is consistent with the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, implementing regulations, and other applicable laws. In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d) and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), vessels identified in the agreement may retain and land bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific Ocean under the Guam limit. NMFS began attributing bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in the agreement to Guam starting on November 25, 2015. If and when NMFS determines the fishery will reach the 1,000 mt attribution limit, we will restrict harvest of bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in the agreement. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: November 27, 2015. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2015-30544 Filed 11-27-15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 231 / Wednesday, December 2, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 75437
estimates that the 80 percent limit NOAA (AA), finds that providing prior Michael D. Tosatto, Regional
specified for closure will be exceeded notice and public comment for this Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands
by November 27, 2015. Accordingly, action is impracticable and contrary to Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg.
NMFS is closing the commercial non- the public interest because the fisheries 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
blacknose SCS management group in are currently underway and any delay Copies of the fishery ecosystem plans
the Gulf of Mexico region as of 11:30 in this action would result in are available from the Western Pacific
p.m. local time December 5, 2015. The overharvest of the Gulf of Mexico non- Fishery Management Council (Council),
only shark species or management blacknose SCS quota and be 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu,
groups that remain open in the Gulf of inconsistent with management HI 96813, tel 808–522–8220, fax 808–
Mexico region are the research large requirements and objectives. Similarly, 522–8226, or www.wpcouncil.org.
coastal sharks, sandbar sharks within affording prior notice and opportunity
the shark research fishery, the blue for public comment on this action is FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
shark, and pelagic sharks other than contrary to the public interest because if Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable
porbeagle or blue shark management the quota is exceeded, the stock may be Fisheries, 808–725–5176.
groups. negatively affected and fishermen SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final
At § 635.27(b)(1), the boundary ultimately could experience reductions rule published on November 6, 2015,
between the Gulf of Mexico region and in the available quota and a lack of NMFS specified a 2015 limit of 2,000
the Atlantic region is defined as a line fishing opportunities in future seasons. metric tons (mt) of longline-caught
beginning on the East Coast of Florida For these reasons, the AA also finds bigeye tuna for Guam (80 FR 68778). Of
at the mainland at 25°20.4′ N. latitude, good cause to waive the 30-day delay in the 2,000 mt, NMFS allows the territory
proceeding due east. Any water and effective date pursuant to 5 U.S.C. to allocate up to 1,000 mt to U.S.
land to the south and west of that 553(d)(3). This action is required under
boundary is considered, for the longline fishing vessels identified in a
§ 635.28(b)(2) and is exempt from specified fishing agreement that meets
purposes of monitoring and setting review under Executive Order 12866.
quotas, to be within the Gulf of Mexico established criteria.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. On November 25, 2015, NMFS
region.
During the closure, retention of non- Dated: November 27, 2015. received from the Western Pacific
blacknose SCS in the Gulf of Mexico Emily H. Menashes, Fishery Management Council a
region is prohibited for persons fishing Acting Director, Office of Sustainable specified fishing agreement between the
aboard vessels issued a commercial Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. Government of Guam and Quota
shark limited access permit (LAP) under [FR Doc. 2015–30540 Filed 11–30–15; 4:15 pm] Management, Inc. (QMI). In the
§ 635.4. However, persons aboard a BILLING CODE 3510–22–P transmittal memorandum, the Council’s
commercially permitted vessel that is Executive Director noted that the
also properly permitted to operate as a specified fishing agreement was
charter vessel or headboat for HMS and DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE consistent with the criteria set forth in
is engaged in a for-hire trip could fish 50 CFR 665.819(c)(1). NMFS reviewed
under the recreational retention limits National Oceanic and Atmospheric the agreement and determined that it is
for sharks and ‘‘no sale’’ provisions Administration consistent with the Fishery Ecosystem
(§ 635.22(a) and (c)). Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western
During this closure, a shark dealer 50 CFR Part 665 Pacific Region, the Magnuson-Stevens
issued a permit pursuant to § 635.4 may RIN 0648–XD998 Fishery Conservation and Management
not purchase or receive non-blacknose Act, implementing regulations, and
SCS in the Gulf of Mexico region from Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2015 other applicable laws.
a vessel issued a shark LAP, except that U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d)
a permitted shark dealer or processor Catch Limits for Guam and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), vessels
may possess non-blacknose SCS in the
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries identified in the agreement may retain
Gulf of Mexico region that were
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and and land bigeye tuna in the western and
harvested, off-loaded, and sold, traded,
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), central Pacific Ocean under the Guam
or bartered prior to the effective date of
Commerce. limit.
the closure and were held in storage
consistent with § 635.28(b)(6). Similarly, ACTION: Announcement of a valid NMFS began attributing bigeye tuna
a shark dealer issued a permit pursuant specified fishing agreement. caught by vessels identified in the
to § 635.4 may, in accordance with agreement to Guam starting on
SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid November 25, 2015. If and when NMFS
relevant state regulations, purchase or
specified fishing agreement that determines the fishery will reach the
receive non-blacknose SCS in the Gulf
allocates 1,000 mt of the 2015 Guam 1,000 mt attribution limit, we will
of Mexico region if the sharks were
harvested, off-loaded, and sold, traded, bigeye tuna limit to U.S. longline fishing restrict harvest of bigeye tuna caught by
or bartered from a vessel that fishes only vessels. The agreement supports the vessels identified in the agreement.
in state waters and that has not been long-term sustainability of fishery
resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
issued a shark LAP, HMS Angling
DATES: November 27, 2015. Dated: November 27, 2015.
permit, or HMS Charter/Headboat
permit pursuant to § 635.4. ADDRESSES: Copies of the environmental Emily H. Menashes,
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES
assessment and finding of no significant Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
Classification impact for this action, identified by Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the NOAA–NMFS–2015–0077, are available [FR Doc. 2015–30544 Filed 11–27–15; 4:15 pm]
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, from www.regulations.gov, or from BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 13:21 Dec 01, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\02DER1.SGM 02DER1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_75668/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-14 13:48:39
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 13:48:39
| 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 | Announcement of a valid specified fishing agreement. | |
| Dates | November 27, 2015. | |
| Contact | Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable Fisheries, 808-725-5176. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 75437 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD99 |
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