80_FR_77162 80 FR 76924 - Fisheries Off West Coast States; Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1; Amendments to the Fishery Management Plans for Coastal Pelagic Species, Pacific Coast Groundfish, U.S. West Coast Highly Migratory Species, and Pacific Coast Salmon

80 FR 76924 - Fisheries Off West Coast States; Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1; Amendments to the Fishery Management Plans for Coastal Pelagic Species, Pacific Coast Groundfish, U.S. West Coast Highly Migratory Species, and Pacific Coast Salmon

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 238 (December 11, 2015)

Page Range76924-76925
FR Document2015-31236

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1 (CEBA 1) for Secretarial review. CEBA 1 would bring new ecosystem component species (collectively, ``Shared EC Species'') into each of the Council's four fishery management plans (FMPs) through amendments to those FMPs, and would prohibit the future development of new directed commercial fisheries for Shared EC Species within the U.S. West Coast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 238 (Friday, December 11, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 238 (Friday, December 11, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76924-76925]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31236]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

RIN 0648-BF15


Fisheries Off West Coast States; Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based 
Amendment 1; Amendments to the Fishery Management Plans for Coastal 
Pelagic Species, Pacific Coast Groundfish, U.S. West Coast Highly 
Migratory Species, and Pacific Coast Salmon

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) has submitted Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1 (CEBA 
1) for Secretarial review. CEBA 1 would bring new ecosystem component 
species (collectively, ``Shared EC Species'') into each of the 
Council's four fishery management plans (FMPs) through amendments to 
those FMPs, and would prohibit the future development of new directed 
commercial fisheries for Shared EC Species within the U.S. West Coast 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

DATES: Comments on CEBA 1 must be received on or before February 9, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on CEBA 1, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2015-0123, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0123, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Submit written comments to William W. Stelle, Jr., 
Regional Administrator, West Coast Region, NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way 
NE., Seattle, WA 98115-0070; Attn: Yvonne deReynier.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous 
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain 
anonymous).
    Electronic copies of CEBA 1 may be obtained from the Council Web 
site at http://www.pcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yvonne deReynier, 206-526-6129, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Ocean fisheries in the EEZ off Washington, 
Oregon, and California are managed under the CPS, Groundfish, HMS, and 
Salmon FMPs. CEBA 1 includes the following amendments to the Council's 
FMPs: Amendment 15 to the CPS FMP, Amendment 25 to the Pacific Coast 
Groundfish FMP, Amendment 3 to the FMP for U.S. West Coast HMS, and 
Amendment 19 to the Pacific Coast Salmon FMP. All FMPs are implemented 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (MSA), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., by regulations at 50 CFR 
part 660. The MSA requires that each regional fishery management 
council submit any FMP or amendment to NMFS for review and approval, 
partial approval, or disapproval. The MSA also requires that NMFS, upon 
receiving a plan or amendment, publish an announcement in the Federal 
Register notifying the public that the plan or amendment is available 
for review and comment. NMFS will consider the public comments received 
during the comment period described above in determining whether to 
approve the FMP amendments that would implement CEBA 1.

Background

    The Council maintains a Fishery Ecosystem Plan, which includes an 
ecosystem initiative process for reviewing fisheries management issues 
that may affect multiple FMPs and for developing policies and 
regulations to address those issues under the authority of its FMPs. 
Under the ecosystem initiative process, the Council has reviewed 
trophic connections between the West Coast EEZ's unfished forage fish 
species and the EEZ's predator species managed under the MSA, the 
Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the 
Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Through that review, the Council determined 
that it wanted to bring a suite of unfished and unmanaged forage fish 
species into its FMPs as ecosystem component (EC)

[[Page 76925]]

species, and to prohibit directed commercial fisheries for those 
species.
    The Council has recommended including the following species as 
Shared EC Species in all four of its FMPs: Round herring (Etrumeus 
teres) and thread herring (Opisthonema libertate and O. medirastre); 
mesopelagic fishes of the families Myctophidae, Bathylagidae, 
Paralepididae, and Gonostomatidae; Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes 
hexapterus); Pacific saury (Cololabis saira); silversides (family 
Atherinopsidae); smelts of the family Osmeridae; and pelagic squids 
(families: Cranchiidae, Gonatidae, Histioteuthidae, Octopoteuthidae, 
Ommastrephidae except Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas), 
Onychoteuthidae, and Thysanoteuthidae). Under Federal regulations at 50 
CFR 600.310(d)(5)(iii), a species may be included in an FMP as an EC 
species: For data collection purposes; to inform the understanding of 
ecosystem considerations related to specification of OY for the 
associated fishery; to assist in the development of conservation and 
management measures for the associated fishery; or to address other 
ecosystem issues. The Council recommended including the suite of Shared 
EC Species in its FMPs as EC species to address ``other ecosystem 
issues,'' because these species are broadly used as prey by marine 
mammals, seabird, and fish of the U.S. West Coast EEZ. The Council also 
noted that Shared EC Species are among the known prey of fishery 
management unit species of all four of the Council's FMPs; therefore, 
Shared EC Species support predator species' growth and development and 
may also be identified as EC species ``for ecosystem considerations 
related to specification of optimum yield for the associated fishery.''
    CEBA 1, through its implementing FMP amendments and regulations, 
would prohibit the future development of fisheries for Shared EC 
Species within the U.S. West Coast EEZ until the Council has had an 
adequate opportunity to assess the scientific information relating to 
any proposed directed fishery and to consider potential impacts to 
existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the greater marine 
ecosystem. The Council deemed this action necessary to proactively 
protect unmanaged, unfished forage fish of the U.S. West Coast EEZ, in 
recognition of the importance of these forage fish to the species 
managed under the Council's FMPs and to the larger California Current 
Ecosystem. This action would not supersede tribal or state fishery 
management for these species.

Consideration of Public Comments

    NMFS welcomes comments on CEBA 1 and the proposed FMP amendments 
through the end of the comment period. CEBA 1 is available on the 
Council's Web site (www.pcouncil.org). The Council also transmitted a 
proposed rule to implement CEBA 1 for Secretarial review and approval. 
NMFS expects to publish and request public review and comment on that 
rule in the near future. Public comments on the proposed rule must be 
received by the end of the comment period for CEBA 1 in order to be 
considered in the approval/disapproval decision on the FMP amendments. 
All comments received by the end of the CEBA 1 comment period, whether 
specifically directed to the FMP amendments or the proposed rule, will 
be considered in the approval/disapproval decision.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: December 8, 2015.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-31236 Filed 12-10-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

76924 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 238 / Friday, December 11, 2015 / Proposed Rules Competition Bureau, 202–418–1477, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE confidential business information, or michele.berlove@fcc.gov. otherwise sensitive information National Oceanic and Atmospheric submitted voluntarily by the sender will SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a Administration be publicly accessible. NMFS will summary of the Commission’s accept anonymous comments (enter document, Report No. 3035, released 50 CFR Part 660 ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish December 4, 2015. The full text of the to remain anonymous). Petition is available for viewing and RIN 0648–BF15 Electronic copies of CEBA 1 may be copying at the FCC Reference obtained from the Council Web site at Fisheries Off West Coast States; Information Center, 445 12th Street SW., http://www.pcouncil.org. Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554, Amendment 1; Amendments to the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: or may be accessed online via the Fishery Management Plans for Coastal Yvonne deReynier, 206–526–6129, Commission’s Electronic Comment Pelagic Species, Pacific Coast yvonne.dereynier@noaa.gov. Filing System at http://apps.fcc.gov/ Groundfish, U.S. West Coast Highly SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Ocean ecfs/. The Commission will not send a Migratory Species, and Pacific Coast fisheries in the EEZ off Washington, copy of this Notice pursuant to the Salmon Oregon, and California are managed Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. under the CPS, Groundfish, HMS, and 801(a)(1)(A) because this notice does not AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Salmon FMPs. CEBA 1 includes the have an impact on any rules of Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and following amendments to the Council’s particular applicability. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), FMPs: Amendment 15 to the CPS FMP, Commerce. Amendment 25 to the Pacific Coast While the petition is styled a petition ACTION: Notice of availability; request Groundfish FMP, Amendment 3 to the for clarification, at least one of the forms for comments. FMP for U.S. West Coast HMS, and of relief it seeks may require a modification to the Commission’s rules. Amendment 19 to the Pacific Coast SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the As a result, the Commission’s Wireline Salmon FMP. All FMPs are Pacific Fishery Management Council Competition Bureau has determined implemented under the authority of the (Council) has submitted Comprehensive Magnuson-Stevens Fishery that the petition is more properly Ecosystem-Based Amendment 1 (CEBA Conservation and Management Act treated as a petition for reconsideration, 1) for Secretarial review. CEBA 1 would (MSA), 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq., by for the purpose of seeking public input. bring new ecosystem component species regulations at 50 CFR part 660. The Subject: Technology Transitions; (collectively, ‘‘Shared EC Species’’) into MSA requires that each regional fishery Policies and Rules Governing each of the Council’s four fishery management council submit any FMP or management plans (FMPs) through Retirement of Copper Loops by amendment to NMFS for review and amendments to those FMPs, and would Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers; approval, partial approval, or prohibit the future development of new Special Access for Price Cap Local disapproval. The MSA also requires that directed commercial fisheries for Shared Exchange Carriers; AT&T Corporation NMFS, upon receiving a plan or EC Species within the U.S. West Coast Petition for Rulemaking to Reform amendment, publish an announcement Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Regulation of Incumbent Local in the Federal Register notifying the DATES: Comments on CEBA 1 must be public that the plan or amendment is Exchange Carrier Rates for Interstate received on or before February 9, 2016. available for review and comment. Special Access Services, published at 80 ADDRESSES: You may submit comments NMFS will consider the public FR 63322, October 19, 2015, in GN Docket No. 13–5, WC Docket No. 05–25, on CEBA 1, identified by NOAA– comments received during the comment NMFS–2015–0123, by any of the period described above in determining FCC 15–97. This Notice is published following methods: whether to approve the FMP pursuant to 47 CFR 1.429(e). See also 47 • Electronic Submission: Submit all amendments that would implement CFR 1.4(b)(1). electronic public comments via the CEBA 1. Number of Petitions Filed: 1. Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ Background Federal Communications Commission. Gloria J. Miles, #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015- The Council maintains a Fishery 0123, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, Ecosystem Plan, which includes an Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the complete the required fields, and enter ecosystem initiative process for Secretary. or attach your comments. reviewing fisheries management issues [FR Doc. 2015–31265 Filed 12–10–15; 8:45 am] • Mail: Submit written comments to that may affect multiple FMPs and for BILLING CODE 6712–01–P William W. Stelle, Jr., Regional developing policies and regulations to Administrator, West Coast Region, address those issues under the authority NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., of its FMPs. Under the ecosystem Seattle, WA 98115–0070; Attn: Yvonne initiative process, the Council has deReynier. reviewed trophic connections between Instructions: Comments sent by any the West Coast EEZ’s unfished forage other method, to any other address or fish species and the EEZ’s predator jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS individual, or received after the end of species managed under the MSA, the the comment period, may not be Endangered Species Act, the Marine considered by NMFS. All comments Mammal Protection Act, and the received are a part of the public record Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Through that and will generally be posted for public review, the Council determined that it viewing on www.regulations.gov wanted to bring a suite of unfished and without change. All personal identifying unmanaged forage fish species into its information (e.g., name, address, etc.), FMPs as ecosystem component (EC) VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Dec 10, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\11DEP1.SGM 11DEP1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 238 / Friday, December 11, 2015 / Proposed Rules 76925 species, and to prohibit directed species to address ‘‘other ecosystem action would not supersede tribal or commercial fisheries for those species. issues,’’ because these species are state fishery management for these The Council has recommended broadly used as prey by marine species. including the following species as mammals, seabird, and fish of the U.S. Consideration of Public Comments Shared EC Species in all four of its West Coast EEZ. The Council also noted FMPs: Round herring (Etrumeus teres) that Shared EC Species are among the NMFS welcomes comments on CEBA and thread herring (Opisthonema known prey of fishery management unit 1 and the proposed FMP amendments libertate and O. medirastre); species of all four of the Council’s through the end of the comment period. mesopelagic fishes of the families FMPs; therefore, Shared EC Species CEBA 1 is available on the Council’s Myctophidae, Bathylagidae, support predator species’ growth and Web site (www.pcouncil.org). The Paralepididae, and Gonostomatidae; development and may also be identified Council also transmitted a proposed Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes as EC species ‘‘for ecosystem rule to implement CEBA 1 for hexapterus); Pacific saury (Cololabis considerations related to specification of Secretarial review and approval. NMFS saira); silversides (family optimum yield for the associated expects to publish and request public Atherinopsidae); smelts of the family fishery.’’ review and comment on that rule in the Osmeridae; and pelagic squids (families: CEBA 1, through its implementing near future. Public comments on the Cranchiidae, Gonatidae, FMP amendments and regulations, proposed rule must be received by the Histioteuthidae, Octopoteuthidae, would prohibit the future development end of the comment period for CEBA 1 Ommastrephidae except Humboldt of fisheries for Shared EC Species in order to be considered in the squid (Dosidicus gigas), within the U.S. West Coast EEZ until approval/disapproval decision on the Onychoteuthidae, and the Council has had an adequate FMP amendments. All comments Thysanoteuthidae). Under Federal opportunity to assess the scientific received by the end of the CEBA 1 regulations at 50 CFR 600.310(d)(5)(iii), information relating to any proposed comment period, whether specifically a species may be included in an FMP as directed fishery and to consider directed to the FMP amendments or the an EC species: For data collection potential impacts to existing fisheries, proposed rule, will be considered in the purposes; to inform the understanding fishing communities, and the greater approval/disapproval decision. of ecosystem considerations related to marine ecosystem. The Council deemed Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. specification of OY for the associated this action necessary to proactively fishery; to assist in the development of protect unmanaged, unfished forage fish Dated: December 8, 2015. conservation and management measures of the U.S. West Coast EEZ, in Alan D. Risenhoover, for the associated fishery; or to address recognition of the importance of these Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, other ecosystem issues. The Council forage fish to the species managed under National Marine Fisheries Service. recommended including the suite of the Council’s FMPs and to the larger [FR Doc. 2015–31236 Filed 12–10–15; 8:45 am] Shared EC Species in its FMPs as EC California Current Ecosystem. This BILLING CODE 3510–22–P jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:54 Dec 10, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\11DEP1.SGM 11DEP1


Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:13:05
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:13:05
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionNotice of availability; request for comments.
DatesComments on CEBA 1 must be received on or before February 9, 2016.
ContactYvonne deReynier, 206-526-6129, [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 76924 
RIN Number0648-BF15
2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR