81 FR 33196 - Mariana Archipelago Fisheries; Remove the CNMI Medium and Large Vessel Bottomfish Prohibited Areas
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 101 (May 25, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 101 (May 25, 2016)
| Page Range | 33196-33197 | |
| FR Document | 2016-12347 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 25, 2016)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 33196-33197] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-12347] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 665 RIN 0648-BF37 Mariana Archipelago Fisheries; Remove the CNMI Medium and Large Vessel Bottomfish Prohibited Areas AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery ecosystem plan amendment; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) proposes to amend the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Mariana Archipelago. If approved, Amendment 4 would remove the medium and large vessel bottomfish (BF) prohibited fishing areas in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Amendment 4 considers the best available scientific, commercial, and other information about the fisheries, and supports the long-term sustainability of fishery resources. DATES: NMFS must receive comments on the proposed amendment by July 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0115, by either 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-2015-0115, click the ``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. Mail: Send written comments to Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. Instructions: NMFS may not consider comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period. All comments received are a part of the public record, and NMFS will generally post them 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). The Council prepared Amendment 4, including an environmental assessment and regulatory impact review, that provides background information on the proposed action. The amendment is available from www.regulations.gov or the Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, www.wpcouncil.org. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Ellgen, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS PIR, 808-725-5173. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council and NMFS manage the bottomfish fishery in federal waters in the CNMI under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Mariana Archipelago (Mariana FEP). The Mariana FEP and implementing Federal regulations currently prohibit medium and large vessels (vessels over 40 ft) from fishing for bottomfish in certain Federal waters around the CNMI. The prohibited areas include waters within approximately 50 nautical miles (nm) of the Southern Islands (i.e., Rota, Aquijan, Tinian, Saipan and Farallon de Medenilla) and within 10 nm of Alamagan Island. The Council established the prohibited areas in 2008 in response to concerns expressed by CNMI fishermen that Guam bottomfish fishermen would travel to fish in CNMI waters after establishment of the large vessel prohibited fishing area in Guam. CNMI fishermen were concerned that such additional fishing by the vessels from Guam would create localized depletion of bottomfish, gear conflicts, and catch competition. The CNMI bottomfish fishery has changed since 2008, and the conditions that led the Council and NMFS to establish the prohibited areas are no longer present. Large vessels from Guam have not shown interest in fishing for CNMI bottomfish. The prohibited areas may also be negatively impacting the CNMI bottomfish fishery. Only a few small vessels have been operating on a regular basis, and the few medium and large vessels have faced declining participation, possibly as a result of higher fuel costs that prevent them from traveling beyond the prohibited areas. The CNMI bottomfish fishery may not be achieving optimum yield, and the prohibited areas may be contributing to the potential under-utilization of the bottomfish resource in CNMI. To address fishery conditions resulting from the BF prohibited areas, the Council recommended that NMFS remove them. The Council and NMFS would continue to manage the fishery under a suite of management requirements that include the specification of annual catch limits and accountability measures, post-season review of catches and effort including against ACLs, requirements for vessel markings, federal catch and sales reporting, and the vessel monitoring system. The fishing requirements for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument would also remain unchanged. [[Page 33197]] Amendment 4 is intended to improve the efficiency and economic viability of the CNMI bottomfish fishery. The Council and NMFS will annually review the effects of the proposed amendment. Any future changes would be subject to additional environmental review and opportunity for public review and comment. NMFS must receive comments on Amendment 4 by the date provided in the DATES section to be considered by NMFS in the decision to approve, partially approve, or disapprove the amendment. NMFS soon expects to publish and request public comment on a proposed rule that would implement the measures recommended in Amendment 4. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: May 20, 2016. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-12347 Filed 5-24-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![33196 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules
52.223–11 [Amended] Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
■ 14. Amend section 52.223–11 by Commerce. Sarah Ellgen, Sustainable Fisheries
removing from the introductory ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery Division, NMFS PIR, 808–725–5173.
paragraph ‘‘in 23.804(a)’’ and adding ‘‘in ecosystem plan amendment; request for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
23.804(a)(1)’’ in its place. comments. Council and NMFS manage the
52.212–12 [Amended]
bottomfish fishery in federal waters in
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the the CNMI under the Fishery Ecosystem
■ 15. Amend section 52.223–12 by Western Pacific Fishery Management Plan for the Mariana Archipelago
removing from the introductory Council (Council) proposes to amend (Mariana FEP). The Mariana FEP and
paragraph ‘‘in 23.804(b)’’ and adding the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the implementing Federal regulations
‘‘in 23.804(a)(2)’’ in its place. Mariana Archipelago. If approved,
■ 16. Add section 52.223–ZZ to read as
currently prohibit medium and large
Amendment 4 would remove the vessels (vessels over 40 ft) from fishing
follows: medium and large vessel bottomfish for bottomfish in certain Federal waters
52.223–ZZ Public Disclosure of (BF) prohibited fishing areas in the around the CNMI. The prohibited areas
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana include waters within approximately 50
Goals—Representation. Islands (CNMI). Amendment 4 nautical miles (nm) of the Southern
As prescribed in 23.804(b), insert the considers the best available scientific, Islands (i.e., Rota, Aquijan, Tinian,
following provision: commercial, and other information Saipan and Farallon de Medenilla) and
about the fisheries, and supports the within 10 nm of Alamagan Island.
Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas long-term sustainability of fishery
Emissions and Reduction Goals- The Council established the
resources. prohibited areas in 2008 in response to
Representation (Date)
(a) Response to this provision is optional DATES: NMFS must receive comments concerns expressed by CNMI fishermen
if the Offeror received less than $7.5 million on the proposed amendment by July 25, that Guam bottomfish fishermen would
in contract awards in the Federal fiscal year 2016. travel to fish in CNMI waters after
preceding any representation. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments establishment of the large vessel
(b) Representation. [Offeror to check on this document, identified by NOAA– prohibited fishing area in Guam. CNMI
applicable blocks in (1) or (2).] fishermen were concerned that such
(1) The Offeror (itself or through its
NMFS–2015–0115, by either of the
following methods: additional fishing by the vessels from
immediate owner or highest-level owner)
publicly [ ] does, [ ] does not disclose • Electronic Submission: Submit all Guam would create localized depletion
greenhouse gas emissions, i.e., makes electronic public comments via the of bottomfish, gear conflicts, and catch
available on a publicly accessible Web site Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to competition.
the results of a greenhouse gas inventory, www.regulations.gov/ The CNMI bottomfish fishery has
performed in accordance with the #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015- changed since 2008, and the conditions
Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard 0115, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, that led the Council and NMFS to
or equivalent standard. A publicly accessible establish the prohibited areas are no
Web site includes the supplier’s own Web complete the required fields, and enter
site or via a recognized, third-party or attach your comments. longer present. Large vessels from Guam
greenhouse gas emissions reporting program. • Mail: Send written comments to have not shown interest in fishing for
(2) The Offeror (itself or through its Michael D. Tosatto, Regional CNMI bottomfish. The prohibited areas
immediate owner or highest-level owner [ ] Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands may also be negatively impacting the
does, [ ] does not disclose a quantitative Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg. CNMI bottomfish fishery. Only a few
greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal, i.e., 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. small vessels have been operating on a
a target to reduce absolute emissions or Instructions: NMFS may not consider regular basis, and the few medium and
emissions intensity by a specific quantity or
percentage. comments sent by any other method, to large vessels have faced declining
(c) If the Offeror checked ‘‘does’’ in any other address or individual, or participation, possibly as a result of
paragraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this provision received after the end of the comment higher fuel costs that prevent them from
respectively, the Offeror shall provide the period. All comments received are a traveling beyond the prohibited areas.
publicly accessible Web site(s) where part of the public record, and NMFS The CNMI bottomfish fishery may not
greenhouse gas emissions and/or reduction will generally post them for public be achieving optimum yield, and the
goals are reported:lll. viewing on www.regulations.gov prohibited areas may be contributing to
(End of provision) without change. All personal identifying the potential under-utilization of the
[FR Doc. 2016–12226 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am] information (e.g., name, address, etc.), bottomfish resource in CNMI.
BILLING CODE 6820–EP–P
confidential business information, or To address fishery conditions
otherwise sensitive information resulting from the BF prohibited areas,
submitted voluntarily by the sender will the Council recommended that NMFS
be publicly accessible. NMFS will remove them. The Council and NMFS
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ would continue to manage the fishery
National Oceanic and Atmospheric A’’ in the required fields if you wish to under a suite of management
Administration remain anonymous). requirements that include the
The Council prepared Amendment 4, specification of annual catch limits and
50 CFR Part 665 including an environmental assessment accountability measures, post-season
and regulatory impact review, that review of catches and effort including
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with PROPOSALS
RIN 0648–BF37 provides background information on the against ACLs, requirements for vessel
proposed action. The amendment is markings, federal catch and sales
Mariana Archipelago Fisheries;
available from www.regulations.gov or reporting, and the vessel monitoring
Remove the CNMI Medium and Large
the Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite system. The fishing requirements for the
Vessel Bottomfish Prohibited Areas
1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808–522– Marianas Trench Marine National
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 8220, fax 808–522–8226, Monument would also remain
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and www.wpcouncil.org. unchanged.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:52 May 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\25MYP1.SGM 25MYP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_33297/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 25, 2016 / Proposed Rules 33197
Amendment 4 is intended to improve NMFS must receive comments on Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
the efficiency and economic viability of Amendment 4 by the date provided in Dated: May 20, 2016.
the CNMI bottomfish fishery. The the DATES section to be considered by
Emily H. Menashes,
Council and NMFS will annually review NMFS in the decision to approve,
partially approve, or disapprove the Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
the effects of the proposed amendment. Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Any future changes would be subject to amendment. NMFS soon expects to
publish and request public comment on [FR Doc. 2016–12347 Filed 5–24–16; 8:45 am]
additional environmental review and
opportunity for public review and a proposed rule that would implement BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
comment. the measures recommended in
Amendment 4.
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with PROPOSALS
VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:52 May 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\25MYP1.SGM 25MYP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_33297/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-07 15:03:28
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 15:03:28
| 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 | Proposed Rules | |
| Action | Notice of availability of fishery ecosystem plan amendment; request for comments. | |
| Dates | NMFS must receive comments on the proposed amendment by July 25, 2016. | |
| Contact | Sarah Ellgen, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS PIR, 808-725-5173. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 33196 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-BF37 |
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