81 FR 7494 - Pacific Island Fisheries; Hawaii Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish; Revised Essential Fish Habitat and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 29 (February 12, 2016)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 29 (February 12, 2016)
| Page Range | 7494-7496 | |
| FR Document | 2016-02843 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 2016)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 7494-7496] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-02843] [[Page 7494]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 665 RIN 0648-XD907 Pacific Island Fisheries; Hawaii Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish; Revised Essential Fish Habitat and Habitat Areas of Particular Concern 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 Fisheries of the Hawaiian Archipelago. If approved, Amendment 4 would revise the descriptions of essential fish habitat (EFH) and habitat areas of particular concern (HAPC) for 14 species of bottomfish and three species of seamount groundfish in the Hawaiian Archipelago. The proposed action 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 April 12, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2015-0056, by either of the following methods:Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0056, 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 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: Matt Dunlap, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS PIR, 808-725-5177. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and the Council manage Hawaii fisheries under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Fisheries of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Typically, the Council recommends conservation and management measures for NMFS to implement under the authority of Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The Magnuson-Stevens Act contains EFH provisions to identify and protect important habitats of federally- managed fish. EFH are those waters and substrates necessary for fish to spawn, breed, feed, and grow to maturity. HAPC are a subset of EFH, and HAPC criteria include the importance of the habitat's ecological function, the extent to which the habitat is sensitive to human-induced environmental degradation, what development activities are or will be stressing the habitat, and the rarity of the habitat type. Federal agencies that fund, permit, or undertake activities that may adversely affect EFH are required to consult with NMFS regarding the potential effects of their actions on EFH, and to respond to NMFS recommendations. The Council and NMFS have improved their understanding of the life histories and specific habitat requirements of Hawaii bottomfish and seamount groundfish. After considering the new information, the Council recommended revising the EFH and HAPC designations in the FEP. NMFS must receive comments on the proposed amendment by April 12, 2016 for consideration in the decision to approve, partially approve, or disapprove the amendment. Current EFH and HAPC for Hawaii Bottomfish The current designation for overall EFH for Hawaii bottomfish is the ``water column extending from the shoreline to the outer boundary of the 200-mile EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone] to a depth of 400 m.'' The current designation for HAPC is ``all escarpments and slopes between 40-280 m and three known areas of juvenile P. [Pristipimoides] filamentosus habitat'' (Table 1). Current EFH and HAPC for Hawaii Seamount Groundfish The overall EFH for Hawaii seamount groundfish is currently defined as the ``water column and bottom habitat from 0-600 m in the EEZ, bounded by latitude 29[deg]-35[deg] N., and longitude 171[deg] E.,- 179[deg] W.'' The seamount groundfish EFH encompasses the Hancock Seamounts, part of the northern extent of the Hawaiian Ridge, located 1,500 miles northwest of Honolulu. Currently, there are no HAPC designations for Hawaii seamount groundfish (Table 1). Table 1--Current EFH and HAPC for Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAPC (all life Species assemblage EFH (eggs) EFH (larvae) EFH (juveniles) EFH (adults) stages) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bottomfish Shallow Complex......... Water column extending from the shoreline to Bottomfish Deep Complex............ the outer boundary of the EEZ to a depth of 400 m. Water column and bottom habitat extending from All escarpments and shoreline to a depth of 400 m. slopes between 40- 280 m and three known areas of juvenile P. filamentosus habitat.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 7495]] Seamount Groundfish................ Epipelagic zone (0 to 200 m depth) of all waters bounded by 29[deg]- Water column and Not identified. 35[deg] N., and 171[deg] E.-179[deg] W. bottom habitat from 80 m to 600 m, bounded by 29[deg]- 35[deg] N. and 171[deg] E.-179[deg] W. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Changes to EFH and HAPC of Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish of the Hawaiian Archipelago Bottomfish Under the changes proposed in Amendment 4, the overall EFH designation for Hawaii bottomfish would remain the same, i.e., waters 0-400 m deep within the EEZ. The Council's recommendations are a refinement with respect to which life stages and species assemblages are associated with a particular EFH designation. The amendment proposes to revise descriptions of habitat importance for individual species, which reflects updated information about depth range and life history for each life stage of each bottomfish. The amendment proposes to designate EFH for three bottomfish complexes (shallow, intermediate, and deep) instead of the current two (shallow and deep). The amendment proposes replacing the previous life stage terms of larvae, juvenile, and adults with the terms post-hatch pelagic, post-settlement, and sub- adult/adult, respectively. The amendment uses the term ``pelagic'' to refer to the water column that excludes bottom habitat, ``benthopelagic'' for the water column and benthic habitat, and ``benthic'' for the bottom habitat and the immediately adjacent waters in which a bottom-dwelling fish might live. Revised HAPC designations are for seven distinct sites in the main Hawaiian Islands (Table 2). Seamount Groundfish Under the changes proposed in Amendment 4, EFH for Hawaii seamount groundfish would be an area that overlaps the Hancock Seamounts Ecosystem Management area, or the waters within the EEZ north of 28[deg] N. and west of 180[deg] W. The proposed revisions to EFH for seamount groundfish involve distinctions over depth ranges at various life stages. The Council is proposing to designate the same area described for EFH above as HAPC for seamount groundfish (Table 2). Previously there were no HAPC designated for seamount groundfish in the Hawaiian archipelago. Table 2--Proposed EFH and HAPC for Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EFH (post-hatch HAPC (all life Species assemblage EFH (eggs) pelagic) EFH (post-settlement) EFH (sub-adult/adult) stages) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bottomfish Shallow................. Water column from 0-240 m depth extending Water column from 0-240 m depth extending Kaena Point, Oahu.... Complex. from the shoreline to the outer boundary of from the shoreline to the outer boundary of Kaneohe Bay, the EEZ. the EEZ. Oahu Makapuu, Bottomfish Inter- Water column from 0-320 m depth extending Water column from 40-320 m depth from the Oahu Penguin mediate Complex. from the shoreline to the outer boundary of shoreline to the outer boundary of the EEZ. Bank, Oahu Pailolo the EEZ. Channel, Maui Bottomfish Deep Com- Water column from 0-400 m depth extending Water column from 80-400 m depth from the North Kahoolawe, plex. from the shoreline to the outer boundary of shoreline to the outer boundary of the EEZ. Kahoolawe Hilo, the EEZ. Hawaii (see Amendment text and Appendices 4 and 5 for specific site locations). ---------------------------------------------- Seamount Groundfish................ Pelagic waters 0-600 m depth within the EEZ Benthic or Benthopelagic waters All waters from 0-600 north of 29[deg] N., and west of 179[deg] W. benthopelagic waters from 120-600 m depth m depth within the from 120-600 m depth within the EEZ north EEZ north of 29[deg] within the EEZ north of 29[deg] N. and N., and west of of 29[deg] N., and west of 179[deg] W. 179[deg] W. west of 179[deg] W. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 7496]] Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 8, 2016. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2016-02843 Filed 2-11-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![7494 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 29 / Friday, February 12, 2016 / Proposed Rules
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE • Mail: Send written comments to the habitat is sensitive to human-
Michael D. Tosatto, Regional induced environmental degradation,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands what development activities are or will
Administration Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd. Bldg. be stressing the habitat, and the rarity of
176, Honolulu, HI 96818. the habitat type. Federal agencies that
50 CFR Part 665 Instructions: NMFS may not consider fund, permit, or undertake activities that
RIN 0648–XD907 comments sent by any other method, to may adversely affect EFH are required to
any other address or individual, or consult with NMFS regarding the
Pacific Island Fisheries; Hawaii received after the end of the comment potential effects of their actions on EFH,
Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish; period. All comments received are a and to respond to NMFS
Revised Essential Fish Habitat and part of the public record, and NMFS recommendations.
Habitat Areas of Particular Concern will generally post them for public The Council and NMFS have
viewing on www.regulations.gov improved their understanding of the life
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries without change. All personal identifying
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and histories and specific habitat
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), requirements of Hawaii bottomfish and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
confidential business information, or seamount groundfish. After considering
Commerce.
otherwise sensitive information the new information, the Council
ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery submitted voluntarily by the sender will
ecosystem plan amendment; request for recommended revising the EFH and
be publicly accessible. NMFS will HAPC designations in the FEP.
comments. accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ NMFS must receive comments on the
SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the A’’ in the required fields if you wish to proposed amendment by April 12, 2016
Western Pacific Fishery Management remain anonymous). for consideration in the decision to
Council (Council) proposes to amend The Council prepared Amendment 4 approve, partially approve, or
the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Fisheries that provides background information disapprove the amendment.
of the Hawaiian Archipelago. If on the proposed action. The amendment
approved, Amendment 4 would revise is available from www.regulations.gov or Current EFH and HAPC for Hawaii
the descriptions of essential fish habitat the Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite Bottomfish
(EFH) and habitat areas of particular 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808–522–
The current designation for overall
concern (HAPC) for 14 species of 8220, fax 808–522–8226,
EFH for Hawaii bottomfish is the ‘‘water
bottomfish and three species of www.wpcouncil.org.
column extending from the shoreline to
seamount groundfish in the Hawaiian FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt the outer boundary of the 200-mile EEZ
Archipelago. The proposed action Dunlap, Sustainable Fisheries Division, [Exclusive Economic Zone] to a depth of
considers the best available scientific, NMFS PIR, 808–725–5177. 400 m.’’ The current designation for
commercial, and other information SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS and HAPC is ‘‘all escarpments and slopes
about the fisheries, and supports the the Council manage Hawaii fisheries between 40–280 m and three known
long-term sustainability of fishery under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for areas of juvenile P. [Pristipimoides]
resources. Fisheries of the Hawaiian Archipelago. filamentosus habitat’’ (Table 1).
DATES: NMFS must receive comments Typically, the Council recommends Current EFH and HAPC for Hawaii
on the proposed amendment by April conservation and management measures Seamount Groundfish
12, 2016. for NMFS to implement under the
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments authority of Magnuson-Stevens Fishery The overall EFH for Hawaii seamount
on this document, identified by NOAA– Conservation and Management Act groundfish is currently defined as the
NMFS–2015–0056, by either of the (Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 ‘‘water column and bottom habitat from
following methods: et seq.). The Magnuson-Stevens Act 0–600 m in the EEZ, bounded by
• Electronic Submission: Submit all contains EFH provisions to identify and latitude 29°–35° N., and longitude 171°
electronic public comments via the protect important habitats of federally- E.,–179° W.’’ The seamount groundfish
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to managed fish. EFH are those waters and EFH encompasses the Hancock
http://www.regulations.gov/ substrates necessary for fish to spawn, Seamounts, part of the northern extent
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015- breed, feed, and grow to maturity. HAPC of the Hawaiian Ridge, located 1,500
0056, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, are a subset of EFH, and HAPC criteria miles northwest of Honolulu. Currently,
complete the required fields, and enter include the importance of the habitat’s there are no HAPC designations for
or attach your comments. ecological function, the extent to which Hawaii seamount groundfish (Table 1).
TABLE 1—CURRENT EFH AND HAPC FOR BOTTOMFISH AND SEAMOUNT GROUNDFISH
EFH EFH EFH EFH HAPC
Species assemblage (eggs) (larvae) (juveniles) (adults) (all life stages)
Bottomfish Shallow Water column extending from the shoreline to Water column and bottom habitat extending All escarpments and
asabaliauskas on DSK9F6TC42PROD with PROPOSALS
Complex. the outer boundary of the EEZ to a depth of from shoreline to a depth of 400 m. slopes between
Bottomfish Deep Com- 400 m. 40–280 m and
plex three known areas
of juvenile P.
filamentosus habi-
tat.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:04 Feb 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\12FEP1.SGM 12FEP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_7523/page/1.svg)
![7496 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 29 / Friday, February 12, 2016 / Proposed Rules
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 8, 2016.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Regulatory Programs, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–02843 Filed 2–11–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
asabaliauskas on DSK9F6TC42PROD with PROPOSALS
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:04 Feb 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\12FEP1.SGM 12FEP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_7523/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2016-02-12 01:24:30
Document Modified: 2016-02-12 01:24:30
| 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 April 12, 2016. | |
| Contact | Matt Dunlap, Sustainable Fisheries Division, NMFS PIR, 808-725-5177. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 7494 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XD90 |
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