82 FR 49143 - Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2017 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 204 (October 24, 2017)

Page Range		49143-49143
FR Document		2017-23028

NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of the 2017 bigeye tuna limit for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to identified U.S. longline fishing vessels. The agreement supports the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands, and fisheries development in the CNMI.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 49143]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23028]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

RIN 0648-XF156


Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2017 U.S. Territorial Longline 
Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands

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

ACTION: Announcement of a valid specified fishing agreement.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that 
allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of the 2017 bigeye tuna limit for 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to identified 
U.S. longline fishing vessels. The agreement supports the long-term 
sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands, and 
fisheries development in the CNMI.

DATES: October 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared environmental analyses that describe the 
potential impacts on the human environment that would result from the 
action. Copies of those analyses, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2017-0004, 
are available from www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-
0004, 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 Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the 
Western Pacific Region (Pelagic FEP) 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 October 13, 
2017, NMFS specified a 2017 limit of 2,000 t of longline-caught bigeye 
tuna for the U.S. Pacific Island territories of American Samoa, Guam 
and the CNMI (82 FR 47642). Of the 2,000 t limit, NMFS allows each 
territory to allocate up to 1,000 t to U.S. longline fishing vessels 
identified in a valid specified fishing agreement.
    On October 6, 2017, NMFS received from the Council a specified 
fishing agreement between the CNMI and Quota Management, Inc. (QMI). In 
the transmittal memorandum, the Council's Executive Director advised 
that the specified fishing agreement was consistent with the criteria 
set forth in 50 CFR 665.819(c)(1). On October 10, 2017, NMFS reviewed 
the agreement and determined that it is consistent with the Pelagic 
FEP, 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 CNMI limit. NMFS began 
attributing bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in the agreement 
to the CNMI starting on October 10, 2017. If NMFS determines that the 
fishery will reach the attribution limit of 1,000 t, we will restrict 
the retention of bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in the 
agreement, unless the vessels are included in a subsequent specified 
fishing agreement with another U.S. territory.

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

    Dated: October 19, 2017.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-23028 Filed 10-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 24, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 49143

For the aforementioned reasons, the supports the long-term sustainability of On October 6, 2017, NMFS received
AA also finds good cause to waive the fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific from the Council a specified fishing
30-day delay in the effectiveness of this Islands, and fisheries development in agreement between the CNMI and Quota
action under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3). the CNMI. Management, Inc. (QMI). In the
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. DATES: October 23, 2017. transmittal memorandum, the Council’s
Executive Director advised that the
Dated: October 19, 2017. ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared
specified fishing agreement was
Alan D. Risenhoover, environmental analyses that describe
consistent with the criteria set forth in
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, the potential impacts on the human
50 CFR 665.819(c)(1). On October 10,
National Marine Fisheries Service. environment that would result from the
2017, NMFS reviewed the agreement
[FR Doc. 2017–23026 Filed 10–19–17; 4:15 pm] action. Copies of those analyses,
and determined that it is consistent with
identified by NOAA–NMFS–2017–0004,
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P the Pelagic FEP, the Magnuson-Stevens
are available from www.regulations.gov/
Fishery Conservation and Management
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-
Act, implementing regulations, and
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 0004, or from Michael D. Tosatto,
other applicable laws.
Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d)
Administration Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), vessels
Copies of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan identified in the agreement may retain
50 CFR Part 665 for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western and land bigeye tuna in the western and
Pacific Region (Pelagic FEP) are central Pacific Ocean under the CNMI
RIN 0648–XF156 limit. NMFS began attributing bigeye
available from the Western Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council), tuna caught by vessels identified in the
Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2017 agreement to the CNMI starting on
U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu,
HI 96813, tel 808–522–8220, fax 808– October 10, 2017. If NMFS determines
Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of that the fishery will reach the
the Northern Mariana Islands 522–8226, or www.wpcouncil.org.
attribution limit of 1,000 t, we will
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: restrict the retention of bigeye tuna
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable caught by vessels identified in the
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Fisheries, 808–725–5176. agreement, unless the vessels are
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final included in a subsequent specified
ACTION: Announcement of a valid rule published on October 13, 2017, fishing agreement with another U.S.
specified fishing agreement. NMFS specified a 2017 limit of 2,000 t territory.
of longline-caught bigeye tuna for the Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid U.S. Pacific Island territories of
specified fishing agreement that American Samoa, Guam and the CNMI Dated: October 19, 2017.
allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of (82 FR 47642). Of the 2,000 t limit, Alan D. Risenhoover,
the 2017 bigeye tuna limit for the NMFS allows each territory to allocate Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana up to 1,000 t to U.S. longline fishing National Marine Fisheries Service.
Islands (CNMI) to identified U.S. vessels identified in a valid specified [FR Doc. 2017–23028 Filed 10–23–17; 8:45 am]
longline fishing vessels. The agreement fishing agreement. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with RULES

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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:11:19
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:11:19

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		October 23, 2017.
Contact		Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable Fisheries, 808-725-5176.
FR Citation		82 FR 49143
RIN Number		0648-XF15

82 FR 49143 - Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2017 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 204 (October 24, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration