82 FR 57551 - Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2017 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Territory of American Samoa

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 233 (December 6, 2017)

Page Range		57551-57551
FR Document		2017-26227

NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of the 2017 bigeye tuna limit for the Territory of American Samoa 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 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 6, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 57551]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26227]


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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 Territory of American Samoa

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 Territory of American Samoa 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: The specified fishing agreement is valid on December 1, 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 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (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 November 17, 2017, NMFS received from the Council a specified 
fishing agreement between the Government of American Samoa and Quota 
Management, Inc. 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). 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 American Samoa limit. 
NMFS will begin attributing bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in 
the agreement with American Samoa starting on November 30, 2017. This 
date is seven days before December 6, 2017, which is the date NMFS 
forecasted the fishery would reach the CNMI bigeye tuna allocation. If 
NMFS determines that the fishery will reach American Samoa 1,000-mt 
allocation limit, we would restrict the retention of bigeye tuna caught 
by vessels identified in the agreement, and publish a notice to that 
effect in the Federal Register.

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

    Dated: November 30, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-26227 Filed 12-1-17; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 233 / Wednesday, December 6, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 57551

not sell or purchase Atlantic tunas DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final
harvested with speargun fishing gear. rule published on October 13, 2017,
* * * * * National Oceanic and Atmospheric NMFS specified a 2017 limit of 2,000 t
Administration of longline-caught bigeye tuna for the
(c) * * * U.S. Pacific Island territories of
(6) A dealer issued a permit under 50 CFR Part 665 American Samoa, Guam and the
this part may not first receive silky Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks or RIN 0648–XF156 Islands (CNMI) (82 FR 47642). Of the
scalloped, smooth, or great hammerhead 2,000 t limit, NMFS allows each
sharks from an owner or operator of a Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2017 territory to allocate up to 1,000 t to U.S.
fishing vessel with pelagic longline gear U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna longline fishing vessels identified in a
on board, or from the owner of a fishing Catch Limits for the Territory of valid specified fishing agreement.
vessel issued both a HMS Charter/ American Samoa On November 17, 2017, NMFS
Headboat permit with a commercial sale AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries received from the Council a specified
endorsement and a commercial shark Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and fishing agreement between the
permit when tuna, swordfish or billfish Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Government of American Samoa and
are on board the vessel, offloaded from Commerce. Quota Management, Inc. In the
the vessel, or being offloaded from the transmittal memorandum, the Council’s
ACTION: Announcement of a valid
Executive Director advised that the
vessel. specified fishing agreement. specified fishing agreement was
* * * * * consistent with the criteria set forth in
SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid
■ 10. In § 635.71, revise paragraph (a)(2) specified fishing agreement that 50 CFR 665.819(c)(1). NMFS reviewed
and add paragraph (a)(62) to read as allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of the agreement and determined that it is
follows: the 2017 bigeye tuna limit for the consistent with the Pelagic FEP, the
Territory of American Samoa to Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
§ 635.71 Prohibitions. identified U.S. longline fishing vessels. Conservation and Management Act,
* * * * * The agreement supports the long-term implementing regulations, and other
sustainability of fishery resources of the applicable laws.
(a) * * * In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d)
U.S. Pacific Islands, and fisheries
(2) Fish for, catch, possess, retain, development in the CNMI. and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), vessels
land, or sell Atlantic HMS without the identified in the agreement may retain
DATES: The specified fishing agreement
appropriate valid vessel permit with the and land bigeye tuna in the western and
is valid on December 1, 2017.
appropriate endorsements, LAP, EFP, central Pacific Ocean under the
scientific research permit, display ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared American Samoa limit. NMFS will
permit, chartering permit, or shark environmental analyses that describe begin attributing bigeye tuna caught by
the potential impacts on the human vessels identified in the agreement with
research permit on board the vessel, as
environment that would result from the American Samoa starting on November
specified in §§ 635.4 and 635.32.
action. Copies of those analyses, 30, 2017. This date is seven days before
* * * * * identified by NOAA–NMFS–2017–0004, December 6, 2017, which is the date
(62) A vessel owner or operator that are available from www.regulations.gov/ NMFS forecasted the fishery would
has an HMS Charter/Headboat permit #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017- reach the CNMI bigeye tuna allocation.
without a commercial sale endorsement 0004, or from Michael D. Tosatto, If NMFS determines that the fishery will
is prohibited from selling any Atlantic Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific reach American Samoa 1,000-mt
HMS. Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., allocation limit, we would restrict the
Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. retention of bigeye tuna caught by
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2017–26275 Filed 12–5–17; 8:45 am]
Copies of the Fishery Ecosystem Plan vessels identified in the agreement, and
for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western publish a notice to that effect in the
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Pacific Region (Pelagic FEP) are Federal Register.
available from the Western Pacific
Fishery Management Council (Council), Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, Dated: November 30, 2017.
HI 96813, tel 808–522–8220, fax 808– Emily H. Menashes,
522–8226, or www.wpcouncil.org. Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable [FR Doc. 2017–26227 Filed 12–1–17; 4:15 pm]
Fisheries, 808–725–5176. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
jstallworth on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with RULES

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Document Created: 2017-12-06 00:22:03
Document Modified: 2017-12-06 00:22:03

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		The specified fishing agreement is valid on December 1, 2017.
Contact		Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable Fisheries, 808-725-5176.
FR Citation		82 FR 57551
RIN Number		0648-XF15

82 FR 57551 - Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2017 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Territory of American Samoa

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCENational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 233 (December 6, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration