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)

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, 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]
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