83 FR 2620 - Pacific Island Fisheries; Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review; Public Meeting
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 12 (January 18, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 12 (January 18, 2018)
| Page Range | 2620-2621 | |
| FR Document | 2018-00786 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 2620-2621] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-00786] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648-XF959 Pacific Island Fisheries; Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review; Public Meeting AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will convene a Western Pacific Stock Assessment Review (WPSAR) of the draft 2017 benchmark stock assessments for Guam coral reef fish. DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates, times, and daily agenda. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Council office, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Seki, Director, NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), tel 808-725-5360. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PIFSC scientists are conducting stock assessments on exploited Pacific Islands coral reef fish included in the Council's fishery ecosystem plans. These stocks are generally classified as data-poor because they lack reliable, long-term, catch and fishing effort data. Historically, the Council has recommended, and NMFS has approved, setting annual catch limits (ACLs) using a percentile of median historical catch levels and, more recently, a biomass-augmented catch-MSY (maximum sustainable yield) method has been applied. In an effort to use additional available data sources for these stocks, PIFSC scientists have conducted new coral reef fish assessments using length composition data, abundance data from diver surveys, and certain key population demographic parameters related to growth, maturity, and longevity. PIFSC scientists have been implementing an approach that uses size structure data to obtain an estimate [[Page 2621]] of total and fishing mortality rates for coral reef fish stocks. These rates, combined with population demographic parameters, are used in a numerical population model to obtain stock sustainability metrics (for example, spawning potential ratio, F/FMSY ). Overfishing limits can be generated by using recent total catch estimates and/or population size estimates from diver surveys. Furthermore, a meta-analytical approach using stochastic simulations was developed at PIFSC to obtain demographic parameter estimates for species with even less data than data-poor species (that is, ``data- less'' species). These scientific methods passed a rigorous independent review by a panel organized by the Center for Independent Experts in 2015. In 2017, these methods were applied to individual species in the main Hawaiian Islands, and now this general approach will be used to assess 20 species from the U.S. territory of Guam. Per WPSAR, there is a need to independently review these species-specific stock assessments prior to submission to a fishery management organization for consideration. Section 301(a)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that fishery conservation and management measures be based upon the best scientific information available. Magnuson-Stevens Act Section 302(g)(1)(E) provides that the Secretary of Commerce and each regional fishery management council may establish a peer review process for that Council for scientific information used to advise the Council about the conservation and management of a fishery. Consistent with this provision, the Council, PIFSC, and the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office have established the WPSAR process in an effort to improve the quality, timeliness, objectivity, and integrity of stock assessments and other scientific information used in managing Pacific Island fishery resources. Meeting Agenda for WPSAR Review The meeting schedule and agenda are as follows (9 a.m.-5 p.m. every day). The agenda order may change and the meeting will run as late as necessary to complete scheduled business. Monday, February 5, 2018 1. Welcome and introductions 2. Background information--Objectives and terms of reference 3. Fishery operation and management 4. History of stock assessments and reviews 5. Data a. Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources data collection b. Commercial Fisheries Biosampling Program c. NMFS Coral Reef Ecosystem Division surveys d. Biological data e. Other data 6. Presentation and review of stock assessment Tuesday, February 6, 2018 7. Continue review of stock assessment Wednesday, February 7, 2018 8. Continue review of stock assessment Thursday, February 8, 2018 9. Continue review of stock assessment 10. Public comment period 11. Panel discussions (closed) Friday, February 9, 2018 12. Panel discussions (closed) 13. Present panel recommendations (afternoon) 14. Adjourn Special Accommodations This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. Please direct requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aides to Michael Seki, Director, PIFSC, tel 808-725-5360, fax 808-725-5360), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: January 12, 2018. Emily H. Menashes, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-00786 Filed 1-17-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![2620 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2018 / Notices
SUMMARY: The North Pacific Fishery (11) IFQ medical lease provision Dated: January 12, 2018.
Management Council (Council) and its (12) IFQ beneficiary designation Tracey L. Thompson,
advisory committees will meet February provision Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
5, 2018 through February 12, 2018, in (13) IFQ Committee—Report on Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Seattle, WA. proposals [FR Doc. 2018–00763 Filed 1–17–18; 8:45 am]
DATES: The meetings will be held BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
(14) Arctic Exploratory Fishing
Monday, February 5, 2018 through
Monday, February 12, 2018. See (15) Observer and EM Projects
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific (16) Programmatic Groundfish DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
dates and times. Objectives
ADDRESSES: (17) Economic SAFE Report National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Meeting address: The meeting will be (18) Staff Tasking Administration
held at the Renaissance Hotel, 515 The Advisory Panel will address most RIN 0648–XF959
Madison St., Seattle, WA 98104. of the same agenda issues as the Council
Council address: North Pacific Pacific Island Fisheries; Western
except B reports.
Fishery Management Council, 605 W. Pacific Stock Assessment Review;
4th Ave., Suite 306, Anchorage, AK The SSC agenda will include the Public Meeting
99501–2252; telephone: (907) 271–2809. following issues:
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: (1) AFSC Report
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
David Witherell, Council staff; (2) GOA Climate Report Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
telephone: (907) 271–2809. (3) Marine Mammal Status Commerce.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The (4) Draft Agenda for Plan Team ACTION: Notice; public meeting.
Council, SSC, and AP will meet all day Workshop
on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 for the (5) BSAI Crab SUMMARY: NMFS and the Western
Ecosystem Research Workshop in the Pacific Fishery Management Council
Ballroom. The Council will begin its (6) Arctic Exploratory Fishing (Council) will convene a Western
plenary session at 8 a.m. in the South (7) GOA Chinook PSC Pacific Stock Assessment Review
Room on Thursday, February 8, (8) Economic SAFE (WPSAR) of the draft 2017 benchmark
continuing through Monday, February (9) Pollock Ageing Method stock assessments for Guam coral reef
12, 2018. The Scientific and Statistical fish.
In addition to providing ongoing
Committee (SSC) will begin at 8 a.m. in scientific advice for fishery management DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
the East Room on Monday, February 5, decisions, the SSC functions as the for meeting dates, times, and daily
and continue through Tuesday, Councils primary peer review panel for agenda.
February 6, 2018. The Council’s scientific information as described by
Advisory Panel (AP) will begin at 8 a.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Magnuson-Stevens Act section the Council office, 1164 Bishop St.,
in the North/West Room on Tuesday, 302(g)(1)(e), and the National Standard
February 6, and continue through Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813.
2 guidelines (78 FR 43066). The peer FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Friday, February 9, 2018. The IFQ review process is also deemed to satisfy
Committee will meet on Monday, Michael Seki, Director, NMFS Pacific
the requirements of the Information Islands Fisheries Science Center
February 5, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Quality Act, including the OMB Peer
in the Marion Room. The Legislative (PIFSC), tel 808–725–5360.
Review Bulletin guidelines.
Committee will meet on Monday, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PIFSC
February 5, 2018, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Agenda is subject to change, and scientists are conducting stock
(Room TBD). The Ecosystem Committee the latest version will be posted at assessments on exploited Pacific Islands
will meet on Tuesday, February 6, 2018, http://www.npfmc.org/. coral reef fish included in the Council’s
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Marion Although other non-emergency issues fishery ecosystem plans. These stocks
Room. not on the agenda may come before are generally classified as data-poor
these groups for discussion, those issues because they lack reliable, long-term,
Agenda may not be the subject of formal action catch and fishing effort data.
Monday, February 5, 2018 Through during these meetings. Actions will be Historically, the Council has
Monday, February 12, 2018 restricted to those issues specifically recommended, and NMFS has
listed in this notice and any issues approved, setting annual catch limits
Council Plenary Session: The agenda arising after publication of this notice
for the Council’s plenary session will (ACLs) using a percentile of median
that require emergency action under historical catch levels and, more
include the following issues. The Section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens
Council may take appropriate action on recently, a biomass-augmented catch-
Fishery Conservation and Management MSY (maximum sustainable yield)
any of the issues identified. Act, provided the public has been method has been applied.
(1) Executive Director’s Report notified of the Council’s intent to take In an effort to use additional available
(2) NMFS Management Report final action to address the emergency. data sources for these stocks, PIFSC
(3) ADF&G Report
(4) USCG Report Special Accommodations scientists have conducted new coral reef
fish assessments using length
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
(5) USFWS Report
(6) IPHC Report These meetings are physically composition data, abundance data from
(7) Protected Species Report accessible to people with disabilities. diver surveys, and certain key
(8) BSAI Crab: Norton Sound RKC ACL, Requests for sign language population demographic parameters
Crab Plan Team Report interpretation or other auxiliary aids related to growth, maturity, and
(9) Small Sideboards should be directed to Shannon Gleason longevity. PIFSC scientists have been
(10) GOA Catcher Vessel Chinook PSC at (907) 271–2809 at least 7 working implementing an approach that uses
limit adjustments days prior to the meeting date. size structure data to obtain an estimate
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2018 / Notices 2621
of total and fishing mortality rates for a. Guam Division of Aquatic and for the hearing impaired should contact
coral reef fish stocks. These rates, Wildlife Resources data collection the Secretary at least 10 days before the
combined with population demographic b. Commercial Fisheries Biosampling meeting date.
parameters, are used in a numerical Program Dated in Washington, DC, on January 10,
population model to obtain stock c. NMFS Coral Reef Ecosystem 2018.
sustainability metrics (for example, Division surveys Thomas Luebke,
spawning potential ratio, F/FMSY). d. Biological data
Secretary.
Overfishing limits can be generated by e. Other data
6. Presentation and review of stock [FR Doc. 2018–00663 Filed 1–17–18; 8:45 am]
using recent total catch estimates and/
or population size estimates from diver assessment BILLING CODE 6330–01–M
surveys. Furthermore, a meta-analytical Tuesday, February 6, 2018
approach using stochastic simulations
was developed at PIFSC to obtain 7. Continue review of stock assessment CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND
demographic parameter estimates for COMMUNITY SERVICE
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
species with even less data than data-
8. Continue review of stock assessment Agency Information Collection
poor species (that is, ‘‘data-less’’
Activities; Submission to the Office of
species). These scientific methods Thursday, February 8, 2018 Management and Budget for Review
passed a rigorous independent review 9. Continue review of stock assessment and Approval; Comment Request;
by a panel organized by the Center for 10. Public comment period Performance Measurement in
Independent Experts in 2015. In 2017, 11. Panel discussions (closed) AmeriCorps; Proposed Information
these methods were applied to
Friday, February 9, 2018 Collection; Comment Request
individual species in the main Hawaiian
Islands, and now this general approach 12. Panel discussions (closed) AGENCY: Corporation for National and
will be used to assess 20 species from 13. Present panel recommendations Community Service.
the U.S. territory of Guam. Per WPSAR, (afternoon) ACTION: Notice.
there is a need to independently review 14. Adjourn
these species-specific stock assessments SUMMARY: The Corporation for National
prior to submission to a fishery Special Accommodations and Community Service (CNCS) has
management organization for This meeting is physically accessible submitted a public information
consideration. to people with disabilities. Please direct collection request (ICR) entitled
Section 301(a)(2) of the Magnuson- requests for sign language interpretation Performance Measurement in
Stevens Fishery Conservation and or other auxiliary aides to Michael Seki, AmeriCorps for review and approval in
Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Director, PIFSC, tel 808–725–5360, fax accordance with the Paperwork
Act) requires that fishery conservation 808–725–5360), at least 5 days prior to Reduction Act of 1995.
and management measures be based the meeting date. DATES: Comments may be submitted,
upon the best scientific information Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. identified by the title of the information
available. Magnuson-Stevens Act collection activity, by February 20,
Section 302(g)(1)(E) provides that the Dated: January 12, 2018. 2018.
Secretary of Commerce and each Emily H. Menashes,
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
regional fishery management council Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
submitted, identified by the title of the
may establish a peer review process for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
information collection activity, to the
that Council for scientific information [FR Doc. 2018–00786 Filed 1–17–18; 8:45 am]
Office of Information and Regulatory
used to advise the Council about the BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Affairs, Attn: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB
conservation and management of a Desk Officer for the Corporation for
fishery. Consistent with this provision, National and Community Service, by
the Council, PIFSC, and the NMFS COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS any of the following two methods
Pacific Islands Regional Office have within 30 days from the date of
established the WPSAR process in an Notice of Meeting publication in the Federal Register:
effort to improve the quality, timeliness, The next meeting of the U.S. (1) By fax to: 202–395–6974,
objectivity, and integrity of stock Commission of Fine Arts is scheduled Attention: Ms. Sharon Mar, OMB Desk
assessments and other scientific for 18 January 2018, at 9:00 a.m. in the Officer for the Corporation for National
information used in managing Pacific Commission offices at the National and Community Service; or
Island fishery resources. Building Museum, Suite 312, Judiciary (2) By email to: smar@omb.eop.gov.
Meeting Agenda for WPSAR Review Square, 401 F Street NW, Washington, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
DC 20001–2728. Items of discussion Copies of this ICR, with applicable
The meeting schedule and agenda are supporting documentation, may be
as follows (9 a.m.–5 p.m. every day). may include buildings, parks and
memorials. obtained by calling the Corporation for
The agenda order may change and the National and Community Service,
Draft agendas and additional
meeting will run as late as necessary to Adrienne DiTommaso, at 202–606–3611
information regarding the Commission
complete scheduled business. or email to aditommaso@cns.gov.
are available on our website:
Monday, February 5, 2018 www.cfa.gov. Inquiries regarding the Individuals who use a
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
1. Welcome and introductions agenda and requests to submit written telecommunications device for the deaf
2. Background information—Objectives or oral statements should be addressed (TTY–TDD) may call 1–800–833–3722
and terms of reference to Thomas Luebke, Secretary, U.S. between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern
3. Fishery operation and management Commission of Fine Arts, at the above Time, Monday through Friday.
4. History of stock assessments and address; by emailing cfastaff@cfa.gov; or SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB
reviews by calling 202–504–2200. Individuals is particularly interested in comments
5. Data requiring sign language interpretation which:
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Document Created: 2018-01-18 00:42:16
Document Modified: 2018-01-18 00:42:16
| 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 | Notices | |
| Action | Notice; public meeting. | |
| Dates | See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for meeting dates, times, and daily agenda. | |
| Contact | Michael Seki, Director, NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), tel 808-725-5360. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 2620 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-XF95 |
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