83 FR 39039 - Pacific Island Fisheries; Ecosystem Component Species
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 153 (August 8, 2018)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 153 (August 8, 2018)
| Page Range | 39039-39040 | |
| FR Document | 2018-16946 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 39039-39040] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-16946] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 665 RIN 0648-BH63 Pacific Island Fisheries; Ecosystem Component Species AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery ecosystem plan amendments; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) proposes to amend the Fishery Ecosystem Plans (FEP) for American Samoa, the Mariana Archipelago, and Hawaii. Amendment 4 to the American Samoa FEP, Amendment 5 to the Marianas FEP, and Amendment 5 to the Hawaii FEP would reclassify certain management unit species as ecosystem component species. The intent of these amendments is to focus management efforts on species that are in need of conservation and management, and improve efficiency of fishery management in the region. DATES: NMFS must receive comments on the proposed amendments by October 9, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-0021, 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-2018-0021, 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 to the American Samoa FEP, Amendment 5 to the Marianas FEP, and Amendment 5 to the Hawaii FEP. Those amendments, available as a single document, include an environmental assessment (EA). Copies of the amendments and EA, and other supporting documents are available at https://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: Sarah Ellgen, Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS PIR, 808-725-5173. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council established the FEPs for American Samoa, the Mariana Archipelago, and Hawaii to conserve and manage fisheries in the US Exclusive Economic Zone (Federal waters) in the Pacific Islands. The Council developed the FEPs, and NMFS implemented the associated regulations, under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act). Under the National Standard guidelines (50 CFR 600.305 and 600.310) for the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Council and NMFS manage any fish species or stock that generally is a target of a Federal fishery and caught predominantly in Federal waters. Councils develop fishery management plans for these species (known as management unit species (MUS) that describe the fisheries, essential fish habitat (EFH), the scientific data required for effective implementation of the plan, the data that should be collected from the fisheries, and other required elements. The FEPs specify maximum sustainable yield, optimum yield, and status determination criteria so that overfishing and overfished determinations can be made. The Council and NMFS are also required to set annual catch limits (ACL) and accountability measures (AM) for all MUS, and the FEPs describe the process for specifying ACLs and AMs. [[Page 39040]] The FEPs have documented that the Council would use the system for classifying certain stocks as ecosystem component species (ECS), based on the criteria outlined in National Standard 1. National Standard 1 describes ECS as stocks that are included in an FEP to achieve ecosystem management objectives, but do not require conservation and management. Once reclassified as ECS, the number of MUS would be reduced from 205 species or families to 11 species in the American Samoa FEP, from 227 species or families to 13 species in the Marianas FEP, and from 173 species or families to 20 species in the Hawaii FEP. Appendix B in the amendment document list the proposed ECS for each area. For a detailed description of the methods that the Council and NMFS used to identify the species to reclassify from MUS to ECS, please refer to Section 2 of the EA (see ADDRESSES). The proposed action would change the definitions of MUS and ECS in the FEPs to reflect the Council's recommendations. It would also replace the FEP definitions of Currently Harvested Coral Reef Taxa (CHCRT) and Potentially Harvested Coral Reef Taxa (PHCRT) with Coral Reef ECS. All management measures that allow for the collection of data on EC species and protect the associated role of ECS in the ecosystem, and/or address other ecosystem issues, would be retained. These include permits and fees, reporting and recordkeeping requirements, prohibitions, allowable gear and gear restrictions, notifications, at- sea observer coverage, vessel marking and gear identification, area closures, and quotas, seasons, and minimum sizes for American Samoa and Mariana precious coral ECS. The management measures unique to the CHCRT and PHCRT would be carried forward to the coral reef ECS. Finally, the proposed action would result in revision or removal of those sections of the FEPs that are not required for ECS, including EFH designations for ECS. The effects of this change on the environment would be minor, however, because the total area designated as EFH would change only for the deep (400-700 m) benthic substrates near Guam, the CNMI, and American Samoa, and reclassification would not change any fishery activities. NMFS must receive comments on the proposed amendments by October 9, 2018 for consideration in the decision to approve, partially approve, or disapprove the amendments. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: August 3, 2018. Margo B. Schulze-Haugen, Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018-16946 Filed 8-7-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules 39039
bigeye tuna in Hawaii in the last quarter Dated: August 2, 2018. period. All comments received are a
of the year when market demand is high Samuel D. Rauch III, part of the public record, and NMFS
will result in positive economic benefits Deputy Assistant Administrator for will generally post them for public
for fishery participants and net benefits Regulatory Programs, National Marine viewing on www.regulations.gov
to the nation. Allowing participating Fisheries Service. without change. All personal identifying
territories to enter into specified fishing [FR Doc. 2018–16883 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am] information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
agreements under this action provides BILLING CODE 3510–22–P confidential business information, or
benefits to the territories by providing otherwise sensitive information
funds for territorial fisheries submitted voluntarily by the sender will
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE be publicly accessible. NMFS will
development projects. Establishing a
2,000 t longline limit for bigeye tuna accept anonymous comments (enter
National Oceanic and Atmospheric ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish
where territories are not subject to Administration to remain anonymous).
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission longline limits is not The Council prepared Amendment 4
50 CFR Part 665
expected to adversely affect vessels to the American Samoa FEP,
based in the territories.
RIN 0648–BH63 Amendment 5 to the Marianas FEP, and
Amendment 5 to the Hawaii FEP. Those
Historical catch of bigeye tuna by the Pacific Island Fisheries; Ecosystem amendments, available as a single
American Samoa longline fleet has been Component Species document, include an environmental
less than 2,000 t, even including the AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries assessment (EA). Copies of the
catch of vessels based in American Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and amendments and EA, and other
Samoa, catch by dual permitted vessels Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), supporting documents are available at
that land their catch in Hawaii, and Commerce. https://www.regulations.gov or the
catch attributed to American Samoa ACTION: Notice of availability of fishery Council, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400,
from U.S. vessels under specified ecosystem plan amendments; request for Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808–522–8220,
fishing agreements. With regard to comments. fax 808–522–8226, www.wpcouncil.org.
Guam and the CNMI, no longline fishing FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
has occurred since 2011. SUMMARY: NMFS announces that the Sarah Ellgen, Sustainable Fisheries,
Western Pacific Fishery Management NMFS PIR, 808–725–5173.
Under the proposed action, longline
Council (Council) proposes to amend
fisheries managed under the FEP are not SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
the Fishery Ecosystem Plans (FEP) for
expected to expand substantially nor Council established the FEPs for
American Samoa, the Mariana
change the manner in which they are Archipelago, and Hawaii. Amendment 4 American Samoa, the Mariana
currently conducted, (i.e., area fished, to the American Samoa FEP, Archipelago, and Hawaii to conserve
number of vessels longline fishing, Amendment 5 to the Marianas FEP, and and manage fisheries in the US
number of trips taken per year, number Amendment 5 to the Hawaii FEP would Exclusive Economic Zone (Federal
of hooks set per vessel during a trip, reclassify certain management unit waters) in the Pacific Islands. The
depth of hooks, or deployment species as ecosystem component Council developed the FEPs, and NMFS
techniques in setting longline gear), due species. The intent of these amendments implemented the associated regulations,
to existing operational constraints in the is to focus management efforts on under the authority of the Magnuson-
fleet, the limited entry permit programs, species that are in need of conservation Stevens Fishery Conservation and
and protected species mitigation and management, and improve Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens
requirements. The proposed rule does efficiency of fishery management in the Act).
not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with region. Under the National Standard
other Federal rules and is not expected DATES: NMFS must receive comments guidelines (50 CFR 600.305 and
to have significant impact on small on the proposed amendments by 600.310) for the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
organizations or government October 9, 2018. the Council and NMFS manage any fish
jurisdictions. Furthermore, there would ADDRESSES: You may submit comments species or stock that generally is a target
be little, if any, disproportionate adverse on this document, identified by NOAA– of a Federal fishery and caught
economic impacts from the proposed NMFS–2018–0021, by either of the predominantly in Federal waters.
rule based on gear type, or relative following methods: Councils develop fishery management
vessel size. The proposed rule also will • Electronic Submission: Submit all plans for these species (known as
not place a substantial number of small electronic public comments via the management unit species (MUS) that
entities, or any segment of small Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to describe the fisheries, essential fish
http://www.regulations.gov/ habitat (EFH), the scientific data
entities, at a significant competitive
#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2018- required for effective implementation of
disadvantage to large entities.
0021, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, the plan, the data that should be
For the reasons above, NMFS does not complete the required fields, and enter collected from the fisheries, and other
expect the proposed action to have a or attach your comments. required elements. The FEPs specify
significant economic impact on a • Mail: Send written comments to maximum sustainable yield, optimum
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS
substantial number of small entities. As Michael D. Tosatto, Regional yield, and status determination criteria
such, an initial regulatory flexibility Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands so that overfishing and overfished
analysis is not required and none has Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. determinations can be made. The
been prepared. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. Council and NMFS are also required to
This action is exempt from review Instructions: NMFS may not consider set annual catch limits (ACL) and
under E.O. 12866. comments sent by any other method, to accountability measures (AM) for all
any other address or individual, or MUS, and the FEPs describe the process
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. received after the end of the comment for specifying ACLs and AMs.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:59 Aug 07, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\08AUP1.SGM 08AUP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_39192/page/1.svg)
![39040 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2018 / Proposed Rules
The FEPs have documented that the The proposed action would change Finally, the proposed action would
Council would use the system for the definitions of MUS and ECS in the result in revision or removal of those
classifying certain stocks as ecosystem FEPs to reflect the Council’s sections of the FEPs that are not
component species (ECS), based on the recommendations. It would also replace required for ECS, including EFH
criteria outlined in National Standard 1. the FEP definitions of Currently designations for ECS. The effects of this
National Standard 1 describes ECS as Harvested Coral Reef Taxa (CHCRT) and change on the environment would be
stocks that are included in an FEP to Potentially Harvested Coral Reef Taxa minor, however, because the total area
achieve ecosystem management (PHCRT) with Coral Reef ECS. All designated as EFH would change only
objectives, but do not require management measures that allow for the for the deep (400–700 m) benthic
conservation and management. Once collection of data on EC species and substrates near Guam, the CNMI, and
reclassified as ECS, the number of MUS protect the associated role of ECS in the American Samoa, and reclassification
would be reduced from 205 species or ecosystem, and/or address other would not change any fishery activities.
families to 11 species in the American ecosystem issues, would be retained. NMFS must receive comments on the
Samoa FEP, from 227 species or families These include permits and fees, proposed amendments by October 9,
to 13 species in the Marianas FEP, and reporting and recordkeeping 2018 for consideration in the decision to
requirements, prohibitions, allowable approve, partially approve, or
from 173 species or families to 20
gear and gear restrictions, notifications, disapprove the amendments.
species in the Hawaii FEP. Appendix B
at-sea observer coverage, vessel marking Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
in the amendment document list the
and gear identification, area closures,
proposed ECS for each area. and quotas, seasons, and minimum sizes Dated: August 3, 2018.
For a detailed description of the for American Samoa and Mariana Margo B. Schulze-Haugen,
methods that the Council and NMFS precious coral ECS. The management Acting Director, Office of Sustainable
used to identify the species to reclassify measures unique to the CHCRT and Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
from MUS to ECS, please refer to PHCRT would be carried forward to the [FR Doc. 2018–16946 Filed 8–7–18; 8:45 am]
Section 2 of the EA (see ADDRESSES). coral reef ECS. BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:59 Aug 07, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\08AUP1.SGM 08AUP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_39192/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2018-08-08 02:05:47
Document Modified: 2018-08-08 02:05:47
| 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 amendments; request for comments. | |
| Dates | NMFS must receive comments on the proposed amendments by October 9, 2018. | |
| Contact | Sarah Ellgen, Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS PIR, 808-725-5173. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 39039 | |
| RIN Number | 0648-BH63 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR