83_FR_63664 83 FR 63428 - Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2018 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for American Samoa

83 FR 63428 - Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2018 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for American Samoa

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 236 (December 10, 2018)

Page Range63428-63429
FR Document2018-26616

NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of the 2018 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 American Samoa.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63428-63429]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26616]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

RIN 0648-XG025


Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2018 U.S. Territorial Longline 
Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for 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 2018 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 
American Samoa.

DATES: December 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared environmental analyses that describe the 
potential impacts on the human environment that would result from the 
action. The analyses, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-0026, are available 
from https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0026, or from 
Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region 
(PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
    The Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western 
Pacific (Pelagic FEP) is 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 http://www.wpcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Walker, NMFS PIRO Sustainable 
Fisheries, 808-725-5184.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on October 23, 
2018, NMFS specified a 2018 limit of 2,000 t of longline-caught bigeye 
tuna for the U.S. Pacific Island territories of American Samoa, Guam, 
and the CNMI (83 FR 53399). NMFS allows each territory to allocate up 
to 1,000 t of the 2,000 t limit to U.S. longline fishing vessels 
identified in a valid specified fishing agreement.
    On November 19, 2018, NMFS received from the Council a specified 
fishing agreement between the government of American Samoa and Quota 
Management, Inc. (QMI). 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 to American Samoa starting on December 10, 2018. This is 
seven days before December 17, 2018, which is the date NMFS forecasted 
the fishery would reach the CNMI bigeye tuna allocation limit. If NMFS 
determines that the fishery will reach the American Samoa 1,000-t 
attribution, we would 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, 
and we would publish a notice to that effect in the Federal Register.

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


[[Page 63429]]


    Dated: December 4, 2018.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26616 Filed 12-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P

63428 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Rules and Regulations continued operation of the program in a estimated under the HHS-operated risk Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. budget-neutral manner, to protect adjustment methodology established in 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. consumers from the effects of adverse those final rules. The approximate The Fishery Ecosystem Plan for selection and premium increases that estimated risk adjustment transfers for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific would result from issuer uncertainty. the 2018 benefit year are $4.8 billion. As (Pelagic FEP) is available from the The Premium Stabilization Rule, such, we also incorporate into this final Western Pacific Fishery Management previous Payment Notices, and other rule the RIA in the 2018 Payment Notice rulemakings noted above provided Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., proposed and final rules.30 This final detail on the implementation of the risk rule is not subject to the requirements Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel adjustment program, including the of Executive Order 13771 (82 FR 9339, 808–522–8220, fax 808–522–8226, or specific parameters applicable for the February 3, 2017) because it is expected http://www.wpcouncil.org. 2018 benefit year. to result in no more than de minimis FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: B. Overall Impact costs. Rebecca Walker, NMFS PIRO We have examined the impact of this Dated: November 16, 2018. Sustainable Fisheries, 808–725–5184. rule as required by Executive Order Seema Verma, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Administrator, Centers for Medicare & rule published on October 23, 2018, Review (September 30, 1993), Executive Medicaid Services. NMFS specified a 2018 limit of 2,000 t Order 13563 on Improving Regulation Dated: November 19, 2018. of longline-caught bigeye tuna for the and Regulatory Review (January 18, Alex M. Azar II, U.S. Pacific Island territories of 2011), the Regulatory Flexibility Act Secretary, Department of Health and Human American Samoa, Guam, and the CNMI (RFA) (September 19, 1980, Pub. L. 96– Services. (83 FR 53399). NMFS allows each 354), section 1102(b) of the Social [FR Doc. 2018–26591 Filed 12–7–18; 8:45 am] territory to allocate up to 1,000 t of the Security Act, section 202 of the BILLING CODE 4120–01–P 2,000 t limit to U.S. longline fishing Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 vessels identified in a valid specified (March 22, 1995; Pub. L. 104–4), Executive Order 13132 on Federalism fishing agreement. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE On November 19, 2018, NMFS (August 4, 1999), the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 804(2)), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric received from the Council a specified Executive Order 13771 on Reducing Administration fishing agreement between the Regulation and Controlling Regulatory government of American Samoa and Costs. Executive Orders 12866 and 50 CFR Part 665 Quota Management, Inc. (QMI). The 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs Council’s Executive Director advised and benefits of available regulatory RIN 0648–XG025 that the specified fishing agreement was alternatives and, if regulation is consistent with the criteria set forth in necessary, to select regulatory Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2018 U.S. Territorial Longline Bigeye Tuna 50 CFR 665.819(c)(1). NMFS reviewed approaches that maximize net benefits the agreement and determined that it is (including potential economic, Catch Limits for American Samoa consistent with the Pelagic FEP, the environmental, public health and safety AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Magnuson-Stevens Fishery effects, distributive impacts, and Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Conservation and Management Act, equity). A regulatory impact analysis Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), (RIA) must be prepared for major rules implementing regulations, and other Commerce. applicable laws. with economically significant effects ($100 million or more in any one year). ACTION: Announcement of a valid In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d) OMB has determined that this final specified fishing agreement. and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), vessels rule is ‘‘economically significant’’ identified in the agreement may retain SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid within the meaning of section 3(f)(1) of and land bigeye tuna in the western and specified fishing agreement that Executive Order 12866, because it is central Pacific Ocean under the allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of likely to have an annual effect of $100 American Samoa limit. NMFS will the 2018 bigeye tuna limit for the million in any 1 year. In addition, for begin attributing bigeye tuna caught by Territory of American Samoa to the reasons noted above, OMB has vessels identified in the agreement to identified U.S. longline fishing vessels. determined that this final rule is a major American Samoa starting on December The agreement supports the long-term rule under the Congressional Review sustainability of fishery resources of the 10, 2018. This is seven days before Act. This final rule offers further U.S. Pacific Islands, and fisheries December 17, 2018, which is the date explanation of budget neutrality and the development in American Samoa. NMFS forecasted the fishery would use of statewide average premium in the DATES: December 7, 2018. reach the CNMI bigeye tuna allocation risk adjustment state payment transfer ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared limit. If NMFS determines that the formula when HHS is operating the environmental analyses that describe fishery will reach the American Samoa permanent risk adjustment program the potential impacts on the human 1,000-t attribution, we would restrict the established by section 1343 of the environment that would result from the retention of bigeye tuna caught by PPACA on behalf of a state for the 2018 action. The analyses, identified by vessels identified in the agreement, benefit year. We note that we previously NOAA–NMFS–2018–0026, are available unless the vessels are included in a estimated transfers associated with the from https://www.regulations.gov/ subsequent specified fishing agreement risk adjustment program in the Premium docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0026, or with another U.S. territory, and we Stabilization Rule and the 2018 from Michael D. Tosatto, Regional would publish a notice to that effect in Payment Notice, and that the provisions Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands the Federal Register. of this final rule do not change the risk Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. adjustment transfers previously 30 81 FR 61455 and 81 FR 94058. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:14 Dec 07, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\10DER1.SGM 10DER1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 236 / Monday, December 10, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 63429 Dated: December 4, 2018. Alan D. Risenhoover, Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2018–26616 Filed 12–7–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:14 Dec 07, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\10DER1.SGM 10DER1


Document Created: 2018-12-08 00:21:58
Document Modified: 2018-12-08 00:21:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionAnnouncement of a valid specified fishing agreement.
DatesDecember 7, 2018.
ContactRebecca Walker, NMFS PIRO Sustainable Fisheries, 808-725-5184.
FR Citation83 FR 63428 
RIN Number0648-XG02
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