[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16740]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 681

[Docket No. 940690-4190; I.D.061794B]
RIN 0648-AG73

 

Crustacean Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Interpretive rule; regulatory amendment.

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SUMMARY: NMFS publishes this interpretive rule to clarify the 
definition of the landing requirement in Federal regulations 
implementing the Fishery Management Plan for the Crustacean Fisheries 
of the Western Pacific Region (FMP). The purpose of this action is to 
remove an unintended barrier to fishermen who might have difficulty 
renewing their limited entry permits because there was no quota in 
1993.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 6, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James J. Morgan at (310) 980-4036 
or Mr. Alvin Z. Katekaru at (808) 541-2927.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final rule implementing Amendment 7 (57 
FR 10437, March 26, 1992) to the FMP established a limited entry 
program for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Among the provisions 
implemented was the establishment of a landing requirement for renewing 
permits each year. The Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 
681.30(c)(2) states that a permit will be renewed for a subsequent year 
only if the permitted vessel was used to: (i) land the equivalent of at 
least four lobsters for each trap normally used, calculated over 1 
calendar year [the landing requirement] and (ii) make the landings 
during at least one of the 2 years prior to the year for which the new 
permit would be valid.
    If a permit were not renewed or were revoked, others could apply 
for the unused permit. The purpose of the rule was to ensure that only 
active fishermen held permits, thereby achieving the maximum benefit 
from the fishery.
    Permit holders were notified by letter in December 1992 that the 
1992 fishing year would be the first year to be considered as a 
qualifying year. However, in 1993, the quota was set at zero lobsters 
because the resource was not of a sufficient size to support a fishery. 
As a result, those fishermen who had not fished in 1992 would have been 
required by Federal regulations to land a minimum number of lobsters in 
1993 to obtain a permit for the 1994 fishing season, but also were 
forbidden by Federal regulations to fish. Therefore, the rule is being 
amended to make the regulations clear that the landing requirement: (1) 
will not apply until at least 2 years of lobster fishing has occurred 
beginning in 1992; and (2) must be met in one of the 2 most recent 
years in which lobster fishing under the limited entry program was 
authorized. Since lobster fishing under the limited entry program was 
authorized in 1992, and will be authorized in 1994, the landing 
requirement will first be applied to permit renewals for the 1995 
lobster season.

Classification

    This final rule is issued under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
    In that this rule merely interprets an existing regulation without 
creating any new rights or duties, it is not subject to the requirement 
of notice and an opportunity for public comment under 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A). Similarly, as an interpretive rule, this rule is not subject 
to a 30 day delay in effective date pursuant to authority set forth at 
5 U.S.C. 553(d)(2).
    This rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of E.O. 12866.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 681

    Fisheries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: July 6, 1994.
Charles Karnella,
Acting Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 681 is amended 
as follows:

PART 681--WESTERN PACIFIC CRUSTACEAN FISHERIES

    1. The authority citation for part 681 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. In Sec. 681.30, paragraph (c)(2)(ii) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 681.30  Limited access management program.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (ii) Beginning with renewals for the 1995 fishing season, make the 
landings under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section during at least one 
of the 2 most recent years in which fishing was authorized under 
Sec. 681.31.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 94-16740 Filed 7-6-94; 4:42 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P