[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 160 (Friday, August 18, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43061-43065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20467]



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[[Page 43062]]


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 380

[Docket No. 950707173-5773-01; I.D. 052495A]
RIN 0648-AF51


Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) amends the regulations 
governing harvesting and reporting of Antarctic living marine resource 
catches. The regulations implement conservation and management measures 
promulgated by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine 
Living Resources (CCAMLR or Commission) and accepted in whole by the 
Government of the United States to regulate catches in Convention for 
the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (Convention) 
statistical reporting areas 48 and 58. These measures restrict the use 
of gear, restrict the directed taking and bycatch of certain species of 
fish, prohibit the taking of other species, and require real-time and 
other reporting of the harvest of certain species.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 18, 1995.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the framework environmental assessment may be 
obtained from the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, NOAA, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 
20910.
    Comments regarding burden estimates or collection of information 
aspects of this rule should be sent to Robin Tuttle, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 14212, Silver Spring, 
MD 20910, and to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503, Attention: 
Paperwork Reduction Act Project 0648-0194.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Tuttle (NMFS International 
Organizations and Agreements Division), 301-713-2282.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    At its annual meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1986, CCAMLR, of 
which the United States is a member, adopted a conservation measure 
requiring the Commission at subsequent meetings to adopt limitations on 
catch, or to implement equivalent measures, which would be binding for 
species upon which fisheries are permitted in Convention subarea 48.3 
(South Georgia), depicted at figure 1 of 50 CFR part 380. The 
Commission has, also, adopted measures that apply to other Convention 
subareas.
    The measures adopted by the 1994 meeting of the Commission address 
the 1994-95 and 1995-96 fishing seasons. The measures are based upon 
the advice of the Scientific Committee and take into account research 
conducted by Commission members and the reports and recommendations of 
the Scientific Committee's Working Groups. The 1994-95 fishing season 
is defined as November 5, 1994, to the end of the Commission meeting in 
1995 (November 3, 1995).
    The 1995-96 fishing season is defined as the end of the Commission 
meeting in 1995 (November 3, 1995) to the end of the Commission meeting 
in 1996 (likely November 1, 1996).
    The Commission adopted a resolution requesting that Members comply, 
on a voluntary basis, with the management plan for the Cape Shirreff 
CEMP Protected Area, until its effective date May 1, 1995.
    The measures were announced and public comments invited (until 
February 7, 1995) by Federal Register notice on January 19, 1995. No 
comments were received.

(i) Data Reporting Requirements

    The Commission has, at past annual meetings, adopted detailed, 
fine-scale reporting requirements. These measures continue in force 
until amended or revoked. Two minor additional reporting requirements 
were adopted at the 1994 meeting for statistical area 58.4.4. Data on 
the number of seabirds of each species killed or injured in incidents 
involving net monitor cables used in the N. squamifrons fishery and 
monthly effort and biological reporting on the bycatch of D. 
eleginoides in the fishery are to be reported to the Commission in 
1994-95 and 1995-96.

(ii) Finfishing in Subareas 48.1 (South Shetland Islands) and 48.2 
(South Orkney Islands)

    The Commission continued prohibitions on the taking of all species 
of finfish, other than for scientific research purposes, in subareas 
48.1 and 48.2 from November 6, 1993, until at least such time that a 
survey of stock biomass is carried out, and a decision that the fishery 
is to be reopened is made by the Commission based on the advice of the 
Scientific Committee.

(iii) Finfishing in Subarea 48.3 (South Georgia)

    The Commission took action on finfishing in subarea 48.3 for the 
1994-95 and 1995-96 fishing seasons, as follows:
    Directed fishing for Notothenia gibberifrons (humped rockcod), 
Chaenocephalus aceratus (blackfin icefish), Pseudochaenichthys 
georgianus (South Georgia icefish), Notothenia squamifrons (grey 
rockcod), and Patagonotothen brevicauda guntheri (Patagonian rockcod) 
is prohibited in the 1994-95 and 1995-96 fishing seasons.
    Directed fishing for Champsocephalus gunnari (mackerel icefish) is 
prohibited in the 1994-95 season.
    In any directed fishery in the subarea during the 1994-95 season, 
the bycatch of N. gibberifrons shall not exceed 1,470 tons; the bycatch 
of C. aceratus shall not exceed 2,200 tons; and the bycatch of P. 
georgianus, N. rossii, and N. squamifrons shall not exceed 300 tons 
each, the 1992-93 levels.
    The Commission continued in full all of measures previously in 
effect for Electrona carlsbergi (lanternfish). The total catch for the 
1994-95 fishing season continues at an amount not to exceed 200,000 
tons. In addition, the total catch of
    E. carlsbergi shall not exceed 43,000 tons in the Shag Rocks 
region. The directed fishery for E. carlsbergi will close if the 
bycatch limit for N. gibberifrons, C. aceratus, P. georgianus, N. 
rossii, or N. squamifrons is reached for any of these species or if the 
total catch of E. carlsbergi reaches 200,000 tons, whichever comes 
first.
    The directed fishery for E. carlsbergi in the Shag Rocks region 
will close if the bycatch limit for any of the bycatch species is 
reached, or if the total catch of 43,000 tons is reached, whichever 
comes first. If, in the course of the directed fishery for E. 
carlsbergi, the bycatch of any one haul of the bycatch species exceeds 
5 percent, the fishing vessel must move to another fishing ground 
within the subarea.
    In the event that the catch of E. carlsbergi is expected to exceed 
20,000 tons in the 1994-95 season, a survey of stock biomass and age 
structure must be conducted by the principal fishing nations. This is 
not a requirement on individual fishing vessel operators.
    As previously decided, each month, the length composition of a 
minimum of 500 E. carlsbergi, randomly collected from the commercial 
fishery, will be 

[[Page 43063]]
measured and the information passed to the Executive Secretary of 
CCAMLR not later than the end of the following month. Monthly reporting 
of catch and effort is required for the fishery.
    The total catch of Dissostichus eleginoides (Patagonian toothfish) 
is limited to 2,800 tons for the fishing season defined as March 1, 
1995, to August 31, 1995, or until the total allowable catch (TAC) is 
reached, whichever comes first.
    Each vessel participating in the fishery must have a scientific 
observer, appointed in accordance with the CCAMLR Scheme of 
International Scientific Observation on board throughout all fishing 
activities within the fishing period.
    Catch and effort data are due on an every-5-day reporting period. 
The monthly reporting of representative samples of length composition 
measurements using forms provided by the Commission is required for D. 
eleginoides during the 1994-95 fishing season. Failure by any 
Contracting Party, including the United States, to submit length 
composition data for three consecutive reporting periods will result in 
the closure of the fishery to vessels of that party.

(iv) Finfishing in Subarea 48.4 (South Sandwich Islands)

    The total catch of D. eleginoides in subarea 48.4 in the 1994-95 
fishing season beginning December 15, 1994, remains limited to 28 tons. 
The season continues to November 3, 1995, or until the TAC is reached, 
whichever comes first.

(v) Finfishing in Division 58.4.4 (Ob and Lena Banks)

    Measures adopted in 1992 setting TACs for the 1993-94 fishing 
season are continued in force for the 1994-95 and 1995-96 fishing 
seasons, with the additional data reporting indicated in section (i). 
Total catch of N. squamifrons for the entire two year period shall not 
exceed 1,150 metric tons, divided as 715 metric tons on Lena Bank and 
435 metric tons on Ob Bank. The Commission also required that each 
vessel participating in the fishery in 1994-95 and 1995-96 carry a 
scientific observer, appointed in accordance with the CCAMLR Scheme of 
International Scientific Observation, on board throughout all fishing 
activities within the fishing period.

(vi) Finfishing in Division 58.5.2 (McDonald and Heard Islands)

    The Commission adopted a new measure of continuing application 
setting precautionary catch limits in division 58.5.2 of 311 metric 
tons for C. gunnari and 297 metric tons (by trawling only) for D. 
eleginoides. The 5-day catch and effort and monthly effort and 
biological data reporting requirements established previously for other 
fisheries also apply.
    Fishing seasons commence in each year at the close of the annual 
meeting of the Commission and continue until the earlier of June 30 or 
reaching the precautionary catch limits. The Commission will keep the 
limits under review.

(vii) Fishing for Euphausia Superba

    Measures adopted by the Commission at its 1991 and 1992 meetings 
capping the catch of krill at 1.5 million metric tons in area 48 and 
390,000 metric tons in subarea 58.4.2 in any fishing season continue in 
force. Precautionary catch limits on subareas 48.1, 48.2, 48.3, 48.4, 
48.5, and 48.6 lapsed at the end of the 1993-94 fishing season.

(viii) Fishing for Antarctic Crab

    The Commission continued measures adopted in 1992 limiting the 
exploratory crab fishery in subarea 48.3 and requiring the use of data 
reporting forms through the 1994-95 fishing season. The crab fishery 
continues to be limited to a TAC of 1,600 tons and to one vessel per 
Commission member. An experimental harvest regime adopted in 1993 
continues through the 1995-96 fishery.

(ix) Protected Sites

    The Commission accorded protection to Cape Shirreff and the San 
Telmo Islands by establishing the ``Cape Shirreff CEMP Protected Area'' 
and requesting voluntary compliance until the
    May 1, 1995, effective date.

Classification

    NMFS has determined that this rule is necessary to implement the 
Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act of 1984 (the Act) and 
to give effect to the management measures adopted by CCAMLR and agreed 
to by the United States.
    This action is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866. It 
is exempt from section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act because 
it involves a foreign affairs function of the United States.
    This rule contains a collection-of-information requirement subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The collection of information has been 
approved by the Office of Management and Budget under OMB Control 
Number 648-0194, which expires August 31, 1997. The annual reporting 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 44 1/
2 hours in harvesting and import permit-related activities; 1 1/2 hours 
in CEMP permit-related activities; 1/2 hour for finfish reporting in 
the crab fishery; 6 1/2 hours for crab data reporting; 1 hour of radio 
contact; and 1/2 hour for reporting biological data in the finfish and 
crab fisheries. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any 
other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions 
for reducing this burden, to Robin Tuttle, NMFS, and to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (see ADDRESSES).

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 380

    Antarctic, Fish and wildlife, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    Dated: August 10, 1995.
Gary Matlock,
Program Management Officer, National Marine Fisheries Service. For the 
reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 380 is amended as follows:

PART 380--ANTARCTIC MARINE LIVING RESOURCES CONVENTION ACT OF 1984

    1. The authority citation for part 380 continues to read as
    follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 2431 et seq.

    2. In Sec. 380.23 paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e) introductory text, 
(f) through (j), and (k) introductory text are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 380.23  Catch restrictions.

    (a) The following catch restrictions apply to E. superba in 
statistical area 48 (Figure 1 to part 380):
    (1) The total catch of E. superba shall not exceed 1.5 million tons 
in any fishing season.
    (2) For the purposes of applying this catch restriction limit, a 
fishing season begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the following 
year.
* * * * *
    (c) The total catch of D. eleginoides in statistical subarea 48.4 
in the 1994-95 fishing season beginning December 15, 1994, is limited 
to 28 tons. The season continues through November 3, 1995, or until the 
total allowable catch is reached, whichever comes first.
    (d) The following directed fishing is prohibited in statistical 
subarea 48.3:
    (1) Directed fishing on N. rossii is prohibited in any fishing 
season.
    (2) Directed fishing on N. gibberifrons, C. aceratus, P. 
georgianus, N. squamifrons, and P. b. guntheri is 

[[Page 43064]]
prohibited during the period from November 5, 1994, through November 1, 
1996.
    (3) Directed fishing on C. gunnari is prohibited during the period 
from November 5, 1994, through November 3, 1995.
    (e) The following bycatch limitations apply in statistical subarea 
48.3 during the period from November 5, 1994, through November 3, 1995:
* * * * *
    (f) The following catch restrictions apply to D. eleginoides in 
statistical subarea 48.3 during the period from March 1, 1995, through 
August 31, 1995, or until the total allowable catch is reached, 
whichever comes first:
    (1) The total catch of D. eleginoides shall not exceed 2,800 tons.
    (2) Each vessel participating in the fishery shall have a 
scientific observer, appointed in accordance with the CCAMLR Scheme of 
International Scientific Observation on board throughout all fishing 
activities within the fishing period.
    (g) The following catch restrictions apply to E. carlsbergi in 
statistical subarea 48.3 during the period from November 5, 1994, 
through November 3, 1995:
    (1) The total catch of E. carlsbergi shall not exceed 200,000 tons.
    (2) The total catch of E. carlsbergi shall not exceed 43,000 tons 
in the Shag Rocks region, defined as the area bounded by 52 deg.30' S. 
lat., 40 deg. W. long.; 52 deg.30' S. lat., 44 deg. W. long.; 
54 deg.30' S. lat., 40 deg. W. long.; and 54 deg.30' S. lat., 44 deg. 
W. long.
    (h) The taking of finfish, other than for scientific research 
purposes, is prohibited in subareas 48.1 and 48.2 (see Figure 1 to part 
380).
    (i) The following catch restrictions apply to N. squamifrons in 
statistical division 58.4.4 (see Figure 1 to part 380) during the 
period from November 5, 1994, through November 1, 1996:
    (1) The total catch of N. squamifrons during the entire 2- year 
period shall not exceed 715 tons on Lena Bank and 435 tons on Ob Bank.
    (2) Each vessel participating in the fishery shall carry a 
scientific observer, appointed in accordance with the CCAMLR Scheme of 
International Scientific Observation on board throughout all fishing 
activities within the fishing period.
    (j) The following catch restrictions apply to statistical division 
58.5.2 for each fishing season:
    (1) Fishing seasons commence in each year at the close of the 
annual meeting of CCAMLR and continue until the earlier part of June 30 
or until respective precautionary catch limits are reached whichever 
comes first.
    (2) The total catch limit for C. gunnari is 311 tons.
    (3) The total catch limit for D. eleginoides is 297 tons.
    (k) The following catch restrictions apply to fishing for any 
Antarctic crab species in the crab group Order Decapoda, Suborder 
Reptantia, in statistical area 48 during the period from November 5, 
1994, through November 3, 1995:
* * * * *
    3. In Sec. 380.24, paragraphs (d) introductory text, (d)(2), (f) 
introductory text, (g)(1) introductory text, and (g)(2) are revised to 
read as follows:


Sec. 380.24  Reporting requirements.

* * * * *
    (d) Monthly effort and biological data reporting for N. squamifrons 
in statistical division 58.4.4 and for the bycatch of D. eleginoides 
taken during the period from November 5, 1994, through November 1, 
1996, in the target fishery for N. squamifrons is established as 
follows:
* * * * *
    (2) The operator of any vessel fishing in a trawl fishery to which 
this system applies, must complete, for all catch and bycatch species, 
the CCAMLR fine-scale catch and effort data form for trawl fisheries 
(Form C1, latest version) and, within 1 day of the end of the reporting 
period, submit the form to the Assistant Administrator. The report must 
include data on the numbers of seabirds of each species killed or 
injured in incidents involving net monitor cables. The report must be 
made in writing and conveyed by cable, telex, rapidfax, or other 
appropriately timely method to the address or number specified in the 
vessel's permit and must include the vessel's name, permit number, and 
the month to which the report applies.
* * * * *
    (f) Monthly biological data reporting for D. eleginoides for 
fishing in statistical subareas 48.3 and 48.4 during the period from 
November 5, 1994, through November 3, 1995, is established as follows:
* * * * *
    (g) * * *
    (1) The following data must be reported to the Assistant 
Administrator by August 15, 1995, for catches taken between November 5, 
1994, and July 31, 1995:
* * * * *
    (2) Data on catches taken between July 31, 1995, and August 31, 
1995, must be submitted to the Assistant Administrator by September 15, 
1995.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 380.26, paragraphs (a) through (i) are revised to read 
as follows:


Sec. 380.26  Closures.

    (a) The fishery for E. superba is statistical area 48 shall close 
when the total catch in any fishing season reaches 1.5 million tons.
    (b) The fishery for D. eleginoides in statistical subarea 48.3 
shall close on August 31, 1995, or when the total catch reaches 2,800 
tons, whichever comes first.
    (c) The fishery for D. eleginoides in statistical subarea 48.4 
shall close on November 3, 1995, or when the total catch reaches 28 
tons, whichever comes first.
    (d) The fishery for C. gunnari in statistical subarea 48.3 is 
closed from November 5, 1994, through November 3, 1995.
    (e) The directed fishery for E. carlsbergi in statistical subarea 
48.3 during the period from November 5, 1994, through November 3, 1995, 
shall close when the bycatch of any of the species N. gibberifrons, C, 
aceratus, N. rossii, N. squamifrons, P. georgianus, or P. b. guntheri 
reaches its bycatch limit, or when the total catch of E. carlsbergi 
reaches 200,000 tons, whichever comes first.
    (f) The directed fishery for E. carlsbergi in the Shag Rocks region 
of statistical subarea 48.3 during the period from November 5, 1994, 
through November 3, 1995, shall close when the bycatch of any of the 
species named in paragraph (e) of this section reaches its bycatch 
limit or if the total catch of E. carlsbergi reaches 43,000 tons, 
whichever comes first.
    (g) The fishery for N. squamifrons on Lena Bank in statistical 
division 58.4.4 shall close when the total catch between November 5, 
1994, and November 1, 1996, reaches 715 tons.
    (h) The fishery for N. squamifrons on Ob Bank in statistical 
division 58.4.4 shall close when the total catch between November 5, 
1994, and November 1, 1996, reaches 435 tons.
    (i) The fishery for Antarctic crab species in the crab group Order 
Decapoda, Suborder Reptantia in statistical area 48 shall close when 
the total catch reaches 1,600 tons.
* * * * *
    5. In Sec. 380.27, paragraphs (c) and (d) are revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 380.27  Gear restrictions.

* * * * *

[[Page 43065]]

    (c) The precautionary catch of D.eleginoides in statistical 
subdivision 58.5.2 may only be taken by trawling.
    (d) The use of any gear, except crab pots (traps), in the crab 
fishery in statistical area 48 during the period from November 5, 1994, 
through November 3, 1995, is prohibited.
* * * * *
    6. In Sec. 380.28, paragraph (m)(2) introductory text is revised, 
and paragraph (m)(2)(ii) is added to read as follows:


Sec. 380.28  Procedure for according protection to CCAMLR Ecosystem 
Monitoring Program Sites.

* * * * *
    (m) * * * *
    (2) The following sites have been identified as CEMP Protected 
Sites subject to the regulatory authority of the Act:
* * * * *
    (ii) Cape Shirreff and the San Telmo Islands. This designation 
takes effect on May 1, 1995. Cape Shirreff is a low, ice-free peninsula 
towards the western end of the north coast of Livingston Island, South 
Shetland Islands, situated at lat. 62 deg.' S, long. 60 deg.47' W, 
between Barclay Bay and Hero Bay. San Telmo Island is the largest of a 
small group of ice-free rock islets, approximately 2 km west of Cape 
Shirreff. The boundaries of the Cape Shirreff CEMP Protected Site are 
identical to the boundaries of the Site of Special Scientific Interest 
No. 32, as specified by ATCM Recommendation XV-7. No man-made boundary 
markers indicate the limits of the SSSI or protected site. The 
boundaries are defined by natural features and include the entire area 
of the Cape Shirreff peninsula north of the glacier ice tongue margin, 
and most of the San Telmo Island group. For the purposes of the 
protected site, the entire area of Cape Shirreff and the San Telmo 
Island group is defined as any land or rocks exposed at mean low tide 
within the area delimited by the map of SSSI No. 32.
[FR Doc. 95-20467 Filed 8-17-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F