[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 41 (Thursday, February 29, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4608]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 681

[I.D. 022296D]
RIN 0648-AI32


Western Pacific Crustacean Fisheries; Amendment 9

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of a fishery management plan amendment 
and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS issues this notice that the Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 9 to the Fishery 
Management Plan for the Crustaceans Fisheries of the Western Pacific 
Region for review by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), and is 
requesting comments from the public. Amendment 9 would change the 
current harvest strategy to adapt to lower recruitment in the lobster 
fishery of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

DATES: Written comments on the amendment must be received on or before 
April 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be sent to, Hilda Diaz-Soltero, 
Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, 
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213. Copies of the amendment are available upon 
request from the Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1405, Honolulu, 
Hawaii 96813. Telephone 808-522-8220.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Svein Fougner, (310) 980-4034, Alvin 
Katekaru, (808) 973-2985, or Robert Harman, (808) 522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Magnuson Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (Magnuson Act) 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. requires that a 
Regional Fishery Management Council submit any amendment to a fishery 
management plan it has prepared to NMFS for review, disapproval, or 
partial disapproval. The Magnuson Act also requires that NMFS, upon 
receiving an amendment, immediately publish a notice that the amendment 
is available for public review and comment. The NMFS will consider all 
public comments received during the comment period in determining 
whether to approve the amendment for implementation.

Amendment 9 would:

    (1) Establish an annual harvest guideline based on a constant 
harvest rate, which would replace the current system of harvesting all 
legal-sized lobsters above a certain population level;
    (2) eliminate size limits and the prohibition on retaining egg-
bearing lobsters because lobsters returned to the sea are believed to 
suffer a high mortality;
    (3) implement framework procedures to modify management measures 
triggered by biological, social, or economic problems in the fishery; 
and
    (4) authorize the Director, Southwest Region, to close the fishery 
by direct notice to fishermen.
    An environmental assessment and regulatory impact review are 
incorporated in Amendment 9. These documents are available for review 
(see ADDRESSES).
    The receipt date for Amendment 9 was February 21, 1996. Proposed 
regulations to implement Amendment 9 are scheduled to be published 
within 15 days of the receipt date.

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

    Dated: February 23, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-4608 Filed 2-26-96; 3:40 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F