[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 27, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60255-60256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30339]



[[Page 60255]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
50 CFR Part 660

RIN 0648-AJ02
[Docket No. 961121322-6322-01; I.D. 110696B]


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Western Pacific Bottomfish Fishery; Mau Zone Moratorium

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes that no new permits be issued for 2 years to 
vessel owners for harvesting bottomfish in the Mau Zone of the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) so that effort in the fishery will 
be stabilized while the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council 
(Council) develops a limited access program for the area. A moratorium 
on new permits would stabilize effort in the fishery while the Council 
develops a management system for the Mau Zone that may permanently 
limit access to the fishery.

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted through January 
10, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ms. Hilda Diaz-Soltero, Administrator, 
Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Boulevard, Suite 4200, Long 
Beach, CA 90802. Copies of the Environmental Assessment can be obtained 
from the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alvin Katekaru, NMFS, (808) 973-2985; 
Svein Fougner, NMFS, (310) 980-4034; or Kitty Simonds, Council, (808) 
522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Council's Bottomfish Plan Team, Advisory 
Panel, and Advisory Review Board held a meeting on November 16-17, 
1995, and, following a review of the NWHI bottomfish fishery, 
recommended that the Council place a 1-year moratorium on issuing new 
Mau Zone permits so that a limited entry program could be developed. 
The NWHI bottomfish fishery is divided into a Ho'omalu Zone, which is 
presently managed by a limited entry program, and a Mau Zone, which is 
an open access fishery. A Federal permit is required for both areas.
    The Council's Scientific and Statistical Committee met December 4-
5, 1995, and asked for further biological and economic analysis of the 
NWHI fishery, which was provided by the NMFS Southwest Fisheries 
Science Center, Honolulu Laboratory, in April 1996 (Administrative 
Report H-96-07). The analysis shows that the average fishing vessel 
recoups operating costs, but does not recoup total costs. Average 
economic conditions for the fishery are poor. The number of vessels 
with permits in the Mau Zone exceeds the estimated economic optimum, 
even when the analysis assumes the potential maximum effort only for 
the active vessels. This report may be obtained from the Administrator, 
Southwest Region, NMFS (see ADDRESSES).
    New estimates put the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) at 455,000 lb 
(206,385 kg) for the Ho'omalu Zone and 131,000 lb (59,421 kg) for the 
Mau Zone. In 1994 and 1995, landings from the Mau Zone were 158,200 lb 
(71,758 kg) and 210,000 lb (95,254 kg), respectively, exceeding the 
MSY. Although landings from the Ho'omalu Zone have not exceeded the 
MSY, a combination of two zones, if adopted by some future action, 
could lead to an additional increase in fishing effort in the Mau Zone, 
because the vessels that fish farther up the Hawaiian chain have, on 
average, greater fishing power than vessels now fishing in the Mau 
Zone.
    At its 89th meeting, held April 24-26, 1996, the Council voted to 
recommend a 1-year moratorium on issuing new permits for the Mau Zone. 
At its 90th meeting, August 7-9, 1996, the Council recommended that the 
moratorium be extended to 2 years, because 1 year may not allow 
sufficient time to complete the development of and implement an access 
limitation system for the Mau Zone fishery.
    The Council took action on the recommended moratorium in accordance 
with the framework procedures of 50 CFR 660.67(d), which specifically 
addresses the access limitation process. During the proposed 
moratorium, the Council would develop an approach that aims to reduce 
the potential increase in fishing pressure in the Mau Zone and increase 
the economic efficiency of the fishery.
    Discussions among the members of the Council's Bottomfish Plan 
Team, Task Force, Advisory Panel, and Review Board have pointed out the 
necessity of three elements in any limited access plan: Simplicity, 
equity, and the importance of restricting the number of potential 
participants. Approximately 80 vessels have had permits for the Mau 
Zone at some time in the past; however, some owners of vessels have 
died, and some vessels have permanently left the fishery, leaving a 
core of perhaps 30 vessels, whose owners could renew their permits and 
participate in the fishery. Any plan that the Council adopts is likely 
to contain some kind of qualifying criteria. A permit obtained by a 
former permittee during the proposed moratorium would not likely, in 
itself, guarantee a permit under the permanent limited access system. 
Historical landings data and current landings data, coupled with non-
transferable permits, has been one approach considered for reducing the 
number of bottomfish vessels in the fishery and maintaining an active 
fleet at an optimal level.
    Following the effective date of the final rule implementing the 
moratorium, only those vessel owners who have held Mau Zone permits 
would be eligible to renew or obtain permits for the length of the 
moratorium.

Classification

    This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for 
purposes of E.O. 12866.
    The Assistant General Counsel for Legislation and Regulation of the 
Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration that this proposed rule, if adopted, 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities, as follows:

    The proposed rule would establish a moratorium for 2 years on 
issuing new permits to harvest bottomfish in the Mau Zone of the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). During the moratorium, a 
limited entry program would be developed for the area by the 
Council, which would be implemented by regulatory amendment to the 
plan using the framework procedures at 50 CFR 660.67(d).
    The NWHI bottomfish fishery is divided into two zones, the 
Ho'omalu Zone and the Mau Zone. The Ho'omalu Zone, the zone 
northwest of the Mau Zone, is currently managed by limited access, 
while the Mau Zone is managed by open access. A Federal permit is 
required to fish in either area. The Fishery Management Plan for the 
Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fisheries (FMP) contains an 
administrative framework that anticipated the possibility of 
implementing limited access programs. The framework process requires 
that specific factors, such as participation in the fishery, 
economics of the fishery, and the capability of fishing vessels to 
engage in other fisheries, be reviewed before any action is taken. 
This process was followed and opportunity was provided for public 
comment. No individuals with fishing vessels presently participating 
in the fishery would be denied a permit; however, no permits would 
be issued to new participants for 2 years following the effective 
date of the final rule. Catch, effort, revenue, or employment in the 
fishery during the term of the moratorium would not be expected to 
change as a result of the moratorium. As a result, an initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis was not prepared.


[[Page 60256]]



List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Fisheries, Fishing, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: November 21, 1996.
Gary C. Matlock,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is 
proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 660--FISHERIES OFF WEST COAST AND WESTERN PACIFIC STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. In Sec. 660.61, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 660.61  Permits.

    (a) The owner of any vessel used to fish for bottomfish in the Mau 
Zone must have a permit issued under this section for that vessel. 
Applications from persons not previously permitted to fish in the Mau 
Zone will not be approved for a 2-year period beginning [the effective 
date of the final rule].
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 96-30339 Filed 11-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F