[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 209 (Thursday, October 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58011-58012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29020]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 112197A]


Comprehensive Research and Monitoring Plan for Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of final plan.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of a plan for research and 
monitoring to support the conservation and management of Atlantic 
highly migratory species (HMS) as required by the Atlantic Tunas 
Convention Act (ATCA). NMFS has prepared the ``Comprehensive Research 
and Monitoring Program for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species'' (Plan) 
based on extensive consultation with relevant Federal and state 
agencies, scientific and technical experts, commercial and recreational 
fishermen, and other interested persons, public and private. Members of 
the public were provided with an opportunity to submit comments on the 
draft plan, and these comments were considered in developing the final 
plan.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Plan should be sent to Dr. 
Rebecca Lent, Chief, Highly Migratory Species Management Division (F/
SF1), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), 1315 East-West Highway, 
Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Husted, telephone (301) 713-
2347; FAX (301) 713-1917.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS currently undertakes a broad range of 
actions to address research and monitoring priorities, including 
rulemaking, scientific activities within the agency, and external 
partnerships that extend research capabilities. The agency has 
developed its existing research and monitoring program for HMS through 
a process of consultative reviews and public meetings with relevant 
Federal and state agencies, scientific and technical experts, 
commercial and recreational fishermen, and other interested persons, 
public and private. NMFS will continue to follow this same public 
process, which has proven to be an effective means of consulting all 
interested parties.
    The final plan is based on the existing research and monitoring 
program at NMFS as well as on suggestions for future initiatives based 
on domestic and international priorities. It has been prepared pursuant 
to section 971i(b) of ATCA, which directs the Secretary of Commerce to 
develop and implement a comprehensive research and monitoring program 
to support the conservation

[[Page 58012]]

and management of Atlantic bluefin tuna and other HMS. Section 971i(b) 
requires that the comprehensive research and monitoring program for HMS 
shall provide for, but not be limited to, the following:
    1. Statistically designed cooperative tagging studies;
    2. Genetic and biochemical stock analyses;
    3. Population censuses carried out through aerial surveys of 
fishing grounds and known migration areas;
    4. Adequate observer coverage and port sampling of commercial and 
recreational fishing activity;
    5. Collection of comparable real-time data on commercial and 
recreational catches and landings through the use of permits, logbooks, 
landings reports for charter operations and fishing tournaments, and 
programs to provide reliable reporting of the catch by private anglers;
    6. Studies of the life history parameters of bluefin tuna and other 
highly migratory species;
    7. Integration of data from all sources and the preparation of data 
bases to support management decisions; and
    8. Other research as necessary.

Comments and Responses

Research Priorities

    Comment: The final plan should clearly outline research priorities, 
rather than provide a compendium of possibilities for future research 
activities. There should be a strong emphasis on submitting the results 
to peer reviewed journals.
    Response: NMFS agrees. The final plan has been restructured to 
include a section on priorities. This approach should provide a better 
context for the description of HMS research activities that follows. 
NMFS will continue to submit the findings of research projects that are 
conducted or sponsored by the agency to a vigorous peer review process 
in the appropriate forum.

Funding for Research

    Comment: The plan should include a section with a time line that 
establishes a schedule for accomplishing this research. The document 
should also outline how the agency anticipates funding the research 
plan.
    Response: These are not required elements of the plan, pursuant to 
ATCA section 971i(b). NMFS is unable to predict future funding for 
these projects since the appropriation process is revisited annually by 
Congress and many HMS research initiatives are dependent upon 
international cooperation and funding. Therefore, funding levels and 
future dates of completion for the projects outlined in this plan have 
not been identified.

Request for Proposals

    Comment: NMFS should initiate a Request for Proposals (RFP) as a 
means of publicizing and undertaking the research in this comprehensive 
plan. The RFP should indicate the amount of funding available for these 
projects. 
    Response: NMFS has been unable to issue an RFP due to insufficient 
discretionary funding. This year's funding is largely dedicated to 
previous commitments to multi-year projects and implementation of the 
Magnuson-Stevens Act.

Data Collection in Commercial and Recreational Fisheries

    Comment: NMFS should strengthen its data collection methodology to 
ensure that comparable data are collected for commercial and 
recreational fisheries, as required by ATCA.
     Response: NMFS is aware that ATCA requires the collection of 
comparable real-time data on commercial and recreational catches and 
landings through the use of permits, logbooks, landings reports for 
charter operations and fishing tournaments, and programs to provide 
reliable reporting of catch by private anglers. Existing regulations, 
as well as the draft Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Highly 
Migratory Species (HMS FMP) and the draft Amendment to the Fishery 
Management Plan for Atlantic Billfishes (Billfish FMP), contain 
specific proposed management measures to address this legal 
requirement. NMFS is committed to strengthening and improving the 
collection of data in all HMS fisheries as an integral part of a 
comprehensive program for research and monitoring.
    Comment: The Plan should include a more thorough discussion of the 
Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistical Survey and the Large Pelagic 
Survey that explains the parameters of these surveys, including sample 
size and calibration.
    Response: NMFS does not consider this level of detail to be an 
appropriate part of the Plan. The draft HMS FMP provides more details 
relative to these surveys of the recreational HMS fisheries.

Studies of Life Histories

    Comment: The draft plan does not contain enough detail on how NMFS 
intends to collect information on Essential Fish Habitat, pursuant to 
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act.
    Response: The draft HMS FMP and the draft Amendment to the Billfish 
FMP each contain a substantial discussion of information needs relative 
to Essential Fish Habitat for species covered by the Plan. Development 
of these draft documents has included extensive involvement from the 
Advisory Panels and the public. Therefore, while this information is 
indeed relevant to the life histories of HMS, a complete discussion of 
Essential Fish Habitat data needs is not repeated in the ATCA plan.

Socioeconomic Studies

    Comment: NMFS should study the socioeconomic consequences of 
proposed management measures for HMS fisheries, including limited 
access.
    Response: A number of socioeconomic research projects relative to 
HMS were conducted in 1997 and 1998 with funding from NMFS, as 
mentioned in the Plan. Numerous social and economic analyses have also 
been conducted in conjunction with the preparation of the draft HMS FMP 
and the draft Amendment to the Billfish FMP. NMFS agrees that 
socioeconomic studies are an essential part of a comprehensive research 
program for HMS.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.

    Dated: October 22, 1998.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-29020 Filed 10-28-98; 8:45 am]
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