[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 27, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 51548]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21953]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[I.D. 081303D]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting/public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
meet on September 23, 2003, at 12 noon Hawaiian Standard Time to review 
the draft regulatory amendment to the Fishery Management Plan for the 
Pelagics Fishery of the Western Pacific (Pelagics FMP), which includes 
a range of alternatives (including no action) that permit some access 
by pelagic longline vessels to the southern fishing grounds during 
April and May while continuing to conserve sea turtles. The Council 
will also consider and may take final action on conservation measures 
intended to offset any potential harm that the Hawaii-based longline 
fishery could still pose to turtles. In addition, the Council will 
discuss potential modifications to the current northern prohibition on 
shallow-set longlining and may take initial action on this issue.

ADDRESSES: The Council meeting will be held via telephone conference 
call at the Council offices, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu 
Hawaii 96813; telephone: 808-522-8220; Call in number: 1-808-527-2929 
PIN 5785; FAX: 808-522-8226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: 808-522-8220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The agenda during the Council meeting will 
include the following items:

1. Pelagic Fisheries

    A. Status of Biological Opinion, litigation and mediation
    B. Final action on modifications to the current longline seasonal 
southern area closure.
    C. Initial action to consider modifications to the current northern 
prohibition on shallow-set longlining.
    In 2002, the Council developed a regulatory framework adjustment to 
the Pelagics FMP which was intended to minimize interactions with, and 
harm to, Pacific sea turtles. These measures stemmed from the non-
discretionary Reasonable and Prudent Alternative contained in a 
Biological Opinion issued in 2001 by NMFS under the Endangered Species 
Act. Among the various measures implemented were a prohibition on 
shallow-set longline fishing north of the equator, and a seasonal area 
closure from 15[deg] N. lat. to the equator, and from 145[deg] W. long. 
to 180[deg] long. to all fishing by pelagic longline vessels during 
April and May of each year. These measures have contributed to 
reductions in sea turtle interactions. However, the southern area 
closure exacts a significant economic burden on the Hawaii-based 
longline fleet because it is unable to access these fishing grounds 
when bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks are seasonally abundant during 
April and May. At its 118th meeting in June 2003, the Council took 
initial action to consider modifying the southern area closure to 
reduce the economic impact on the longline fishery while continuing to 
conserve turtles. The Council also directed its staff to continue 
preparation of a regulatory amendment for potential changes to the 
Pelagics FMP, including a detailed analysis of a range of modifications 
to the southern area closure and the impacts of those alternatives on 
sea turtles, fisheries, and the environment. At its 119th meeting, the 
Council will review this draft regulatory amendment to the Pelagics 
FMP, which includes a range of alternatives (including no action) that 
permit some access by pelagic longline vessels to the southern fishing 
grounds during April and May while continuing to conserve sea turtles. 
The Council will also consider and may take final action on 
conservation measures intended to offset any potential harm that the 
Hawaii-based longline fishery could still pose to turtles. In addition, 
the Council will discuss potential modifications to the current 
northern prohibition on shallow-set longlining and may take initial 
action on this issue.

2. Other Business

    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before the Council for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal Council action during this meeting. Council action will be 
restricted to those issues specifically listed in this document and to 
any issue arising after publication of this document that requires 
emergency action under section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, provided that the public has been 
notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address the 
emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Kitty M. Simonds, (808)522-8220 (voice) or 
(808)522-8226 (fax), at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

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

    Dated: August 22, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-21953 Filed 8-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S