[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53101-53102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23004]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[I.D. 090403B]


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 original public meeting document was published in the 
Federal Register on August 27, 2003. Due to the U.S. District Court 
ruling made by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, on August 31, 2003, the 
2002 Biological Opinion, issued on November 15, 2002, is ``vacated and 
remanded to the National Marine Fisheries Service.'' Further, Judge 
Kollar-Kotelly ordered that the regulations issued on June 12, 2002, 
amending the Fishery Management Plan for the Pelagic Fisheries of the 
Western Pacific Region (Pelagics FMP), are ``vacated and remanded to 
the National Marine Fisheries Service.'' The Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council) meeting document is republished.

DATES: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council will meet on 
September 23, 2003, at 12 noon Hawaii Standard Time.

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. Discuss the implications of the ruling of U.S. District Court 
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, which puts aside the 2002 Biological 
Opinion and 2002 regulations.
    B. Review and discuss sea-turtle take mitigation measures for the 
U.S. pelagic longline fishery in the Western Pacific Region. Topics may 
include continued operation of the fishery, regulations, and/or 
possible emergency actions.
    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 discuss the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Colleen 
Kollar-Kotelly, and consider the implications of that ruling for 
proposed amendments to the Pelagics FMP. The Council will also review 
and discuss sea-turtle take mitigation measures for the U.S. pelagic 
longline fishery in the Western Pacific Region. These may include 
continuation of the fishery, developing regulations, and/or possible 
emergency actions.

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.

[[Page 53102]]

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: September 5, 2003.
John H. Dunnigan,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23004 Filed 9-8-03; 8:45 am]
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