[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 160 (Thursday, August 19, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51400-51401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-18956]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 660

[Docket No. 04061787-4234-02; I.D. 060704H]
RIN 0648-AR85


Fisheries Off West Coast States and in the Western Pacific; 
Western Pacific Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Fishery; Fishing 
Moratorium

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: NOAA Fisheries issues this final rule to extend the current 
moratorium on harvesting seamount groundfish from the Hancock Seamount 
in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for 6 years, until August 31, 
2010. The fishery has been closed since 1986. NMFS is promulgating this 
final rule in response to recommendation by the Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council (Council). The closure is intended to conserve 
pelagic armorhead (Pseudopentaceros wheeleri, formerly, Pentaceros 
richardsoni), which is an overfished stock.

DATES: Effective September 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: A regulatory impact review (RIR) was prepared for this final 
rule. A copy of the RIR is available from William L. Robinson, Regional 
Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601 
Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Lewis Van Fossen, Resource 
Management Specialist, Sustainable Fisheries Division (808) 973-2937.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    This Federal Register document is also accessible via the internet 
at the website of the Office of Federal Register: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su-docs/aces/aces140.html

Background

    When the Fishery Management Plan for the Bottomfish and Seamount 
Groundfish Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region (FMP) was 
implemented (51 FR 27413, July 31, 1986), it was determined that a 6-
year moratorium on fishing at Hancock Seamount was needed to aid the 
recovery of the pelagic armorhead (Pseudopentaceros wheeleri, formerly, 
Pentaceros richardsoni).

[[Page 51401]]

 Foreign vessels over exploited the seamount groundfish resource before 
the Fishery Conservation and Management Act, now called the Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, was enacted in 1976. 
There has never been a domestic fishery targeting these stocks. 
Periodic reviews since the original moratorium was implemented 
consistently determined that the stock has not recovered. Therefore, 
the moratorium was extended twice already for 6-year increments in 1992 
and 1998 (57 FR 36907, August 17, 1992; and 63 FR 35162, June 29, 1998; 
respectively). On June 25, 2004, a proposed rule (69 FR 35570) was 
published announcing another extension until August 31, 2010.
    The last U.S. research cruise to the Hancock Seamount was conducted 
in 1993. However, the Japanese trawl fleet continues to harvest pelagic 
armorhead on neighboring seamounts outside of the U.S. exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ) surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. 
According to information provided by the Japan National Research 
Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, the most current (2002) spawning 
potential ratio (SPR) for the armorhead stock is 0.1 percent at all 
seamounts outside of the EEZ. These seamounts comprise 95 percent of 
the trawl grounds for the Japanese trawl fishery. Based on the low SPR 
value, it is inferred that the status of the Hancock Seamount is 
similarly depressed and well under 20 percent SPR which is the standard 
for determining when pelagic armorhead overfished. At its October 2003 
meeting the Council heard reports from its Bottomfish Plan Team and 
Scientific and Statistical Committee on the status of the seamount 
groundfish resources. On the basis of these reports, and in accordance 
with the framework at 50 CFR 660.67, the Council recommended a 
permanent closure of the Hancock Seamount to the harvest of groundfish 
resources. However, it is unlikely that an amendment to the FMP closing 
Hancock Seamount to the harvesting of groundfish resources could be 
completed before the current moratorium expires. Therefore, at its 
March 2004 meeting the Council recommended extending the current 
moratorium another 6 years (i.e., August 31, 2010). During the proposed 
moratorium, an amendment to the FMP that would permanently close 
Hancock Seamount to groundfish harvest could be developed.

Comments and Responses

    NMFS received 2 comments on the proposed rule from 2 commenters.
    Comment 1: The moratorium extension should be expanded to 20 years 
and include all fish - not just groundfish - and increase enforcement 
at Hancock Seamount.
    Response: NMFS is limited to imposing a 6-year extension 
specifically to seamount groundfish resources. The moratorium extension 
implemented by this final rule is intended to be an interim measure 
until a more permanent management regime is developed by the Council 
for the Hancock Seamount groundfish fishery. In regard to closing 
fishing to other species besides groundfish at Hancock Seamount, NMFS' 
current data indicate that stocks of other potential commercially 
harvested fish (i.e., pelagics) can continue to be harvested in a 
sustainable manner. Closure of the area to the harvest of these 
resources is unwarranted. Finally, NMFS Enforcement is monitoring the 
area as funds permit. However, due to its remote location and poor 
potential returns on investments, U.S. fishermen are unlikely to target 
pelagic armorhead resources in the remote NWHI. Additionally, the U.S. 
Coast Guard already has plans to increase patrols in the U.S. EEZ 
surrounding Hawaii, because of heightened national security concerns.
    Comment 2: If the Hancock Seamount is only one of the seamounts 
potentially harvested [for] armorhead then why not make it a sanctuary 
permanently off limits to bottomfishing? Keep it open to tuna/swordfish 
longliners and albacore trollers.
    Response: As stated above, this final rule is intended to be an 
interim measure until a long-term management program is developed by 
the Council. In regard to the harvest of pelagic management unit 
species targeted by longliners and trollers, see the response to 
Comment 1.

Classification

    This final rule has been determined to be not significant for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that the proposed rule for this action would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The factual basis for the certification was published in the proposed 
rule. No comments were received regarding the economic impacts of this 
action. As a result a regulatory flexibility analysis was not prepared.

List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 660

    Administrative practice and procedure, American Samoa, Fisheries, 
Fishing, Guam, Hawaiian Natives, Indians, Northern Mariana Islands, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: August 13, 2004.
Rebecca Lent,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 50 CFR part 660 is amended as 
follows:

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

0
1. The authority citation for part 660 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. Section 660.68 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  660.68  Fishing moratorium on Hancock Seamount.

    Fishing for bottomfish and seamount groundfish on the Hancock 
Seamount is prohibited through August 31, 2010.
[FR Doc. 04-18956 Filed 8-18-04; 8:45 am]
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