[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 91 (Thursday, May 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25018-25021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-2338]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 050905D]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION:  Notice of public meetings and hearings.

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SUMMARY:  The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold its 127\th\ meeting and Advisory Panel meetings to consider and 
take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific 
Region.

DATES:  The 127th Council meeting, Advisory Panel meetings and public 
hearings will be held on May 30 - June 2, 2005. For specific times, and 
the agenda, see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The 127th Council meeting, Advisory Panel meetings and 
public hearings will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel,410 Atkinson Drive, 
Honolulu, HI; telephone: 808-955-4811.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to the agenda items listed here, 
the Council will hear recommendations from other Council advisory 
groups. Public comment periods will be provided throughout the agenda. 
The order in which agenda items are

[[Page 25019]]

addressed may change. The Council will meet as late as necessary to 
complete scheduled business.

Schedule and Agenda for Council Standing Committee Meetings

Monday, May 30, 2005

Standing Committee
    1. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. Executive, Budget and Program Standing Committee

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

    2. 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Ecosystem and Habitat Standing Committee
    3. 7 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Pelagic and International Standing Committee
    4. 9:30 a.m. - Noon Bottomfish Standing Committee
    5. 9:30 a.m. - Noon Indigenous Rights Standing Committee

Schedule and Agenda for Council Advisory Panel Meetings

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

7:30 a.m. - Noon
    1. Introduction and Overview
    2. Council Action Items
    A. Bigeye Overfishing
    a. Pelagic Plan Team Recommendations
    b. SSC Recommendations
    B. Hawaii Bottomfish Overfishing
    a. Bottomfish Plan Team Report and Recommendations
    b. SSC Recommendations
    C. Data Intiatives
    a. Pelagic and Bottomfish Plan Team Recommendations
    b. SSC Recommendations
    D. Fishery Ecosystem Plans
    a. Coral Reef Ecosystem Plan Team Recommendations
    b. SSC Recommendations
    E. Black Coral Research and Management
    a. Precious Coral Plan Team Recommendations
    b. SSC Recommendations
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
    3. Island Area Reports
    A. American Samoa
    B. Guam
    C. CNMI
    D. Hawaii
6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
    4. Discussion on Island Area Issues
    A. American Samoa
    B. Guam
    C. CNMI
    D. Hawaii

Wednesday June 1, 2005

7:30 a.m. - Noon (1 p.m. - 5 p.m. if required)
    5. Sub-Panel Chairman Reports
    A. Commercial Advisory Panel Report and Recommendations
    B. Recreation Advisory Panel Report and Recommendations
    C. Indigenous and Subsistence Advisory Panel Reports and 
Recommendations
    D. Ecosystem and Habitat Advisory Panel Report and Recommendations
    6. Full Panel Discussion and Recommendations
    7. Other Business

Schedule and Agenda for Public Hearings

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

11:30 a.m. - Noon
    Black Coral Management Options
2:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
    Community Demonstration Projects Program AP Recommendations
5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
    Hawaii Bottomfish Overfishing Plan

Thursday, June 2, 2005

9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
    Bigeye Tuna Overfishing Plan
11:30 a.m. - Noon
    MPA Objectives and Goals, Criteria for Establishing Monitoring and 
Evaluating MPAs First Draft.
    For more information on public hearing items, see Background 
Information.
    The agenda during the full Council meeting will include the items 
listed here.

Schedule and Agenda for Council Meeting

1 p.m - 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2005

    1. Introductions
    2. Approval of agenda
    3. Approval of 126th meeting minutes
    4. Island reports
    A. American Samoa
    B. Guam
    C. Hawaii
    D. CNMI
    5. Reports from fishery agencies and organizations
    A. Department of Commerce
    a. NMFS
    i. Pacific Islands Regional Office
    ii. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
    b. National Marine Sanctuary Program
    i. Pacific Sanctuaries update
    c. NOAA General Counsel Southwest Region/Pacific Islands Region
    B. The Department of the Interior - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS)
    C. State Department
    6. Enforcement/vessel monitoring systems A. US Coast Guard 
activities
    B. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) Activities
    C. Status of Violations
    8 a.m - 5:30 p.m. Wednesday June 1, 2005
    7. Protected Species
    A. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle BiOp
    B. Report on Marine Mammal Advisory Committee
    C. Report on Turtle Advisory Committee
    8. Precious Coral Fisheries
    A. Black Coral Management
    a. State of Hawaii Black Coral Research
    b. Black Coral Management Options (ACTION ITEM)
    B. Advisory Panel Recommendations
    C. Plan Team Recommendations
    D. SSC Recommendations
    9. Fishery Rights of Indigenous Peoples
    A. Community Demonstration Projects Program AP Recommendations 
(ACTION ITEM)
    B. South Pacific Community (SPC)-Council- Food and Agriculture 
Organisation (FAO) Community-Based Management Workshop.
    C. SSC Recommendations
    D. Standing Committee Recommendations
    E. Advisory Panel Recommendations
    10. Bottomfish Fisheries
    A. Hawaii Bottomfish Overfishing Plan (ACTION ITEM)
    B. Plan Team Recommendations
    C. SSC Recommendations
    D. Standing Committee Recommendations
    E. Advisory Panel Recommendations
    6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesday June 1, 2005
    11. Fishers Forum
    A. Fish Tagging Programs
    B. Bottomfish and Bigeye Tuna Overfishing
    8 a.m - 6 p.m. Thursday June 2, 2005
    12. Pelagic Fisheries
    A. Bigeye Overfishing Plan (ACTION ITEM)
    B. Swordfish Season Report
    C. Stock Assessment Report and Status
    D. Plan Team Recommendations
    E. SSC Recommendations
    F. Standing Committee Recommendations
    G. Advisory Panel Recommendations
    13. Ecosystems and Habitat
    A. MPA Objectives and Goals, Criteria for Establishing Monitoring 
and Evaluating MPAs First Draft (ACTION ITEM)
    B. Fishery Ecosystem Plans
    a. Strategic Level Alternatives for Marianas FEP

[[Page 25020]]

    b. Fishery Ecosystem Plan Workshop
    C. Plan Team Recommendationss
    D. SSC Recommendations
    E. Advisory Panel Recommendations
    F. Standing Committee Recommendations
    14. Program Planning and Budget
    A. Hawaii Data Collection and Reporting Options
    B. Update on Legislation
    C. Magnuson Act Reauthorization
    D. Advisory Panel Recommendations
    E. Standing Committee Recommendations
    15. Administrative Matters
    A. Financial Reports
    B. Administrative Report
    C. Meetings and Workshops
    D. Advisory Group Changes
    E. Standing Committee Recommendations
    16. Other Business

Background Information

1. Black Coral Management Options (Initial Action)

    A public hearing will be held on initial action to implement a 
framework adjustment to the Precious Corals FMP to revise the minimum 
harvest size for black corals (Antipathes sp.) due to the effects of 
Carijoa riisei and harvest pressure on black corals in the Main 
Hawaiian Islands. Based on comments received during Precious Coral Plan 
Team meetings, as well as subsequent SSC, Council, and public working 
group meetings, the Council developed an options document that 
includes: (1) Removing the exemption allowing harvest of black corals 
with a minimum base diameter of 3/4 inch (1.905 cm) or minimum height 
of 36 inches (0.9144 m) by persons who reported harvest to the State of 
Hawaii within 5 years prior to April 17, 2002; (2) establishing a 48-
inch(1.2192 m)minimum height only requirement for harvest of black 
coral colonies; (3) eliminating any minimum base diameter requirement; 
and (4) eliminating any minimum height requirement. At its 127th 
meeting, the Council may take initial action to identify and support a 
range of alternatives, including selection of a preliminary preferred 
alternative, to be further analyzed in a framework adjustment to the 
Precious Coral Fishery Management Plan.

2. Community Demonstration Projects Program AP Recommendations (Action 
Item)

    A public hearing will be held on initial action to implement a 
framework adjustment to the Precious Corals FMP to revise the minimum 
harvest size for black corals (Antipathes sp.) due to the effects of 
Carijoa riisei and harvest pressure on black corals in the Main 
Hawaiian Islands. Based on comments received during Precious Coral Plan 
Team meetings, as well as subsequent SSC, Council, and public working 
group meetings, the Council developed an options document that 
includes: (1) Removing the exemption allowing harvest of black corals 
with a minimum base diameter of 3/4 inch(1.905 cm) or minimum height of 
36 inches (0.9144 m) by persons who reported harvest to the State of 
Hawaii within five years prior to April 17, 2002; (2) Establishing a 
48-inch(1.2192 m)minimum height only requirement for harvest of black 
coral colonies; (3) eliminating any minimum base diameter requirement; 
and (4) eliminating any minimum height requirement. At its 127\th\ 
meeting, the Council may take initial action to identify and support a 
range of alternatives, including selection of a preliminary preferred 
alternative, to be further analyzed in a framework adjustment to the 
Precious Coral Fishery Management Plan.

3. Hawaii Bottomfish Overfishing Plan (Initial Action)

    The Council is currently reviewing its responsibilities for 
sustainable fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, with respect to 
National Standard 1, which requires Councils to prevent overfishing and 
keep resources from becoming overfished. Under the reference points 
adopted by the Council, bottomfish resources in Hawaii are likely to 
soon be determined by the Secretary of Commerce to be experiencing 
overfishing due to excessive fishing effort in the Main Hawaiian 
Islands (MHI). Once that determination is made, the Council will have 1 
year to recommend management measures to reduce fishing effort in the 
MHI bottomfish fishery. The Council will consider taking action to 
address two concerns: (1) the lack of data regarding bottomfish fishing 
mortality by recreational fishermen in the MHI and (2) the need to 
reduce bottomfish fishing mortality around the MHI to prevent 
overfishing on MHI bottomfish resources. Options to be considered by 
the Council to address data collection include:
    1. No Option
    2. Expand the Hawaii Marine Recreational Fishery Survey
    3. Implement ``Drop box'' reporting
    4. Require Federal permits and logbooks for recreational bottomfish 
fishermen
    5. Conduct targeted surveys of Hawaii recreational bottomfish 
fishermen using the State's bottomfish management registry
    Options to be considered by the Council to address excess fishing 
mortality in the MHI include:
    1. No action.
    2. Incorporate the State's Main Hawaiian Islands bottomfish 
management regime into Federal regulations.
    3. Establish new bottomfish area closures in Federal waters in the 
MHI in addition to the current state closures:
    3a. Close Federal waters around Penguin Banks to bottomfish fishing
    3b. Close Federal waters around Middle Bank to bottomfish fishing
    4. Establish a control date for future MHI fishery participation.
    5. Establish a limited entry program for the MHI fishery.
    6. Establish individual fishing quotas for MHI fishermen.
    7. Establish a Federal permit and logbook program for all fishermen 
targeting bottomfish on Penguin Banks or Middle Bank.
    8. Establish July-September seasonal closures for targeting and 
landing of bottomfish from the MHI

4. Bigeye Tuna Overfishing Plan (Final Action)

    In December 2004, the Western Pacific and Pacific Councils were 
officially notified by the National Marine Fisheries Service, on behalf 
of the Secretary of Commerce, that overfishing is occurring on bigeye 
tuna in the Pacific. As required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 
1854 (e)(3)) and the implementing regulations at 50 CFR 600.310(e)(3), 
the Councils must take action to address overfishing within one year of 
an identification by the Secretary that overfishing is occurring. The 
overfishing determination was made in the annual report on the status 
of fisheries in 2003, which was transmitted to Congress on June 15, 
2004, which means that the Council has until June 14, 2005 in which to 
take remedial action to end overfishing. Accordingly, 126th Council 
Meeting recommended that Council staff develop a plan to address BET 
overfishing in the Pacific Ocean and it elements and recommendations 
for domestic and international fisheries.
    The principal domestic measure recommended by the Council at it 
126\th\ meeting was that the Hawaii offshore tuna handline, private 
FAD, vertical longline and short-line (mainline < 1 nm) fisheries in 
the EEZ be federally permitted fisheries with log books, limited entry 
programs, and observers where appropriate. However, a more recent 
review of the data on the offshore

[[Page 25021]]

tuna handline by the Pelagic Plan Team (PPT)in May 2005, suggests that 
the available data on landings may not require a limited entry program 
at this time. However, there were concerns that the reported statistics 
for this fishery (which is actually a mix of different hook and line 
gears) may be underestimates, and that serious efforts should be made 
to pursue accurate landings data for the fishery. The PPT also approved 
a protocol to be incorporated into the Pelagics FMP by which the 
Council would take action on international management of HMS species. 
This includes ensuring Council inclusion in US delegations to 
international fishery management meetings and the drafting of position 
papers on measures to reduce overfishing and rebuild stocks.
    The Council will review PPT and SSC comments and recommendations 
and may take final action on an FMP amendment on how to deal with BET 
overfishing both in the domestic and international fisheries.

5. MPA Objectives and Goals, Criteria for Establishing Monitoring and 
Evaluating MPAs First Draft (Action Item)

    The Council MPA Working Group is developing a guide for Council 
family reference when working on MPA issues. ``MPA Goals and 
Objectives, and Criteria for Establishing, Monitoring and Evaluating 
MPAs'' is a dynamic document, updated with the best available science. 
The Document incorporates a flowchart illustrating a NEPA based process 
to establish, monitor and evaluate MPAs, and criteria for establishing, 
monitoring and evaluating MPAs are detailed. The Council is asked to 
review a first draft of this document.
    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 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 the public has been notified 
of the Council's intent to take final action to address the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are 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.

    Dated: May 9, 2005.
Emily Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E5-2338 Filed 5-11-05; 8:45 am]
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