[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17455-17456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4983]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 033106D]


Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will 
hold its 132nd meeting to consider and take final action on 
recommendations to limit fishing in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
(NWHI). The Council will also hold a public hearing during this 132nd 
Council meeting.

DATES: The 132nd Council meeting and public hearing will be held on 
Thursday, April 20, 2006. For specific dates, times and locations of 
the public hearing, and the agenda for the 132nd Council meeting, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The 132nd Council meeting and public hearing will be held at 
the Council's office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 
96813. The 132nd Council meeting telephone conference call-in-number 
is: (866) 867-8289, passcode 1683776. For Guam and International 
Participants, the call-in-number is: (813) 276-1442, passcode 1683776.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director; 
telephone: (808) 522-8220; fax: (808) 522-8226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    On January 18, 2006, the Council was informed by the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, that NOAA is 
developing alternatives in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
the proposed NWHI National Marine Sanctuary that would enable the 
Council to continue to recommend management measures to limit 
bottomfish and pelagic fisheries through regulations under the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act), consistent with the goals and objectives of the proposed 
sanctuary. While the preferred alternative has not been selected, the 
range of alternatives under consideration includes a regulatory regime 
allowing commercial bottomfishing and non-longline pelagic fishing to 
continue either: (1) indefinitely, (2) until 2025, or (3) for 5 years 
with a ban on fishing thereafter.
    The Council was also informed that if, by May 1, 2006, it transmits 
for Secretarial review, an amendment to the Bottomfish and Pelagics 
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) and corresponding proposed regulations 
implementing limits to bottomfish and pelagic fishing, NOAA may review 
those Magnuson-Stevens Act regulations as potential mechanisms to 
implement NOAA's preferred alternative for the proposed sanctuary, 
rather than implementing the alternative via the National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act.
    At its 131st Council meeting held March 13-16, 2006, the Council 
took initial action and recommended that limited fishing be allowed in 
federal waters of the proposed NWHI National Marine Sanctuary and 
managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (except for recreational fishing 
at Midway Atoll), consistent with all codified federal regulations and 
subject to the following restrictions:
    a. A closure be established indefinitely for all harvests of 
crustacean, precious coral and coral reef ecosystem species;
    b. All commercial and recreational fishing be subject to Magnuson-
Stevens Act permit and logbook reporting requirements
    c. Recreational fishing permits be issued on a case-by case basis, 
and that the Council will evaluate the need for further management;
    d. Limited-entry NWHI bottomfish permits be capped at 14, with 7 
permits for the Ho'omalu Zone and 7 permits for the Mau Zone (the two 
Community Development Program permits for indigenous use to be included 
in the latter and issued as previously recommended by the Council);
    e. The annual bottomfish catch be limited to 381,500 lbs (85% of 
Maximum Sustainable Yield);
    f. Non-longline commercial pelagic fishing permits be capped at 
three (3);
    g. The annual commercial pelagic catch by the non-longline pelagic 
fishery and the limited-entry bottomfish fishery be limited to 180,000 
lbs.;
    h. No-take Marine Protected Areas be established around French 
Frigate Shoals and West of 174 W longitude;
    i. The use-or-lose requirements for renewal of commercial 
bottomfish permits be removed;
    j. Relinquished or revoked commercial bottomfish permits be 
reissued by NMFS in accordance with the existing procedures for 
Ho'omalu Zone permits and as described in the Council's previous 
recommendation for Mau Zone permits; and
    k. Federally permitted research regarding fishery and ecosystem 
conservation and management would be allowed in Federal waters.
    The Council will consider final action on these proposed limits to 
fishing in the NWHI at this 132nd meeting.

[[Page 17456]]

132nd Council Meeting Agenda

Thursday, April 20, 2006, 1 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time

    1. Introductions
    2. Approval of Agenda
    3. Limits to Fishing in the NWHI
    4. Public Hearing
    5. Council Discussion and Action
    6. 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 its 132nd 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 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.

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

    Dated: April 3, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-4983 Filed 4-5-06; 8:45 am]
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