[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29924-29926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7877]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 051706E]


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 133rd meeting to consider and take actions on fishery 
management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

DATES: The 133rd Council meeting and public hearings will be held on 
June 12 - 15, 2006. For specific times and the agenda, see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: The 133rd Council meeting and public hearings will be held 
at the Utulei Convention Center, Utulei, American Samoa; telephone: 
(684) 633-5155.

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

Schedule and Agenda for Council Standing Committee Meetings

Monday, June 12, 2006

Standing Committee

    1. 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.-Enforcement/Vessel Monitoring System Standing 
Committee
    2. 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.-Pelagics &International Standing 
Commmittee
    3. 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.-Bottomfish Standing Committee
    4. 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.-Ecosystems & Habitat Standing Committee
    5. 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.-Program Planning, Executive, and Budget Standing 
Committee
    The agenda during the full Council meeting will include the items 
listed here.

Schedule and Agenda for Council Meeting

8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 13, 2006

    1. Samoan Opening
    2. Greetings from the Governor
    3. Presentation to American Samoa Poster Winners
    4. Introductions
    5. Approval of Agenda
    6. Approval of 131st and 132nd Meeting Minutes
    7. Island Agency Administration, Program and Enforcement Reports
    A. American Samoa
    B. Guam
    C. Hawaii
    D. Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands
    8. Agency Reports
    A. National Marine Fisheries Service
    1. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
    2. Pacific Islands Regional Office
    B. United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
    C. NOAA General Counsel Report
    D. Department of State
    E. NOAA Sanctuary Program Update
    1. Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary
    2. Proposed American Samoa Marine Laboratory
    9. American Samoa Advisory Panel Report
    10. Enforcement/vessel monitoring systems
    A. United States Coast Guard Report
    B. National Marine Fisheries Service Office for Law Enforcement 
Report
    C. Status of Violations
    D. Standing Committee Recommendations
    Guest Speaker
    11. Fishery Rights of Indigenous People
    A. American Samoa Village-based Marine Protected Areas Program

[[Page 29925]]

    B. Ahupuaa Conference Planning
    C. Update on Marine Conservation Plans
    D. Status of Community Demonstration Project Program and Community 
Development Program

8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesday, June 14, 2006

    12. Pelagic and International Fishery Issues
    A. Local Small-Boat Fisheries
    1. Commercial Fisheries
    2. Recreational Fisheries
    B. Small Boat Longline Area Closure
    C. Bigeye and Yellowfin Overfishing Measures (ACTION ITEM)
    D. Options for Swordfish Seasonal Closure (ACTION ITEM)
    E. American Samoa Tuna Cannery Issues
    F. American Samoa Longline Limited Entry Update
    G. American Samoa & Hawaii Longline Reports
    H. Bycatch
    1. Shark Bycatch in Longline Fisheries
    2. Side-setting to Avoid Seabirds
    I. International Fisheries
    1. International Scientific Committee
    2. Secretariat of the Pacific Community Heads of Fisheries Meeting
    3. Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Annual Meeting
    4. Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission Scientific 
Committee Meeting
    5. Council South Pacific Albacore Workshop
    J. Recreational Fisheries Data Task Force Report
    K. Plan Team Recommendations
    L. Scientific and Statistical Committee Recommendations
    M. Standing Committee Recommendations
    N. Public Hearing
    13. Protected Species Issues
    A. Local Protected Species Programs
    B. Native Observer Program Report
    C. Scientific and Statistical Committee Recommendations

8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thursday, June 15, 2006

    14. Bottomfish and Seamount Groundfish Issues
    A. American Samoa Bottomfish Fishery Review
    B. Report on Hawaii Monitoring and Research Plan
    C. Update on Bottomfish Stock Assessment
    D. Plan Team Recommendations
    E. Scientific and Statistical Committee Recommendations
    F. Standing Committee Recommendations
    15. Ecosystems and Habitat Issues
    A. American Samoa Coral Reef Fisheries Report
    B. American Samoa Coral Reef Conservation Grants
    C. American Samoa Rapid Assessment Monitoring Program
    D. Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Fishery Regulations (ACTION ITEM)
    E. Update on Fishery Ecosystem Plans and Projects
    F. Plan Team Recommendations
    G. Scientific and Statistical Committee Recommendations
    H. Standing Committee Recommendations
    I. Public Hearing
    16. Program Planning
    A. Update on Legislation and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act Reauthorization
    B. Update on Fishery Management Actions
    C. Education and Outreach Report
    D. Update on Disaster Relief
    1. 2003 Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands 
Disaster Relief Requests
    2. Update on Hawaii Disaster Relief Program
    E. Standing Committee Recommendations
    17. Administrative Matters and Budget
    A. Financial Reports
    B. Administrative Reports
    C. Meetings and Workshops
    D. Council Family Changes
    E. Standing Committee Recommendations
    18. Other Business
    A. Next Meeting

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

1. Bigeye and Yellowfin Tuna Overfishing Measures(ACTION ITEM)
    In response to the identification of overfishing by the Secretary 
of Commerce, at its 126th meeting held March 14-17, 2005 in Honolulu 
the Council reviewed a background document on Pacific bigeye fisheries, 
listened to public comments and took initial action to direct its staff 
to continue its development of Amendment 14 to the Pelagics Fishery 
Management Plan (FMP). This amendment contains comprehensive background 
information and analyses as well as recommendations for international 
management and a range of alternatives for the management of domestic 
fisheries. Following extensive review by the Council's Pelagics Plan 
Team, Science and Statistical Committee and Advisory Panels, as well as 
public comment solicited at meetings through out Hawaii, the Council 
took final action in June 2005 to recommend a suite of non-regulatory 
measures for the international management of fisheries which harvest 
bigeye tuna. The Council also reviewed and recommended a range of 
regulatory and non-regulatory measures for fisheries managed under the 
Pelagics FMP.
    Subsequently, in August 2005, the Scientific Committee of the 
Western and Central Pacific Fishery Commission reviewed stock 
assessments for tuna species and found that yellowfin was likely being 
subjected to overfishing. Consequently, at its 129th Council meeting, 
the Council recommended applying to fishing for yellowfin tuna the same 
management measures recommended by the Council for bigeye tuna. Reviews 
received from NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office and the NOAA Office 
of General Counsel on these actions have now indicated that the Council 
must address the following three outstanding issues:
    1. The amendment objectives need to be quantified where possible.
    2. The recommendations need to be grouped as alternatives.
    3. A recommendation regarding the management of purse seine vessel 
targeting of bigeye tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean needs to be 
included.
    The Council will consider and take action on these issues at its 
133rd meeting.
2. Options for Swordfish Seasonal Closure (ACTION ITEM)
    Management of the swordfish segment of the Hawaii-based longline 
fishery is based on limiting interactions with loggerhead and 
leatherback sea turtles, and on limits to the number of sets that the 
fishery may make in a given year. The fishery operates under 'hard' 
limits on the number of loggerhead (17) and leatherback (16) 
interactions.
    In 2006, the Hawaii-based swordfish fishery reached its 'hard' 
limit of 17 loggerhead turtle interactions compared to 12 interactions 
in 2005. There were only 2 leatherback interactions in 2006 compared to 
8 interactions in 2005. Oceanographic data suggests that in 2006 the 
ocean habitat used by loggerheads was reduced, increasing loggerhead 
densities and the likelihood of interactions with the fishery.
    Current regulations provide for a seven day period to shut down the 
swordfish fishery following reaching of a turtle limit. However, there 
is a danger that continued fishing might catch additional turtles in 
this seven day closure period.
    The swordfish fishery was closed by emergency rule in 2006. Because 
this

[[Page 29926]]

emergency rule is effective for 180 days (and may be extended for 
another 180 days), it is unlikely to be in effect for the 2007 fishing 
season. The Council will therefore consider changes to the Pelagics FMP 
that would allow immediate closure of the fishery when either of the 
turtle limits are reached.
    Subsequently, the Pelagics Plan Team recommended in its May 2006 
meeting that the Council also consider methods to smooth the adverse 
markets effect of these closures. These include consideration of an 
interim trigger level of turtle takes by the Hawaii swordfish longline 
fishery that might be used to establish a short term (1-4 week) 
temporary closures, to prevent the fishery reaching its limits 
prematurely. The Council may, therefore, take action at this meeting to 
amend the Pelagics Fishery Management Plan to modify the current 
swordfish longline fishery closure mechanism. The Council will also 
consider these measures at its 133rd meeting.
3. NWHI Fishing Regulations (ACTION ITEM)
    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 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (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.
    In response to this notice, the Council, relying on guidance 
provided by NOAA, took initial action at its 131st meeting held March 
13-16, 2006 and recommended that limited commercial bottomfish and non-
longline pelagic fishing be allowed to continue in Federal waters of 
the proposed NWHI National Marine under the following permit and catch 
limits:
    1. 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);
    2. The annual bottomfish catch be limited to 381,500 lbs (85% of 
MSY);
    3. Non-longline commercial pelagic fishing permits be capped at 
three (3); and
    4. The annual commercial pelagic catch by the non-longline pelagic 
fishery and the limited-entry bottomfish fishery be limited to 180,000 
lbs.
    Subsequently, seven outstanding issues related to these action were 
identified which require further Council consideration. These issues 
are: (1) The design of a limited entry program for non-longline pelagic 
fishing; (2) the designation of a fishing year(s) to be used for the 
monitoring of the fishing catch limits (3) appropriate compensation for 
displaced or negatively impacted individuals; (4) the importance and 
role of the NOAA weather buoy 1 to sanctuary resources as well 
as to pelagic fishing; (5) the accuracy of the data used by NOAA to 
calculate the annual pelagic catch limit of 180,000 pounds;(6) whether 
all fishing for a given species group should be prohibited following 
closure of a commercial fishery; and (7) the role of the Council in the 
formulation of NOAA's future NWHI ecosystem management plans. The 
Council may therefore, consider actions to address these outstanding 
issues at its 133rd meeting.

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: May 18, 2006.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E6-7877 Filed 5-23-06; 8:45 am]
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