[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 76 (Friday, April 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 21111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-1150]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XG93


Fisheries in the Western Pacific; Marine Conservation Plan for 
Pacific Insular Areas; Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund

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

ACTION: Notice of agency decision.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the approval of a three-year marine 
conservation plan (MCP) for Pacific Insular Areas other than American 
Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

DATES: This agency decision is effective April 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the marine conservation plan are available from 
the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop 
St., Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel. 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-
8226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alvin Katekaru, NMFS Pacific Islands 
Regional Office, 808-944-2207.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 204(e)of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the 
Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) and in consultation with the Council, may negotiate and 
enter into a Pacific Insular Area fishery agreement (PIAFA) to allow 
foreign fishing within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) adjacent 
to any Pacific Insular Area other than American Samoa, Guam, or the 
Northern Mariana Islands, which, by definition, does not include the 
State of Hawaii. Prior to entering into a PIAFA, the Council shall 
develop a three-year Marine Conservation Plan (MCP) providing details 
on uses for funds to be collected by the Secretary under the PIAFA. The 
Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes that any payment received under a PIAFA 
in support of conservation and management objectives in an MCP 
developed by the Council and, in the case of violations by foreign 
vessels occurring within the EEZ off any Pacific Insular Area (other 
than American Samoa, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands), any 
amounts received by the Secretary attributable to fines and penalties 
imposed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, shall be deposited into the 
Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund for use by the Council.
    The MCP to be approved by the Secretary must be consistent with the 
Council's fishery management plans, must identify conservation and 
management objectives (including criteria for determining when such 
objectives have been met), and must prioritize planned marine 
conservation projects. Although no foreign fishing is being 
contemplated at this time, the Council has developed an MCP for the 
Pacific Insular Areas here defined as the EEZ around Johnston and 
Palmyra Atolls, Kingman Reef, and Jarvis, Howland, Baker, and Wake 
Islands. These areas are sometimes known as the ``Pacific remote island 
areas'' or ``U.S. island possessions in the Central Pacific Ocean.''
    At its 139th meeting held in October 2007, the Council approved its 
``Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund Marine Conservation 
Plan,'' dated August 29, 2007. The MCP contains seven objectives:
    1. Support quality research and obtain the most complete scientific 
information available to assess and manage fisheries;
    2. Promote an ecosystem approach in fisheries management, including 
reducing waste in fisheries and minimizing impacts on marine habitats 
and impacts on protected species;
    3. Conduct education and outreach to foster good stewardship 
principles and broad and direct public participation in the Council's 
decision-making process;
    4. Recognize the importance of island cultures and traditional 
fishing practices in managing fishery resources, and foster 
opportunities for participation;
    5. Promote environmentally-responsible fishing and the utilization 
of sustainable fisheries that provide long-term economic growth and 
stability;
    6. Promote regional cooperation to manage domestic and 
international fisheries; and
    7. Encourage development of technologies and methods to achieve the 
most effective level of monitoring, control, and surveillance, and to 
ensure safety at sea.
    The MCP also identifies major task areas that include data 
collection and monitoring, management, biological research and 
assessment, social economic research and assessment, policy 
development, protected species, public outreach, etc., within which 
projects are ranked in order of priority.
    On November 6, 2007, the Council transmitted its MCP to NMFS 
(designee of the Secretary) for approval. This notice announces that 
NMFS has determined that the Council's MCP satisfies the requirements 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and that NMFS has approved the MCP for the 
three-year period from April 11, 2008, through April 10, 2011.

    Dated: April 14, 2008.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 08-1150 Filed 4-15-08; 2:24 pm]
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