[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30381-30382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11779]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-AW83


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Environmental Impact Statement 
for Amendment 4 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory 
Species Fishery Management Plan

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

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to 
assess the potential effects on the human environment of proposed 
alternatives and actions under Amendment 4 to the 2006 Consolidated 
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (Consolidated 
HMS FMP). The EIS is intended to address issues regarding authorized 
fishing gear and fishing vessel and dealer permitting in Puerto Rico 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), as well as examine management 
alternatives to improve vessel and dealer reporting and data collection 
in Puerto Rico and the USVI consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the 
Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and other relevant Federal laws. 
NMFS is requesting comments on the above measures including, but not 
limited to, permitting, revisions to the limited access permit (LAP) 
program, and reporting.

DATES: Comments on this action must be received by October 31, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted to Russell Dunn, HMS Management 
Division, National Marine Fisheries Service, 263 13\th\ Avenue South, 
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701. Please mark the outside of the envelope 
``Scoping

[[Page 30382]]

Comments on Amendment 4 to the Consolidated HMS FMP.'' Comments can 
also be submitted via email at [email protected], or via fax 
at (727) 824-5398. Include in the subject line of the email or fax 
comment the following document identifier: NOI HMS Caribbean.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russell Dunn or Greg Fairclough by 
phone:(727) 824-5399, or by fax: (727) 824-5398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Atlantic shark fisheries are managed 
under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and the Atlantic tuna, 
swordfish, and billfish fisheries are managed under the Magnuson-
Stevens Act and ATCA. The Consolidated HMS FMP is implemented by 
regulations at 50 CFR part 635. Copies of the Consolidated HMS FMP are 
available from NMFS on request.

Background

    The 1999 Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and 
Sharks (1999 FMP) established a LAP program for the commercial Atlantic 
swordfish and shark fisheries to begin to rationalize harvesting 
capacity with the available quota and reduce latent effort while 
preventing further overcapitalization. To assist with enforcement and 
management of the program, permit restrictions were also placed on 
vessels fishing for bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, and skipjack (BAYS) 
tunas. Implementation of the HMS LAP program has been ongoing since the 
implementation of the 1999 FMP and is executed via issuance of permits 
to eligible recipients in the commercial shark, swordfish, and BAYS 
fisheries. Currently many eligible vessels may be required to obtain up 
to three separate LAPs to fish for, or retain, HMS. Since 
implementation, HMS LAPs have continued to increase in value. Limited 
availability and high LAP costs may present a significant barrier to 
entry into some segments of the HMS fisheries.
    There are substantial differences between some segments of the U.S. 
Caribbean HMS fisheries and the HMS fisheries that occur off of the 
mainland United States including, but not limited to: limited fishing 
and dealer permit possession; smaller vessels; shorter trips; limited 
profit margins; and high local consumption of catches. These 
differences can create an awkward fit between the current regulations 
and the operational realities of Caribbean fisheries. NMFS has 
benefitted from receiving various recommendations to improve management 
of the HMS permitting program and U.S. Caribbean HMS fisheries from the 
Caribbean Fishery Management Council, territorial governments, and 
local fishermen. Some suggestions on U.S. Caribbean HMS fisheries 
received to date include, but are not limited to: creating a commercial 
Caribbean HMS permit (valid for sharks, tunas, and swordfish); 
combining Caribbean vessel and dealer permits (allowing vessels to sell 
catch); and modifying authorized gears (authorizing buoy gear in the 
Caribbean BAYS tuna fishery and allowing the possession of reef fish 
traps).
    Based on discussions with the Caribbean Fishery Management Council 
and the territorial governments, NMFS believes that the depletion of 
continental shelf fishery resources may be increasing local interest in 
HMS resources. As local fishermen become more dependent on offshore 
fishery resources and increase fishing effort on HMS, there is an 
increased need for NMFS to modify the current HMS permitting and 
reporting regime to include small commercial Caribbean vessels and 
better collect catch and effort data.

Management Options

    NMFS requests comments on management options for this action. 
Specifically, NMFS requests comments on the following issues and 
possible options: creating a small commercial vessel Caribbean HMS 
permit (valid for sharks, tunas, and swordfish); combining commercial 
Caribbean vessel and dealer permits (allowing vessels to sell/retail 
catch); modifying authorized gears (authorizing buoy gear in the 
Caribbean BAYS tuna fishery and allowing the possession of reef fish 
traps); and developing methods to improve reporting and data 
collection. NMFS also requests comment on any other fishery management 
issue pertaining to Caribbean HMS fisheries which the public believes 
should be further examined by NMFS.
    NMFS intends to publish an issues and options document summarizing 
the different options under consideration and will announce the 
availability of this document at a later date. NMFS will hold at least 
one scoping meeting to gather public comment on the issues and options 
described here and in the forthcoming issues and options document (time 
and location details of which will be announced in a subsequent Federal 
Register notification).
    After scoping has been completed and public comment gathered and 
analyzed, NMFS will proceed with preparation of a draft EIS and 
proposed rule, which will include additional opportunities for public 
comment. Until the EIS and associated documents are finalized or until 
other regulations are put into place, the current regulations remain in 
effect.

    Dated: May 19, 2008.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-11779 Filed 5-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S