[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 238 (Monday, December 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 77214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31809]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA838


Hawaii Crustacean Fisheries; 2012 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Lobster Harvest Guideline

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

ACTION: Notification of lobster harvest guideline.

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SUMMARY: NMFS establishes the annual harvest guideline for the 
commercial lobster fishery in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) 
for calendar year 2012 at zero lobsters.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS Pacific Islands 
Region, (808) 944-2108.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NWHI commercial lobster fishery is 
managed under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for the Hawaiian Archipelago. 
The regulations at 50 CFR 665.252(b) require NMFS to publish an annual 
harvest guideline for lobster Permit Area 1, comprised of Federal 
waters around the NWHI. Regulations governing the Papahanaumokuakea 
Marine National Monument in the NWHI prohibit the unpermitted removal 
of monument resources (50 CFR 404.7), and establish a zero annual 
harvest guideline for lobsters (50 CFR 404.10(a)). Accordingly, NMFS 
establishes the harvest guideline for the NWHI commercial lobster 
fishery for calendar year 2012 at zero lobsters. Thus, no harvest of 
NWHI lobster resources is allowed.

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

    Dated: December 7, 2011.
Steven Thur,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-31809 Filed 12-9-11; 8:45 am]
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