[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 143 (Friday, July 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43399-43400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17537]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD403


Pacific Island Fisheries; Marine Conservation Plan for the 
Northern Mariana Islands

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 approval of a marine conservation plan (MCP) 
for the Northern Mariana Islands.

DATES: This agency decision is effective from August 4, 2014, through 
August 3, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the MCP, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2014-0007, from the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov/

[[Page 43400]]

!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0007, or from the Western 
Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 
1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808-522-8220, www.wpcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, Sustainable Fisheries, 
NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 808-725-5176.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 204(e) of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) 
authorizes the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the 
Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) and in consultation with the Council, 
to negotiate and enter into a Pacific Insular Area fishery agreement 
(PIAFA). A PIAFA would allow foreign fishing within the U.S. Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ) adjacent to American Samoa, Guam, or the Northern 
Mariana Islands with the concurrence of, and in consultation with, the 
Governor of the Pacific Insular Area to which the PIAFA applies. Before 
entering into a PIAFA, the appropriate Governor, with the concurrence 
of the Council, must develop a 3-year MCP providing details on uses for 
any funds collected by the Secretary under the PIAFA.
    The Magnuson-Stevens Act requires payments received under a PIAFA 
to be deposited into the United States Treasury and then conveyed to 
the Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area for which funds were 
collected. In the case of violations by foreign fishing vessels in the 
EEZ around any Pacific Insular Area, amounts received by the Secretary 
attributable to fines and penalties imposed under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act, including sums collected from the forfeiture and disposition or 
sale of property seized subject to its authority, shall be deposited 
into the Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area adjacent to the EEZ in 
which the violation occurred, after direct costs of the enforcement 
action are subtracted. The government may use funds deposited into the 
Treasury of the Pacific Insular Area for fisheries enforcement and for 
implementation of an MCP.
    An MCP must be consistent with the Council's fishery ecosystem 
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 considered at this time, at its 160th meeting held 
June 24-27, 2014, in Honolulu, the Council reviewed and approved the 
MCP for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and 
recommended its submission to the Secretary for approval. On July 11, 
2014, the Governor of the CNMI submitted the MCP to NMFS, the designee 
of the Secretary, for review and approval.
    The CNMI MCP contains seven conservation and management objectives, 
listed below. Please refer to the MCP for planned projects and 
activities designed to meet each objective, the evaluative criteria, 
and priority rankings.
    MCP Objectives:
    1. Improve fisheries data collection and reporting.
    2. Conduct resource assessment, monitoring, and research to gain a 
better understanding of marine resources and fisheries.
    3. Conduct enforcement training and monitoring activities to 
promote compliance with federal and local mandates.
    4. Promote responsible domestic fisheries development to provide 
long-term economic growth, stability, and local food production.
    5. Conduct education and outreach, enhance public participation, 
and build local capacity.
    6. Promote an ecosystem approach to fisheries management, climate 
change adaptation and mitigation, and regional cooperation.
    7. Recognize the importance of island cultures and traditional 
fishing practices in managing fishery resources, and foster 
opportunities for participation.
    This notice announces that NMFS has determined that the CNMI MCP 
satisfies the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and approves the 
MCP for the 3-year period from August 4, 2014, through August 3, 2017. 
This MCP supersedes the one approved for the period August 4, 2011 
through August 3, 2014 (76 FR 50183, August 12, 2011).

    Dated: July 21, 2014.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-17537 Filed 7-24-14; 8:45 am]
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