[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44753-44754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18220]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XD404


Pacific Island Fisheries; 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 approval of a Marine Conservation Plan (MCP) 
for Pacific Insular Areas other than American Samoa, Guam, and 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-
2014-0092, from the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0092, or from the Western Pacific 
Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., Suite 1400, 
Honolulu, HI 96813, 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

[[Page 44754]]

(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 any Pacific Insular Area other than American Samoa, 
Guam or the Northern Mariana Islands, that is, in the EEZ around the 
Pacific remote island areas (PRIA). The PRIA are Baker Island, Howland 
Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Island, 
Wake Island, and Palmyra Atoll. Before entering into a PIAFA for the 
PRIA, 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 any payments received under a 
PIAFA, and any funds or contributions received in support of 
conservation and management objectives for the PRIA, to be deposited 
into the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund (Fund) for use by 
the Council. Additionally, amounts received by the Secretary 
attributable to fines and penalties imposed under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Act for violations by foreign vessels occurring within the EEZ off any 
PRIA are also deposited into the Fund for use by the Council.
    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, the Council approved an MCP for Pacific Insular Areas 
other than American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. On 
July 7, 2014, the Council submitted the MCP to NMFS for review and 
approval.
    The MCP contains five 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. Support quality research and monitoring to obtain the most 
complete scientific information available to assess and manage 
fisheries within an ecosystem approach.
    2. Conduct education and outreach to foster good stewardship 
principles and broad and direct public participation in the Council's 
decision-making process.
    3. Promote regional cooperation to manage domestic and 
international fisheries.
    4. Encourage development of technologies and methods to achieve the 
most effective level of monitoring, control and surveillance, and to 
ensure safety at sea.
    5. Support Western Pacific community demonstration projects and 
Western Pacific Community Development Program to promote participation 
and access to fisheries for eligible communities.
    The MCP also identifies additional objectives and activities 
consistent with the Hawaii Archipelago FEP and Pelagics FEP. Section 
204(e)(7)(C) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes the Council to use 
the Fund to meet conservation and management objectives in the State of 
Hawaii.
    This notice announces that NMFS has determined that the 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 28, 2014.
James P. Burgess,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-18220 Filed 7-31-14; 8:45 am]
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