[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 163 (Monday, August 24, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51193-51195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20778]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

[Docket No. 150615523-5705-01]
RIN 0648-XD998


Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2015 U.S. Territorial Longline 
Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits

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

ACTION: Proposed specifications; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NMFS proposes a 2015 limit of 2,000 metric tons (mt) of 
longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. Pacific territory (American 
Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands). NMFS would allow each 
territory to allocate up to 1,000 mt each year to U.S. longline fishing 
vessels in a specified fishing agreement that meets established 
criteria. As an accountability measure, NMFS would monitor, attribute, 
and restrict (if necessary) catches of longline-caught bigeye tuna, 
including catches made under a specified fishing agreement. The 
proposed catch limits and accountability measures support the long-term 
sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.

DATES: NMFS must receive comments by September 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by 
NOAA-NMFS-2015-0077, by either of the following methods:
     Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public 
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2015-0077, click the 
``Comment Now!'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments.
     Mail: Send written comments to Michael D. Tosatto, 
Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 1845 Wasp 
Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, 
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the 
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on 
www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying 
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business 
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily 
by the sender will be publicly accessible.
    NMFS prepared an environmental analysis that describes the 
potential impacts on the human environment that would result from the 
proposed catch limits and accountability measures. NMFS provided 
additional background information in the 2014 proposed and final 
specifications (79 FR 1354, January 8, 2014; 79 FR 64097, October 28, 
2014). The environmental analysis is available at www.regulations.gov. 
The information contained in the environmental analysis is not repeated 
here.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jarad Makaiau, NMFS PIRO Sustainable 
Fisheries, 808-725-5176.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS proposes to specify a catch limit of 
2,000 mt of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. participating 
Pacific territory in 2015. NMFS would also authorize each U.S. Pacific 
territory to allocate up to 1,000 mt of its 2,000 mt bigeye tuna limit 
to U.S. longline fishing vessels that are permitted to fish under the 
Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western Pacific 
(FEP). Those vessels must be identified in a specified fishing 
agreement with the applicable territory. The Western Pacific Fishery 
Management Council recommended these specifications.
    NMFS will monitor catches of longline-caught bigeye tuna by the 
longline fisheries of each U.S Pacific territory, including catches 
made by U.S. longline vessels operating under specified fishing 
agreements. The criteria a specified fishing agreement must meet, and 
the process for attributing longline-caught bigeye tuna, will follow 
the procedures in 50 CFR 665.819 (Territorial catch and fishing effort 
limits). When NMFS projects a territorial catch or allocation limit 
will be reached, NMFS would, as an accountability measure, prohibit the 
catch and retention of longline-caught bigeye tuna by vessels in the 
applicable territory (if the territorial catch limit is projected to be 
reached), and/or vessels in a specified fishing agreement (if the 
allocation limit is projected to be reached). The proposed catch and 
allocation limits and accountability measures are identical to those 
that NMFS specified in 2014 (79 FR 64097, October 28, 2014). NMFS notes 
that there is a pending case in litigation--Conservation Council for 
Hawai'i, et al., v. NMFS (D. Hawaii)--that challenges the framework 
process for allocations from the territories to U.S. longline fishing 
vessels.
    NMFS will consider public comments on the proposed action and will 
announce the final specifications in the Federal Register. NMFS must 
receive any comments by the date provided in the DATES heading. NMFS 
may not consider any comments not postmarked or otherwise transmitted 
by that date. Regardless of the final specifications, all other 
management measures will continue to apply in the longline fishery.

Classification

    Pursuant to section 304(b)(1)(A) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the 
NMFS Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has determined that this 
proposed specification is consistent with the applicable FEPs, other 
provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and other applicable laws, 
subject to further consideration after public comment.

Certification of Finding of No Significant Impact on Substantial Number 
of Small Entities

    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce has 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that these proposed specifications, if adopted, would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. A description of the proposed action, why it is being 
considered, and the legal basis for it are contained in the preamble to 
this proposed specification.
    The proposed action would specify a 2015 limit of 2,000 metric tons 
(mt) (4,409,240 lb) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. 
Pacific territory (American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Without this catch limit, these U.S. 
territories would not be subject to a limit because they, as 
Participating Territories to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries 
Commission (WCPFC), do not have a bigeye tuna limit under international 
measures adopted by the WCPFC. NMFS would also allow each territory to 
allocate up to 1,000 mt (2,204,620 lb) of its 2,000 mt bigeye tuna 
limit each year to U.S. longline fishing vessels in a specified fishing 
agreement that meets established criteria set forth in 50 CFR 665.819. 
As an accountability measure, NMFS would monitor, attribute, and 
restrict (if necessary) catches of longline-caught bigeye tuna by 
vessels in the applicable U.S. territory (if the territorial catch 
limit is projected to be reached), or by vessels operating under the 
applicable specified fishing agreement (if the allocation limit is 
projected to be reached). The proposed

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catch limits and accountability measures supports fisheries development 
in the U.S. Pacific territories and the long-term sustainability of 
fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.
    This proposed action would directly apply to longline vessels 
federally permitted under the Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic 
Fisheries of the Western Pacific (Pelagic FEP), specifically Hawaii 
longline limited entry, American Samoa longline limited entry, and 
Western Pacific general longline permit holders. As of July 2015, 140 
vessels possessed Hawaii longline limited entry permits (out of 164 
total permits), 46 possessed American Samoa longline limited entry 
permits (out of 60 total permits), and no vessels held Western Pacific 
general longline permits.
    According to landings information provided in the environmental 
assessment prepared in support of this action and logbook information, 
Hawaii-based longline vessels landed approximately 25,791,000 lb of 
pelagic fish valued at $93,963,000 in 2012 and 27,053,000 lb of pelagic 
fish valued at $88,552,000 in 2013. With 129 vessels making either a 
deep- or shallow-set trip in 2012, and 135 vessels in 2013, the ex-
vessel value of pelagic fish caught by Hawaii-based longline fisheries 
averaged about $728,000 and $656,000 per vessel in 2012 and 2013 
respectively. In 2013, 22 American Samoa longline vessels turned in 
logbooks reporting the landing of 162,444 pelagic fish (approximately 6 
million lb) valued at $6,772,386. Albacore made up the largest 
proportion of pelagic landings at 4,525,453 lb and bigeye tuna 
comprised of 187,954 lb. With 22 active longline vessels, the ex-vessel 
value of pelagic fish caught by the American Samoa longline fishery 
averaged about $307,836 per vessel in 2013. With regard to Guam and 
CNMI, no longline fishing has occurred since 2011.
    Based on available information, NMFS has determined that all 
vessels federally permitted under Pelagic FEP are small entities under 
the SBA definition of a small entity, i.e., they are engaged in the 
business of fish harvesting (NAICS Code: 114111), are independently 
owned or operated, are not dominant in their field of operation, and 
have annual gross receipts not in excess of $20.5 million. Even though 
this proposed action would apply to a substantial number of vessels, 
the implementation of this action would not result in significant 
adverse economic impact to individual vessels. The proposed action 
would potentially benefit Hawaii-based longline fishery participants by 
allowing them to fish under specified fishing agreements with a 
territory, which could extend fishing effort for bigeye tuna in the 
Western Pacific Ocean and provide more bigeye tuna for markets in 
Hawaii.
    Amendment 7 to the Pelagic FEP established a process by which NMFS 
could specify catch and/or effort limits for pelagic fisheries in 
American Samoa, Guam and CNMI, regardless of whether the WCPFC adopts a 
limit for those entities or not. Amendment 7 also allows NMFS to 
authorize the government of each territory to allocate a portion of 
their catch and/or effort limits through territorial fishing 
agreements. Specifically, bigeye tuna landed by vessels included in a 
fishing agreement are attributed to the U.S. territory to which the 
agreement applies, and not counted towards the U.S. bigeye tuna limit 
established by NMFS under a separate authority in 50 CFR part 300, 
subpart O.
    In 2014, through this process, the CNMI government entered into an 
agreement with Hawaii-based longline vessels that authorized vessels 
identified in the agreement to use up to 1,000 mt of the CNMI's 2,000 
mt quota. In that year, NMFS projected that the 2014 U.S. bigeye tuna 
limit of 3,763 mt established in 50 CFR part 300, subpart O, and 
applicable to U.S. longline vessels would be reached in mid-November. 
In accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR 665.819, within seven 
days of the date that NMFS projected the fishery would reach the U.S. 
bigeye tuna limit, NMFS began attributing to CNMI the bigeye tuna 
catches made by longline vessels identified in the fishing agreement 
with CNMI.
    In accordance with Federal regulations at 50 CFR part 300, subpart 
O, vessels that possess both an American Samoa and Hawaii longline 
permit are not subject to the U.S bigeye tuna limit. Therefore, these 
vessels are allowed to retain bigeye tuna and land fish in Hawaii after 
the date NMFS projects the fishery would reach that limit. Further, 
catches of bigeye tuna made by such vessels are attributed to American 
Samoa, provided the fish was not caught in the U.S. EEZ around Hawaii. 
In 2014, all dual American Samoa/Hawaii longline permitted vessels were 
included in the fishing agreement with CNMI. Therefore, NMFS attributed 
bigeye catches by those vessels to the CNMI.
    The 2015 U.S. bigeye tuna catch limit established in 50 CFR 300, 
Subpart O is 3,502 mt, which is about 7% lower than the 2014 limit. 
With the lower limit for 2015, combined with apparent higher catch 
rates in 2015, NMFS forecasted that the fishery reached the limit on 
August 5, 2015 (80 FR 44883, July 28, 2015), far earlier than in 
previous years. Through this action, Hawaii-based longline vessels 
could potentially enter into one or more fishing agreements with 
participating territories. This would enhance the ability of these 
vessels to extend fishing effort in the Western and Central Pacific 
Ocean and provide more bigeye tuna for markets in Hawaii. Providing 
opportunity to land bigeye tuna in Hawaii in the last quarter of the 
year when market demand is high will result in positive economic 
benefits for fishery participants and net benefits to the nation. 
Allowing participating territories to enter into specified fishing 
agreements under this action, provides benefits to the territories by 
providing funds for territorial fisheries development projects. In 
terms of the impacts of reducing the limits of bigeye tuna catch by 
longline vessels based in the territories from an unlimited amount to 
2,000 mt, this is not likely to adversely affect vessels based in the 
territories.
    Historical catch of bigeye tuna by the American Samoa longline 
fleet has been less than 2,000 mt, even including the catch of vessels 
based in American Samoa, catch by dual permitted vessels that land 
their catch in Hawaii, and catch attributed to American Samoa from U.S. 
vessels under specified fishing agreements (which occurred in 2011 and 
2012). With regard to Guam and CNMI, no longline fishing has occurred 
since 2011.
    Under the proposed action, longline fisheries managed under the 
Pelagic FEP are not expected to expand substantially nor change the 
manner in which they are currently conducted, (i.e., area fished, 
number of vessels longline fishing, number of trips taken per year, 
number of hooks set per vessel during a trip, depth of hooks, or 
deployment techniques in setting longline gear), due to existing 
operational constraints in the fleet, the limited entry permit 
programs, and protected species mitigation requirements. The proposed 
rule does not duplicate, overlap, or conflict with other Federal rules 
and is not expected to have significant impact on small organizations 
or government jurisdictions. Furthermore, there would be little, if 
any, disproportionate adverse economic impacts from the proposed rule 
based on gear type, or relative vessel size. The proposed rule also 
will not place a substantial number of small entities, or any segment 
of small entities, at a significant competitive disadvantage to large 
entities.

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    For the reasons above, NMFS does not expect the proposed action to 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. As such, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis is not 
required and none has been prepared.
    This action is exempt from review under the procedures of E.O. 
12866 because this action contains no implementing regulations.

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

    Dated: August 18, 2015.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20778 Filed 8-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P