[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 168 (Monday, August 31, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52415-52418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21394]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

[Docket No. 141009847-5746-02]
RIN 0648-XD558


Pacific Island Fisheries; 2015 Annual Catch Limits and 
Accountability Measures

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

ACTION: Final specifications.

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SUMMARY: In this final rule, NMFS specifies the 2015 annual catch 
limits (ACLs) for Pacific Island bottomfish, crustacean, precious 
coral, and coral reef ecosystem fisheries, and accountability measures 
(AMs) to correct or mitigate any overages of catch limits. The ACLs and 
AMs support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the 
U.S. Pacific Islands.

DATES: The final specifications are effective September 30, 2015, 
through December 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the fishery ecosystem plans are available from the 
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council), 1164 Bishop St., 
Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813, tel 808-522-8220, fax 808-522-8226, or 
www.wpcouncil.org. Copies of the environmental assessments and findings 
of no significant impact for this action, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2013-
0156, are available from www.regulations.gov, or from Michael D. 
Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 
1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS is specifying the 2015 ACLs and AMs for 
bottomfish, crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem 
fishery management unit species (MUS) in American Samoa, Guam, the 
CNMI, and Hawaii. NMFS proposed these specifications on July 21, 2015 
(80 FR 43046), and the final specifications do not differ from those 
proposed. The 2015 fishing year began on January 1 and ends on December 
31, except for precious coral fisheries, for which the fishing year 
began on July 1, 2015, and ends on June 30, 2016.
    NMFS is not specifying ACLs for MUS that are currently subject to 
Federal fishing moratoria or prohibitions. These MUS include all 
species of gold coral, the three Hawaii seamount groundfish (pelagic 
armorhead, alfonsin, and raftfish), and deepwater precious corals at 
the Westpac Bed Refugia. The current prohibitions on fishing for these 
MUS serve as the functional equivalent of an ACL of zero.
    Additionally, NMFS is not specifying ACLs for bottomfish, 
crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS identified in 
the Pacific Remote Islands Area (PRIA) FEP. This is because fishing is 
prohibited in the EEZ within 12 nm of emergent land of the PRIA, unless 
authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in 
consultation with NMFS and the Council. Additionally, there is no 
suitable habitat for these stocks beyond the 12-nm no-fishing zone, 
except at Kingman Reef, where fishing for these resources does not 
occur. To date, the USFWS has not consulted with NMFS for any fishing 
that the USFWS may authorize within 12 nm of the PRIA. NMFS will 
continue to monitor authorized fishing within 12 nm of the PRIA in 
consultation with the USFWS, and may develop additional fishing 
requirements, including catch limits for species that may require them.
    NMFS is also not specifying ACLs for pelagic MUS at this time, 
because NMFS previously determined that pelagic species are subject to 
international fishery agreements or have a life cycle of approximately 
1 year and are, therefore, statutorily excepted from the ACL 
requirements.

2015 Annual Catch Limit Specifications

    Tables 1-4 list the ACL specifications for 2015.

                         Table 1--American Samoa
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               ACL
            Fishery                 Management unit       Specification
                                        species               (lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish....................  Bottomfish multi-                101,000
                                 species stock complex.
Crustacean....................  Deepwater shrimp......            80,000
                                Spiny lobster.........             4,845
                                Slipper lobster.......                30
                                Kona crab.............             3,200
Precious Coral................  Black coral...........               790
                                Precious corals in the             2,205
                                 American Samoa
                                 Exploratory Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem..........  Selar                             37,400
                                 crumenophthalmus--atu
                                 le, bigeye scad.
                                Acanthuridae--surgeonf           129,400
                                 ish.
                                Carangidae--jacks.....            19,900
                                Carcharhinidae--reef               1,615
                                 sharks.
                                Crustaceans--crabs....             4,300
                                Holocentridae--squirre            15,100
                                 lfish.
                                Kyphosidae--rudderfish             2,000
                                 es.
                                Labridae--wrasses.....            16,200

[[Page 52416]]

 
                                Lethrinidae--emperors.            19,600
                                Lutjanidae--snappers..            63,100
                                Mollusks--turbo snail;            18,400
                                 octopus; giant clams.
                                Mugilidae--mullets....             4,600
                                Mullidae--goatfishes..            11,900
                                Scaridae--parrotfish..           272,000
                                Serranidae--groupers..            25,300
                                Siganidae--rabbitfishe               200
                                 s.
                                Bolbometopon                         235
                                 muricatum--bumphead
                                 parrotfish.
                                Cheilinus undulatus--              1,743
                                 Humphead (Napoleon)
                                 wrasse.
                                All other CREMUS                  18,400
                                 combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Table 2--Mariana Archipelago--Guam
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               ACL
            Fishery                 Management unit       Specification
                                        species               (lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish....................  Bottomfish multi-                 66,800
                                 species stock complex.
Crustaceans...................  Deepwater shrimp......            48,488
                                Spiny lobster.........             3,135
                                Slipper lobster.......                20
                                Kona crab.............             1,900
Precious Coral................  Black coral...........               700
                                Precious corals in the             2,205
                                 Guam Exploratory Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem..........  Selar                             50,200
                                 crumenophthalmus--atu
                                 lai, bigeye scad.
                                Acanthuridae--surgeonf            97,600
                                 ish.
                                Carangidae--jacks.....            29,300
                                Carcharhinidae--reef               1,900
                                 sharks.
                                Crustaceans--crabs....             7,300
                                Holocentridae--squirre            11,400
                                 lfish.
                                Kyphosidae--chubs/                 9,600
                                 rudderfish.
                                Labridae--wrasses.....            25,200
                                Lethrinidae--emperors.            53,000
                                Lutjanidae--snappers..            18,000
                                Mollusks--octopus.....            23,800
                                Mugilidae--mullets....            17,900
                                Mullidae--goatfish....            15,300
                                Scaridae--parrotfish..            71,600
                                Serranidae--groupers..            22,500
                                Siganidae--rabbitfish.            18,600
                                Bolbometopon                         797
                                 muricatum--bumphead
                                 parrotfish.
                                Cheilinus undulatus--              1,960
                                 humphead (Napoleon)
                                 wrasse.
                                All other CREMUS                 185,000
                                 combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CNMI and Guam combined)


                   Table 3--Mariana Archipelago--CNMI
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               ACL
            Fishery                 Management unit       Specification
                                        species               (lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish....................  Bottomfish multi-                228,000
                                 species stock complex.
Crustacean....................  Deepwater shrimp......           275,570
                                Spiny lobster.........             7,410
                                Slipper lobster.......                60
                                Kona crab.............             6,300
Precious Coral................  Black coral...........             2,100
                                Precious corals in the             2,205
                                 CNMI Exploratory Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem..........  Selar                             77,400
                                 crumenophthalmus--Atu
                                 lai, bigeye scad.
                                Acanthuridae--surgeonf           302,600
                                 ish.
                                Carangidae--jacks.....            44,900
                                Carcharhinidae--reef               5,600
                                 sharks.
                                Crustaceans--crabs....             4,400
                                Holocentridae--squirre            66,100
                                 lfishes.
                                Kyphosidae--rudderfish            22,700
                                 es.
                                Labridae--wrasses.....            55,100
                                Lethrinidae--emperors.            53,700
                                Lutjanidae--snappers..           190,400

[[Page 52417]]

 
                                Mollusks--turbo snail;             9,800
                                 octopus; giant clams.
                                Mugilidae--mullets....             4,500
                                Mullidae--goatfish....            28,400
                                Scaridae--parrotfish..           144,000
                                Serranidae--groupers..            86,900
                                Siganidae--rabbitfish.            10,200
                                Bolbometopon                         797
                                 muricatum--Bumphead
                                 parrotfish.
                                Cheilinus undulatus--              2,009
                                 Humphead (Napoleon)
                                 wrasse.
                                All other CREMUS                   7,300
                                 combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CNMI and Guam combined)


                             Table 4--Hawaii
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               ACL
            Fishery                 Management unit       Specification
                                        species               (lb)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomfish....................  Non-Deep 7 bottomfish.           178,000
Crustacean....................  Deepwater shrimp......           250,773
                                Spiny lobster.........            15,000
                                Slipper lobster.......               280
                                Kona crab.............            27,600
Precious Coral................  Auau Channel black                 5,512
                                 coral.
                                Makapuu Bed--Pink                  2,205
                                 coral.
                                Makapuu Bed--Bamboo                  551
                                 coral.
                                180 Fathom Bank--Pink                489
                                 coral.
                                180 Fathom Bank--                    123
                                 Bamboo coral.
                                Brooks Bank--Pink                    979
                                 coral.
                                Brooks Bank--Bamboo                  245
                                 coral.
                                Kaena Point Bed--Pink                148
                                 coral.
                                Kaena Point Bed--                     37
                                 Bamboo coral.
                                Keahole Bed--Pink                    148
                                 coral.
                                Keahole Bed--Bamboo                   37
                                 coral.
                                Precious corals in the             2,205
                                 Hawaii Exploratory
                                 Area.
Coral Reef Ecosystem..........  Selar                            988,000
                                 crumenophthalmus--aku
                                 le, bigeye scad.
                                Decapterus macarellus--          438,000
                                 opelu, mackerel scad.
                                Acanthuridae--surgeonf           342,000
                                 ishes.
                                Carangidae--jacks.....           161,200
                                Carcharhinidae--reef               9,310
                                 sharks.
                                Crustaceans--crabs....            33,500
                                Holocentridae--squirre           148,000
                                 lfishes.
                                Kyphosidae--rudderfish           105,000
                                 es.
                                Labridae--wrasses.....           205,000
                                Lethrinidae--emperors.            35,500
                                Lutjanidae--snappers..           330,300
                                Mollusks--octopus.....            35,700
                                Mugilidae--mullets....            19,200
                                Mullidae--goatfishes..           165,000
                                Scaridae--parrotfishes           239,000
                                Serranidae--groupers..           128,400
                                All other CREMUS                 485,000
                                 combined.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accountability Measures

    Federal logbook and reporting from fisheries in Federal waters is 
not sufficient to monitor and track catches towards the proposed ACL 
specifications accurately. This is because most fishing for bottomfish, 
crustacean, precious coral, and coral reef ecosystem MUS occurs in 
state waters, generally 0-3 nm from shore. For these reasons, NMFS will 
apply a moving 3-yr average catch to evaluate fishery performance 
against the proposed ACLs. Specifically, NMFS and the Council will use 
the average catch during fishing year 2013, 2014, and 2015 to evaluate 
fishery performance against the appropriate 2015 ACL. At the end of 
each fishing year, the Council will review catches relative to each 
ACL. If NMFS and the Council determine the three-year average catch for 
the fishery exceeds the specified ACL, NMFS and the Council will reduce 
the ACL for that fishery by the amount of the overage in the subsequent 
year.
    You may find additional background information on this action in 
the preamble to the proposed specifications published on July 21, 2015 
(80 FR 43046).

Comments and Responses

    The comment period for the proposed specifications ended on August 
5, 2015. NMFS received comments from a commercial bottomfish fisherman 
on the proposed specifications for non-Deep 7 bottomfish in the main 
Hawaiian Islands (MHI), and from the U.S. Air

[[Page 52418]]

Force on the applicability of annual catch limits for recreational 
fishing at Wake Atoll in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. NMFS responds 
to these comments as follows:
    Comment 1: The proposed ACL should account for changes in the 
historical landings of non-Deep 7 bottomfish in the MHI that resulted 
from changes in market conditions and regulatory actions. The commenter 
suggested that, in the past, MHI fishermen limited their catch of 
certain non-Deep 7 bottomfish species because they were associated with 
ciguatera (a toxin) and because fishermen received low prices for their 
catch due to higher volume of fish provided by the bottomfish fishery 
in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The commenter noted, 
however, that the closure of the NWHI fishery in 2010 and restrictions 
on landing MHI Deep 7 bottomfish upon reaching the annual catch limit 
in past fishing season have resulted in MHI fishermen targeting non-
Deep 7 bottomfish, and landing more fish in recent years.
    Response: NMFS and the Council considered changes in the historical 
landing when specifying the ACL and AMs for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish. 
The Biomass Augmented Catch Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) model, 
which generates the estimate of MSY which is used as the basis for the 
overfishing limit, acceptable biological catch, and ACL, uses the 
historical catch record for MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish from 1966-2013. 
Thus, in estimating MSY, the model includes the period of time when 
changes occurred in the landings of MHI non-Deep 7 bottomfish. NMFS and 
the Council continue to work on improving the scientific, commercial, 
and other information that provide the basis for management decisions, 
and are exploring fishery-independent methods and technologies for 
assessing bottomfish resources. As information becomes available, NMFS 
will accommodate such data in future models and stock assessments.
    Comment 2: The commenter asserts that, because the ACL for MHI non-
Deep 7 bottomfish is based on imperfect data, NMFS should allow more 
leeway in applying the AMs if the fishery exceeds the ACL.
    Response: Under federal regulations at 50 CFR 600.310 implementing 
the ACL requirement, the ACL serves as the basis for invoking the AM. 
AMs are management controls to prevent a fishery from exceeding an ACL 
and to correct or mitigate any overage of the ACL. While the data may 
be imperfect, the Council and NMFS established the ACLs using the best 
available information, and NMFS must adhere to the established ACL and 
AM process. See 50 CFR 665.4 and 50 CFR 600.310.
    Comment 3: The U.S. Air Force requested confirmation that the 
proposed ACLs and AMs for Pacific Island bottomfish, crustacean, 
precious coral and coral reef fisheries at Wake Island take into 
account the annual recreational harvest levels described in the Air 
Force Fishing Management Plan for Wake Atoll.
    Response: In the proposed specifications (80 FR 43046, July 21, 
2015), NMFS explained that we did not propose ACLs for bottomfish, 
crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS regulated under 
the PRIA FEP. In the Supplementary section of this final rule, NMFS 
again clarifies that it is not specifying ACLs for PRIA bottomfish, 
crustacean, precious coral, or coral reef ecosystem MUS. This is 
because fishing is currently prohibited within 12 nm of emergent land, 
unless authorized by the USFWS in consultation with NMFS and the 
Council (See 50 CFR 665.933). Also, there is no coral reef habitat 
seaward of the 12-nm prohibited fishing area. To date, the USFWS has 
not consulted with NMFS for any fishing that the USFWS may authorize 
within 12 nm of the PRIA. Consultation with the USFWS would provide 
information that NMFS and the Council need to monitor catch and effort 
in the PRIA, and to develop any future catch limits that would be 
necessary.

Classification

    The Regional Administrator, NMFS PIR, determined that this action 
is necessary for the conservation and management of Pacific Island 
fishery resources, and that it is consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act and other applicable laws.
    The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration during the proposed rule stage that this action would 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. NMFS published the factual basis for the certification in the 
proposed rule and does not repeat it here. NMFS received no comments on 
this certification; as a result, a regulatory flexibility analysis is 
not required, and none has been prepared.
    This action is exempt from review under E.O. 12866 because it 
contains no implementing regulations.

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

    Dated: August 25, 2015.
Eileen Sobeck,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21394 Filed 8-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P