[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 154 (Friday, August 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37575-37576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16988]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XF518


Marine Conservation Plan for Pacific Insular Areas Other Than 
American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands; 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 valid from August 4, 2017, through 
August 3, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the MCP, identified by NOAA-NMFS-
2017-0077, from the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2017-0077, 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: Melanie Brown, Sustainable Fisheries, 
NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office, 808-725-5171.

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 at the request 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 a 
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 and submit to the Secretary a 3-year MCP that details the uses 
for funds collected by the Secretary under the PIAFA. NMFS is the 
designee of the Secretary for MCP review and approval.
    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 MCP, 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 in the EEZ off the PRIA 
are deposited into the Fund for use by the Council. Section 
204(e)(7)(C) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act also authorizes the Council to 
use the Fund to meet conservation and management objectives in the 
State of Hawaii, if funds remain after implementing the PRIA MCP.
    An MCP must be consistent with the Council's fishery ecosystem 
plans (FEPs), identify conservation and management objectives 
(including criteria for determining when such objectives have been 
met), and prioritize planned marine conservation projects. Although no 
foreign fishing in the PRIA is being considered at this time, the 
Council reviewed and approved the draft MCP for PRIA in June 2017 and 
sent the MCP to NMFS for review on July 7, 2017.
    The PRIA MCP contains five conservation and management objectives, 
consistent with the PRIA and Pelagic FEPs:
    1. Support quality research and monitoring to obtain the most 
complete scientific information available to assess

[[Page 37576]]

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.
    In addition, the PRIA MCP contains seven conservation and 
management objectives, consistent with the Hawaii FEP:
    1. Support quality research and monitoring to obtain the most 
complete scientific information available to assess and manage 
fisheries within an ecosystem approach.
    2. Promote an ecosystem approach to fisheries management including 
reducing bycatch in fisheries, minimizing impacts on marine habitats 
and protected species, and addressing climate change adaptation and 
mitigation.
    3. Conduct education and outreach to foster good stewardship 
principles and broad and direct public participation in the Council's 
decision-making process.
    4. Recognize the importance of island cultures and traditional 
fishing practices in managing fishery resources and foster 
opportunities for participation.
    5. Promote responsible domestic fisheries development to provided 
long-term economic growth and stability by reducing foreign imports and 
increasing local seafood production.
    6. Promote regional cooperation and capacity-building to manage 
domestic and international fisheries.
    7. Encourage development of technologies and methods to achieve the 
most effective level of monitoring, control, and surveillance, and to 
ensure safety at sea.
    Please refer to the MCP for planned projects and activities 
designed to meet each conservation and management objective, for the 
evaluative criteria, and for the priority rankings.
    This notice announces that NMFS has reviewed the MCP for the PRIA, 
and has determined that it satisfies the requirements of the Magnuson-
Stevens Act. Accordingly, NMFS has approved the MCP for the 3-year 
period from August 4, 2017, through August 3, 2020. This MCP supersedes 
the MCP previously approved for the period August 4, 2014, through 
August 3, 2017 (79 FR 44753, August 1, 2014).

    Dated: August 8, 2017.
Emily H. Menashes,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-16988 Filed 8-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P