[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24278]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

RIN 0648-XG025


Pacific Island Pelagic Fisheries; 2018 U.S. Territorial Longline 
Bigeye Tuna Catch Limits for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands

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

ACTION: Announcement of a valid specified fishing agreement.

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces a valid specified fishing agreement that 
allocates up to 1,000 metric tons (t) of the 2018 bigeye tuna limit for 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to identified 
U.S. longline fishing vessels. The agreement supports the long-term 
sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands, and 
fisheries development in the CNMI.

DATES: The specified fishing agreement is valid on November 6, 2018.

ADDRESSES: NMFS prepared environmental analyses that describe the 
potential impacts on the human environment that would result from the 
action. The analyses, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2018-0026, are available 
from https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2018-0026, or from 
Michael D. Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region 
(PIR), 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
    The Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the Western 
Pacific (Pelagic FEP) is 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 http://www.wpcouncil.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Walker, NMFS PIRO Sustainable 
Fisheries, 808-725-5184.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on October 23, 
2018, NMFS specified a 2018 limit of 2,000 t of longline-caught bigeye 
tuna for the U.S. Pacific Island territories of American Samoa, Guam, 
and the CNMI (83 FR 53399). NMFS allows each territory to allocate up 
to 1,000 t of the 2,000 t limit to U.S. longline fishing vessels 
identified in a valid specified fishing agreement.
    On October 22, 2018, NMFS received from the Council a specified 
fishing agreement between the CNMI and Quota Management, Inc. (QMI). 
The Council's Executive Director advised that the specified fishing 
agreement was consistent with the criteria set forth in 50 CFR 
665.819(c)(1). NMFS reviewed the agreement and determined that it is 
consistent with the Pelagic FEP, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, implementing regulations, and other 
applicable laws.
    In accordance with 50 CFR 300.224(d) and 50 CFR 665.819(c)(9), 
vessels identified in the agreement may retain and land bigeye tuna in 
the western and central Pacific Ocean under the CNMI limit. NMFS will 
begin attributing bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in the 
agreement to the CNMI starting on October 25, 2018. If NMFS determines 
that the fishery will reach the attribution limit of 1,000 t, we will 
restrict the retention of bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in 
the agreement, unless the vessels are included in a subsequent 
specified fishing agreement with another U.S. territory.

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

    Dated: November 1, 2018.
Karen H. Abrams,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-24278 Filed 11-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P