[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 236 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63428-63429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26616]


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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 American Samoa

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 Territory of American Samoa 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 
American Samoa.

DATES: December 7, 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 November 19, 2018, NMFS received from the Council a specified 
fishing agreement between the government of American Samoa 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 American Samoa limit. 
NMFS will begin attributing bigeye tuna caught by vessels identified in 
the agreement to American Samoa starting on December 10, 2018. This is 
seven days before December 17, 2018, which is the date NMFS forecasted 
the fishery would reach the CNMI bigeye tuna allocation limit. If NMFS 
determines that the fishery will reach the American Samoa 1,000-t 
attribution, we would 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, 
and we would publish a notice to that effect in the Federal Register.

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


[[Page 63429]]


    Dated: December 4, 2018.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-26616 Filed 12-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-22-P