[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 52872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21562]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

XRIN 0648-XT019


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; 2006 Consolidated Atlantic 
Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan; Three-Year Review of 
Individual Bluefin Quota Program

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

ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: NMFS announces the availability of the final version of Three-
Year Review of the Individual Bluefin Quota (IBQ) Program. A Draft 
Three-Year Review of the IBQ Program was released on May 10, 2019. This 
Three-Year Review of the IBQ Program was conducted pursuant to the 
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) 
requirement that formal and detailed reviews of certain Limited Access 
Privilege Programs (LAPPs) be conducted.

ADDRESSES: The Three-Year Review is available by sending your request 
to Tom Warren at the mailing address specified below, or by calling the 
phone numbers listed below. Mail: Tom Warren, Highly Migratory Species 
Management Division, NOAA Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 
55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. The Three-Year Review 
may also be downloaded from the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) 
website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Warren at 978-281-9260, or George 
Silva at 301-427-8503, or online at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/atlantic-highly-migratory-species.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS announces the availability of the final 
Three-Year Review of the IBQ Program. This document is consistent with 
the MSA requirement that calls for regional Fishery Management Councils 
and the Secretary to periodically conduct ``formal and detailed'' 
reviews of all LAPPs established after January 12, 2007 (MSA Section 
303(c)(1)(G)). This MSA requirement includes those LAPPs established 
under Secretarial authority, such as the IBQ Program, which is a catch 
share program for bluefin tuna bycatch in the Atlantic HMS pelagic 
longline fishery. The guidelines state that the first review should be 
conducted no later than five years after the establishment of the catch 
share program.
    The IBQ Program was established in 2015. Therefore, pursuant to the 
MSA requirement, NOAA Fisheries conducted a review, which is now 
completed and being made available to the public. This review is 
intended to evaluate the progress made in meeting the goals and 
objectives of the IBQ Program, implemented under Amendment 7 to the 
2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management 
Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP). The IBQ Program was designed to 
provide individual vessel accountability for bluefin catch (landings 
and dead discards) and incentivize the pelagic longline fishery to 
minimize interactions with bluefin. A draft program review was 
conducted according to guidelines developed by NMFS Procedural 
Instruction 01-121-01, and released on May 10, 2019 (``Draft Three-Year 
Review of the Individual Bluefin Quota Program''; Draft Three-Year 
Review). NMFS presented a summary of the Draft Three Year Review, 
including key data elements, to the HMS Advisory Panel on May 22, 2019. 
The final version of the Three-Year Review incorporates the HMS 
Advisory Panel suggestions as well as updated information (2018 data) 
for several important parameters. The conclusions and the 
recommendations of the final Three-Year Review are the same as those in 
the Draft Three-Year Review.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 971 et seq.; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: September 30, 2019.
Alan D. Risenhoover,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-21562 Filed 10-2-19; 8:45 am]
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