[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 7, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63216-63217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19890]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 665

RTID 0648-XA441


Pacific Island Fisheries; 2020 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 2020 bigeye tuna limit for 
American Samoa to 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: The specified fishing agreement was valid as of August 25, 2020. 
The start date for attributing 2020 bigeye tuna catch to American Samoa 
was September 6, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The Fishery Ecosystem Plan for Pelagic Fisheries of the 
Western Pacific (FEP) describes specified fishing agreements and 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.
    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-2020-0120, are available from https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NOAA-NMFS-2020-0120, or from Michael D.

[[Page 63217]]

Tosatto, Regional Administrator, NMFS Pacific Islands Region (PIR), 
1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Rassel, NMFS PIRO Sustainable 
Fisheries, 808-725-5184.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule published on August 19, 
2020, NMFS specified a 2020 limit of 2,000 t of longline-caught bigeye 
tuna for the U.S. Pacific Island territories of American Samoa, Guam, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (85 FR 50961). 
NMFS allows each territory to allocate up to 1,500 t of the 2,000 t 
limit to U.S. longline fishing vessels identified in a valid specified 
fishing agreement, but the overall allocation limit among all 
territories may not exceed 3,000 t.
    On August 21, 2020, NMFS received from the Council a specified 
fishing agreement between the American Samoa and the Hawaii Longline 
Association. 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). On August 25, 2020, 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 in the agreement may retain and land bigeye tuna in the western 
and central Pacific Ocean under American Samoa attribution specified in 
the fishing agreement. On September 6, 2020, NMFS began attributing 
bigeye tuna caught by vessels in the agreement to American Samoa. If 
NMFS determines that the fishery will reach the 1,000 t allocation 
specified in the agreement, we will restrict the retention of bigeye 
tuna caught by vessels 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: September 3, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-19890 Filed 10-6-20; 8:45 am]
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